We rode out of Bude this morning in very humid energy sapping weather, and we both struggled with this for about 12 miles until the air became fresher and the hills more gradual.
Leaving Cornwall and entering Devon at Bridgerule, we crossed the River Tamar, quite a small river at this point and quite near its source. We saw the first thatched cottages of our journey as we entered Devon. The Cornish roofs were mostly heavy slate.
Quiet country lanes sometimes extremely pot holed which required high levels of concentration and focus to avoid them led us onto the Derriton Viaduct. A little further on we joined the famous Tarka Trail complete with giant art forms. We passed through a long dark tunnel which instructed us to remove our sunglasses. (Health and safety gone mad!) We left the trail at the disused Bideford station platform and crossed the bridge over the river Torridge into Bideford to our B&B.
We were both surprised how fresh we felt at the end of today’s ride considering the humid sticky start we had.
Distance today 41.5 miles
Total hill climbs 2278ft
