Day 4: May 21

Launceston to Tiverton

87 km / 1250 m 

Today is spent cycling through lovely countryside and small villages as we wind our way to our destination for the evening, the town of Tiverton, wonderfully positioned on the River Exe.  

Indeed it was a lovely day of cycling.  Our luck with the good weather continues.  First pic is of the golf course hotel outbuilding where we all stayed last night.  The bed wasn't terribly comfortable, but it didn't keep me awake for long.  We ate dinner last night in the golf course restaurant, and the red lentil dahl was delicious!  


Next up - the Launceston Castle and the town portal.



Shortly after leaving town we left Cornwall and entered Devon.


I have high hopes for Devon.  In Peter's route rap this morning he used the word "steep", but I don't think I heard "cheeky" at all.  I've now learned that the order of increasing brutality on the hills is:  "steep", "cheeky", and "rude".  Indeed, although we did as much total climbing as yesterday none of the hills were offensive; more like what we get at home.  Overall, the route today seemed to be a bit more direct than weaving our way through Cornwall.  We were on more semi-main roads and fewer country lanes.  Although none of the roads have any shoulder, the wider roads have the benefit of a bit more space and better sight-lines.  But - traffic travels faster and there is more of it.  It was a nice mix......  I believe we saw our first Stop signs today.  Up until now it has simply been "Give way".  



Oh yes - the good old Royal Post box in the stone wall..............


I did see a few (what looked like) castles/forts in hilltops in the distance, but too far to take pictures.  In the morning it seemed like there were a lot more trees on the hillsides around us, and in the afternoon we seemed to return to more of an agricultural area.  Some roadside viewing during the day.......












Our first thatched-roof houses of the trip...........







Couldn't have asked for a nicer day!


Tiverton:

Population:  22,300

Tiverton is a town and civil parish in Devon.  The town stands at the confluence of the rivers Exe and Lowman.  Human occupation in the area dates back to the Stone Age.  Tiverton owes its early growth and prosperity to the wool trade, which caused the town to grow rapidly in the 16th and 17th centuries.  In the second half of the 20th century, Tiverton slowly declined.  It has now become a dormitory town for commuters to Exeter and Taunton.  


Hotel:  Tiverton Hotel  www.bw-tivertonhotel.co.uk



Ride Stats:

87.0 km
1216 m (3990 feet)

 The Route:  



Comments

  1. Lynn CMay 22, 2024 at 7:04 PM

    Ah, you've entered the area of England that Joe's father's family is from -- Devon. Indeed, I am told that there are LOTS of Coneybeares in Devon...

    Looks like you are getting lovely weather!! Long may it last!!

    ReplyDelete

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