Monday, September 8, 2014

Day 2 - Lostwithiel to Exeter

The Road is Ours

We have arrived in Exeter. Today has been the hardest ride I've ever done in my life, going through the highest village in Cornwall and through Dartmoor National Park, with over 6000ft of climbing in total (Mt Everest is 8848ft tall). We left our hotel at 8:30 in the morning and arrived at 6:30 in the evening.

Unfortunately one of our cyclists has decided not to proceed with the tour and it's hard to blame him at all. I've found it as much a mental battle as it is physical and there's just no point going on if you're not in the right state of mind to get some pleasure out of the ride.

Thankfully I've managed to keep up OK so far but I can understand how easy it is to feel like everyone else is just breezing along miles ahead. You've just got to keep reminding yourself that it never gets easier for anyone... you just go faster ;)

Another 62 miles down, 860 to go.

Pictures below:-

Preparing for departure

Chris's white van

A rude awakening

Nearly at the top..

Cute name for a village!

Cafe stop.

Horsebridge

My little victory!

A few of us together at Horsebridge.

Lunch stop

A beautiful view - it's amazing how high up you can get if you ignore the sweat and tears..

Chris making sure we're all still making a move!

The road ahead

The Dartmoor ponies - they're talking about farming them for meat now..?!

Lovely look-out spot. I stopped for a break at this point to stock up on water at the pub opposite. I'd been riding alone for the most part - when you're struggling, you just need to go at your own pace..


Our destination at last!

Tonight's home

Room for the night. The double and single was a bit of a surprise, but I made an arrangement with Jonathan (my roommate for the trip) such that we'd alternate on the larger beds!

Route data:-

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