No-one turned up at Five Lanes, Marldon for the hard ride to Mary Tavy, so I continued on to Avonwick with the vague hope of company. I arrived to see an empty seat outside the inn. From there I had a strong biting headwind all the way to Ivybridge. I stopped at the large clay quarry just outside Cornwood for a drop of coffee. It began to snow, falling thick and fast. Through the snow I saw a cyclist in shorts walking his dog whilst riding his cycle.

I carried on, slipping in all directions to the destination. The snow stopped just before lunch – by now it was about three inches deep. Heading homewards across the moor, I think I shocked a Hells Angel on his 1100cc motorbike when I zipped past him.

Disappointed at Ashburton with the café closed, I took to the lanes heading for home. On the brow of a hill I tried to slow down, hit a patch of black ice and the bike and I ended up in the hedge. While I trued my wheel, a car did a more spectacular slide at greater speed into the hedge.

(Richard Wiseman)