On our first evening ride of 2015 we reached Staverton riverside, only to find the stepping stones to the island submerged despite the bridge being unlocked. As darkness fell we tested our lights, but a bright full moon led us home through the chill.

With the evening’s ride switched to a social at Crofters, the group relived the recent tour through high-quality video footage and rounded things off with computer games — a relaxed change of plan that kept the club spirit alive.

Buoyed by our recent tour, we rode to the Holne café, where a child‑back tandem carried not just mother and son but a contented dog snug in a converted saddlebag. Home in time for lunch, the youngsters still chose the steep Combe to Cross Furzes climb and rode it with ease.

We went off-road from Skerraton, climbing briskly past Nurston to reach the moor as dusk fell. After taking in the wide South Devon views, failing lights forced a careful return via Cross Furzes, bunched close and sharing the only two that still worked.

Progress to Fermoy’s was anything but smooth: Dillan’s chain snapped twice before a bent front derailleur was straightened, and a newly fallen tree at Abham blocked the lane. We picked our way through and, via Newhouse Barton, finally made a gentler approach to Ipplepen.

Drizzle became real rain, scuppering the planned evening ride. The youngsters made the best of it with a trip to Tesco at Lee Mill followed by computer games, turning the night into a damp but companionable social instead.

An unhurried exploration of the Grand Western Canal from Tiverton to its present terminus brought wildlife, canal history and a steady headwind out, a swift glide back. Highlights included Dillan sprinting for every bridge and the horse-drawn Tivertonian turning mid‑canal before tea at the café.

Keeping it short on a gloomy evening, we raced up Hembury’s main hill and had an uncanny moment: Michael recalled seeing a deer years ago and, seconds later, a young deer stepped out and stared before wandering off. Birdsong and fresh leaves softened the ride back through the woods.

With showers threatening, we made up the route as we went, ducking into the Holne café just as the rain began before heading back via Hembury Woods to beat the afternoon band. Only Lawrence took on the 'Slalom' track, and the rain reached Buckfastleigh almost to the minute.

A very brief report: another unpleasant evening saw the planned ride switched to a Pizza Hut social in Plymouth, which Dillan enjoyed immensely.

With the Bellever YH weekend cancelled for exam revision, just Dillan and Michael headed to Haldon Forest Park for a thorough exploration of the blue and red tracks. They wrapped up by 1pm with an all-day breakfast at the Route 5 restaurant.