There was plenty of enthusiasm this evening for our proposed Dartmoor ride: even Callum O’B promised to pedal hard so we could get up to Skerraton as quickly as possible. He actually cycled really well up past Nurston so we were soon starting along the bridleway that leads to Skerraton.

When we reached the open moor Michael realised that his expensive light battery had dropped off somewhere along the track. It was already past sunset and heading fast for the end of twilight. It was too dark to go back and look for it without a torch, and there wasn’t enough time anyway as we needed to navigate up to the top of the hill before it got really dark. There was no choice but to continue with the ride and hope that everyone else’s front lights would be sufficient.

At the top we managed to find the wall that we needed to follow and got some great views across South Devon to the distant twinkling lights of Newton Abbot and Teignmouth. Further along we stopped to play with Jerry’s light-emitting flying toy, fired into the air with an elastic band. The first time it was launched it landed in the branches of an old tree, but at least we could see where it was and Callum F managed to retrieve it by climbing the tree, getting some decent scratches in the process. Further launches took place well away from the tree, providing plenty of run-around fun for everyone. Callum O’B lost his iPod, but a mass search found it, then Callum F lost a lens from his sunglasses and amazingly another mass search found that too.

Even the descent to Cross Furzes was not uneventful. Michael advised everyone to go slowly, but Callum O’B was at the front with Ash going a little faster than slowly. He hit a pinecone (so he says), lost control and crashed into Ash, causing them both to fall off. The grass was soft so there was no real harm done, but they were more careful after that as we continued to Cross Furzes and down Wallaford Road, reaching home by 9.20. Trampoline fun was offered at Crofters until 10pm.

Michael and Ash returned by car at 10.45 with some good torches and managed to find the lost battery about two thirds of the way up the track.

Everyone was prepared for a cycle ride despite the light rain, but it soon became clear that a computer games social would be a more suitable activity given the weather conditions.

We started out with Callum O’Brien’s plan to go to Ashburton, but the weather wasn’t great this evening and a nasty shower at Dart Bridge, coupled with the fact that Callum F and two others hadn’t brought coats, persuaded us to switch to a shorter route through Buckfast.

We rode up to Michelcombe and after some debate about whether to go to Cross Furzes or Holne we ended up with Ash’s choice of Holne. Playing on the rope swing in the park was even more fun in the dark.

Callum F left his helmet there and had to go back for it, but Lawrence had also left his backpack there and didn’t realise until we reached Barn Park in Buckfastleigh! He’s so forgetful! Ash couldn’t resist stopping on the way home to snap a great photo of the moon peeping out behind the clouds, although unfortunately it didn’t come out too well.

With Callum O’Brien’s friend Reece kitted out with Callum F’s spare bike we rode to Ashburton, up to Belford Mill and down the woodland track: everyone including Reece really enjoyed it and wanted to do it again, but we didn’t really have the time today. We then took the Terrace Walk back into Ashburton – a few took a tumble near the end but Callum O’B had warned them.

We returned past Ashburton Park, and as it was empty today we spent some time there. Lawrence managed to drop his money on the roundabout thing but after an extensive search he managed to find most of it.

We got home for 1.15 and spent the afternoon with a mixture of trampolining and Lord of the Rings: at first Reece thought he wouldn’t like it, but ended up loving it.

Michael’s light battery was flat and Lawrence’s rear light (which Michael had loaned him last week) had jumped off all by itself at some point, but when Ash had pumped his tyre we eventually set off for a short ride along the Hembury Woods lower track. We were going quite slowly with the poor lights but everyone seemed to be having fun in the dark. Then Michael borrowed Ash’s Stanley torch and used it as a handheld bike light, so our speed improved significantly.

On our way back through Jordan Street we stopped to the side so cars could get through the gap, but a rather unfriendly young driver decided it wasn't big enough so waited for Ash to move. He moved a little but suggested (non-verbally) that there was plenty of room for him. Unfortunately this seemed to annoy the driver, who got out and started an argument with Ash. Michael defused it successfully but the lads were talking about it for some time afterwards.

Most finished with some trampoline fun but Lawrence and Michael had a great game of Lord of the Rings, defeating one of the two brutal enemies and then running out of time.

As this evening’s ride was the last of the season Michael had tried to make it special by allowing everyone to bring hot and cold food to eat at Staverton Park. Unfortunately it didn’t go quite according to plan.

Zac brought a Complan in a bottle, Michael took a flask of boiling water and some pot noodles, others brought crisps and chocolate and everyone was quite excited by the idea, which had been advertised on our website.

We got off to a bad start when several had lights missing or not working. Riding along Colston Road Lawrence fell off on a corner, probably because his lights were not working properly, so he was sore and bruised and rode even slower for the rest of the ride. At Staverton Park Jerry broke several of the most important club rules and received a temporary ban from the club as a result. Whilst the noodles came out great, the grass was damp with dew and there were insects flying all around us, so we ended up sitting on the wooden steps into the park.

After playing Frisbee in the park for a short time we headed home along the fast route past Hole Farm. Stopping on the hill above Riverford Callum O'B was riding around without a front light and somehow managed to crash into Jack’s stationery bike which did have lights, causing some damage to the mudguards. The least said about the ensuing argument the better. Suffice it to say that when we had eventually made our way home through Buckfastleigh Michael was very glad that he wouldn’t have to run another evening ride for six months!