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Tuesday 11th May 2010 Wadebridge to Okehampton After my nutritious breakfast I got ready and was on my way by about 9.30. The stretch towards Camelford was good riding, few hills and not much traffic, but as I was no longer going to stay overnight there I chose to bypass Camelford and carry on towards Delabole and ultimately Okehampton.
Shortly before reaching Launceston I came upon two other End-to-Enders, John and Martin. Actually I had been able to see Martin’s fluorescent yellow jacket about a constant quarter of a mile ahead of me for over an hour but so closely matched were our speeds that I didn’t gain any ground on him and John until eventually they stopped for a moment by the road. When I did catch up with them we had a chat and they told me they were doing pretty much the same route as me although with different stopover points. They were expecting to take up to 3 weeks to do the trip and had booked every night of their accommodation in advance, all very organised. They looked to be about my age. Just after leaving them and still before Launceston it began raining and my feet soon got wet and then so cold I could hardly feel my toes. There were no cafes along the back lanes I had chosen for the route but then, at Pipers Pool where I turned off the A395, I had the good fortune to come across ‘Mum’s Café’ and B&B.
What a wonderful sight it was. I climbed off the bike feeling like the traditional drowned rat and entered the café. A hot tomato soup and chocolate pudding with custard perked me up no end and ‘Mum’ (I think she was actually called Joan) let me change my wet socks for dry ones in the café. I then donned the waterproof overshoes which proved to be excellent and I was ok after that, although by the time I left it had stopped raining anyway. Joan said that quite a few End-to-Enders passed that way and she produced a guestbook so I could add my entry. She was off to Italy in a week or so for a holiday herself – by coach so she wouldn’t be troubled by any flight cancellations caused by Iceland’s volcanic ash cloud. Mum’s Café was brilliant – only cost £3 something too. A bit further along I reached Launceston and shortly afterwards left Cornwall behind, feeling a bit of an uplift as I passed into Devon for it meant a complete county had been successfully crossed – the first of the trip.
As the day progressed the hills reappeared and began to wear me down a bit – in fact I was quite knackered by the end and glad I wasn’t going any further. I stayed at the Fountain Inn, Okehampton for £35 – the girl wasn’t sure if it should be £35 or £50 but I said I wasn’t staying if it was £50 and she still booked me in so I hoped for the best. All ok in the morning.
That evening I had my meal in the White Hart – mushroom risotto and a pint of Dartmoor IPA. The beer was nice but the meal was a bit disappointing… probably not enough grease. Distance: 55.2 miles Average speed: 9.5 mph Max speed observed: 31.7 mph | ||||
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