West Devon at last - Exmoor to Dartmoor

Having reached North Norfolk, our next objective was West Devon and we got there. Now let the west wind blow - we're aiming for Sussex.

A quick summary of the last two days:

Monday 2nd. Left Oakford (with its terrible Hangman's Hill). Like the three kings, we left by a different route. Gigi would have taken us back to those double arrows on the map. On the way to South Tawton, we found we would pass close to Black Dog, where Harry's niece, Hen, farms organically with her husband Olly. So we called there for lunch. Thus refuelled, we set off again going south. But these Devonians don't think to mention hills. We used up most of the remaining brake blocks going down their drive and on the way back up my front wheel simply left the ground and I nearly went over backwards. It was quite a job even to walk up. They cheerily explained that that bit of the farm track was one-in-four. Harry put her bike on maximum assist and simply rode up it. How disloyal, eh? Even Olly, who has cycled the entire length of Italy and Sicily, doesn't think of trying it. I should mention that we picked up our first puncture of the trip on the way down that farm track - luckily a front wheel and not too much trouble to repair. Bad news for Annie, who sponsored us per puncture.

We got to South Tawton without incident and found Hastoe's houses, Connomede Cottages and a chap who expressed enthusiasm about living there. This village is high up on Dartmoor, just inside the National Park, and the most westerly point on our journey. I feel we are now on our way home. It is not much less westerly than Plymouth, which is only separated from Cornwall by the Tamar. Olly came and collected us to stay the night back at Black Dog.

The short cut out of Black Dog

Tuesday 3rd. We decided to set off from there rather than return to S Tawton as it did not materially change the length of our journey. To avoid the steep drive we took a footpath instead which turned out to be half a mile pushing the bikes through undergrowth. Fun. Next stop Crediton, where the Bike Shed could not have been more helpful and we came away with new or refurbished brake blocks. Many thanks, Bike Shed. They also had unicycles for sale. I restrained myself. Then on to Newton St Cyres (rhymes with wires or lyres) where we found not only Hastoe's scheme but also the Beer Engine, a most excellent pub for lunch with a micro brewery in the basement. Ended the day riding through Exeter and down the river to Exton, where Harry's godson, Tom where we are spending tonight.