Choosing the adventurous Redlake Tramway, we left Ugborough Beacon for a moorland traverse, fixing our line by the spoil heap and reaching the clapper bridge and Avon Dam before a fast run to Cross Furzes. Hallam’s calls hit a wrong number on his lunchbox, and Callum slid on the last descent.

An easy evening ride turned into a small adventure: we climbed the new cycle path to Dartington hill and tried a road towards Rattery. A light-hearted Frisbee stop in a field ended abruptly when a herd of cows arrived, sending the youngsters back to the gate.

A short ride to Holne stood out for the transformed track through Burchett’s Wood, now rideable even after rain thanks to fresh chippings. Swings and chocolate at the play park, then the Slalom in Hembury Woods where Ash launched off the jump, gave the morning an easy, playful feel.

This evening Ryan steered us onto his favourite loop to Ashburton, via the back lanes to the wedge-shaped Belford Mill, before dropping down the woodland track. We paused by a felled tree for refreshments while the youngsters enjoyed the jumps.

With Ryan’s knee tender we kept it short, made swift progress to the moor then dropped to Chalk Ford, pausing to find the piglets again, bigger but now only three. Zac ignored the speed warning, pinch punctured, and with no repair kits was saved by a dash to Ryan’s house before rain hastened us home.

An evening spin to Spitchwick became a quiet dip in the cool Dart: the three youngsters went right in, splashing about on an otherwise deserted riverside. A visiting couple’s boy, seeing the fun, begged to paddle, and we headed back via Hembury Woods as the light fell.

Woodland tracks along Holy Brook led us through Holne Woods to River Dart Adventures, busy with peak-season crowds. The return of the Buddha Dharma Sangha summer camp was a notable sight, and a quick detour to the Ashburton park jumps ended the ride.

With Michael’s Mercian in for service, he drove support while the youngsters rode Green Lane to Landscove, regrouping on the school field for a lively Frisbee—memorable for Ryan’s horror at grass in his hair. Zac’s new Gary Fisher proved quick before we rolled back via Abham.

With Michael still without a bike and the youngsters saving their energy for the tour, we kept it brief: he led by car while we rode up Dean Hill to Rattery, returning via Pennywell Farm—an unusual but relaxed outing.

Heavy rain shelved our final pre-tour ride, so we turned it into a relaxed social: computer games at Crofters, then pool in Plymouth. A customary Tesco snack stop on the way back and a few more games in Buckfastleigh rounded off a day that kept spirits up despite the weather.

With the Scotland tour starting tomorrow, we swapped the morning ride for a relaxed social, playing computer games before parting at 2pm. A low‑key send‑off that built quiet anticipation for the adventure ahead.