Before starting my new job this week, I took the opportunity to pop down to Cornwall for a few days as my mum and step dad were down there with their caravan. Thanks to people on here I had a good few ideas for routes to string together, all of which proved to be lovely biking roads, along with a few others from Best Biking Roads and some that just looked small and wiggly on the map.
London - Taunton: M3 to Basingstoke, then A303 to Taunton. Not much to say about these, about the quickest way to get there but not exactly fun. On the way my Zumo 550 turned itself off and wouldn't restart, which it's never done before. Had to find a garage where I could borrow a small allen key and reset it. It's since done the same thing twice more. Hmmmm.
Taunton - Minehead - Porlock: A39 Lovely road, winding, fairly empty, not too many caravans. After the run to Taunton this was great to be on, just the sort of roads that bikers always like, where I find myself making whooshing noises in my head as I swoop round the corners.
Stopped for a bite of lunch in Porlock only to find most places don't serve food on a Monday, but I eventually found a pub at the bottom of Porlock Hill that could refuel me.
Porlock Hill: Supposedly the steepest hill in England. Not as long as I expected it to be and, to be honest, apart from the first corner where it suddenly disappears uphill round the bend, not as steep as I thought it would be. Fun though, and leading out onto the cliff top road.
Porlock Hill - Camelford: Lovely run out over the cliff tops, windy roads and open spaces. Along the way I saw a sign for Hartland Quay, somewhere I spent a day during a university field course trying to make sense of the geology of the cliffs there, so I detoured to the cliffs along lovely single track roads until I parked by the cliffs and realised how much of my degree I've forgotten over the past 20 years. Impressive geology though, with how much it's folded and faulted.
Spent a couple of days with my folks in Camelford and got to meet their new puppy, who is incredibly cute and lively.
Went to the Eden Project for a day which reminded me of when I lived in a rainforest country and how nice it was to walk around in the warmth surrounded by greenery.
After that was a run to Poole in Dorset. The weather was particularly gray and damp the morning I left
but as soon as I dropped off the hilltops the clouds parted and the sun came out. By the time I got to Dartmoor, the roads were dry and it was a delightful morning of zipping round the moorland roads which were empty of most traffic.
I detoured off into more windy single track roads, visiting pretty little villages and generally reminding myself how much I enjoy rides like this, I've spent most of the past year just either commuting or riding around the London area, with not much riding out in the country just for fun.
On the last stretch across Dartmoor, I came across a herd of the famous Dartmoor ponies, with newly born foals. They showed very little nervousness and let me get up close for photos.
From there it was main roads to the coast and then the minor coast road to Weymouth which, on the map at least, looked to be swoopy and with lovely sea views. It was certainly swoopy but sadly the sea mist prevented any views of anything except the 50 yards in any direction.
Having never been over to Portland Bill I rode over the causeway and up onto the Bill itself. Again, I stopped to take pictures of the expansive view, you'll just have to trust me that, like the truth, the sea is out there.
At sea level it was a little clearer and when I arrived at Portland Bill lighthouse there was enough of a view to take a picture of the lighthouse.
From there is was a short run to my sister in law's house for the evening. Next morning it was up early and out for the run home. It was a beautiful sunny day so I stopped off at Popham airfield to look at the planes and check out the adverts for shares in aircraft. I haven't flown for 5 years and I'm looking for a cheap way to get back in the air. next year it might be possible.
Then home.
Those were the longest runs I've done on the bike since I bought it 18 months ago, and it continues to impress me more and more. It certainly takes a bit of muscling around when the roads get twisty but it's so relaxing to ride long distance. There was none of the aches and pains I would have expected from other bikes in the past.
However, it did make me realise that my cornering leaves something to be desired and the lack of practice on twisty roads is showing itself, I used to be a lot better than that. I think later this summer I'll be signing up for some more advanced tuition to try and fix some bad habits and spend some time rereading things like A Twist of the Wrist and Roadcraft.
London - Taunton: M3 to Basingstoke, then A303 to Taunton. Not much to say about these, about the quickest way to get there but not exactly fun. On the way my Zumo 550 turned itself off and wouldn't restart, which it's never done before. Had to find a garage where I could borrow a small allen key and reset it. It's since done the same thing twice more. Hmmmm.
Taunton - Minehead - Porlock: A39 Lovely road, winding, fairly empty, not too many caravans. After the run to Taunton this was great to be on, just the sort of roads that bikers always like, where I find myself making whooshing noises in my head as I swoop round the corners.
Stopped for a bite of lunch in Porlock only to find most places don't serve food on a Monday, but I eventually found a pub at the bottom of Porlock Hill that could refuel me.
Porlock Hill: Supposedly the steepest hill in England. Not as long as I expected it to be and, to be honest, apart from the first corner where it suddenly disappears uphill round the bend, not as steep as I thought it would be. Fun though, and leading out onto the cliff top road.
Porlock Hill - Camelford: Lovely run out over the cliff tops, windy roads and open spaces. Along the way I saw a sign for Hartland Quay, somewhere I spent a day during a university field course trying to make sense of the geology of the cliffs there, so I detoured to the cliffs along lovely single track roads until I parked by the cliffs and realised how much of my degree I've forgotten over the past 20 years. Impressive geology though, with how much it's folded and faulted.
Spent a couple of days with my folks in Camelford and got to meet their new puppy, who is incredibly cute and lively.
Went to the Eden Project for a day which reminded me of when I lived in a rainforest country and how nice it was to walk around in the warmth surrounded by greenery.
After that was a run to Poole in Dorset. The weather was particularly gray and damp the morning I left
but as soon as I dropped off the hilltops the clouds parted and the sun came out. By the time I got to Dartmoor, the roads were dry and it was a delightful morning of zipping round the moorland roads which were empty of most traffic.
I detoured off into more windy single track roads, visiting pretty little villages and generally reminding myself how much I enjoy rides like this, I've spent most of the past year just either commuting or riding around the London area, with not much riding out in the country just for fun.
On the last stretch across Dartmoor, I came across a herd of the famous Dartmoor ponies, with newly born foals. They showed very little nervousness and let me get up close for photos.
From there it was main roads to the coast and then the minor coast road to Weymouth which, on the map at least, looked to be swoopy and with lovely sea views. It was certainly swoopy but sadly the sea mist prevented any views of anything except the 50 yards in any direction.
Having never been over to Portland Bill I rode over the causeway and up onto the Bill itself. Again, I stopped to take pictures of the expansive view, you'll just have to trust me that, like the truth, the sea is out there.
At sea level it was a little clearer and when I arrived at Portland Bill lighthouse there was enough of a view to take a picture of the lighthouse.
From there is was a short run to my sister in law's house for the evening. Next morning it was up early and out for the run home. It was a beautiful sunny day so I stopped off at Popham airfield to look at the planes and check out the adverts for shares in aircraft. I haven't flown for 5 years and I'm looking for a cheap way to get back in the air. next year it might be possible.
Then home.
Those were the longest runs I've done on the bike since I bought it 18 months ago, and it continues to impress me more and more. It certainly takes a bit of muscling around when the roads get twisty but it's so relaxing to ride long distance. There was none of the aches and pains I would have expected from other bikes in the past.
However, it did make me realise that my cornering leaves something to be desired and the lack of practice on twisty roads is showing itself, I used to be a lot better than that. I think later this summer I'll be signing up for some more advanced tuition to try and fix some bad habits and spend some time rereading things like A Twist of the Wrist and Roadcraft.
