Another "day off" - Culmstock to Oakford.

Sunday, 1st September. Started the day with communion at All Saints, Culmstock, where we were pleased to be among the younger members of the congregation. To be fair, there were also five or six children and a couple of young mums. A yew tree grows at the top of the tower and has been there for forty years or more. Such a thing would normally have the church authorities sleepless until the thing was removed but in Culmstock they revere the yew and water it whenever there is a drought.

Culmstock to Uffculme is a mere 3 miles and we did it at an average speed of 10.7mph. Get that. In Devon. the remainder of our day's journey, 19.59 miles, was recorded as an average speed of 7.5 mph. It included a considerable spell along a canal towpath, somewhat slowed down by fishermen and walkers with dogs etc., during which we were overtaken by a runner. Well, it was supposed to be the rest of our day off, wasn't it? And in the remaining bit an unlooked-for elevation gain of 1,798 feet. For the first time in the best part of two weeks I had to get off and walk on two occasions. We thought we had seen some hills already but this was something else. If ever you come to this part of the world and find yourself in the vicinity of Hangmans Hill, go another way.

I forgot to say how nice it was yesterday to meet a chap in the pub where we ate our evening meal, who enquired about our exploits and kept expressing disbelief. He wandered off and emptied another pint or two and some time later returned to slip me a £10 note "for your charity".

Looking for the Hastoe scheme in Uffculme, we spotted a gent wearing shorts. He'll be a holiday maker, I decided. We asked him anyway and it turned out he had done nine years on the parish council and knew all about Hastoe and was able to tell us where to go.

Hastoe people please note about Halberton, the lovely people in no.5 are to be congratulated on allowing a house martin to nest on their house. the third brood are still being fed. The tree in the front garden at no 19 could maybe do with pollarding. There, that proves we've been there.

Gigi the Garmin Gadget did not excel today. She denied knowledge of two streets in Halberton, feigned complete ignorance of the canal towpath to Tiverton and led us up - and possibly more scarily down - Ash Hill and Hangman's Hill, two of the twistiest, steepest and gravelliest highways you could hope to find.