Exeter to Lower Langford
Day started with some stress! Having been forbidden to ride on the A30/303 (with good reason, it has to be admitted) I added an alternative route to the GPS last night and it deleted all the other routes! Happily I noticed just as we were to set off and I had to fire up the laptop and reload them. Disater averted.
It lashed down during the night but happily was clear by breakfast and we set off, later than planned, in fine fettle. Today's hills were quite manageable and we missed all bar one of the forecast showers. The route alteration was brilliant after we'd done the vicious climb out from Honiton onto the ridge. Perfect riding and tea at a farm shop, with a later pub stop for lunch. We actually met up with Keith and Dave from Merseyside again in Honiton who were going to tackle the A-road ... wonder how they got on?
We met up with Anne & Maeve at Street and swapped our wee bags for the panniers as from then on we were on our own. The Somerset Levels were an easy break-in to cycling with a full load and we even managed the climb out of Cheddar with no problem.
We arrived at the B&B in Lower Langford rather late at around 19:30 to a welcome tea and cake, then a pub meal to finish the day.
An early night, I think. Bristol and the Severn Bridge to conquer tomorrow. Thank you ladies for the bag-carrying - it's all down to us now.
Stats : 79.2 miles at an average of 11.7 mph; 6hrs 45mins saddle-time; 1150m of ascent.
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