Day 1 Plymouth to Tiverton
Our second training ride saw the three of us set off from Plymouth north up cycle route 27, along an old railway line up the Plym Valley. We passed through Yelverton after 10 miles feeling fresh and enjoyed a rapid 30 mph+ descent along the main road to Tavistock. After climbing slowly back up into Tavistock we paused briefly to take in the World Heritage Site and more entertainingly watch Owen prove the reason that touring bikes have not taken off in the skate park scene. Skate park 1, Owen 0.
On leaving Tavistock we had a minor navigational error which we swiftly remedied and were back on track towards Okehampton. It was at this point that cycle route 27 took on a different character, turning more into a mountain bike trail than the road we were expecting. Plunging down steep banks, along narrow trails between fance and hedgerow, through fields, we put our Dawes Galaxy's through their paces. Thankfully they held up perfectly. This would occur again later when confronted by the option to take the "Summer Route" which as we found out takes you across the Moor towards the Willsworthy ranges over more rough trail and a ford. On a road bike and considering the Devon Coast to Coast cycle? Take the Winter Route.
We had a quick fish and chips in Okehampton and made our way out towards Tiverton. Typically, it was raining in Okehampton. Along the undulating Devon hills we cycled, following the main road, when a small van pulled up in front of us. A man rolled down his window with a concerned look on his face. He warned of a wasp nest spread out across the road ahead and that we should be cautious. Anyone who knows me knows that wasps and I do not mix, and this had me looking for alternative routes to cover the final 10 miles into Tiverton. We set off along smaller country lanes and the Devon hills came at us with a greater vengeance than any nest of angry wasps. 10 miles later we rolled jelly legged into Tiverton.
After a quick stop to ask for directions to a campsite, we found ourselves cycling along the Great Western Canal. We pitched up half way between Tiverton and Taunton in a campsite typically reserved for permanent static caravan homes. Most plots had a caravan home which had been converted superficially into grand looking mini homes with pillars, marble steps and manicured gardens.
Day 2 Tiverton to Bristol
This day was characterised by canals, flood plains and railway lines. Overall quite a flat day. We made our way along the Great Western Canal to Bridgewater which was peaceful and easy on the legs after Devon the day before. We then had a couple of small hills before descending into the Somerset Levels.
Having seen this area in the news during recent flooding, it soon became obvious how the levels must be prone to flood. Totally flat and crossed with irrigation ditches throughout, it felt like a different country to where we had been cycling before. After an hour we ascended into the Mendip Hills and found a nice level disused railway line to carry us through (Strawberry Line). We had a minor accident involving Jake and Owen resulting in Jakes rear mudguard breaking (again - the first being myself who rode into his rear). After this we grew weary and looked for a place to camp around 10 miles shy of the bridge crossing into Wales over the Severn.
Day 3 Bristol to Llantwit Major
The next morning we started through the fields of cars readied for export. Row upon row of Toyota Hilux pickup trucks. We crossed the Avon and made our way to the M42 Severn Crossing. This was exposed and cold so we stopped for a quick photo however did not linger. On the other side we ascended our first hill in Wales. By this stage my knees were complaining having still been recovering from an ill fated Plymouth to Exeter running attempt which injured my right knee after 16 miles. For the rest of the day I would be bringing up the rear up the hills as I made sure not to put pressure on my knee. I hoped that by taking it easy we could continue the ride and my knee would recover on the go.
Next stop was Newport, where we crossed the old transported bridge, much to Owens entertainment being a mechanical engineer. We rode through to Cardiff and soon we entered the Vale of Glamorgan, Owens home county. A home cooked dinner beckoned and we pushed on to Owen's home in Llantwit Major.
Day 4 Llantwit Major to Newport
We spent the morning exploring the coast of Llantwit Major with Owen and the old church in the village. That afternoon Owen had to depart back to university in Exeter, so Jake and I continued on ourselves, Jake opting to carry the cook set. We had an easy ride into Cardiff. Then things became interesting. Without the local knowledge of Owen on our side Jake and I soon became lost in the urban centre of Cardiff. At one stage we found ourselves riding for our lives through the dual carriage way underpass with traffic screaming past us, our ears deafened by the echoing roar of engines in the tunnel. We made it out and hopped back over to the cycle path.
On finding our way out we assisted a disorientated woman who had just been discharged from hospital find her way back home, before riding through some of the more deprived neighbourhoods of Cardiff. These soon turned to rural agricultural land and we decided to find a campsite to spend the night just shy of Newport.
Day 5 Newport to Ross-on-Wye
Heading from Newport to Abergavenney we found a canal which from previous experience we expected to be flat. How wrong we were. An incessant succession of lock gates brought the canal higher and higher into Wales towards Abergavenney. Many short and very steep ascents which don't lend themselves well to loaded touring bikes. From Abergavenney we ascended some very large, long, winding hills out of Wales and into Herefordshire. Jake encountered a member of staff from his old school in a small village nestled between two hills, and we stopped for a quick snack before pushing on in search of lunch. We found a pub and stopped to eat. The temperature was rising by this point and the hills were wearing on us. It was not far into Jake's family home though and we pushed on, stopping in Ross-on-Wye to collect the all important post ride pints.
Day 6 Ross-on-Wye to Taunton (our first century)
We set off down the Wye Valley in the morning, which for a descending river valley had an awful lot of up hill. We passed the Tintern Abbey ruin which I wasn't expecting and made for a nice treat and distraction. We carried on down (though still it was mostly up) the valley until a short and very steep descent to the M42 bridge back over the Severn. We hit our rhythm here and, feeling good, we steadily pushed on through the car fields, and up to the Strawberry Line through the Mendips. We stopped for a Subway shortly prior, and I spilled 5 pounds worth of nuts, raisins and snackage over a petrol station forecourt, resulting in a minor sense of humour failure much to the amusement of a passing family.
Still feeling strong and riding steady, we ate up the miles through the Mendips and the Somerset Levels. In Bridgewater we stopped for lunch and at over 90 miles in we evaluated our options. With only 12 miles to Taunton to go, and the prospect of riding our first 100 mile day, we pushed on. We picked up the pace to beat the weather and made Taunton in quick time. Our bikes looked like they had ridden 100 dusty miles and us more so, but we felt great with the prospect of a curry dinner waiting for us back in Plymouth!
