We pushed hard to Dartmeet before the day’s true highlight: Dr Blackall’s Drive. Will and George relished the stony track and views above the Dart, while fortunes varied—John called it “interesting” and Michael broke a pedal on a rock.

With Will arriving at 8.10 and George also late, the ride became a spontaneous badminton social in Newton Abbot: doubles first, then rapid 5-point singles, with everyone taking at least one win.

A Google-led route turned a Costa-bound outing into a quietly absorbing exploration of little-ridden lanes and the Broadridge Woods path beside the River Lemon into Newton Abbot. Past tensions at Chercombe House never surfaced, and lunch plans drifted from Costa to Asda instead.

A sociable evening ride with engaging conversation took us over the moor to Chalk Ford. We searched in vain for pigs and piglets, then headed home and rounded off the night with general knowledge and music quizzes.

On the warmest day so far, a vote sent the trio through boggy Burchetts Wood, to John’s delight, with bluebells and the babbling Holy Brook softening the mud. A steep pull to Ridgey Cross brought an overdue stop at the Holne Café for soups and scones before an early return via Hembury.

With heavy rain from 7pm we turned the ride into a sociable indoor evening: console games to start, an energetic hour of badminton on two courts in Ashburton, then Modern Warfare 3 back at Crofters right up to the 10.30 closing.

An 85th anniversary ride and Michael’s last before hospital mixed sunlit moorland fun to Chalk Ford with a sombre shock at Hembury Fort, where the central trees had been cut down. Ash returned in style, winning a stone-throwing contest before a muddy slalom and a café stop.

With Michael back from hospital, the planned ride became a relaxed get-together at his place: hot drinks, good food and a friendly mix of computer games. The warm welcome home and easy conversation made a simple change of plan feel special.

With Michael recovering from surgery, the planned evening ride became a computer‑games social, with hot drinks and unhurried conversation. A low‑key show of support, it was a night where fellowship took precedence over pedalling.

A sociable ride to Holne, dodging showers, centred on a welcome café stop. Michael followed in the car while recovering from surgery, and the return via Hembury Woods split the group as Lawrence and Ash took the slalom track and others stuck to the road.

A relaxed evening led by Gavin took us up Green Lane to Abham and Staverton, with time for refreshments and a Frisbee in Staverton Park at sunset. A brief drama when Gavin mislaid his phone was calmly solved by Michael, supporting from the car, before a steady return via Colston road.

With rain setting in, the group swapped the ride for badminton at Ashmoor; Dillan, playing Ash for the first time, found he was a capable player, and Michael, still recovering from surgery, could not run but still landed several winners.