Having read the forums I frequent, the Sunday papers on-line, watched the Gordon Murray documentary again, I decided to do something that I haven't felt the urge to do for years, just go for a ride for the simple pleasure of doing so.
It's a sunny Sunday and 7.00am, a chance that I might get out and back without encountering Grockles or Squids on their weekly journey to whichever venue is the latest choice for admiring each other's knee sliders and crash bobbins.
It's a bit chilly still but worth the effort to get out early as the roads are deserted.
North out of Plymouth and over Bickleigh Down to Yelverton then left towards Tavistock. I entered Horrabridge and recalled having to set-up a speed check with a Muniquip hand-held device in that junction on the left:
The Parish Council were concerned that motorists were taking the piss and ignoring the 30 mph limit. Well guess what? The first one to be pinged was a Parish Councillor.
That made it worthwhile.
Rather than head into the metropolitan jungle that is Tavistock, I turned right in Horrabridge onto Jordan lane and headed towards Plaister Down.
Towards Moorshop where there are views all the way across to Brentor (on the far horizon) in weather like this:
Onwards to Moorshop Cross and right towards Merrivale and Princetown.
Up Pork Hill and at the top there's a large parking area where looking east towards Princetown, on the horizon stands the TV mast at Rendlestone.
Obligatory bike photo with Tavistock in the distance behind:
Back on the bike and past Merrivale, Rendlestone Cross, onwards for Two Bridges:
Not the best view of Dartmoor's most famous building (that's from the south):
Unfortunately, it was at this point that I realised that the camera battery was on its last legs, so I'd have to be sparing with its use. That's the trouble with off-the-cuff rides, if I'd planned it I'd have recharged the camera battery yesterday.
Anyway, at Two Brigdes I have a choice; either swing north for Postbridge, Moretonhampstead (possibly Widdicombe-in-Moor) or continue east towards Dartmeet and Poundsgate.
I opt for the latter (B3357), eventually riding alongside the Dart;
Crossing the Dart at Holne Bridge:
Between Plymouth and Ashburton (a bit farther up the B3357, I saw a total of three other road users - not counting the sheep, cattle and ponies on the moor).
At Ashburton I took the old A38 to Dartbridge, Buckfastleigh and then the A384 to Dartington, Totnes, the A381 through Harburtonford to Halwell and thence onto the A3122 for Dartmouth.
At Dartmouth, coming down Townstal Road and College Way you get a glimpse of the Dart estuary and the yachts bobbing at the moorings.
Stop on the quayside for a tab and a photo or two;
It's just after 8.15 and that's a sea mist yet to burn off.
Taking the A379 back to Plymouth, one of my favourite roads. Sadly all through Stoke Fleming, Blackpool and Strete, the sea mist was clagged-in.
Slapton Ley too was down to very limited visibility but the memorial to those who died in Operation Tiger (google it if you've not heard the story) looms out of the mist;
The recovered DD Sherman at Torcross;
I remember when it was eventually raised from the seabed in the 80's. It makes a more fitting memorial than the usual plaque (google 'Torcross Sherman Tank' and you'll find the history of Op Tiger and the campaign to raise the Sherman).
Farther along the A379, Frogmore onwards, the mist either hasn't rolled ashore or has burned off in the longed for sunshine.
I did manage to avoid the Grockles but not the Squids who I knew would be congregating in Kingsbridge for their weekly tyre-kicking session. Back home via Aveton Gifford, Modbury, then cut across from Sequer's Bridge via Westlake to pick up the A38 at Ivybridge. A quick squirt down the 38 and home just as most people were stepping out for the day.
I might do that again (but make certain that the camera is fully charged next time
).
Breakfast at home, nice pair of Salcombe kippers picked-up in Kingsbridge.
It's a sunny Sunday and 7.00am, a chance that I might get out and back without encountering Grockles or Squids on their weekly journey to whichever venue is the latest choice for admiring each other's knee sliders and crash bobbins.
It's a bit chilly still but worth the effort to get out early as the roads are deserted.
North out of Plymouth and over Bickleigh Down to Yelverton then left towards Tavistock. I entered Horrabridge and recalled having to set-up a speed check with a Muniquip hand-held device in that junction on the left:
The Parish Council were concerned that motorists were taking the piss and ignoring the 30 mph limit. Well guess what? The first one to be pinged was a Parish Councillor.
That made it worthwhile.Rather than head into the metropolitan jungle that is Tavistock, I turned right in Horrabridge onto Jordan lane and headed towards Plaister Down.
Towards Moorshop where there are views all the way across to Brentor (on the far horizon) in weather like this:
Onwards to Moorshop Cross and right towards Merrivale and Princetown.
Up Pork Hill and at the top there's a large parking area where looking east towards Princetown, on the horizon stands the TV mast at Rendlestone.
Obligatory bike photo with Tavistock in the distance behind:
Back on the bike and past Merrivale, Rendlestone Cross, onwards for Two Bridges:
Not the best view of Dartmoor's most famous building (that's from the south):
Unfortunately, it was at this point that I realised that the camera battery was on its last legs, so I'd have to be sparing with its use. That's the trouble with off-the-cuff rides, if I'd planned it I'd have recharged the camera battery yesterday.
Anyway, at Two Brigdes I have a choice; either swing north for Postbridge, Moretonhampstead (possibly Widdicombe-in-Moor) or continue east towards Dartmeet and Poundsgate.
I opt for the latter (B3357), eventually riding alongside the Dart;
Crossing the Dart at Holne Bridge:
Between Plymouth and Ashburton (a bit farther up the B3357, I saw a total of three other road users - not counting the sheep, cattle and ponies on the moor).
At Ashburton I took the old A38 to Dartbridge, Buckfastleigh and then the A384 to Dartington, Totnes, the A381 through Harburtonford to Halwell and thence onto the A3122 for Dartmouth.
At Dartmouth, coming down Townstal Road and College Way you get a glimpse of the Dart estuary and the yachts bobbing at the moorings.
Stop on the quayside for a tab and a photo or two;
It's just after 8.15 and that's a sea mist yet to burn off.
Taking the A379 back to Plymouth, one of my favourite roads. Sadly all through Stoke Fleming, Blackpool and Strete, the sea mist was clagged-in.
Slapton Ley too was down to very limited visibility but the memorial to those who died in Operation Tiger (google it if you've not heard the story) looms out of the mist;
The recovered DD Sherman at Torcross;
I remember when it was eventually raised from the seabed in the 80's. It makes a more fitting memorial than the usual plaque (google 'Torcross Sherman Tank' and you'll find the history of Op Tiger and the campaign to raise the Sherman).
Farther along the A379, Frogmore onwards, the mist either hasn't rolled ashore or has burned off in the longed for sunshine.
I did manage to avoid the Grockles but not the Squids who I knew would be congregating in Kingsbridge for their weekly tyre-kicking session. Back home via Aveton Gifford, Modbury, then cut across from Sequer's Bridge via Westlake to pick up the A38 at Ivybridge. A quick squirt down the 38 and home just as most people were stepping out for the day.
I might do that again (but make certain that the camera is fully charged next time
).Breakfast at home, nice pair of Salcombe kippers picked-up in Kingsbridge.
The clutch isn't slipping, it's properly adjusted but might be a bit thin on friction material left, the bike needs a few more revs than it should to pull away. So I may as well dive in and sort both at the same time (the new parts are sat on my work bench).
and as turds go that is a beauty
)
