Well, after months of talking about it, I finally got back from my Devon Coast to Coast ride.
Below is a brief account of the trip, and some of the pics we took.
FRIDAY:
Caught train to Plymouth. Left Hoe at lunchtime and headed for Saltram House and onwards to the Plym Valley railway (been surfaced since I last rode it). Late lunch at the Skylark in Clearbrook whilst we waited out the first of many heavy rain showers, then on to Meavy and eventually Burrator Reservoir where we detoured off and followed an old disused railway into the moor and around to Princetown – site of our first night stop. More Beer and cheer follow into the wee hours.
SATURDAY:
Wake to thick fog and heavy drizzle – a shame as my mate was looking forward to the ride out from Princetown (he wanted to see the prison). We followed the Merivale road briefly before turning off and once again hitting the moorland tracks towards Mary Tavy then onwards towards Lydford. Mid morning and we're on the Granite Way headed for Okehampton (pub stop) then on towards Meeth and the start of the Tarka Trail (at which point the rains started again :? ). We headed towards Torrington for our second nights camping – note to self, tiny one-man tent may be ultralight but doesn't allow room for panniers, rucksack and human.
SUNDAY:
We wake to glorious sunshine – then promptly get p*ssed on when we take the tents down. Never mind, it's an early start and we'll soon be in Bideford for breakfast (in another pub – there's a theme here isn't there). Refuelled and invigorated by the intermittent sun we forge on through Barnstaple and on to Braunton for coffee and cake and a call to the wife / taxi firm. We leave Braunton in a near-vertical direction (no-one mentioned hills in the tour brochure) and spend the next hour going upwards (I figured we'd pop out above the clouds, but alas it was just the top of the hills on the north coast). We finally reach the last bit of off-road as we swoop down into Ilfracombe – taking every opportunity to let gravity take the strain – before ending at the seafront under hot sunny rays. What a way to end a trip…
…or should I say finish the first half. Next stage is a return journey following the route laid down by Tim Woodcock – who just happens to be another colleague I work with. Planned for September, stage 2 is likely to be a far tougher proposition but I'm eager to keep that one as a retro ride too.
As for the bike. All I can say is my '92 Avalanche performed faultlessly throughout, even though the poor old girl was burdened with panniers and a rack (oh, the crime). The constant rains and gritty water have taken a few mm off the brake blocks, but what a bike.
I'd recommend this ride to anyone – there may not be too much serious off-roading, but the scenery was superb, at times mind-blowing, and the route is easy and relaxing with much of it far from the madding motorists.
Below is a brief account of the trip, and some of the pics we took.
FRIDAY:
Caught train to Plymouth. Left Hoe at lunchtime and headed for Saltram House and onwards to the Plym Valley railway (been surfaced since I last rode it). Late lunch at the Skylark in Clearbrook whilst we waited out the first of many heavy rain showers, then on to Meavy and eventually Burrator Reservoir where we detoured off and followed an old disused railway into the moor and around to Princetown – site of our first night stop. More Beer and cheer follow into the wee hours.
SATURDAY:
Wake to thick fog and heavy drizzle – a shame as my mate was looking forward to the ride out from Princetown (he wanted to see the prison). We followed the Merivale road briefly before turning off and once again hitting the moorland tracks towards Mary Tavy then onwards towards Lydford. Mid morning and we're on the Granite Way headed for Okehampton (pub stop) then on towards Meeth and the start of the Tarka Trail (at which point the rains started again :? ). We headed towards Torrington for our second nights camping – note to self, tiny one-man tent may be ultralight but doesn't allow room for panniers, rucksack and human.
SUNDAY:
We wake to glorious sunshine – then promptly get p*ssed on when we take the tents down. Never mind, it's an early start and we'll soon be in Bideford for breakfast (in another pub – there's a theme here isn't there). Refuelled and invigorated by the intermittent sun we forge on through Barnstaple and on to Braunton for coffee and cake and a call to the wife / taxi firm. We leave Braunton in a near-vertical direction (no-one mentioned hills in the tour brochure) and spend the next hour going upwards (I figured we'd pop out above the clouds, but alas it was just the top of the hills on the north coast). We finally reach the last bit of off-road as we swoop down into Ilfracombe – taking every opportunity to let gravity take the strain – before ending at the seafront under hot sunny rays. What a way to end a trip…
…or should I say finish the first half. Next stage is a return journey following the route laid down by Tim Woodcock – who just happens to be another colleague I work with. Planned for September, stage 2 is likely to be a far tougher proposition but I'm eager to keep that one as a retro ride too.
As for the bike. All I can say is my '92 Avalanche performed faultlessly throughout, even though the poor old girl was burdened with panniers and a rack (oh, the crime). The constant rains and gritty water have taken a few mm off the brake blocks, but what a bike.
I'd recommend this ride to anyone – there may not be too much serious off-roading, but the scenery was superb, at times mind-blowing, and the route is easy and relaxing with much of it far from the madding motorists.
