Just after we set off for Exminster at 10.05 Michael got a text from Lawrence saying he had planned to come with us but hadn’t noticed the earlier start time. We could have just about squeezed him in, but in the end he decided to stay in bed.

Storm Katie passed overnight leaving sunny but breezy conditions this morning, although we did get a shower on the way up. More showers were forecast for mid-afternoon so we planned to get back to the car for around 4pm. As we were unloading the bikes at Exminster wildlife car park a passing cyclist told us that the lane to the cycle path was flooded. We had to ride down there to find out of course, and his information proved to be accurate: Tao rode to the first corner and found out that it was very deep and continued for a long way around the corner. It seemed sensible to find an alternative outward route and perhaps tackle the flood on the way back.

We rode back through Exminster town and tried the next path to the canal from the BP garage. Unfortunately that was flooded too, so we stuck to the road over the swing bridges and then took the cycle route through Topsham – Dillan and George both remembered this from the last time we were here in October 2014.

In Fore Street, Topsham there was a nice-looking bakery/café called Shaul’s, so everyone except Tao popped in for a hot drink and a cake – the coffee turned out to be some of the best Michael had tasted in a long time. Will saw the Easter biscuits and thought the dark bits were chocolate pieces – he swapped it when he got back to his table and realised they were raisins.

We continued along the Exe trail past Lympstone, getting some great views across the estuary. When we arrived at Exmouth at 12.45 Tao agreed with Michael that it was perhaps not the best day to extend the ride to Budleigh, so we bought lunch from various shops and ate it in the town square. Michael made the mistake of getting his from the bakery and ended up with dry pizza and a flavourless dry cheese and onion pasty.

We planned to take the 1.40 ferry to Starcross, so got there for 1.30. Unfortunately we had to change our plans. First, the ferryman wanted to charge us full price of £24.95 for the five of us and would not consider even one penny of discount. Then we met some cyclists getting off the ferry who advised us that the Powderham road on the other side was completely flooded. Nobody wanted to pay that much money just to get wet feet, so when he refused our final offer of £20 we decided to return the way we had come.

We rode to the beach for some photos, then took the cycle path back into the town. After reading an amusing advertisement in the public lavatories Tao wondered what might happen if we popped into the co-op and asked if Jake was available.

There were some showers on the way back to Topsham but nothing really heavy. We skipped the shops this time and decided to take the canal path from the swing bridges, taking a chance on the flood. The flooding was very evident from the canal: a footpath leading under the M5 was completely submerged in floodwater. The canal looked fabulous in the unusual lighting.

When we got to the flooded lane near the car it was just as deep as before, especially on the corner near the middle. Those of us who took off shoes and socks before splashing through the water definitely came out best at the other end.

There was rain on the way home in the car, so when we got back at 4.40 everyone came into Crofters for an hour and a half of hot drinks, great conversation and some fascinating photos from the club’s 30-year archive.