Three new youngsters helped make this the largest attendance of the year so far. We wanted to include a cafe in the ride today, to help everyone towards completion of their Stage 1 certificate, so we headed off along Colston road. The cycle track from Dartington to Totnes along the riverside was a new and highly enjoyable experience for many of the youngsters, taking us past the weir and a number of swans, and through the wood where trees have sprouted right in the middle of the path.

The Terrace Cafe decided to put us on tables outside, where the general verdict on the food and drink quality was highly favourable. The journey home was to be via Littlehempston, but problems began at the top of the steep stony track: the local farmer had been busy, leaving all the hedge trimmings across the path. Of course the youngsters didn't notice, so when we reached the bridge at the bottom we had no fewer than 6 punctures to repair! The main victims were Ben and James. A seventh, caused by Angus riding over a drawing pin, seemed to stay up as long as we didn't remove the pin! And of course there was also Jamie's derailleur to reassemble.

An hour later we finally set off for a very late return home. Everyone did remarkably well, especially in view of the fact that it was nearly 3pm when we got home. Michael's supply of chocolate rations kept everyone going, so in the end there were a lot of points added to the Training Programme score sheet, which probably made it all worthwhile.