Word Of Mouse

Well, here we are in Plymouth and in an internet cafe so finally we've got the chance to do some proper editing without too much time pressure. Malc's busily filling in the rest of our report on the route to Totnes (so avid readers may want to check that post again) so i thought I'd kick off our route outline and our cheese reviews. And now it falls upon me to share with you the delights of our Journey from Totnes.
Just as we were loading our tandem to leave we met with another tandem admirer who kindly rode with us to the edge of town and tourist information (where we failed once again to find anything by way of much use about cycle routes, but had a very friendly reception), then it was on to Stoke Gabriel.
Parents and worriers should not read the next lines as it describes a near accident on the main road out of Totness to Berry Pomeroy. As we were reachng to top of a long and fairly stiff climb, Malc doign a fabulous job of not wobbling into the lorries and buses that were thundering past, out bike computer popped off it's stand and fell to the ground. Plainly the possibility of losing a £5 bit of equipment warranted panic action that risked both of us and our bike coming to a sticky end, so I yelled out, stopped pedaling and caused a crash landing. The only thing that can be said in my favour is that I made damn sure it was the pavement side we fell to when we couldn't get our feet out of the spds! (just by way of reassurance we have now loosened teh fittings so it's easier to free our feet - we've also finally signed and had witnessed our wills!)
The ride to Stoke Gabriel was suitably testing and we were even more grateful than ever for Kay's warm recepion. It was lovely to see her and to pay a last visit to 'Danebury' before she moves on to a more manageabel flat in Paignton. It was also great to spend what must have ben the coldest night of our trip so far under cover.
we had a lovely evening with Kay and quick walt up to the quay on teh Dart, before retiring to an early bed, the sounds of the weather forecast and reports of the ship taken out of action by a freak wave fresh in our minds.

After bike maintennance and a bit of faffing round we headed off to Plymouth. This turned out to be one of the less satisfying stretches of cycle path we've so far encountered and it was a tough day's cycling through hills, rain and an all important head-wind. Still, the day got off to a cracking start and we made our way back to Totnes, posted home the things we no longer needed, ate our compulsory ice-cream (we were in danger of leaving Devon without having had one) and headed off on a lovely cycle path to Dartington.

The cycling was tough but ok (we are definitely getting a bit fitter) and the weather was grim. Still we got to South Brent (which I thought was in London) and enjoyed a break from the rain and a well earned pasty before our last push to Plymouth.

Man this was grim! I guess teh best that can be said is that the cycle route was one step up from the A38 it spared us from. I for one started to feel cheesed off that we were weaving around all over the place and up and down over the A road so cars could enjoy a straight run, will we ran up more adn more miles. The 10 miles from Ivybridge to Plymouth was almost double that! Still, things only got better as we approached Plymouth in the driving rain, had to unload our bike and carry her on to teh cycle track which then took a scenic route along the city's sewerage works and drug dens. This is just what gives cycle tracks a bad name. Theer were a few hairy momenst when the track disappeared at vital moments adn we had to dismount and make a manic run for it across a busy raod, but we did eventually get here!
By the time we'd booked our ferry (the one that didn't get smashed up)and found a place to stay that would also accommodate the bike, the weather had cleared and I was prepared to admit that Plymouth might not be so bad after all. A fabulous Thai meal and redemption was found.

lookng forward to seeign the marine aquarium today adn very glad to have waited a day to catch teh boat that had cabin space. They could have squeezed us on yesterday but there were no cabins and no seats to be booked. A heaving mass of heaving people for a whole night at sea did not appeal! I wil be lying down with my head under a blanket at 2300 tonight as we set sail.

Until then there is a day to enjoy...