Richard led from Marldon on this evening ride, as local knowledge steered us through tucked-away lanes east of Beacon Hill towards Stoke Gabriel. The moment that stuck was finding pots, pans and broken crockery strewn along the road, apparently dropped from a tourist’s car.

A sunny moorland evening ride turned memorable when Paul Hamlyn-White came face to face with a bull near Lambsdown; he backed away while Simon urged a wide berth and Michael saw it stayed put. Shaken by the encounter, Paul skipped Crofters after the final descent.

Planned as a gentle introduction to reliability rides, the West Dartmoor route became a stern test in sweltering heat. Michael’s rear tyre exploded leaving Bovey, and later the approach to New Bridge vanished under molten tarmac, turning the ride into a sticky, nervous grind.

A quiet dry evening ride to Torbryan, led by Richard Hopper, wound back over Park Hill to Compton, where the village cricket was still under way — a simple summer moment that defined the ride.

At River Dart Country Park the gate officer queried our special permission, but a letter from the director saw us through. We gave the Anaconda Run a thorough workout before heading via Holne and the Hembury track, where conditions were perfect.

Answering calls for a beach ride, we threaded the lanes to Mansands, capped by a tricky track that only three rode all the way—remarkably Ken and Ben with the trailer. After swims and poking around the rocks, we returned via STC.

Shunning the main roads, we threaded three quiet tracks from Pridhamsleigh to Thornecroft and were delighted to find a trickling stream on the last—water under wheel at last. Buoyed by that, we dropped down Simon’s favourite footpath to Lower Combe, then home via Staverton and Colston Road.

Bright sun and a dusty track led us beyond East Prawle to a secluded Elender Cove, the year’s most enjoyable beach ride. Nick and Ian plunged in first as others lunched above, and the heavy surf kept Martin, Paul and John playing for ages; by departure time, nobody wanted to leave.

A calm spell on Babbacombe Downs contrasted with the bustle of Torquay’s harbour. The return turned comic when Matthew’s line through Daccombe and Edginswell delivered us to the bottom of Shiphay—grumbles all round, though no one could claim to know a better way through the estates.

Heading for Dartington, Michael's puncture in his puncture-proof tyre slowed us. Then we ignored teenagers' warnings and found the tidal riverside path flooded, hub-deep, then impassably high, forcing a retreat to the road and a late return with very wet feet.

A sunny, easy joint ride to Pulsford centred on a stop at Pick 'n' Park, where giant iced desserts annoyed Michael and Shane fended off a persistent wasp. The Marldon riders had the easier return; Buckfastleigh passed the fire-damaged Rising Sun Inn.