I will leave it up to Simon to describe the interminable hills that greeted us on day two below. However we continue to be blessed with no rain and a light breeze from our backs is very welcome as we were seldom out of the lowest gears
The most stunning section of the day was the hour or so before Okehampton, passing Ben Tor riding adjacent to Dartmoor on our right to join the old train tracks crossing Victorian bridges and viaducts with rolling hills of sheep catching the evening sunlight through the clouds.
We finally make it to the old Railway Station and our first Youth Hostel by 6pm. We check in to discover that we are the only guests in a 28 dormitory facility. We choose No 21 and are relieved that it is not of full of 4 other sweaty bodies as there is little space. However at £21.00 a night it is great value and very clean and we feel somewhat guilty that staff have to be laid on to give us breakfast the next morning. Plenty of empty tables!
We had completed another 56 odd miles...but it felt like 86
Simon Sez
The day was notable for the mother of all hills, Penpillick, outside Lostwithiel followed by a string of her execrable children all the way to Lydford. This is still Cornwall but it is still a bastard but it is very beautiful. In particular stunning views of Dartmoor whose edge we cycled along. We went through Minions on Bodmin Moor, the highest village in Cornwall where the pub, to our huge disappointment was closed. A thrilling descent for 3 miles where I clocked 36.8mph into Rilla Mill.
An excellent Devon cream tea in The Castle at Lydford and a lovely 9 mile ride along the Granite Way following a disused railway line into Okehampton.
After a reviving pint or so of Dartmoor bitter we ended up in a raucous pub, The Plymouth Arms, in central Okehampton and had an excellent rump steak. I was accosted by a drunk claiming to be a Scotsman who remonstrated with me for putting some water into my malt (Arbelour). What would he know?
I could murder a cigar
The day was notable for the mother of all hills, Penpillick, outside Lostwithiel followed by a string of her execrable children all the way to Lydford. This is still Cornwall but it is still a bastard but it is very beautiful. In particular stunning views of Dartmoor whose edge we cycled along. We went through Minions on Bodmin Moor, the highest village in Cornwall where the pub, to our huge disappointment was closed. A thrilling descent for 3 miles where I clocked 36.8mph into Rilla Mill.
An excellent Devon cream tea in The Castle at Lydford and a lovely 9 mile ride along the Granite Way following a disused railway line into Okehampton.
After a reviving pint or so of Dartmoor bitter we ended up in a raucous pub, The Plymouth Arms, in central Okehampton and had an excellent rump steak. I was accosted by a drunk claiming to be a Scotsman who remonstrated with me for putting some water into my malt (Arbelour). What would he know?
I could murder a cigar
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