Wednesday 15 June 2011

Day 2, Pelynt to Exeter

Woke up in the night to lashing rain and high winds. Woke up for breakfast to drizzle and hill fog. Set off in watery sunshine with a light tailwind. How lucky was that!

The first mile was a downhill but was immediately followed by a vicious steep climb just to remind us what is still in store. We made reasonable time for the first 19 miles to the Torpoint ferry to Plymouth but that delayed us, then getting through Plymouth was a slow process (routing using an OS map doesn't reveal the one-way streets or the closed roads!). Leaving Plymouth we realised we needed to eat so detoured to Morrisons for lunch. (Thankyou Morrisons at Plymport for letting us put the bikes in your dry cleaning room whilst we ate)

The Plym Valley cycleway took us, traffic free, to the base of Dartmoor where the big climb began. thank goodness Devon hills are easier and longer gradients : less strain to climb and brilliant to descend! It was also good to have a light tailwind to help us over Dartmoor ... and no rain!

It was a slow day really with all the ascent, and we arrived tired at Gypsey Hill Hotel at around 19:20.

No sign today of the two Merseysider Lejogers that we had been leapfrogging yesterday so I guess they are ahead of us now.

Looking forward to the Somerset Levels tomorrow! At least Joe's dodgy front mech won't be an issue there.

Stats: 74.3 miles; 10.3 mph avg; 7hrs 10mins saddle time; 1974m ascent (& 47.1 mph max coming down off Dartmoor!)

1 comment:

  1. 47.1mph?! Mighty quick! A speeding ticket would be an impressive addition to the trip!

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