After a prolonged period of unsettled weather, a day of absolute loveliness dawned, after numerous prayers to aid probably the Section's most lushly offroad ride in history.

Martin, who was leading his first ride (officially), was pleased to find three other nutters on mountain bikes at the start. After cycling up though the back lanes past Venford reservoir, the bridlepath from Hexworthy to Princetown was 'hammered'. At the ford at the start of the track, Andrew decided to (try to) ride through. The camera waited for the inevitable sudden stop halfway across - the first wet feet of the day!

Supplies of milk suddenly disappeared from the cool cabinet at the shop in Princetown. Bridleways across the open moor were followed, and were great fun, so much so in fact that we went straight past Broad Rock! We continued further into nowhere, to Erme Pits, looking for a lunch spot. Julian either decided he wanted a closer look at the terrain or was desperate to eat something, and flung himself spectacularly over the handlebars, landing on his face. He tangoed to perfection with his toeclip, which had become so fond of his foot that it would not let go. He lay on the ground moaning (as usual) and squealing whilst Peter had to use all his strength to pull the bike free of the corpse. Lunch was eaten by the stream, and we continued to Red Lake. Here we posed at riding up and down the 'big lumpy thingy' which sticks out between the 'lakey-pond jobbies' at the end of the tramway.

We continued towards Huntingdon Warren, where we posed before the unusually large number of people at the bottom of the 1:1 hillside. As we descended to the valley floor Peter took flying lessons before continuing to Cross Furzes, where Martin received a puncture from a nasty rock. We waived bye-bye to Peter and descended the hill to Buckfastleigh.