The day starts with packing up the tents and taking a drive to Rock, for a hearty breakfast with friends of Our Leader at the Rock Sailing Club. Rock is famous fore being a holiday haunt of the over-privileged, including Wills and Harry (oops - there goes the Peerage...) and I'm tempted to boycott the whole thing on principle...but I'm getting hungry.
Despite all the arrangements, there's not a soul to be seen at the Sailing Club, so we troop across the sand to a local cafe, the Blue Tomato. Pretentious name, agreed, and the warning lights start flashing when I spot the trendy waiter writing in French on a blackboard. Nice position though.
To cut a long story short, I emerge a short time later £12 lighter, having had a not-very-full English breakfast. If you think it's just me, take a look at these reviews...
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g528872-d1166956-Reviews-Blue_Tomato_Cafe-Rock_Cornwall_England.html
We set out on the B3314, which runs parallel to the A39, but nearer the sea, giving fleeting views of spectacular coastal scenery. Sunny weather makes all the difference, and I'm enjoying riding for the first time. We make good progress, interrupted only by a herd of cows being herded down the lane. I'm worried about damage to the bike, and hole up behind a 4x4, but Tach is completely unfazed by the situation.
Eventually we cross the A39, and cut across Devonian lanes, not always sure where we are, but heading in the right direction.
We take a food break at the Waitrose in Holdsworthy, then up the A388. I'm learning to look out for place names that include 'beacon' and 'hill'...We turn off to Great Torrington, riding through spectacular scenery, deep wooded gorges with steep climbs. Progress is slow, as the descents sre often blind, I'm constantly on the brakes and can't carry any speed.
Riding with Tach, we have a good chat, and stop at Taddiport for a paddle in the river, which turns out to be rather dirtier than we'd imagined. Descending to the Travelodge on outskirts of Barnstaple I put the bike in the room, eat the remaining Waitrose pork and pickle pies (highly recommended) and meet up for a pint with Steve, Pan, Phil, Dave and Sue, who were on a weekend break nearby.
According to Rod's trip computer, 63 Miles in 5.6 hours.
No comments:
Post a Comment