Heavy showers arrived right on seven, so the evening ride was shelved in favour of a sociable refuge at Crofters. Warm drinks replaced miles as we waited out the bursts and watched brief bright intervals slip between the showers.

At Venford Reservoir a cuckoo’s call pierced the evening quiet, sending us roaming the moor in a brief, fruitless search. When it moved farther off we let it go and returned via Holne and Ashburton under warm, thundery skies.

A perfect Dartmoor day of exploration culminated in the spectacular climb of Hamel Down, a rough traverse of the ridge and a thrilling drop to Widecombe before a fresh route home via Venton. An over-priced Haytor coffee and a local admirer of our 'new-fangled' gears added humour.

Persistent heavy rain turned the planned evening ride into a Crofters social, yet the youngsters still turned out. We even welcomed a new rider from Ashburton, Malcolm Sheldon, a small lift on a thoroughly wet night.

After a quick return from the Torbay Fair, we rode via Michelcombe to Dartmeet and tried a new café where peacocks strutted but the refreshments were only average. The climb back over Dartmeet Hill nearly finished young Malcolm, but he enjoyed the day and promised to return.

After our previous disastrous attempt, we found the correct line across the moor from Gidley Bridge to Cross Furzes and moved quickly in the cool, dry evening. We were rewarded with panoramic views and an exhilarating free run over open moorland fields, dodging sheep and cattle.

With trains unavailable, we rode to the Plym Valley via the A38, then turned the day into the Section’s hardest ride: a scenic railpath with a pitch-black tunnel followed by a grinding four-mile haul to Princetown in chill cloud, redeemed by the Fox Tor cafe — and lads queueing for the hand drier.

A calm summer evening led to a long swim at Spitchwick; Andrew carried Luke’s shoe across the pool and, after fair objection backed by Michael, had to swim back for it. Some took the Shuttaford track through Hembury while others climbed the road.

The planned joint ride with Exeter A Section misfired—each Section went to the rock on a different Sunday—but it still became a favourite. Playful splashing at North Bovey's ford and a final ice-cream at Hound Tor gave the day its cheerful shape.

A gentle evening spin to Staverton Bridge saw four under-elevens—two new to the club—cope confidently throughout. Cloudy but dry conditions kept the pace easy, making this a simple, satisfying outing and a good marker of how well the youngest riders are progressing.

Plans to reach Fernworthy were thwarted by Bovey bypass works that turned the old railway path into an assault course with new 'Keep Out' signs, rubble and a chasm. After Michael’s Gore-Tex vanished at Bovey, we settled for a Widecombe return, parting from the Torbay riders at Cold East Cross.