A hot and sunny day had given way to an overcast evening with the threat of thunder showers, but we were determined to visit a moorland river again. We climbed Wallaford Road as quickly as Keir's little legs would carry him (which was actually quicker than usual for him!), bringing us eventually to the track past Hayford Hall to Lud Gate. The subsequent descent across open moorland was interrupted only by the observation of a dead sheep, which seemed to fascinate the younger riders.

There was time for Joe and Keir to get their feet wet in the river, but a few heavy raindrops prompted us to head homewards without further delay. In fact it turned largely dry again, and our return past Hawson Court was augmented with the fabulous smells of damp grassland wafting over the hedgerows.