Tuesday 3 June 2008

Day 2: Camelford to Bampton (73 miles)



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Today was dry, bright and breezy, with a Westerly wind behind us for most of the day.

We started the day with a huge English breakfast at our B&B in Camelford. We then got on our bikes and headed along the A39 for a few miles followed by a short stretch of A395 before striking out cross-country towards Holdsworthy. This was a lovely ride along tiny, empty country lanes. A few miles before Holdsworthy we crossed the Tamar and entered Devon.


After tea and cakes in Holdsworthy we continued along the A388 towards Great Torrington. Despite the "A" designation there was very little traffic. After three sharp climbs we reached Great Torrington where we stopped in the old-fashioned main square to eat lunch. Then on along the B3227 to South Molton for coffee before continuing along the same road to the little town of Bampton, where we checked into The Swan for our overnight stay.


Geoff is back! After spending the night at home he put his spare bike in the rental van and drove the 300 miles back from Cambridge to Taunton, where he returned the van and then set out by bike to join us in South Molton. Good to have you back with us, Geoff.

Today was a cracking day. Very hilly, with some tough climbs, but numerous long downhills as well.

Vital statistics: Distance 73 miles. Average speed 12.4mph. Max speed 40mph! Total distance from Land's End 148 miles.

Tomorrow: Day 3 Bampton to Chepstow

9 comments:

  1. Pleased to hear you are now 6 again. Well done. A @ R

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  2. Great to follow your progress!

    We got soaked just commuting round London yesterday and assumed you'd be swimming half the time, but it sounds like you've dodged the deluges so far.

    D'you think you should add cake and coffee details to the daily stats summary?

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  3. Great news!
    It's Holsworthy not Holdsworthy - if posterity cares.
    Tim

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  4. Glad to hear that all's going well. We're checking your progress daily and send our best wishes to you all. From everyone at Headway Cambridgeshire

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  5. Hi guys - great job. You seem to be ahead of schedule, so might you be in Kendal on Saturday (as I will be) and if so where? Or if Kendal remains a Sunday activity, are you using the A6 between Preston and Lancaster, and can you give an approximate timing? I'll look out for you if I can - Richard (Tom's colleague)

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  6. Thanks for the correction, Tim. You missed my reference to St Bunyan near Penzance. I should have written St Buryan...

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  7. glad to hear you've had some drama already, it's not a trip without a bit of drama. But no more if possible.

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  8. Rob is right. Sounds like one long round of refreshments to me! A x

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  9. Great how the average speed is so much faster now - from 12.2mph to 12.4 to 12.7! But 88 miles is also a lot further - well done!
    Nigel obviously didn't study my comments on the camcycle photo map about Sustrans routes from the Severn bridge to Bristol! I had problems finding a bed in Chepstow in January - ended up at the Castle View Hotel after riding around the one-way system about four times, and at the back so no view. You did much better!
    Tim

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