20th July moral dilemma, good samaratin and on to Oakhampton

Moral dilemma , you’ve cycled 6 miles down a track and on your route you suddenly find a gate across the path saying private property no access. Do you retrace your steps , 6 miles back very steep uphill and 20 mile detour or do you try and go on?

Another wet night but dry when I got out of the tent. I packed most of the inside, dried the outside and was just about to take down the tent when it poured again. 2 bowls of porridge to get me on my way.

As I left the campsite and ran into the man who gave me directions last night. Turns out he had lived in Ipswich for twelve years.

Then it got weird. After 5 or 6 miles all ok, Genevieve suddenly got a speed type wobble. Stopped and tried again same thing, very unsettling. Took all the panniers off and tried again, same thing. Weird as I packed same way as previously and covered lots of miles no issues. Redistributed load tried again and better, but still occasional wobble without warning. It made me very careful on the down hills.

Turned down a cycle path, hardcore type track and went 6 miles, with steep downhill at the end when I came across the gate with private on. Big dilemma tried to see if path around but it would mean 20 mile detour and back tracking.

After searching around I decided to go on and unloaded Genevieve and eventually lifted everything over and resembled everything. 6 miles to go before joint road again. 3 miles no issue then path just disappeared. Now what? Searched around but no easy answers. I then used gps and pushed Genevieve through woods up steep muddy slopes. As bad as Andrew Mills mud ride. Hour and half later, muddy, stung, bitten I made it back to the road phew!!!!! I apologise for trespassing.

On I went and joined the Camel trail. Lovely and flat. At the Snails pace cafe I met a lovely french couple touring. Louis has just changed his brake blocks. They get lots of use around here. They had cycled from Dover to London, train to Exeter and cycled on over the moors. Good to have a chat with them.

One bacon butty and a cream tea later I was on my way. I love cycling over the moors so much space but hard work. Very lumpy with long climbs. But finding my climbing rhythm and just sit in and spin. You get there eventually.

Then in Davidstow miles from anywhere I saw a cyclist on side of the road. “Are you ok?” Answer “no”. Phil a young end to ender had broken a spoke and wheel was totally out of true. I find my pliers and by tightening and loosening other spokes we got it so he could ride it to get it repaired.

Lots of miles over the moors. Buzzards spiralling lazily, pied wagtails, gold finch, dunnocks and even a wheatear ( white arse). The sun had even put in an appearance and I was riding in short sleeves.

I get to just outside Oakhampton and google a campsite. 2.5 miles through Oakhampton and very much uphill. A very warm welcome from Tim. A special low rate for cyclists. Then best of all, he opens the boiler house for me to dry all my kit. Hurray!!!!

Two beers and pasta meal later and being able to sit outside was just wonderful. Watching the sun set. Hoping for a dry night and on past Exeter tomorrow. When I get a signal I’ll update the blog with pictures. No signal here though.

I need to have a proper meal tomorrow, with some green stuff as I’ve not really eaten properly last couple of days.

Still loving every minute although missing Jayne and Alf.