Forced into the Ashmoor gym court after the main hall was booked, we started with brisk 1v1s before an early opening let us finish on two full-size courts. Over post‑match drinks at Crofters, a lively discussion unpicked YouTube misinformation, including misleading claims about Disney.

A cold morning ride became a relaxed exploration: with Ugborough Beacon set aside, we found a new Avonwick play park and gave it a thorough trial, then the youngsters skimmed stones and did gymnastics on the River Avon bridge before a brisk return via Rattery.

Computer games at Crofters set the tone, with a late-night trip to Tesco neatly slotted between sessions. A simple, lively evening that the youngsters clearly enjoyed.

On a chilly morning that brightened, we rode three Landscove tracks—mud, gentle climbs and swarms of flies—before our first visit of the season to the Hill House Nursery Tea Room, where enormous cakes awaited. Lawrence stayed wary, recalling his toddler tumble into the pond.

We ended the social season on a high with Laser Tag in Plymouth, having the arena to ourselves. In a friendly split of honours, Dillan and George edged the team game while Michael topped the overall scores, leaving everyone satisfied and keen to return.

Persistent rain and wind turned the morning ride into a badminton social at Ivybridge Leisure Centre; when it was still wet at 2.15, the afternoon ride was abandoned as well.

On our first evening ride of 2015 we reached Staverton riverside, only to find the stepping stones to the island submerged despite the bridge being unlocked. As darkness fell we tested our lights, but a bright full moon led us home through the chill.

With the evening’s ride switched to a social at Crofters, the group relived the recent tour through high-quality video footage and rounded things off with computer games — a relaxed change of plan that kept the club spirit alive.

Buoyed by our recent tour, we rode to the Holne café, where a child‑back tandem carried not just mother and son but a contented dog snug in a converted saddlebag. Home in time for lunch, the youngsters still chose the steep Combe to Cross Furzes climb and rode it with ease.

We went off-road from Skerraton, climbing briskly past Nurston to reach the moor as dusk fell. After taking in the wide South Devon views, failing lights forced a careful return via Cross Furzes, bunched close and sharing the only two that still worked.

Progress to Fermoy’s was anything but smooth: Dillan’s chain snapped twice before a bent front derailleur was straightened, and a newly fallen tree at Abham blocked the lane. We picked our way through and, via Newhouse Barton, finally made a gentler approach to Ipplepen.