With Michael resting his ankle, the planned evening ride was cancelled and replaced by a badminton social at the Ashmoor Centre in Ashburton—a low‑key change of pace that kept the club together off the bikes.

Michael’s ankle needed rest, so the planned ride became a social: games at Crofters and a café stop at Endsleigh, with spirits kept high off the bike.

A leisurely, good-humoured ride to Totnes put friendship ahead of speed, highlighted by a seal surfacing at the weir – first doubted as a ‘seal dog’ then photographed to general delight. A birdless bird hide and a riverside tree-climb added to the day’s unhurried character.

Heavy evening rain forced the cancellation of the planned ride, with a hoped-for newcomer deterred. Instead the group regrouped at Crofters for Minecraft, broke it up with a short badminton session at Ashmoor, then returned to Crofters to finish with more games.

Persistent rain kept us off the bikes, so we switched to a Minecraft social until mid-afternoon. The highlight was teaming up to defeat the wither and install a beam at our pit, speeding mining so we could drive the hole much deeper.

With only rear lights to hand, we kept it short and rode up to Hembury, lingering by the BDS camp before turning back ahead of dusk. Curiosity led to videos later that explained their campfire songs and star‑gazing, and talk turned to a coffee cake for Dillan’s upcoming birthday.

An evening spin to South Brent doubled as the first outing for the new camera lens, with near-darkness providing a perfect test. We paused to photograph the sky before looping back via Marley Head and the Dean road, pleased that the lens—and the ride—performed well.

A gentle ride to Bovey Tracey doubled as Michael’s first outing with his repaired Nikon lens, prompting photos by the river and at the Devon Guild. Café 360 charmed but dawdled over drinks, and John’s freewheeling speed test and a lacklustre pickle stall raised smiles.

With Dillan not up to cycling, the planned evening ride was shelved and became a low-key social: he practised his driving instead, taking us on a trip to Sainsbury’s in Plymouth.

A routine ride to Widecombe-in-the-Moor was defined by frustrations at the Café on the Green—soups still dear and a ‘large’ jam pot that wasn’t. Michael’s dash for emergency rations and a decision to avoid Spitchwick’s troubled riverside gave the day its character.