On a brisk spin to Dartington we agreed to cut the summer tour to a one- or two-night local outing, then marked what may be our last ride with Callum before he moves north. A brief shower gave way to frisbee in the park, after café grumbles over juice prices and a chips-only stop.

An attempted restart of summer evening rides was cut short by the heat: several no‑shows and Callum, bravely but unwisely in jeans, turned back before Hembury. Michael and new rider Ashley continued along the lower track past the lively summer camp, and the outing became a warm farewell as Callum heads to Newcastle.

Callum’s leaving ride became a cake-fuelled send-off: he missed the start but met us back at Crofters for more cake, noodles and a last Modern Warfare 3 session. On the road, Lawrence’s slow puncture turned fast and needed roadside repairs.

An easy social night at Vue Plymouth for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, a gripping sequel where Caesar struggles to hold a fragile peace between apes and human survivors. Tense set-pieces and a brooding, post-collapse mood made it thoroughly entertaining.

A brisk climb towards Spitchwick turned into a welcome detour to Holne Café, where exceptional, great-value portions were the highlight. John peeled off for a luncheon appointment, and the rest returned via Holne Woods and a bustling River Dart park.

With the Ashmoor sports hall to ourselves, we spread across two courts for some lively games. The standout theme was improvement: Dillan and George played with noticeably greater confidence and control than on our last visit.

With the Camel Trail shelved by the wind, the youngsters pushed for Ipplepen and made their longest club ride, still lively over the final hills. A friendly dog tailed us early on, and later a stray rocket landed in a dog-guarded garden, kindly retrieved by the owner.

A relaxed evening at Plymouth’s Crownhill Pizza Hut, defined by the £8 all-in deal—pizza, dessert and unlimited drinks.

A sunny start to Landscove dissolved into a long drenching, shelter under trees proving futile until we reached the café—where, inevitably, the sun came out. Teased by dry customers asking if it was raining, we lingered for cake and ended with birthday slices for Michael at Crofters.

After an action‑packed tour, we wound down by sharing photos, then the youngsters happily settled into computer games for the evening.

With legs still tired from the tour, we kept it local: Ashburton, an hour of badminton at Ashmoor, then lunch on the old railway. The first return along the A38 hinted at fast new routes, while a tiny Chihuahua tried to charm some pasty.