UK
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Cycle Tour of Devon and Cornwall: Day 15
27th September 2020 Route: Okehampton to Exmouth Distance: 35.8 mile (57.3 km) Elevation: 0.6 miles (0.9 km) The overnight rain has cleared by early morning and I had a good view across to the Meldon Viaduct from my room in the Inn. I had traditional fried English breakfast before leaving the Inn and cycling the final return leg of my journey back to Exmouth. I cycled through Okehampton and up through into the Devon hills. It was a great day for cycling as it was cool, sunny with no wind. I cycled up and down the rolling hills all the way to the edge of Exeter. I descended the steep…
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Cycle Tour of Devon and Cornwall: Day 14
27th September 2020 Route: Wadebridge to Okehampton Distance: 52 mile (83.2 km) Elevation: 0.8 miles (1.4 km) I woke to the sound of light rain on the tent. The wind had stopped but a heavy mist had set in. I had to pack the tent while it was still wet and headed back down in to Wadebridge where I stopped for breakfast at a small local bakery. The drizzling rain continued most of the morning but it felt warm without the wind. The route took me up into the hills and towards the edge of Bodmin moor. I briefly stopped in the village of St Trudy. The lanes were very…
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Cycle Tour of Devon and Cornwall: Day 13
26th September 2020 Route: Newquay to Wadebridge Distance: 32.1 mile (51.4 km) Elevation: 0.5 miles (0.8 km) I had a good nights sleep despite being woken several times in the night by the hooting of owls and then by the resident peacocks in the early morning. I made porridge for breakfast and packed up the tent. It was a lovely morning and so I loaded up my bike and headed out towards Newquay. The cycle route took me along Gannel Estuary and then over the hill to Towan Headland Across from Towan Headland is the vast Fistral beach which is famous for surfing. It was still quite breezy so there…
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Cycle Tour of Devon and Cornwall: Day 12
26th September 2020 Route: St Ives to Newquay Distance: 32 mile (51.2 km) Elevation: 0.4 miles (0.7 km) I slept well as the wind and rain had eased overnight. I made my porridge and started to pack up my tent when the campsite owner came over for a chat. He was about to leave to check on his fishing boat in St Ives harbour. It was a small boat and he explained that he had not been able to take it out much over the past two years as the summer wind had changed and now blows from a northerly direction making the seas very rough around St Ives. We…
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Cycle Tour of Devon and Cornwall: Day 11
25th September 2020 Route: Treen to St Ives via Lands End Distance: 27.3 mile (43.7 km) Elevation: 0.4 miles (0.7 km) I managed to get some sleep during the early hours of the morning when the wind weakened. My earplugs helped to block out the rattling noise of the tent in the wind and rain. When I woke the rain had stopped so I hung out my clothes to dry as it was still fairly breezy. I also put my phone to charge using the solar panel as the battery was low. I made porridge for breakfast and then started to pack up my gear as the outside of the…
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Cycle Tour of Devon and Cornwall: Day 10
24th September 2020 Route: St Michael’s Mount to Treen Distance: 14.1 mile (22.6 km) Elevation: 0.2 miles (0.4 km) It was a cloudy and cold start to the day. I managed to dry the outside of my tent with a cloth and packed up before it started to rain again. I cycled along the seafront and stopped at a cafe for an egg and bacon baguette. The sky was very black looking out across St Michael’s Mount and Penzance. While waiting to be served I chatted to other cyclists who where on day trips and very impressed that I was tackling the coastal route. Just as I left the cafe…
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Cycle Tour of Devon and Cornwall: Day 9
23rd September 2020 Route: Long Downs to St Michael’s Mount Distance: 20.6 mile (33 km) Elevation: 0.3 miles (0.4 km) I slept well and woke to a damp morning. I made breakfast while being watched by the llamas. The sun came out briefly helping the tent to dry quickly in the breeze. I packed up all my bags and left the campsite. I still hadn’t met the owner so left my payment for the night under a box in a disused dog kennel. I left the campsite and cycled along the country lanes towards Marazion and St Michael’s Mount. It was great weather for cycling as it was cool and…
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Cycle Tour of Devon and Cornwall: Day 8
22nd September 2020 Route: St Austell to Long Downs Distance: 31.4 mile (49.7 km) Elevation: 0.6 miles (1 km) I woke to a damp and misty morning. I made my porridge and gathered blackberries from the hedgerow behind the tent. The ducks waddled over to see if I would give them any scraps but soon headed off to the other campers when they realised there was nothing for them. I wiped the heavy dew from the outside of the tent which quickly dried as soon as the clouds briefly parted which allowed me to pack away the tent. I loaded up the bike and headed down to Mevagissey. On the…
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Cycle Tour of Devon and Cornwall: Day 7
21st September 2020 Route: Bodmin to St Austell Distance: 18.8 mile (30.1 km) Elevation: 0.3 miles (0.5 Km) It was a beautiful sunny autumn day when I woke. I had a warm shower, made porridge for breakfast and cooked the last of the pasta and pesto that needed to be used up. I made some adjustments to the gears and breaks on my bike before setting off in the direction of St Austell. My plan was to join the cycle path that will take me all the way to Mevagissey. This will be the first time I’ve taken the official cycle path since Dawlish as the nation cycle path tends…
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Cycle Tour of Devon and Cornwall: Day 6
20th September 2020 Route: Liskeard to Bodmin Distance: 19.1 mile (30.6 km) Elevation: 0.4 miles (0.6 Km) I woke to a lovely sunny morning. I made my porridge and then packed up my bags and headed out on my route towards Bodmin. The owner of the campsite was also a keen cyclist and he over took me as I rode out through the nearby village of St Cleer. The village is famous for the holy well and has a pretty church. I then took the road towards St Neot. Just outside St Cleer I came across the remains of the 9th century Celtic Cross commemorating King Doniert who was the last…
