With John away today seemed like the perfect opportunity for some serious off-road, so the Avon Dam was selected in record time. We were all feeling the heat by the time we had ridden around Harbourneford and up to Bloody Pool.

The rhododendrons along the path from Shipley Bridge to the reservoir were beginning to grow back at last following their heavy pruning last year. When we got to the reservoir we sat down to enjoy the scenery and Michael was asked by another visitor to work out the distance back to Shipley: it turned out to be 1.8 miles, which was perhaps surprising.

We followed the moorland path behind the reservoir, passing, unusually, a family who were fishing in the lake. Joining the Abbots Way we pushed to the top of the hill where the views across South Devon opened up before us. This was a new experience for Jude, and there was no doubt that he thoroughly enjoyed the long moorland downhill to Cross Furzes despite the final section being somewhat overgrown with gorse.

We got home as planned by 1.30.