Despite a bad cold, Michael shepherded a brisk Princetown outing that the youngsters turned into a full circuit with cunning car assists. A welcome return to the Foxtor café and a downhill chase to Plymbridge — he arrived only minutes ahead — gave the day its flavour.

Our evening ride climbed Dean Hill and circled Harbourneford to a bench above South Brent, where Michael’s new camera did well in poor light. The standout novelty was a first-ever Co‑op snack stop before we headed back via Marley Head.

With rain all day, we cancelled the ride and turned it into a sociable indoor day: an hour of badminton on two courts at Ashmoor, then a games social at Crofters. Enjoyable, though pricier than expected.

A brisk ride via Colston Road to Dartington and up the Totnes bypass set a livelier tempo, before turning home through Rattery. The long climb left legs tired and some riders chilly, but it was a welcome change of pace.

Perfect weather set the tone for a relaxed ride to Cockington and Torquay, highlighted by an impromptu canine gathering in the park after two enormous Newfoundlands caught our eye. For Dillan and Jude, a first ride along Torquay harbour capped a day of café stops and unhurried exploring.

Unsettled weather turned the planned ride into a trip to Pizza Hut and Costa in Plymouth to mark Jude’s birthday, followed by two games of pool at Tenpin, with Jude and Michael the winners.

When two newcomers cancelled, we turned an easy plan into a longer push to Bovey Tracey and up the brutal Lustleigh Cleave, rewarded by ice creams at Hound Tor. A highlight was finding the Wrey Valley Trail’s missing bridge finally replaced; a scolding from a dog walker briefly soured the mood.

With Jude bike-less and keen to try his new badminton racket, and George expecting rain, the evening ride became an hour of fast, good‑humoured games on two courts at Ashmoor.

An attempted scenic ‘shortcut’ via Fleet Mill Lane proved rough and slower, confirming the main road is better. At Stoke Gabriel the café was not serving lunch ahead of a later barbecue, but the cakes were exceptional; a brief slip on seaweed added minor drama before a rapid ride home.

On a hot, sunny evening we climbed Wallaford Road to Lud Gate before taking the challenging moorland descent to Chalk Ford, with sweeping views over South Devon. The usual pigs and deer were absent, but at Scoriton George was greeted by a curious family of lambs at a garden gate.

With rain due after 1pm, we kept it to a brisk morning loop to Landscove, coffee and photos by the Hill House nursery fountain, then hurried home ahead of the showers. The downpour hit at 2pm, leaving the afternoon free to plan a Norway tour glacier walk.

A short evening loop pivoted on a sombre stop at Hembury Fort, where the National Trust’s felling of four mature trees and laying the trunks around the edge still felt like desecration; the ride finished with a run down the Slalom track through the woods.