Tao was happy this week: he had been readmitted to South Dartmoor school in Ashburton two years after his family moved from Buckfastleigh to Newton Abbot. Eliot was also happy, as he had managed to stay at the school even though his family had just moved from Buckfastleigh to temporary accommodation in Dawlish, but his transport arrangements would not get easier until they had found a permanent home in Newton Abbot. He had assured us he would be riding out today from Dawlish, but there was no sign of him at the Bovey pick-up.

Neither was there any sign of Richard and Julian, which was surprising really when you consider that they were with us at Buckfastleigh. They rolled in when Michael had finished fixing his punctures: Richard had thought the pick-up was at Chudleigh Bridge!

The ride to this brand new destination began with the usual rail track to the Primrose Cafe at Lustleigh and continued with the long, steep ascent of Lustleigh Cleave. When we finally managed to get past a flock of sheep at the top we turned left for Peck Farm and set out along our selected bridleway onto the moor. A couple of local youngsters on bikes were following the same path and would probably have plucked up courage to ask about the club if we hadn’t stopped for lunch just short of the fort.

The fort turned out to be little more than a circular ridge (like most Devon forts) but the scenery was excellent and the track was good fun, though a little tiring. The last section was steep, rocky and overgrown, but the lads still wanted more so we continued across the steep-sided Bovey valley to Becky Falls.

When everyone had taken a much-needed rest at the cafe we set off through Manaton (Toby thought it was Manhattan) to Bowerman’s Nose, Cold East Cross and Buckfastleigh, where the day was concluded in traditional style with several games of Dynablasters at Crofters.