Even fewer next week when only Kevin awaited my arrival at Totnes, but the weather could well have sent me home again if he hadn’t been there. With Kevin wanting to return to Plymouth and Beesands not being the least bit attractive in the drizzly conditions we headed through lanes via Harbertonford and Moreleigh to Aveton Gifford.

No bus shelters to be found so a large evergreen tree opposite the school gave us useful cover and the chance of a few minutes chat with the school head who used to ride with Somerset Road Club. We each headed our separate way home from there without meeting up with Richard Wiseman who had been late starting and carried out the run.

(Colin Brierly)