Our first games evening of the new season at the Southpark Centre was a resounding success. Some members even tried their hand at short mat bowls in the main hall, assisted by the local indoor bowling club.

Sunday dawned, and it also dawned on Richard as he looked at the map that having Chudleigh Bridge as the final pick-up point was not ideal; it meant a rather roundabout route to get to Hittisleigh. The goal was 12.30 for the DA AGM, and even with the 9.30 start this looked uncertain.

He was the sole rider from Buckfastleigh and Hazel was the only person waiting at the pick-up. However, it was a perfect cycling day, with the brilliant sunshine making the autumn colours glow, and our route gave us the bonus of unfamiliar roads from Dunsford through Cheriton Bishop. After a brisk ride we arrived at 12.10 - just right for a spot of lunch before the meeting. The sky clouded over by the time this had finished, but we had a moderate breeze behind us down through Moretonhampstead and Bovey Tracey. It only took 15 minutes less on the return journey, and in Buckfastleigh Richard's mileometer showed it was the same distance each way, so his fears of the morning had been quite unjustified.

Today we tried the track which connects the Ashburn river to Whiddon farms. We did it the hard way, of course - uphill. Nevertheless it was enjoyable, and we will definitely try it the other way early next year. Progress was impeded when Paul got a puncture towards the top of the track, but we still got to Sigford.

We rode to Duncannon via Aircraft Hill. Turning left one mile before Stoke Gabriel we took the lane past the millpond. This really was a lovely ride, with all the newcomers trying very hard.

Plymouth Section joined us for our annual November trip to Maypool, near Galmpton. The firework display provided light entertainment as usual, and the wardens looked after us well.

The Sunday ride took us through the lanes to Kingswear and across the ferry to the Spinning Wheel cafe at Dartmouth. We managed to get to Blackpool Sands for an enjoyable lunch on the beach.

The Plymouth contingent left us near Strete to make their unenviable journey homewards, whilst we returned to Totnes via Forces Cross and Tuckenhay.

Young Robert Walker had a useful introduction to tracks during the afternoon. Martin and Dayle suggested an alternative track route between Forces Cross and Tuckenhay. Michael said they could try it, but several others decided to follow them despite warnings of oozing mud. When everyone finally met up at Tuckenhay the Trackies were literally plastered in mud, as were their bikes. It was all too much for poor Robert, whose new expensive mountain bike had turned a chocolate colour. Michael had to wash his bike and his shoes and socks in the river at Bow Bridge before he began to feel better.

The new format for our annual Road Safety evening seemed to appeal to those who attended. We hope that all members will always be looking to improve their riding standards as they gain experience.

Can you cycle from Marldon to Bovey Tracey in 45 minutes? We can't. Which is just one reason why we all finally met up at midday rather than 11.00am (Dave and Lorraine's detour is another story!)

All hope of getting to Cranbrook was abandoned and so we had lunch in Julie's minibus before setting off for a very leisurely jaunt to the tea rooms at Lustleigh. There we met up with the Hunts who were passing by and decided to join us.

Eventually we set off with a strange mixture of pavement cycle (Joanne Hunt), Rann Trailer, Tandem/Swann trailer/Baby seat, cycle and child seat, mountain bikes, hybrid bike and even a couple of ordinary tourers! What the great British public on their Sunday outing must have thought I really don't know. However, they must have been impressed if the number of photo calls we had is anything to go by.

We returned to Bovey Tracey and bid our farewells after possibly the shortest ever dry weather day ride in our history.

Michael, Neil, Martin and Tao, the only starters from Buckfastleigh, decided that the car was the best way to proceed to the pick-up point in view of the unpleasant weather conditions. We met David Humphreys, Robert Walker and Martin Luke at Gappah, and they agreed to join us at Bovey Tracey for refreshments in the Brookside Tearooms. The Volvo team then went on to Starcross to meet Jamie and David, as previously agreed, and were grateful to Jamie's parents for inviting them in for another coffee!

We couldn't do much in the way of oily repairs in the Southpark Centre, so we concentrated on puncture repairs, brake adjustment and cable soldering. The participants were divided into three groups according to age, and spent about forty minutes on each topic. Many thanks to Ken, Richard and Michael for their efforts in laying on the equipment and tuition.