An easy, sunny evening centred on welcoming new rider Tom Pearson, who rode effortlessly and completed his longest ride yet. A quick wait on Colston Road let Alex join after phoning, and Frisbee in the evening sunshine at Staverton with local youngsters rounded it off.

A sunlit moorland ride became a letterbox quest across six tors, from Haytor to Bonehill, with youngsters racing for stamps. The day’s flavour: a soapy‑tasting drink after the village shop was shut, and laughter as one rider over‑committed at the ford and fell in.

Ashley returned home with a bad migraine a few minutes in, leaving three of us to tackle Dean hill and the Zempson loop. A playful pause saw the lads attempt a tree; only Tom made it up from Michael’s shoulders. We finished with the climb from the viaduct to Rattery and Pennywell Farm.

A brisk, sunny run to Fermoys via Caddaford and Staverton set the tone, with a cafe stop en route. A Doctor Who Father’s Day card for Michael, signed by the youngsters, and Jordan repeatedly leaping off the play-park fort for the camera gave the ride its cheerful flavour.

With just two out, a short evening ride via Buckfast became a small adventure as we tried a new path in the Hapstead woods, complete with a stream running down the middle, a couple of gates and a delightful bridge. Verdict: one to revisit.

A fast run to River Dart Adventures defined the evening, as Michael’s plan to regroup at the cross-tracks unravelled: the riders waited at the wrong junction, then, high on speed, thundered straight past again. We returned via the old Ashburton road and finished with games at Crofters.

A sunny afternoon ride to Hill House Nursery was defined by a split vote that sent us down the muddy track, culminating in Jordan sinking a foot into a quagmire. Restored by ice creams in the revamped gardens, we played among the paths, while Dennis earned a rebuke for meddling with a greenhouse lemon.

A surprise return by former regular Julian Duquemin turned the evening into a reunion, so we headed for the Totnes cycle path. Spirits were high: Julian tiptoed around anything off-road while Matt guarded his new bike, refusing test rides without a £1,000 deposit. The youngsters climbed superbly.

Sunshine and a busy Camel Trail carried us to Padstow, where the day’s highlight was a fast, twisting speedboat blast round the estuary—Ryan soaked by the spray—before a quiet ride back. A harbour brass band over lunch lent the trip a slightly surreal, holiday air.

Torrential rain wiped out the evening ride, so we switched to a social at Crofters, turning the night into a relaxed session of computer games instead.

An easygoing evening that moved from ramps and a rope swing at Ashburton Park to the bustle of River Dart Adventures, packed with summer campers, before a gentle climb through Holne Woods and the customary Slalom descent at Hembury; Olly turned back early.