Day 2: Golant to Exeter

We knew this'd be a hard day. Horrible humidity and rain forecast and 85 miles the straightest route according to CTC guru Colin Langdon. Happily Colin was wrong and we made it here in 80, bypassing Dartmoor via a 'less hilly' route. Didn't feel less hilly to us - in fact we were pushing the bikes up a mega steep, muddy gravel track (Ta Mr Langdon!) after about 5 minutes and progress through the morning was extremely frustrating and slow. Much sugary tea and cake/energy bars were eaten on route and we took to singing crude songs about Colin L to keep spirits up. We averaged 10 mph but the cycle computer reckoned we'd spent over 4 hours on breaks (rain and recuperation).

Some incredible downhill with James going over 40, with Mike tootling fairly rapidly behind.

Fantastic feeling to see the flatter north devon landscape unfolding as we edged around the last of Dartmoor.

Dragged ourselves into a darkening Exeter at 10 o'clock, catching a Chinese takeaway and a beer before heading back to a late, lonely (everyone else in bed) supper at the YHA. Tired, really tired ( Mike nearly fell asleep standing up) but thrilled to get what we both agreed was our hardest cycling day ever out of the way.
Wanted to ring our Badminton pals at the post game pub to let them know how we were progressing, but just managed a chat with our wives and kids before the night was over.