After climbing Green Lane Michael presented two alternative routes for the ride, one circling west from Broadhempston that included several tracks and one circling south that did not. The tracks won the vote with a clear majority, so we started with the track to Abham. A group of travellers were still encamped at its peak after more than three years, now even having wheelie bins provided by the council!

Riding along the riverside track to Staverton we were soon at Broadhempston Play Park. Ashley was very keen to join some local youngsters and their father who were playing football, but in the end he recognised that he was twice their size and contented himself with Frisbees and obstacle courses in the park. Matt's Frisbee skills left something to be desired when he twice managed to overshoot the park boundary and land the Frisbee on the window of a nearby cottage!

On the return route Ron Greet's tractor graveyard provided some interest for the youngsters, but it was the famous Beaston Track that got everyone excited. This track was renowned many years ago for the enormous muddy lake that crossed from hedge to hedge about halfway along - it was always there, even after the driest summer! Nowadays the lake problem has been sorted, but the track still offers several substantial puddles and muddy stretches to keep Alex happy.

An unwelcome climb brought us eventually to the start of the woodland track to Lower Combe. The youngsters descended in double quick time only to find another climb waiting for them, this time to Green Lane. Everyone on the ride except Ben was taking part in next week's Easter tour, and Michael was so pleased with their performance on this harder-than-usual afternoon ride that he declared them all ready for the tour.