I woke to another fine sunny day. After my bed & breakfast host, Sue, provided me with a cracking breakfast I loaded my bike with pannier bags and handlebar carrier. I checked the tire pressure and noticed a worrying gouge on the outer wall of the rear tire. Knowing I was going to have to address this today, I did my stretches (my legs are feeling a bit tired and weary now) and rolled the bike onto the road.
For the initial 10 miles, I negotiated a series of stead climbs and descents. On one climb, an older couple probably in their 70s flew past me on their electric bikes. She must have heard my puffing and panting and felt sufficiently guilty as they breezed past me because all she could say was ‘Sorry!’
Fortunately, the hills began to smooth and I headed for the town of Tiverton.
I decided to stop for a Devon Cream Tea. I got a seat outside and prepared the scones. I then asked the friendly lady who was serving me what order the jam and clotted cream should be applied according to people in Devon.
She shouted to her colleague ‘Janice, come and see this. He’s only gone and done it!’
Apparently, I should have applied the clotted cream first and the jam after.
I decided to go ‘off-piste’ from my prescribed route because I read there was a National Cycle Route which enjoyed 11 miles of flat canal paths. I wasn’t disappointed. This was most enjoyable and incredibly picturesque.
I stopped to ask a couple of cyclists coming in the opposite direction, how far this trail stretches. The lady who took the above picture was walking and caught up with me again. She had retrieved my Oakley sunglasses which I had somehow managed to drop. If I hadn’t spoke to these two guys, and she wasn’t such a good somaraton, I would never have seen them again.
My journey today saw me bypass both Dartmoor National Park and Glastonbury.
I eventually got to Taunton and I made my way to the Bicycle Chain, a bike shop who replaced both tires on my bike. The mechanic listed the array of tires they had in stock. He said of the one I selected that it was virtually puncture proof. I pointed out that they said the Titanic was unsinkable. He said ‘I’ve not come across those ones before’!!!
I enjoyed another 14 mile canal path ride at Bridgewater. It was opened in 1827, part of a grand, but ultimately doomed plan to link the Bristol and English Channels, saving wooden hulled ships the perilous journey round the Corish peninsula. By 1850, the company who ran the canal went bankrupt. The canal was abandoned for over a century and restored for leisure use in 1994.
As I was off-road, I decided to enjoy some musical accompaniment with ‘Mr Rocks Through The Ages’ podcast with my mate Kevin McCallum. I also listened to my fellow ECFM radio presenter Andrew Rankin’s Drive Time show and he kindly dedicated the appropriately titled ‘Keep the Faith’ by Bon Jovi to me.
My Day 3 destination of Clevedon was still 11 miles away. I was looking forward to meeting local friends, Deborah and Geoff for dinner. The remaining journey should have taken me about an hour, but I was struggling to find an easy route on quiet roads because my bicycle satellite-navigation was directing me to the M5 motorway!
I had to do a bit of a detour which saw me rolling into Clevedon with a few minutes to spare before our restaurant booking.
I didn’t have time to check in to my digs for the night, get showered and changed. Instead, I had to padlock my bike outside, bring my pannier bags in to the restaurant and ask if I could store them while dining – and pray I didn’t have a big snotter stuck to my face!
Despite all that, we enjoyed a very pleasant evening at Scoozi restaurant.
I had to do my best not to embarrass myself downing copious amounts of liquid and gorging myself on second helpings of food!
Our waitress said she couldn’t help but notice me Land’s End to John O’Groats book which I had shown Deborah and Geoff.
She told me that the seven guys at the adjacent table were also doing the same LE2JOG cycle.
We shared a brief conversation about the hills of Cornwall and Devon, how tired the leg muscles are feeling and our respective onward routes.
They have a different path ahead to me but we wished each other well and enjoyment for the remainder of the trip.
I checked in to my Best Western hotel at 10pm.
Today’s trivial facts
NO. OF MILES CYCLED TODAY : 87
MOMENT OF THE DAY: The Tiverton and Bridgewater cycle paths and meeting Geoff and Deborah for dinner:
WEATHER: Dry, sunny & cloudy intervals, 16 degrees
FUEL: I ‘fuelled up’ and ate well for breakfast. Devon Cream Tea, fuel bars, bananas, sports drinks and lots of water.
SONG OF THE DAY: Keep the Faith – Bon Jovi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZQyVUTcpM4
55% of FUNDRAISING TARGET REACHED: (Thank U for sponsoring me)
TOMORROW’S STAGE 4 DESITINATION: Worcester, West Midlands (90 miles)
Scotty Boy's Bicycle Across Britain 
Leave a reply to scottybhoy71 Cancel reply