Alastair’s father Jerome joined us for today’s ride on a cloudy, chilly morning. We rode along Colston road at a fast pace and up the cycle path to Huxham’s Cross. Everyone like the idea of a café stop so we continued down the path to Dartington and enjoyed very tasty but rather expensive food in the Venus café. Will entertained us all by piling all his cream and jam onto one scone and then trying to eat it.

Everyone was quite fast enough today to continue to Totnes and return via Littlehempston, but John needed to get back early so we rode back up the hill and down to Staverton. Michael got a nasty puncture along the way that ripped his tyre canvas, so he hobbled along the riverside path. A rather unfriendly gentleman tried to tell us off for pushing our bikes along a footpath, but another lady nearby put him in his place by telling him we were quite within our rights, so he kept quiet after that.

Michael changed his inner tube in the park while the others played on the park equipment, then we headed home past Abham. George was keen to point out the dangers of “Death Hill”, aka Caddaford Hill, which had caused him to take a tumble on his very first ride with the club.

We got back for 1.45 and enjoyed a Modern Warfare 3 and trampoline social after the ride until 3.30.

Ash, Callum O’B and Michael set off from Buckfastleigh at 9.30, parked outside Neil’s house in Newton Abbot and rode the short distance to the station for about 10.05. The Rodgers family arrived while Michael was buying a new Family & Friends Railcard, and when Lawrence arrived with his Mum we had our photo taken on the station platform. The train arrived on time, loading the six bikes was easy and we left on time at 10.32.

It was a sunny but cold morning when we arrived at Bristol Temple Meads just before 12.00. We found our way over the bridge to the start of the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, although several new buildings had popped up since we were last there. Everyone had a packed lunch, so after taking some photos and videos we set off along the railway path without delay, passing through the “dodgy area” of Fishponds – we warned Callum O’B not to shout things at the locals!

Further along, a couple of boys had set up a table by the side of the path and were trying to sell ice creams and drinks in aid of a charity - two drinks for 50p! Our lot thought they were “chavs” and were lying about the charity collection, which Michael thought was a bit mean as they were very friendly and clearly not at all dishonest. Sadly they didn’t really have anything we wanted so we didn’t buy anything, but they were actually doing a great job there and Michael told them so.

We stopped for lunch at Old Mangotsfield Station, where we had lunch on our last visit. It was sheltered from the wind in there and so actually quite sunny and warm, and there was plenty of space for rocket and frisbee fun.

Next stop was Bitton station and café. Michael had found there was a better café just down the road, at Willsbridge Mill, but after riding there we discovered it was only open at weekends. The large “Welcome” sign on the door seemed rather inappropriate. So we returned to the Station buffet, located in a disused train carriage, which was actually very nice and offered a good range of cakes and ice-creams.

The path continued all the way to Bath. Michael was using the SatNav, but of course it didn’t know the cycle routes which led to a little confusion, but we got to the famous Pulteney Bridge soon after 4pm and of course everyone was impressed with the bridge, river and weir. Michael had originally planned to visit the Roman Baths next, as he knew they closed at 5pm, but Lawrence and Callum O’B had made it clear they didn’t want to go in there for £7, so Michael decided to go up the hill to see the Circus and Royal Crescent first, since everyone wanted to see those. He also reckoned that if we went to the Baths first we might never get to the other places.

Well we saw the Circus, with Gay Street leading off it, and the famous Royal Crescent, then returned to Sally Lunn’s café with a view to checking that out. But everyone saw the Bath Sweet Shop and loved it so much that we went in there for a while. By the time we got to the Roman Baths entrance it was just 5.00: the doors were closed and the bloke at the entrance wouldn’t entertain any idea of us going in, even for just a few minutes. It looked like we would be coming back here again tomorrow morning.

We went to Tesco Express and Sainsburys Local. Then George and Will wanted to visit a Subway for their main meal. Michael and Ash would have preferred Pizza Hut, but John felt that would cost him too much money for the three in his family. In the end Ash and Michael couldn’t find anything else they both wanted, so everyone ended up getting food from Subway. At least it was fairly inexpensive. We carried them halfway up Bathwick Hill towards the hostel and ate them on a little grassy side track that offered nice views in a sheltered, sunny location.

We arrived at Bath Youth Hostel at around 6.30. After the usual showers, some needed some advice on making their beds as they seemed a little confused. When Michael and Ash had eaten their desserts (yoghurts and fruit pies), we played some games of Bomberman as darkness fell and then headed out to the extensive grounds for our customary game of Manhunt.

Michael had a good spot way down in the woods near the driveway, but it was taking people too long to find him so he moved to a bush nearer the hostel. George joined him there for a while, then ran out to give himself up and brought the searchers back to get Michael. Except Michael had gone, which left him rather frustrated – he had thought that would be an easy catch! A few minutes later, Michael went back to hide in the same bush, and poor George walked past it several times and didn’t think to check there again. Callum O’Brien eventually found him.

Back in the dorm we watched some Pink Panther videos on the laptop while people were getting ready for bed – there were seven of us in a ten-bed room so we had plenty of space. We put out the lights around 10.55.