Dress Rehearsal!

The diary is looking pretty chocker this summer and after taking three months off work, leave is quite light; therefore the easter holidays represented my only chance to go away on the bike and try out my new bits of my kit.

So the plan was to head down to Exmoor for two nights with my mate Paul (a companion on many of my previous cycling trips). 

Day 1 – Bristol to Minehead

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The day started off cold.  Cold, cold, cold.  I set off from home 8am with the intention of meeting Paul at 9am.  I met Paul at 9am as planned, but I lacked feeling in my hands!  As this was my last opportunity of some warmth of the day I got a cheeky cup of tea in so our departure was delayed till 9:30am!

It turned into a glorious day.  We spent the morning on cycle paths to Axbridge before rejoining roads for the rest of the day, avoiding A roads where possible at all costs.

The original plan was to head to Lynmouth.  That soon got shelved as it became apparent we were both a little ‘bike rusty’ and Lynmouth was a bit further away than we had estimated.  Instead we found a nice little campsite in Minehead, with 6 minutes of warm shower for the bargain price of 20p!  I would have paid £20 I needed a warm shower so badly!

Campsite

My home for the USA (I'm not usually this tidy!)

The kit

Setting up camp I was excited.  This was my first time putting up my new tent (my home for three months in the USA) and my first chance to have a go at cooking up some genuine cycling food.  The tent was a screaming success, it was up within 3 minutes.  The food, was not!


The food I prepared were some curried noodles.  We were hungry, so we ate them but they weren’t good.

Day 2 – Exmoor

From our base in Minehead we set off on a loop of Exmoor.  We had a cracking day, cycling on small roads with little traffic and lots of hills with swooping descents.

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Just shut your eyes and keep pedaling

One of many (25% hills)

I  survive  a coo!

That night, food was much better……mainly because we ate in a Chinese Restaurant!

Day 3 – Minehead to Bristol

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Holly loaded up

Before setting off home, I cooked up the already ritual coffee and created enough to fill a flask too.  As it was Easter Sunday we had taken the precaution of packing all day breakfast ration packs.  The ration packs hit the spot, although I think the fact we were outdoors added to the flavour; I don’t think the taste would be as good at home in my living room.

The campsite was packed up nice and quick and we were off on the road.  The route we followed home was similar to the route down, although we dived into some country lanes to avoid the busy roads.  A cracking trip was crowned with lunch at Rich’s Cider Farm; a three cheese ploughman’s washed down with a pint of medium cider!