A refreshed Ten Tors route, swapping Haytor and Rippon Tor for Wind Tor and Yar Tor, spaced the challenges more evenly and lifted the day. Highlights included Alex’s first jump ending in a gorse bush, and Seb’s broken pedal swiftly fixed when Michael produced a spare.

A larger junior turnout, after older riders were welcomed, set the tone for a quiet evening ride to Spitchwick. We watched two South Dartmoor schoolboys jumping into the river, enjoyed repeated runs on the tube slides, and returned via a riverside path new to the club.

A road ride that just kept rolling turned into an unplanned 22-mile push in perfect evening sun, with the group riding on into the sunset. Even Mark, back after a long break, felt strong; they reached Buckfastleigh at dusk—a timely reminder to bring lights on all evening rides.

Balmy evening run to Avon Dam, the reservoir looking low, set the tone for a ride about responsibility on the moor: a broken marker and litter sparked tempers, but cooler heads prevailed. A late spill sent Philip over the bars, mercifully leaving only grazes and a plaster.

With rain threatening, we abandoned Thurlestone Sands for a shorter ride to Ugborough Beacon, where a plastic dinner plate stood in for a Frisbee. After a lively descent to Owley, the Copper Kettle was full, so we sped back to Buckfastleigh for Star Trek as the first drops fell.

Undeterred by drizzle, we took the Dartington–Totnes cycle path and enjoyed the new extension past the station to Totnes Pool, a much better finish than the old Unigate factory. Earlier a strong whiff of tobacco led us to an elderly pipe‑smoker walking his dog.

An unscheduled South Devon get‑together saw our ten join more than twenty others at the Rising Sun Tearooms for an hour of chat and decent refreshments, before ambling home. Clubs mostly kept to themselves, but the relaxed meet still made for a pleasant evening.

In perfect weather we headed for Spitchwick, swooping past the Witch’s House to the river where Budgie’s Frisbee kept plunging in. Michael was first to wade after it, others followed, and the cheerful mood carried us home through Hembury Woods.

An ‘official’ return to the Rising Sun Tearooms was marked by a holidaying newcomer, Mark, dropping in to join us. The Beeston track was still muddy—Budgie was not amused—before a drier sweep through Lower Combe and Green Lane brought us home.

With Michael away, Richard Burge led a smooth evening loop through Dean and Harbourneford to South Brent, returning via Pennywell for a punctual 8.30 finish.

A steady evening ride became memorable when ten chose the Beeston track and came back caked in mud; as dusk gathered, several without lights received a firm warning for next week.