Day 53 – Brixham to Farringdon

 

Date: Saturday 17^th September 2010   Distance: 41.89 Miles

 

After breakfast  we left by 9 am and made good time to Paignton. Here were multicoloured beach huts and there was busy traffic all the way in despite it being early on Saturday. We decided to miss most of the town and carry on to Torquay which was a lovely coastal ride, emphasising the red sand stone. We were nearly tempted to go on a boat trip but were mindful of the slow miles ahead. There are many new builds in the style of 1920-1930s, apt, for Agatha Christie was born here and a festival is held now in her honour. After walking the pier, people watching and a coffee break we set of on a road with 6’ 6’’ barriers - huge residential properties on the land side with fantastic views out to sea. The expanse of grass on the sea side was mowed with wooden seats placed at intervals to admire the view. A lot looked towards Thatcher Island, a Christie scenario I am sure.

It was hilly and windy with a bit of a run down into Sheldon until we got to Teignmouth, where we had lunch in a local’s pub. I say this because there were tasty free snacks on the bar. We realised we were missing a vital map and luckily Smiths had it.

5 miles later we were in Dawlish and we walked along the sea wall to Dawlish Warren. There seemed plenty of people going somewhere but we weren’t sure we could get out at the end, which seemed to be a high sandstone cliff with caves from the beach. We had to climb up some hairy steps with the bags off the tandem- railings not on the steep drop side! The walk followed the railway line besides which the sandstone was weathered with holes and looked geologically interesting. After roughly 2 miles we came out by an amusement park (not machines but things like crazy golf ) and a caravan site.

 

This led us to the road following the River Exe estuary all the way to the cycle –path, which disappeared to nothing and we ended on the road again. We marvelled at how much traffic seemed to be going on roads to nowhere. At a Nature reserve we came back on the path- well used also cars were allowed on this which was strange for a designated cycle path.

 

 We looked for the ferry, which would have saved a few miles but the boat looked from the picture too small so we didn’t wait. We cycled towards Exeter for the first bridge across the canal and river. There was a pavement cycle route for cyclists and the roads were very busy and difficult to cross when we found ourselves on the wrong side. We passed the County Showground where Exeter had just won the Rugby and cars were leaving. Off on little roads again to Farringdon. The B and B is on an unmarked road and no sign at the gate either. Luckily Bob’s map skills are brilliant and then our hostess rode up on her mower confirming we were in the right place

 

Our room was titchy and our bathroom downstairs. Despite the longest ride 41 miles and many many hills we had a mile walk to the pub for a meal and another back. There was a swimming pool we could use if we wished but we were shocked by the £85 tariff for our room which we found never became dark even with drawn curtains and it was a very noisy night. Breakfast was Spartan too. The White Horse pub was really good though and we enjoyed our meal. It was probably the best beef in red wine I have ever tasted and enough for a family. The trout was delicious too, Bob said.