Roy was going to be late so Dave waited for him while the rest of us headed up Dean Hill. By way of a change we took the right turn at the top to link across to the Nurston road, but this involved another climb and John wanted to know how many more hills there would be!

The answer was two actually, but eventually we reached Shipley Bridge and rode up the riverside road to the dam. The sun was setting as we settled on the grassy bank overlooking the reservoir. Everything was perfectly still, the air was warm and the sky was the most wonderful colour. This was a moment to savour, and nobody was in any hurry to leave.

As darkness fell we headed across the moor to the Abbots Way track and followed it over the top of the hill where the distant lights of the south Devon coast penetrated the summer haze. Roy got a puncture on the way back to Cross Furzes so we were a little later home than we had planned, but this had been a very special evening.

[This report never previously published - please tell us if you see any errors or omissions]