With just six of us out and glorious weather we felt free to change the destination from Sigford to the Old Forge at Holne. The decision was an excellent one, the glorious sunshine making the occasion perfect in every way. We followed up with a wander down a track to New Bridge and then up through some fields (mainly pushing) to Hembury. A final descent through Hembury Fort's twisty woodland track brought us home by about 6pm.

Another enjoyable ride, led by Dave Humphreys.

With three Hamlyn-Whites in tow we couldn't have expected to pass Pridhamsleigh (the home of their grandfather) without some incident. In the event the farm dog caused the problem by following his young masters all the way up the hill! Someone had to go back with him of course, and everyone agreed it should be one of the HWs!

There were further delays at Chuley Cross when blackberries were discovered, but the remainder of the ride was brisk, passing through Woolston Green and Abham, until Marcus got his puncture near Caddaford ...

The final pick-up point of Avonwick saw 16 of us head off towards the moors via Ivybridge and a stop for lunch at picturesque Harford church. Here some of the older 'lads' got a bit boisterous and gave Martin Luke a dunking in a horse trough. Although he had probably 'asked for it' this behaviour was far too extreme and we all got a telling off from a couple of understandably irate locals. I hope that in future we all remember that the good name of the CTC depends on us showing courtesy and consideration to others and that it is unfair to put adult leaders in the invidious position of taking the blame for others who, whilst 'junior', are old enough to know better.

Once on the moor there was a treat for the mountain bikers (ie everyone bar Ken and Michael) with a long gentle downhill track to our destination. We never did see a tinners' hut but someone said they saw a potato cave.

The river Erme was crossed with some difficulty followed by a very stiff climb across virgin moor to the Two Moors Way. This we followed for some 1.5 miles where we split up - the more active continuing along the track whilst the younger and more tired went across country up to Petres Cross and then on down to rejoin the group at the river Avon.

We then took the Abbots Way to Buckfastleigh and refreshments at Michael's for those who wanted them. All in all it was a very enjoyable day with plenty of rough stuff for the mountain bikers.

Everyone laughed when a twig caught in Michael's front wheel, jammed the mudguard against the wheel and stopped the bike dead in its tracks. Michael just managed to avoid going over the handlebars because he wasn't travelling too fast.

By popular demand we had to negotiate the famous riverside track from Dartington to Totnes, emerging at Brutus Bridge. This time Neil got a puncture at the start, but at least the water levels weren't as high as on one of our previous visits! The return route took us past Dartington youth hostel, so we couldn't resist popping in for some refreshments.

We found Bridford Wood, but the track we used wasn't the one Michael had intended. There was a suitably secluded field for lunch, then (after a wrong turning) we enjoyed the ride through the woods to Steps Bridge.

The problem was, it was still quite early and we didn't fancy going straight home via Chudleigh. So we took the main road to Moretonhampstead. From here the Paignton brigade returned to Bovey Tracey while the rest rode through North Bovey to Ashburton. Total distance was 43 miles for Buckfastleigh starters.

We only got as far as Hawson Court before the rain began on this our penultimate evening. Suddenly everyone wanted to go to Crofters, so we did a classic U-turn and set off for home.

Ken was showing off his new hand-built child-back tandem today. The child on the back was Paul, but Ben was also in tow, on the trailer! The team coped well with the many hills from Buckfastleigh to Hexworthy, but when the rest of the group turned onto a moorland track at Dunnabridge, Ken decided to take the longer tarmac route via Two Bridges and Postbridge. They finally arrived long after the others had checked in and settled down to the serious business of bed-making and washing.

Much of the evening was spent enjoying supper and playing games, but growing demands for a torchlit walk eventually bore fruit. It was pitch dark except for the few cycle lights. The boys, being boys, took great delight in running on ahead, hiding just off the edge of the road and then bursting out on the main group as they came close. It was during one of these little forays that Eliot ran ahead and off to the right down a little path. His excitement was such that he didn't hear the sound of running water: he ran straight into the river and fell flat on his face in the icy darkness! There was great hilarity when he finally emerged, dripping wet and freezing cold - poor Eliot!

After a night of open windows and noisy Keirs we were not ready for the sound of rain. And just as we were leaving, the warden broke the sad news of his imminent retirement and the proposed "improvements" to the hostel. Jim has been warden of Bellever for about 30 years. Things will never be the same there without him, and we won't have quite as much fun when the dormitory is divided into little boxes.

The rain turned out to be mainly showers, but one of them was so heavy and cold that we all decided to head homewards to Widecombe rather than outwards to Chagford. The rain stopped shortly afterwards but we didn't change our course. After an extended stop at Widecombe we proceeded to Leusdon for lunch in the sunshine and then homewards via Spitchwick. The ride had not been very long, but everyone was tired when they got home - this always seems to be the way!