With Michael resting a minor back injury, we swapped the ride for a relaxed social of computer games and a music quiz. The highlight was Jude’s Mum joining the final half-hour and putting in an impressive showing.

With Michael’s back still on the mend, the youngsters traded the bikes for a recovery day: spirited badminton at Ashmoor before winding down with computer games at Crofters. A gentle pause after Norway, and a reminder that club days can be about company as much as miles.

Washed out by rain, the ride became badminton at Ashmoor, hampered by a leaking roof on the best court and faulty lights on the rest. Morale intact, they moved on to Crofters for computer games until the finish.

Persistent rain cancelled the planned evening ride once more, so the youngsters turned it into a social by playing badminton at Ashmoor instead.

Relentless rain turned our ride into an indoor day: an energetic badminton session at Ashmoor, followed by computer games and a marathon Risk battle that had us happily plotting for world domination.

With Michael recovering from minor surgery, we shelved the evening ride and turned it into a social: games at Crofters followed by the inevitable badminton at Ashmoor. A low-key, good-humoured detour that kept everyone together off the bikes.

Drawn by the third Sunday buzz, we rode the cycle path to the busy Totnes Food Market and sampled new offerings, notably falafel wraps and the standout Tulumba dipped in chocolate. Home via Rattery, we noted Google Maps has finally stopped routing cyclists onto the A38.

Rain wrote off the ride, so we switched to badminton. The evening’s drama came when Dillan misplaced the rackets and refreshments, prompting a fruitless dash back to Buckfastleigh before they turned up along the sports hall wall, briefly hidden behind a door for the hockey gear.

With rain due by late morning, we squeezed in a short climb to Holne before the drizzle set in. Sheltering in the café, we chatted with former chef Simon over rather interesting Tuscan bean soup, then rode back through steady rain to Crofters for an afternoon of computer games.

To mark the final evening ride of the season we tried a ride-and-badminton double: a short loop for Michael’s first ride back, hot drinks and cake at the Salmon Leap café, then straight to Ashmoor for an hour on court—somehow still finishing back at Crofters by 10:15.

Drizzle turned to rain, so the ride was dropped for a late-morning badminton session at Ashmoor, where everyone’s improvement over the past month showed. The day finished with computer games at Crofters, hoping for better weather next week.

Our first social of the season settled into its familiar pattern: computer games at Crofters, then badminton at Ashmoor. The whole club’s enthusiasm made it clear we’ll likely be back on court most Fridays.