Day 4 - Great Torrington to Countisbury Hill


I was very excited to be heading to even more familiar territory today; cycling to Exmoor; since I was a baby I have been coming to Exmoor regularly and I love it!

Again, also being hill obsessed there was a particularl nemesis I was keen to cycle up, Countisbury Hill; a hill so steep that I was once the passenger in a friends car whislt they drove, and they requested I alight the vehicle as they were struggling to drive up the hill with me  in it!! It was an old morris minor, but still, the feeling sticks!

Prior to reaching Countisbury, there was a farther stretch of the Tarka trail to enjoy, cycling down a valley on a disused railway, fabulous wild flowers abounding, a few people out walking, jogging or cycling along the way. You then reach the estuary and follow it out to sea near Bideford and Instow, where I delighted in discovery a coffee shop, and was terribly healthy and abstained from cake!


From Barntstape I headed inland along a lovely quiet valley to Loxhore, where lambs gadded about, violets, primroses, wood anenomes and early bluebells blossomed, and I saw my first orchid of 2021!

 I also experienced my first hill so steep that my front wheel lifted off the ground! A taster of what was to come!

I also cycled past the Calvert Trust, who serve to challenge disabiily through outdoor adventure! An adage I can definitely subscribe too!!

Onwards across Exmoor towards Lynmouth, as I descended down to the sea I really should have paid heed to the fact that it was so steep I had to dismount my bike and walk down beside it with the brakes fully on!

And then the ascent of Countisbury hill, well, it was wonderful, hellishly hard work but wonderful!! I have walked up it many times and be in awe of those (few) I have seen cycle it! Two motorcyclists passed me by and gave my thumbs up to encourage my ascent!


I have to say I really love positive encouragement from passers by as I cycle; particularly whilst cycling alone! Thank you to those who cheer me on!

We have enjoyed staying in the COVID secure annex of our friends who live down here and their hospitality and welcome has been wonderful! Thank you!

   

Comments

  1. Rob SchofieldApril 22, 2021 at 9:17 AM

    Nice to see you posting - and working out where you are on the map. Photos?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pedalling Poole to Provence for Parkinson's

As someone diagnosed with Parkinson’s’ Disease aged 37, I was rather desperate to find any silver linings possible, and at the very least rays of hope to help me weather the storm that accompanies receiving a diagnosis of a progressive degenerative incurable neurological condition. Within weeks of receiving my diagnosis I discovered Cure Parkinson’s and subsequently attended their seminar on research they have funded.  There began my journey of equipping myself with the maximal knowledge I could on cutting edge research, to hopefully minimize the burden of this disease upon my future life. The research funded by Cure Parkinson’s is literally working to save lives, and selfishly I am rather keen that they do this apace! Having cycled Lands End to John O’Groats last year, I made a rather delightful discovery for myself; that if I cycled at least 50 miles a day I no longer felt that I had Parkinson’s. I was able to write a letter again, something I have not done for many years. And so, t
Read more

Day 1- Poole to Saint Mere Eglise

Image
It’s rather lovely to start a journey setting sail from your home port; for me this is Poole, Dorset. Setting sail from Poole on Brittany Ferries ship Barfleur is particularly significant for me, as it was almost five years ago on a sunny summer’s day that I was setting sail from Poole as I received a telephone call from my neurologist to impart the words I was dreading to hear. “Hi Claire, I’m afraid your DAT scan is abnormal; you have Parkinson’s Disease.” A few weeks previously my sister had driven me to Poole hospital, where the lovely team in Nuclear Medicine, gave me a radioactive isotope and asked me to return a few hours hence for the Radiographic DAT Scan. The news that I have received from my neurologist sank in as the Barfleur Ferry navigated its way through Poole Harbour, past the chain ferry and alongside Shell Bay. Summer holidays were in full swing and I could see families aplenty enjoying the sunshine, sand and sea. I wept. I was 37; single; a GP Partner, almost a Pub
Read more

Day 8 - Hereford to Ironbridge

Having enjoyed a delightful stay at an Airbnb in Kenchester at a stud farm, the cycle across Herefordshire began; beautiful countyside with lots of farming along the way, alas no spring lambs to share my lunch with! I took a mostly country lane route, first to Leominster. Feeling a little low in energy I took the opportunity of a little bakers to grab a doughnut, and whilst sitting on the bench outside a lady called Hazel asked me whether I was on holiday in the area; I suppose there are not many lycra clad cyclists with panniers frequenting Leominster! I mentioned my cycle for Cure PArkinson's Trust and she kindly donated £20 to CPT! Thank you HAzel! Onwards to Ludlow, and as I cycled into the town I spied my mother's VW van, and managed to bump into her on the street there, so we enjoyed a delicious al fresco lunch at Harp lane cafe, whilst a classical guitarist busked on the street! It was wonderful! https://harplane.com/ Onwards then across Herefordshire and into Shropshire
Read more