Day 5 - Exford to Priddy - 110 kms

Successfully left Exford with Kevs gps guiding us the 10yds from the B&B to the road! A few climbs including a big one over the Quantocs descending to forgettable Bridgewater for lunch.

Requested off 2Bob (who keeps telling me he can pull strings) a movement of the space station to locate us as we were lost again thx to poorly signposted roads. Eventually found beautiful Cheddar gorge as the sun made a rare appearance.

Cycling near Cheddar

We climbed the gorge some 4 steep kms before finding our accommodation at Priddy just as the town was wrapping up
It's weekend folk festival with escapees from the 70's evident everywhere. Mike took a pint listening to the music while Kev used the 2 hours by sending 2 emails - what's changed !

Kevs World !

No wonder poms flood out to oz as I reckon they must only see 3 days os sun per year. I've never heard so many words for the same thing - drizzle, precipitation, showers let's face it wet is wet !

The hills have been doing my head in this country is far from flat particularly Devon and Cornwall if I don't come back 25kgs lighter I haven't been trying.

In between the views of Tarmac and hedges there has been some speccy views of fields old English houses and of course rain clouds.

The gps has been terrifically helpful to date getting us from our B&B to the road some 10 yards might help if I charge the thing.

How do peopledrink pommie beer I'd rather drink mikes wee !

Love your emails keep in touch

Polperro Cornwall

Day 4 - Rest day Exford

Exford

Oh what a joy to rest aching muscles, clean dirty clothes and generally laze around with a rare appearance of the English sun.

Used time to chisel mud collected on bike from yesterday's ride along the Tarka. A general check showed the bikes are already showing signs of wear with the brakes taking a hammering from the descents as we've learned that most downhills have a hairpin bend hidden in them.

We even sought inspiration by watching the Tour de France realising that the 17% gradient road leaving Exford was going to be one he'll of a challenge

Day 3 - Okehampton to Exford 95kms

Lost on our way to Exford !

Despite threatening conditions some good speed roads helped us kick off the day with easy mileage. We were slowed down by the surface of the scenic Tarka trail that more resembled a mud trail than a rail trail thankfully it turned to bitumen allowing us to take in the magic countryside and river scenery heading into chaotic Barnstable.

Kev was relieved of his temp navigation duties when walking straight past our turning pt a massive roundabout "what roundabout" said Kev.

More climbing took us into Exmoor where a serious navigational error saw us take a 15km detour and ride walk a couple of 20+ % roads.

We finally arrived at the quaint town of Exford looking (mud splattered) like cave men and really hanging out for a rest day after 2 days of pretty serious climbing !




detour

Day 2 - St.Austel to Okehampton 100kms

Kev at Fowey

With wrinkled and rested bodies we left a busy St Austel negogiating some stiff climbs on to and through the beaut Cornish village of Fowey to Looe where the sun made a rare but welcome appearance. Still climbing we skirted Bodmin moor to take the granite rail trail over the spectacular Melton viaduct into Okehampton arriving at the slightly more respectable time of 7pm and this time finding our accommodation albeit on a bloody big hill just out of the city centre.

The serious climbing had it's affect on Kev who looked like a John Wayne stand in by days end.

We were well received at our b&b by the owner who doubles as the Okehampton magistrate who sought to dispel our fears at leaving our bikes relatively unsecured by stating "don't worry I'm on pretty good terms with the local crims"!

Day 1 - lands end to St.austel 105kms

Kev at Lands End

A near disaster day. Started in drizzle that soon became torrential thx to kegs previous comments that he'd brought the good weather !

Add in bike problems that delayed us in Penzance strong winds, energy sapping climbs, a 10pm detour after getting lost and a desperate search for accommodation in a fully booked St.austel that had us on the St still At 9pm and you get a pretty good picture of our state of mind at days end !


Our one saviour was the wind a tailwind making us both marvel at Monika's recent efforts in the reverse direction.

In the end we were saved by a b&b now resembling a chinese laundry -kev who aged 10 years (some say impossible) summed the day up by saying at least you get a tent and rice in Tibet!

On the road !

Another day another epic ! With Kev getting toey & the London cultural police in hot pursuit after he disrupted an important ordination by continuing to text on the steps of St.Pauls despite approaching eminent  bishops and thousands of churchgoers - "be buggered said Kev I've got a text to send to Monny" - we're off to Lands End.

Our first day to Golant is some 120 kms - weather though is looking a bit dodgy !

Will it be a baptism of fire for Kev as he battles the narrow lanes, crap weather and high speed traffic - will Uk drivers learn new words and new hand signs - find out by staying tuned to the blog !

Cheers Mega

ps for those wanting a minute by minute description Kev's new phone no. in Uk is

+447874603408