Fine spring sunshine greeted us for our first car-assisted day ride for 2007. Some last-minute bookings brought the total number of participants to nine, but with some careful packing we managed to fit all the bikes and all the riders into the two Volvo estates provided by Michael and Charles. The outward journey was made less cramped, however, when Alex's Dad kindly offered to take some riders.

We reached Steps Bridge car park at 11.15 to find no spaces whatsoever, but two people left while we unloaded the bikes. The youngsters noticed the youth hostel sign, pointing to the wooden chalet up in the woods that was once Steps Bridge youth hostel. We have made many visits there in the past, but sadly the hostel was closed by YHA last year.

Our ride began with the bridleway along the east bank of the river Teign through Cod Wood. Daffodils were growing everywhere, and the twists and turns of the path provided plenty of fun. There was then a short stretch of road to Clifford Bridge, where the first enormous red ants were noticed with some horror.

After a short chocolate break we continued along the opposite bank of the Teign along the track through Hitchcombe, Butterdon and Hore woods. Jordan and Dennis quickly found a red ants nest, and later kept the group waiting while they organised a game of "Manhunt" in the woods - otherwise known as Hide and Seek!

Fingle Bridge was reasonably busy. Zac seemed keen to abandon his packed lunch in favour of a visit to the attractive-looking restaurant by the river, but Michael encouraged everyone to press on with the steep climb to the Hunter's Path. The views were excellent during the climb, and even better when we reached the top, but the wind was significant as we settled down for lunch overlooking the steeply wooded Teign valley.

We followed the path to a viewpoint and then down past Castle Drogo. From the road we then joined the Fisherman's Path that leads back to Fingle Bridge beside the river. This was altogether more challenging, with more twists and climbs than the former.

For some of the youngsters one of the best features of the ride was the opportunity to meet so many dogs along the route. It seemed that every five minutes some new exciting breed would come along and get loads of attention from everyone, particularly Dennis! As we approached an incredibly steep flight of steps we were greeted by the best dog of the day, picking its way very carefully down the steps towards us. It got a very warm welcome when it reached the bottom!

Finally back at Fingle Bridge again we called in to the restaurant to enjoy drinks and light refreshments beside the river. Michael was somewhat surprised, therefore, when everyone flocked to his chocolate shop as soon as we left! Evidently toasted teacakes just don't hit the spot like chocolate!

To conclude a highly enjoyable ride we retraced our route back through the two woodland tracks to the cars.

Today, after weeks of unseasonably warm weather, the north wind moved in to make our March morning ride more challenging. An early shower drenched us with icy water and hailstones as we rode to Dean, and since Alex hadn't brought a coat (he had apparently left it at school) he decided to head home even though the sun was emerging as he left.

The rest of us tackled the climb past Nurston farm, where the dogs came out in force to greet us but thankfully were not in biting mood today. The cold wind made the climb harder, but eventually we reached the top where a horse rider warned us of the bitter winds on the open moor. Since Osian was out with us for his first ride in more than a year we decided to head to Skerraton Down instead of the intended Avon Dam.

When we had negotiated the narrow track and reached the gateway to the moor we stopped for a chocolate break and some respite from the strong headwind. The final climb to Skerraton Down was painful, both from the gorse bushes that seemed to block every path, and from the two short hail showers fired at us by the powerful wind.

The view from the top was indeed magnificent. We were turning away from the wind, and soon we were heading downhill with the wind and bright sunshine behind us. Dennis and Sam found a grassy bank for shelter before we tackled the descent to Cross Furzes and home. There were several cold fingers when we arrived at Crofters and everyone looked forward to an afternoon of computer games in the warmth of the clubroom.

Ashley had got it into his head today that the ride was going to be hard, so he just couldn't motivate himself to put any effort into the climb to Holne. It took us all morning to get to Venford, so after some debate we decided to change the destination from Dartmeet to Venford.

Suddenly Ashley was a confident cyclist again. We rode around the reservoir path to a secluded wooded lunch spot, and when everyone had finished lunch and conducting sword battles with sticks we continued to the road and headed back for the track through Hembury Woods. It was amusing to see Ashley cycle up the same hill that earlier he had walked!

Brilliant sunshine and a near perfect weekend forecast greeted us as we gathered at Newton Abbot Station for the start of our Easter tour to Somerset. With nine in the group we had to split over two trains: the Acland family had already passed through Newton Abbot on their way from Totnes. Zac, being Zac, managed to get a special tannoy announcement for riding his bike along the station platform!

The Aclands were waiting for us at Taunton, and once everyone had assembled panniers and manoeuvred off the station we rode the short distance to Morrisons supermarket to stock up with food for lunch and supper. The Aclands had the clever idea of buying several £1 ready meals, hoping that Street hostel's kitchen would be equipped with a microwave. Alex, who needed a spoon, ended up buying a pack of fifty!

Heidi found Alex's rhythmic squeak rather annoying as we rode through the quiet lanes to North Curry, but with gritty determination she managed to remain smiling!

Next stop was the Willows and Wetlands visitor centre at Stoke Gregory, which explains how the wetlands are drained of water and demonstrates how the locally-grown willow - which thrives in wetland soil - can be used to make a wide variety of useful items. Ashley tested most of them, including a hanging seat and a coffin! There was time for a visit to the cafe before we set off once more.

Burrow Mump is the only high ground in a large area of flat land, so it seemed like an excellent spot for lunch. The youngsters, led by Ashley, had great fun rolling down the gentle grassy slopes, but Matt discovered the painful way that he was just too large for such games.

Next followed an excursion around Earlake Moor, which started by following the east bank of the river Parrott and incorporated several tracks. The peaty soil had been baked into solid ruts and ridges by the recent dry weather, making the track a little too rough for some, but the scenery made it all worthwhile. We even found some very unusual super-rushes with gigantic woolly heads!

The youngsters only realised the loop-back nature of the excursion when they saw Burrow Mump looming up ahead. As we approached the road the track became indistinct and led us through a farmyard where Zac, being last, caught the sharp tongue of the farmer.

The heat of the sun was now up to mid-June levels so sunscreen was applied at Othery before we searched in vain for a shop selling drinks. In the end we made do with warm milk from Michael's pannier while Charles kindly went back to fetch Matt's sunglasses!

The route to the hostel took us past Beer Wall sluice system, through a network of very flat and straight lanes, past a clay pigeon shoot and up Ivy Thorn hill to the wooded paths of Walton Hill. A path then took us straight to the hostel, a wooden chalet surrounded by grassy verges and open countryside.

The Aclands had a family dorm on the first floor while the rest of the group were allocated to our usual dorm on the top floor. Wooden balconies and staircases connected all the dorms, which of course allowed the youngsters plenty of fun.

When the youngsters had made the most of the early evening sunshine by playing football on the grass with some other lads who were staying at the hostel, we set about preparing meals. The presence of microwaves was a relief to the Aclands, whose ready meals were the envy of the group. Matt got into trouble when he left his dishes for Heidi to wash up, but then he'd never been hostelling before and didn't know that he was responsible for his own washing up!

The next part of the evening was spent fixing punctures and walking the mile to the local shop for milk and other provisions - the footpath through the fields provided plenty of entertainment on the dark return journey. Finally, Michael produced a laptop computer and five controllers from his pannier, so everyone spent the remainder of the evening playing Bomberman and watching Pink Panther cartoons from a DVD.