or how things didn't go quite to plan!

Well of course it wasn't all bad was it. Monday was actually quite productive, i got the next part work up onto the Kindle platform (Direct link via the image below) and on Tuesday i had a bit of a walk for lunch at IKEA before an afternoon making final preparations for my mini adventure. So far, so good.

So lets go to the deep South West. My coach was due to depart at 03.15 so it was an early night, i did actually get a couple of hours sleep before i needed to get up. The plan was to ride Foxy the 5km to the coach station, pack her up et voila, few minutes wait in the relative warmth of said transport hub. What i hadn't bargained on was getting thoroughly soaked on the way, i swear the rain only started as i left the house and had mostly given up by the time the coach arrived.

Anyhow, apart from the wetness, the trip down to Plymouth, about as far west and south as you can get in Devon, went well and it didn't take long to have Foxy rebuilt and me ready for, what looked like a mixed day of riding. Now the plan had been, get to Plymouth, stop at a cafe for breakfast then catch the Cremyll ferry to Cornwall to start the ride proper. The reality worked out somewhat different, six thirty was too early for any of the eateries in the city centre and so i found myself waiting for the first ferry of the day, the 07.15, betting that i would find food and coffee on the other side.

As i set off from the quayside to start my Kernow transit, the weather was bright but windy, by the time i'd covered the first ten K i'd been battered by wet, wind and the first of many nasty climbs that were to fill my morning. Up, down, repeat, the wind abated some as i turned inland, with it the damp but of course the roads, some of which of the singletrack variety, were wearing the debris. I eventually picked up some bigger roads when i turned eastwards, crossing the Tamar back into Devon at Gunnislake, still having not found a breakfast halt.

I reached Tavistock a little after eleven, a good hour ahead of schedule but in need of food which, thankfully, i located at a very popular cafe next to the church. The weather was looking brighter, the wind should, in theory, push me across Dartmoor and even after a leisurely stop, i was on my way again by noon. Dartmoor is the largest and highest lump of ground in England south of Derby, its not a big area, just 368 square miles, mostly open moorland, the highest peaks or Tors reaching just over 620m.

My ride was to be a west to east side to side of @ 40km and whilst the elevation gains were to be significant, the gradients were at least kinder than those in Cornwall. That doesn't mean that, even with the tailwind it was easy, but it was quite pleasurable, the views behind into Cornwall expansive. A quick stop at Merrivale Bronze Age settlement then a push on to the top and Princetown, home to the infamous Dartmoor prison. the big, 10km climb was now behind me, there was of course more climbing to do but none so long and each tempered by a good downhill stretch into them. Two Bridges, Post Bridge then to the highest point on my ride at 451m before the fast run off the moorland down to Moretonhampstead, my overnight stop.

Except of course it was not even two thirty! A good enough excuse for tea and cake before an early check in at the White Hart Hotel. Apart from the wet and the food issues, day one was a corker, an early dinner and another early night were in order, day two was gonna be longer but less epic.

Thursday arrived grey and with my route derailed by a road closure. I was in the breakfast room before the breakfast, keen to be on my way, have to say, the 'full English' looked a bit lost on the plate, one sausage, one mushroom, one egg, one slice of bacon, one black pudding half a tomato and a spoon of beans. I'm glad i was paying the £12 they charge for that, yesterdays lunch and evening meal, were both cheaper for much more on the plate.

Anyhow i was prepared for the day which was about to go awry. Firstly it started to rain even as i put the bags back onto Foxy, not great, then the closed road set me on a diversion all the way to Exeter. The rain was unpleasant but by Bovey Tracey it had pretty much given up, replaced by more of that westerly wind. It was after passing the race course, on the drop into the city that things took a turn for the worst.

The previous day i'd identified an issue, the main crank bearing was starting to fail but on previous experience i was confident of finishing the ride on it. However, maybe it was the wet or perhaps the climbing but it was now starting to get unrideable, and so i made the decision to abort the ride there in Exeter. It was not even twelve o'clock, by 13.30 i was back in Brizzle and back at the house at two.

l to r: Up near Merrivale, Post Bridge, the locals

Not quite the trip i had hoped for but it was about on budget and no cyclists were harmed in the length of the ride.

The rest of the week has fared not much better, i had thought to do a good ride Saturday after a fettling session with the Focus on Friday but my go had got up and gone so i ended up doing a much shorter local ride again, maybe an element of equipment doubt/worry colouring my thoughts.

Of course today, i've had a walk, risking a skirt for the first time in weeks, well its been a bit windy, chilly and of course i've posted chapter 38 of Gaby - Balancing Trick.

The coming week i'll be back to the writing, we're taking a trip to Dorset tomorrow and hopefully i'll be over my bike anxiety and will get in some nice rides.

That's all for today,
Tschussie,
Madeline Anafrid