Between tour photos and computer games, the evening centred on setting our Friday programme: rides when the weather allows, back by 9.30, with a social to 10.30, and at least 13 rides across 26 Fridays. The season has begun with two socials.

With rain looming, we kept the ride cautious: out to the lower Hembury track, over Shuttaford Hill to Holne, then a brief café stop. The new coffee machine served much improved coffee, and we slipped back via Scoriton before the rain arrived in the early afternoon.

Our first evening ride of the season was defined by high river levels at Staverton, denying the stepping-stone crossing and sending us back through the park. A lively chat saw two riders turn off early, prompting a brief sweep to regroup before heading home.

An unhurried spin to Landscove set the tone: after a late start and coffee we ambled via Ashburton, pausing to urge a weary Devon Dirt rider to enjoy the day rather than the clock. We lingered over cake and soup in the garden centre, agreeing on longer rides from next Sunday if the weather is good.

With light rain all evening, we switched to a badminton social at Ashmoor. George was allowed to join on the promise of riding Sunday, and we rounded off with a Game of Thrones quiz over hot drinks, lingering past the planned finish.

We pushed hard to Dartmeet before the day’s true highlight: Dr Blackall’s Drive. Will and George relished the stony track and views above the Dart, while fortunes varied—John called it “interesting” and Michael broke a pedal on a rock.

With Will arriving at 8.10 and George also late, the ride became a spontaneous badminton social in Newton Abbot: doubles first, then rapid 5-point singles, with everyone taking at least one win.

A Google-led route turned a Costa-bound outing into a quietly absorbing exploration of little-ridden lanes and the Broadridge Woods path beside the River Lemon into Newton Abbot. Past tensions at Chercombe House never surfaced, and lunch plans drifted from Costa to Asda instead.

A sociable evening ride with engaging conversation took us over the moor to Chalk Ford. We searched in vain for pigs and piglets, then headed home and rounded off the night with general knowledge and music quizzes.

On the warmest day so far, a vote sent the trio through boggy Burchetts Wood, to John’s delight, with bluebells and the babbling Holy Brook softening the mud. A steep pull to Ridgey Cross brought an overdue stop at the Holne Café for soups and scones before an early return via Hembury.

With heavy rain from 7pm we turned the ride into a sociable indoor evening: console games to start, an energetic hour of badminton on two courts in Ashburton, then Modern Warfare 3 back at Crofters right up to the 10.30 closing.

An 85th anniversary ride and Michael’s last before hospital mixed sunlit moorland fun to Chalk Ford with a sombre shock at Hembury Fort, where the central trees had been cut down. Ash returned in style, winning a stone-throwing contest before a muddy slalom and a café stop.