This turned out to be one of the best weekends we have ever organised. A few were put off by the high cost of travelling to and from Taunton on the railways, but those who went were not disappointed.

From Taunton station we rode through Creech St Michael, Ham, Knapp, North Curry and Meare Green, stopping at a visitor centre near the latter to learn the importance of willow in the area. Next stop was Burrow Mump, a strange rounded hill sticking up out of the acres of flat landscape, with a ruined church at the summit. Our route to Cheddar hostel was really very easy, the long flat roads being only occasionally interrupted with short climbs. Michael was awarding points to the members who noticed local features such as drainage ditches or willow trees, but there were so many that we eventually had to give up the idea.

Martin Hills hit a major problem shortly after our arrival at the hostel. He locked up his bike and realised he hadn't got the key. He located a shop that had a pair of bolt-croppers, but had to wait until the next morning for them to open. After a generous supper we enjoyed a cycle excursion to the gorge before returning for card games at the hostel.

Next morning we began the day with a guided tour around the Cheddar caves and then climbed the long gorge to Priddy. We called in briefly at Wookey Hole after lunch, but decided there wasn't time to see even the Hall of Mirrors. At Wells we looked over the cathedral and watched the jousters on the famous clock doing their thing, then we proceeded through the lanes to Glastonbury Tor, where the long climb kept us occupied for quite a while. We were only a couple of miles from Street, but Michael decided not to point this fact out as we surveyed the view from the tor. An excursion was organised which took us through West Bradley, Baltonsborough and Butleigh before bringing us to the hostel on time.

Street hostel is a wooden chalet surrounded by woodland and situated on a ridge overlooking Street. The interior was very satisfactory, some of the dorms even having their own balconies. There was plenty of room outside on the common for games of rounders, so that is how much of the evening was spent.

Our last day was plagued with mechanical problems near Walton, but we still found time for the planned excursion to Meare before heading for Taunton via Ashcott. We arrived at the station with a few minutes to spare - just enough time to purchase a few items of food from a nearby shop.