The Met Office had promised heavy rain before 9am for our Christmas Eve ride - disappointing, because many members were taking up Michael's challenge to provide the best-decorated bike. When no rain had arrived by 10am we (foolishly) decided to push on to the Totnes pick-up to meet the Paignton contingent.

The decorations were assessed at Totnes. It was immediately clear that Ken, Julie and family would have to be the clear winners: Mum and Dad wore Father and Mother Christmas outfits whilst Ben, Roxanne and Karina were dressed as gnomes, complete with red pointed hats! Special awards went to Martin Hills for his enormous tinsel Christmas tree (which was blown off at Huxham's Cross), David and Chris Platt for their well-decorated bikes (they even had tinsel halos!) and Alan Skinner for his mini Father Christmas in a mini bed on his pannier rack. Luke and Marcus Kudliskis and Matthew Jago also deserve a mention for their more conventional efforts.

Sadly (but predictably), now that we were at our farthest point from home, the first drops of rain began to fall. Once Julie's puncture had been repaired we sped back to Buckfastleigh along the main road at top speed, receiving many strange looks from passing motorists! Secretly we all knew the effort was futile, and sure enough the torrents began as we rode through Dartington. By the time we reached Buckfastleigh everyone was drenched, including Father Christmas who somehow managed to get lost in the town. A search party was despatched and he was soon retrieved, although he wasn't in a particularly jolly mood when he arrived!

Those living in Buckfastleigh went home to change and joined the others at Crofters for the rest of the day. When everyone had enjoyed lunch and dried off somewhat (Michael did a load of washing and drying for the crowds) we settled down to watch the film "Labyrinth". It was still raining heavily when it finished, so transport was kindly provided by Mr Harler and Michael for those living farther away - except Matthew and Martin, who chose to ride home early in the rain!