WAINHOUSE CORNER TO SOUTH MOLTON: We've made it out of Cornwall, but not the hills !!
Miles: 44.52
Average Speed: 3.8 mph
8.30 am - 6pm
Feet up: 4245
Feet down: 4721
Wonderful weather today which always makes a huge difference
Put about 7 miles under our belts along the A road to Bude, where we turned off at Stratton, and where the lovely narrow little lanes immediately became very hilly again. However it soon morphed into some lovely ridge line biking, peaceful, with gorgeous views over mellow rolling countryside - everywhere was the sound of tractors while farmers literally 'made hay while the sun shines' after all the wet weather.
And then, suddenly it happened - down a little hill, over a little stone bridge, and there was the sign welcoming us to Devon. We immediately felt better!!!! And indeed for a little while things seemed easier and flatter. .
But it was not to stay that way - by the end of the day we had 'bike walked' up hills of signed 16%, 19%, 20%, and 25% gradients, and I can tell you that some of them made pushing bikes up almost impossible. I joked yesterday about blisters while biking - well today it happened.
However it was a very enjoyable day - we are more into the rhythm of the trip, taking time to stop along the way, not worrying when other end-to-enders go whizzing by (probably all at least 20 years younger than us), stopping for a cup of tea (today it was accompanied by three scoops of fabulous Cornish ice cream !!) and we actually made the 40 mile mark!!
Not long after entering Devon, we were walking up a hill admiring the sculpted fence of a delightful cottage, when JST spied a sign saying 'John O'Groats 783 miles', with an arrow pointing the way we were going (thankfully!). Out came the owner who is a retired diplomat, and he regaled us with tales of all the bikers he sees going throughF
The diplomat's cottage
Finding accomodation tonight was again a bit of a trick. We started in Atherington, at about 4 pm, where there was nothing, and the local B and B was full. Decided not to venture sideways off the road for 2 miles - that would mean 4 miles without moving forward!!!! - and continued on to South Molton, a sleepy (at 6pm ) market town. After a local directed us to the town centre, we found the George Hotel, with its lovely owner, who told me that yes, they have a room, yes you can bring the bikes in, and yes we have a bar and serve dinner .
So once again we collapsed into the bar for beer and shandy and I made mine a whole pint tonight!!!
Orher pleasurable moments included these hollyhocks.
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