We had a great days cycling today, a few uphills but mostly down on our way back to sea level at Barnstaple. At Barnstaple we bought a couple of maps, ate a cream tea. Now here's an interesting thing we have noticed; In Australia we call Tea with Scones a Devonshire Tea but now that we are in Devonshire it's called a Cream Tea.......I bet that's made your day :)
Barnstaple, on the river
Anyway lovely ride from Barnstaple on an old railway line so flat was the order of the afternoon. No grades steeper than an old steam train could manage....or a cycle tourist.
We rode on the banks of the river and as it was Saturday the cycle path was packed. I made the classic mistake of riding behind a group of casual riders and they were sitting just a little slow so I pulled out and made my move to overtake. Damn it but there wasnt a headwind but as all good bunch riders know, once you've made the move your committed so I had to put in and make a break. This was all at the good touring speed of 21kph.
Next we came to Instow and across the river is Appledore
Appledor
We then turned inland and headed to Great Torrington. We didnt actually go into Torrington as the path skirted around it but we saw a caravan park symbol on the map so we headed toward that.
The St George flag in the distance
Rode through a couple of old railway tunnels
An example of the path as we went inland
We rode along this wonderful path with a stream running beside it in a dark pine forest when we saw a sign leading down a path in the woods to Smythan Manor Touring Park. As it looked like a bit of a scramble to get through Sandy went while I mined the bikes. She came back and thumbs up, we get another cheap night but this time there's a bonus....they have a bar.
The path to the caravan park
The caravan park appeared as we climbed out of the forest
Went the the bar and had a great night with the local, absolutely laughed all night. I have now leanrt my lesson that when one is camping in cold weather one shouldnt drink ale. Four freezing trips to the toilet in the night.
Woke up this morning to the tent covered in ice and the water in the bottles had ice in them. Crunched my way around on the frost to prepare a cup of tea and wait for the sun to come up and thaw us out.
1 comment:
Hi Gaz and Sandy,
We're loving reading your tales! Keep up the great work!
We're heading over to Italy next week (pending volcanic ash) but it sounds like you're on the other side of the continent having a blast so a rendezvous probably isn't on the cards eh :)
Totally empathise with the icy tent, and don't really envy you that one, we have been there before. Stay cool, not too cool.
Phoebe and Aaron
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