 travelinxs' Devon Travelogues | | | |
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| Page Views: 344 Last Visit to Devon: June, 2008 | Introduction by travelinxs - last update: Aug 21, 2008 |
| Juliet completely ruins a photo of my bike. |
I sat nursing a fine pint of Guiness in the George. It was Christmas Eve. I'd been back from Yemen about forty minutes.
"Fancy coming on a bike ride?"
Juliet scowled. She guessed I wasn't talking about a little jaunt to the beach down the road. She glanced toward the dark window of the pub where torrential rain thundered on the panes.
"Nice evening for it," she muttered.
"Well, not right now, obviously.."
"Not exactly fit at the moment, are we?"
"Not at the moment perhaps, but.."
And what about my back and shoulder injury?" She had injured herself through either work or martial arts training and had suffered a lot of pain with it recently.
"Well, there is that.."
We dont even have any bicycles!"
"True.." I dropped the subject for a couple of hours and reapproached it later at the point her eyes had begun to bob in a stormy sea of vodka.
"Yea. I'll do it," she slurred, not really having any idea as to what she had agreed to do. |
|  | So that was how this started. Though to turn the idea into a realisation took more planning than I had anticipated.
First there were the bikes. We hunted all over Devon but I never really connected with anything I saw. Untill we tried the very last store and there they were. Two black, mean looking Dawes Sardar expedition bikes. It was love at first sight. Thank god they were a dream to ride as well. I'd already made up my mind.
Of course no serious cyclist would dream of giving their bike a name. Mine I named Hagar, after Hagar The Horrible; the tough, heroic Viking who feared nothing but his own ineptitude and women.
Technically, he was Hagar 2, as the original Hagar was sadly and cruely kidnapped from a dodgy bedsit I was residing in back in 1996 never to be seen again. I mourn him still.
I asked Juliet the name of her bike. "It's just called my bike'" she answered without enthusiasm. It lacked all imagination, but still, her choice. So Hagar and Mybike were born.
In terms of training, well, I cycled to work (my only option!) and we went on the occational afternoon ride but in reality there was no training! We'll do that on the way. |
Then there were the spare parts for the bikes, tent and camping equipment. And so it went on. No chance of just throwing the usual pile of travel gear and clothes into a bag and setting off.
Juliet's back only improved marginaly and we kept the journey quiet untill she recieved the results back of an MRI scan incase she had to pull out.
The results came in just a week before my prefered departure date of Friday 13th (I like to tease providense) and generaly cleared her of any major damage that would involve surgery. The trip was on. | | |
It has to be noted that I was breaking a couple of my own, very personal golden rules of travel.
Firstly, never begin a journey with a member of the opposite sex.
- It was fine to meet someone on the road and travel for a while, but otherwise it was potentialy too complicated.
Secondly, never travel with someone who has never travelled before.
- They might hate it, and probably hate me for introducing the idea to them.
But I had faith in Juliet, despite this being her first taste of life on the road. Fortunately, she really doesnt have any idea what's about to hit her, so at least the first twenty-four hours should be fun. After that I fear I'll be in the lap of the tormented and the wrath of the female personified awaits to tear me apart.
No doubt my words will come back to haunt me the day I develop a fever whilst sweating up a hill, simultaneously vomiting over the handle bars whilst leaking out of my backside, cursing the day I dreamed up this stupid idea whilst miss cheery-chops disappears over the horizon merrily whistling to herself. |
So here it begins, on Friday 13th June 2008. I have not considered an introduction to a trip before, but thought in this case some background information may help explain whatever lies ahead.
Oh... and the route? You think I've had time to think about that on top of everything else? We'll make it up as we go along. It's more fun that way and besides, you're never lost when you don't know where you're going ... !
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 Comments for travelinxs about Devon | | | | |
urvashi123 Fri Oct 9, 2009 14:56 UTC
hi!!! you know every time i see pictures of your bycycle i envy you. i really like your cycle. wow pack light? what are those things ? | Elodie_Caroline Fri Aug 21, 2009 18:28 UTC
Thank you very muc Chris. Yeah, no matter what Berni said to anyone, none of it could ever be taken maliciously. I still can't think of her, or mention her name in words, without my eyes prickling with tears. | ranger49 Mon Jun 1, 2009 14:26 UTC
Sorry but I'm getting confused (maybe the unexpected heat) but did you intend to post all these interesting pics&tips on your Devon England Page? :) | giampiero6 Mon Mar 9, 2009 04:18 UTC
What an incredible...fascinating trip! Please be one of our Cycling Columnists! It's a perfect match! |
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Devon Hotels
- Exeter Hotels
- Paignton Hotels
- Berry Hotel
6-7, Berry Square, Paignton
- The Palace Hotel
Esplanade Road, The Palace, Paignton, Devon TQ4, Paignton
- Beresford Hotel
5, Adelphi Road, Paignton
- Aquamarine Hotel
8 St Andrews Road, Paignton, Devon TQ4, Paignton
- The No Smoking Clifton At Paignton
Clifton Hotel, 9-10 Kernou Road, Paignton, TQ4 6BA, Paignton
- Barnstaple Hotels
- The Imperial Hotel
Taw Vale Parade, Barnstaple
- Imperial Barnstaple
Litchdon Street, The Imperial, Barnstaple, Devon E, Barnstaple
- The Barnstaple Hotel
Braunton Road, Barnstaple
- The Royal & Fortescue Hotel
Boutport St., Barnstaple
- Foxhunters Inn
West Down, Nr Ilfracombe, Ilfracombe, Devon EX34, Barnstaple
- Dartmouth Hotels
- Royal Castle Hotel
11 The Quay, , Dartmouth TQ6 9PS, Dartmouth
- Dart Marina Hotel
Sandquay Rd, Dartmouth
- Fingals Hotel
Old Coombe Manor Farm, Dartmouth
- The Red Lion Inn
Dittisham, , Dartmouth TQ6 0ES, Dartmouth
- Nonsuch House
Church Hill, , Dartmouth TQ6 0BX, Dartmouth
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