Andrew Simmons and a friend joined our Christmas moorland ride to Avon Dam, marked by a fine climb onto Abbots Way with wide South Devon views and an exhilarating sweep back across the open hill via Water Oak Corner to Cross Furzes.

A quieter Christmas Social than usual, but a warm, enjoyable evening built on computer games, Pictionary and lively conversation, fuelled by hot vegetarian mince pies. A gentle close to the year, with the focus firmly on simple fun and good company.

An entertaining traverse of Skerraton Down’s open moorland behind Buckfastleigh, rewarded with splendid views across South Devon.

Our first social of 1993 centred on Risk, the ever-popular board game that kept us well entertained and gave the year a relaxed, sociable start.

Relentless rain shelved the planned ride to Harford, but Paul and Chris salvaged the day with an extra Crofters social.

A Widecombe morning ride became a nostalgic call at the Green Cafe, famed within the Section for its quirks: blue-painted wicker chairs and the telltale fan by the till to spare handling change. For once, everything was on—and there were no dogs, birds or eccentric old ladies.

A low-key social evening at Crofters, likely a mix of board and computer games, with easy competition and unhurried chat.

An uneventful run up the Teign Valley via Trusham to lunch on the track behind Lawrence Castle. The day’s talking point came in Chudleigh, where Ben learnt why recent rides ended early: Michael’s dynamo was broken.

With winter rides meant to finish before dark, we kept it modest: a short ride to Buckland Tout Saints, lunch on a grassy verge, then a quick return by the main road. A compact outing shaped by daylight.

A quiet potter from Bow Cross, with only a small link‑up at the start, flowed via the attractive Newhouse Barton lane to Ipplepen and the inevitable stop at Fermoys garden centre — a simple afternoon shaped by pretty lanes and familiar refreshments.

An off-road detour in search of the Whooping Rock defined the day: no whoop, but a cave for lunch with moorland views, and a track so rough it rattled Bob on his Galaxy. We finished with refreshments at the Wayside cafe, Widecombe, before the stiff climb past Bone Hill to Ashburton.

Steep tracks and open moor defined an outing from Ashburton to Haytor, the group threading unspoilt terrain to Saddle Tor before rolling home via Cold East Cross. John slipped trying to edge round a slick footbridge, and Seb and Ben bought food at the Haytor van for themselves before rejoining.