A purposeful ride to Pixie’s Cave via Dartmeet; the rear exit sealed by a boulder curtailed explorations, but a spontaneous stick fight lifted spirits. We rounded off with excellent refreshments at the newly reopened Old Forge in Holne.

Our first evening ride of the season was lively: standard route to Broadhempston, then the muddy Beaston–Forder Green track with a pool up to the hubs. The hilly return via Thorncroft and Pridhamsleigh was a chance to try new lights.

With most of the Section away on the Easter Tour, a small group took a gentle amble via Hembury Woods and Buckland-in-the-Moor to Ashburton, the day’s highlight a windswept halt on Buckland Common to share Cadbury’s Creme Eggs.

On a beautifully clear evening at Spitchwick, Andrew and Luke braved an icy dip in the Dart while the rest threw a tennis ball around. As Luke went behind a bush to change came the deadpan reply: 'I wonder what he's going to be this time!'

With the Torbay and Plymouth riders opting for roads at Avonwick, we took the moor: lunch on Ugborough Beacon, then the Redlake tramway and a rough Abbot's Way return. A 125 crawled through the valley below as Mark Moxham nursed his new bike over the stones.

A warm, golden evening tempted us onto an over-ambitious moorland route, tough going for young Wayne as the bumpy heath grew dim. After some guesswork with the boundary wall we finally picked up the familiar path to Cross Furzes, a relief in the semi-darkness.

Young Julian Juste chose a steep debut to Rattery, only to find our beloved lane between Culverlane and Shorter Cross brutally cleared, much to Michael’s annoyance. The pretty Diptford–North Huish lane and its flower-clad Avon bridge lifted spirits, before Copper Kettle tea paused by Warren’s blow-out.

On a warm, clear evening we took the tranquil lanes towards Ilsington and up to Haytor, where the youngsters were captivated by sleek young horses grazing by the stream. Views on the tor were dulled by haze, but a golden‑red sunset lit the ride home across the moor.