Heavy overnight rain gave way to a blustery but dry morning just in time for the start of our ride. We rode along Colston Road and on to the Cider Press Centre at Dartington where we settled into Cranks vegetarian restaurant for a range of scones and fruit juice concoctions. The riverside cycle path gave us excellent views of the swollen river Dart, culminating in the weir which had been transformed into a raging torrent.

Kane was beginning to struggle as we climbed the hill towards Rattery, but he splashed bravely onwards through the lakes that straddled the lanes, bringing us home by 1.45 for an afternoon social at Crofters.