Friday, August 28, 2009

Minehead

Well Dad has made it to Minehead http://http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minehead. Probably been one of the hardest days on the bike today. Very hilly route plus it has been blowing a gale and at times wet. Even though it was a tail wind it was very gusty and Dad needed alot of concentration just to stay on the bike! However he has had great views over the cliff tops. Last night was very windy and Dad spent most of the night hoping the tent didn't blow away! He kept waking up and planning his escape route if it blew away! Good old Millet's tent stood up to the elements!

Today's route took him Mortehoe on cycle route 27 into Ilfracombe on an old railway track. It was then a climb out of Ilfracombe. Dad then picked up some small coastal lanes. He had excellent views of Helley Bay and Combe Martin Bay. It took him an hour to walk/bike up to Trentishoe (5 miles). At the top there was a viewing point and it was 1,400 feet about sea level. From there it was downhill to Hunters Inn http://www.thehuntersinn.net/ but Dad was too early for food and had to make do with a coffee! Dad cycled along the highest sea cliffs in England. It was then onto Lynton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynton and Lynmouth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynmouth and he then had to climb the 12% hill out (I have no idea how steep that is but it sounds steep!) It was then up Countisbury Hill and on into Countisbury. Dad had excellent views of the waves lashing against the coast. He then picked up the A39 toll (£1.00 for bikes) and into Porlock and it's famous hill - which featured in 2007 Tour of Britain! Have you noticed how many hills I've mentioned!!! More information on them can be found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A39_road It was then on into Minehead. Dad had to ring for directions to the campsite. The lady said "ok I'll see you in about 20 minutes". What she forgot to tell Dad was there was yet another hill climb up to the campsite. I think the fact that two hills are mentioned in the address was a bit of a give-away (Hill Road, North Hill!!!) It took Dad 40 minutes to get there! He should be used to all these hills as hill climbing is what he specialised in his youth!!

He hadn't done much of a shop, it would have only been more weight to carry up the hills, and he was hoping there would be something on the campsite. Unfortunately there wasn't so on the menu tonight is cup-a-soup and his emergency noodles. He didn't even get his usual bacon buttie today either!

Tomorrow he will be heading for Weston-Super-Mare were he plans to have two nights.

No comments:

Post a Comment