We made excellent speed along Colston Road were soon enjoying the cycle path from Dartington to Totnes. The tide was out and the river level was so low that the youngsters could walk out to the overspill section of the weir for the first time in many months.

Continuing through Totnes Park and the Plains we quickly joined the Sharpham cycle path, pausing briefly for the youngsters to take two turns each on a death-defying rope swing attached to an overhanging branch on a very steep section of woodland.

Further along the track we met two very friendly horses who captured our attention for a full fifteen minutes. The dark horse had a very good nose for food, quickly deciding that Michael's pannier would be worth very close investigation! Jordan got so friendly with the brown horse that he would happily have taken it home with him.

A final climb through the bluebell-covered woodland brought us to the quiet village of Ashprington, where the play park boasted an amazingly high swing which our youngsters just had to test. We had lunch at the bottom of the hill, by the stepping stones on Bow Creek, then headed along the relatively flat road to Harbertonford. Here the cavernous village stores provided welcome ice creams, which we enjoyed by the riverside.

The return home via Rolster Bridge was completed with the same good speed as the outward journey, although Jordan didn't appreciate the climb from Tigley to Rattery in the now sweltering heat. Everyone loved the downhill from Pennywell however, and we had made such good speed that the youngsters got nearly three hours of computer games to round of an excellent day.