Sunday 22 May 2016
“So Nick, after all your complaining how was sleeping in a tent?” I can’t hear anyone at all asking. Well the honest answer is not good but perhaps (reluctantly) not actually as bad as I had imagined.
I may look snug and comfy (and a bit strange) but this is not my happy place and inside I am crying….
I mean I sure I did sleep for a few hours but it was very on and off and my left shoulder is unlikely to ever feel the same again. Let’s wait and see how grumpy I am after another long (er) day in the saddle.
This is the plan for today –
The first obstacle to the morning is met before we even get going…..Dan forgets the combination to his lock which is holding two of the three bikes together. I kid you not!
Fifteen minutes later he resorts to brute force (fortunately it was a rubbish lock) and we head off about 815.
The plan changes quite quickly as we all agree that rather than take the coastal route to Bude (pretty, quiet lanes but more miles and more climbing) we stay on the A39. It’s not too busy and it’s probably the right decision. Certainly the views are impressive and we make really good time.
We arrive in Bude just in time for elevenses and a massive slice of well earned cake at the Olive Tree.
Thirty five miles done already, well I was impressed even if no one else was.
Shortly afterwards we leave Cornwall. One county down and several (to be honest not sure how many) more to go.
Lunch is in a field at the side of the road….I can see pasties and mars bars quickly becoming the food of choice.
We have covered some big hills today and we are feeling pretty proud that we have not once got off and pushed….that’s just not the way we roll!
Yes I know that says its 14% downhill but that’s because we just came up it!
Five miles out from our campsite tonight in Umberleigh we cycle up two (yes two) 20% ers. We all make it but that just about finishes us off for the day.
Showered and changed we head of on foot for the local pub only to be told that it doesn’t do food on Sunday. Instead we have to get back on the bikes and ride another three miles (doesn’t sound a lot but it really felt like it and it was all uphill!) and as soon as Dan gets on his bike he breaks the chain again! No seriously he really did. We have now exhausted all our spare chain links so tomorrow we will have to teach Dan how to ride a bike properly and get some more links.
Nice meal though then back to camp for the earliest bedtime since I was 10 years old….the sun has not even gone down yet.
