Day 4

Early start today (Sunday 21 May), breakfast at 0730 & on the road at 0815. My feet were once again squelching in the peddals by 0915, & the wind & rain lashed at me as I made my way up the long hills the other side of Crediton. A hard start to the day but I made Tiverton by 1015, so the early start was worthwhile. Sheltered at a BP garage & warmed myself up with a cuppa before cracking on, thankfully along a towpath this time.

The canal was lovely to cycle along although it would doubtless have been much nicer in the absence of continuous rain! Kept passing people who must have been on some sort of organised walk, as it was a) Sunday b) chucking it down c) freezing cold, & yet there were masses of them along the canal.

A-ha! They must have heard of me coming & were lining up to shout encouragement... ; - )

So I made Taunton, & thereafter (thankfully) it was the levels for me, which for those that don't know, was an area of freshwater swamp, which was drained (initially by monks in the 12th century) from the 1770's on. The area now produces mainly thatch for cottages but what really got me going was not the history, but the fact that it was flat, and the sun came out... this was a thoroughly enjoyable part of the ride, passing through quiet old English villages, the sun on my back, no wind to speak of & eating up the miles.

The tendon in my right ankle, going up to the calf started to cry mercy at me towards the end of the day, while both knees have now been reminding me of their limited capabilities for a day already. I made the Cheddar gorge by five, a full day in the saddle & 70miles on the clock, but worried about my right foot.