Last night at the hostel was pretty good on the grand scheme of things. The food was decent enough accompanied by a pretty average local cider. Early night because of today's big ride.
I'm out by 0715, that's after a boil in the bag breakfast is brought with me and a careful walk up the long stoney driveway. I didn't want to tempt fate and get a puncture so early on. The riding started hard and continued that way. I had barely got going before I had to stop to let a herd of cows cross the road. There were a few steep descents but they didn't really make up for the constantly grinding uphill struggles that kept cropping up. Lostwithiel, Liskeard, Collington, Gunnerslake all involved massive hills, the later was a struggle to push the bike up let alone ride.
Near Collington I passed the Ginsters factory but couldn't stomach going to get one, its odd how you crave certain foods and not others when doing this much exercise. Tavistock and its time for a hard earned cream tea and milkshake but the day goes on; around Dartmoor above Okehampton to a quaint village called Exbourne and The Red Lion pub.
I'd always mentally thought of Okehampton as being near the end but it was just nearer the end than where I'd started. It must be a good 30 miles more and for a while it appears to have flattened out. By the time I get to Crediton im feeling pretty drained and down to my last 3 Jelly Babies. There is the mother of all hills which I spend most of it walking up before whizzing down the other side but still with another 10 miles to the B&B. To its credit, the bike has held up great. Punishing uphills and recklessly fast down hills with just a dash of chain lube each morning.
Now I'm at the B&B, Brambles, and I'll keep this brief. It's a nice place and my room is lovely. I need some good rest tonight and ill take a more relaxed approach in the morning. Night.
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