Day 3 Tintagel to Whidden Down – Out of Cornwall and into Devon

Miles today 46, miles to date 131.

 Another day of hilly climbs but great views

You know you have got to the top when you at the radio transmitter

The hostel last night was pretty basic and no chance of breakfast. So we ended up with a paper cup of coffee out of a garage. Alastair has his first (and only) Cornish Pasty…. but for breakfast??? Garage pasties might generally be crap but this one we were reliably informed was ok; Jim sticks to his energy bars…..

Once out of Tintagel, the road to Launceston is mainly downhill but the town was choked with heavy traffic. We cycled on to Okehampton on what was the old A30 over some seriously long and arduous climbs. Highlight of the day was the cycle along a dedicated cycle track known as the ‘Granite Way’ leading into Oakhampton.

We also bump into the family we met on the Padstow Ferry and cycle a few miles with them along to Okehampton. They are from Suffolk and are cycling with 5 children, a guitar and a kiddie carrier carrying all their kit and camping on the way.  They too are going to John O Groast and hope to arrive at the same time as us.

We left Cornwall and entered Devon but there no respite from the hills.

Welcome to Devon! and up yet another hill.....

Had a picnic stop at Lewdown before ending the day on top of Whidden Down pretty well exhausted. At least it means we start with a ‘downhiller’ tomorrow since there is nothing higher than us.

It is Sarah-Jane’s birthday today and we spent the evening at  ‘The Tors’ pub in Belstone:  a pretty village on the edge of Dartmoor. You will see that we did 46 miles today. With S-J reaching the fine age of 48, Alastair suggested that she ought to leave the pub for half an hour and cycle up and down the last hill again to make it 48 miles on her 48^th birthday. I am afraid the answer given is not appropriate for readers of this Blog.