There was plenty of enthusiasm this evening for our proposed Dartmoor ride: even Callum O’B promised to pedal hard so we could get up to Skerraton as quickly as possible. He actually cycled really well up past Nurston so we were soon starting along the bridleway that leads to Skerraton.

When we reached the open moor Michael realised that his expensive light battery had dropped off somewhere along the track. It was already past sunset and heading fast for the end of twilight. It was too dark to go back and look for it without a torch, and there wasn’t enough time anyway as we needed to navigate up to the top of the hill before it got really dark. There was no choice but to continue with the ride and hope that everyone else’s front lights would be sufficient.

At the top we managed to find the wall that we needed to follow and got some great views across South Devon to the distant twinkling lights of Newton Abbot and Teignmouth. Further along we stopped to play with Jerry’s light-emitting flying toy, fired into the air with an elastic band. The first time it was launched it landed in the branches of an old tree, but at least we could see where it was and Callum F managed to retrieve it by climbing the tree, getting some decent scratches in the process. Further launches took place well away from the tree, providing plenty of run-around fun for everyone. Callum O’B lost his iPod, but a mass search found it, then Callum F lost a lens from his sunglasses and amazingly another mass search found that too.

Even the descent to Cross Furzes was not uneventful. Michael advised everyone to go slowly, but Callum O’B was at the front with Ash going a little faster than slowly. He hit a pinecone (so he says), lost control and crashed into Ash, causing them both to fall off. The grass was soft so there was no real harm done, but they were more careful after that as we continued to Cross Furzes and down Wallaford Road, reaching home by 9.20. Trampoline fun was offered at Crofters until 10pm.

Michael and Ash returned by car at 10.45 with some good torches and managed to find the lost battery about two thirds of the way up the track.