Devon Delight Sunday 30 June 2002

"Devon Delight" organized by Graham Brodie what a "delight". Hayden, Richard, Grace and I set off with the others from Newton Abbott and before long disappeared into typical Devon Countryside with very narrow lanes and high hedges on our way down to Dawlish.

While Grace and I were reading the instructions, a group from St Budeaux Club came along and said "follow us, we know the route". We quickly got going again and cycled with them through Dawlish, Dawlish Warren and onto Exminster. Here the scenery was breathtaking with the quiet waters of the bay, little boats at their moorings on your right, with Powderham Castle, home of the Earl of Devon, on your left. Hayden and Richard dropped off in Exminster to spend a couple of hours with our son, while Grace and I continued with the St Budeaux Club Members into Exeter and onto the canal cycle path. I was glad to have the guidance of someone who knew the route. It made navigating this section so much easier! We cycled along the canal and enjoyed watching the rowing boats on the canal, little children riding their bikes and people out for a Sunday stroll. We came out at St David's Railway Station and cycled up the valley on our way up to Stoke Canon. We left the St Budeaux members who stopped to investigate the crops in some fields!, and cycled on with Derek and Ann from Plymouth. A cup of tea was provided in Broadclyst at the Info Control which was very much appreciated as we had not stopped since leaving Newton Abbott.

Grace and I were soon on our way again and before long Graham from the St Budeaux Club joined us and cycled along with us while waiting for his friends to catch up with him. However after a few miles we caught sight of his friends ahead! How did they manage that we ask!!

We made good progress up to Budlake and back to Stoke Canon and Exeter. The barriers were down at Exeter St David's Railway Station, this gave me time to catch my breath and take my first photograph of the day!

I was really enjoying this ride and thinking how flat this part of Devon was until… we started to climb up to Longdown. When we arrived at the top outside the pub I was surprised to see so many bikes propped against the wall. I think a few riders must have had difficulty in finding the Info Control! After a quick drink of our water, we said goodbye to Robin who had appeared from inside the pub (glass in hand!) and the others and set off down the hill turning into the Teign Valley to follow the river. This was beautiful and so different from the first part of the ride, you had the sound of the tumbling waters of the rapids, the twittering of the birds, the whir of the bike tyres and hardly a car in sight. Richard and Hayden were on the roadside waiting for us near Lower Ashton and cycled back with us down to Kingsteignton and back to Newton Abbot.

The "Devon Delight" is certainly an audax to be recommended and congratulations to Graham Brodie.

Dai Knapmann enjoying the ride.	Where have all the riders gone!

Cornish 100k | Saints & Tinners 300k | Devon Delight 100k| John o'Groats to Lands End | Rotary Fun Run |

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