From Totnes we rode through Bowden and Tuckenhay to Higher Tideford, where Graham Moates and his friend Claire passed us in their car. They decided to take the car a little further before unpacking the bikes, but we had completed the descent through the second Bowden and started to eat lunch at the beach before we saw them again.

Michael's soup failed to heat properly today, the stove being adversely affected by the cold wind. The conditions didn't stop an elderly gentleman from going for a swim at the beach, however, a ritual he has performed daily for many years. It really was very cold today, so we could only assume that he was totally mad.

We cycled on to Dartmouth after lunch. The Paignton brigade then crossed the ferry to Kingswear while the rest of us popped in to the Spinning Wheel cafe for toasted teacakes and drinks. Michael made the mistake of ordering an expensive milkshake after the proprietor assured him it was "large" - it turned out to be less than a quarter of a pint!

The forecast rain finally caught up with us as we rode back towards Totnes, making the return journey somewhat miserable.