The Start

In our wisdom we decided today to cross Dartmoor. Sarah dropped us off at some services in the middle of nowhere and now standard disagreements with Satty begin. although we have lots of maps that are useful in Spain these are absolutely useless in Devon. The commander is less than happy and he is at the point of throwing the satnav over the hedge. Anyway we persist and eventually find ourselves in the beautiful Town of  Monkhamstead where we treat ourselves to our first hot chocolate. The wind is vicious over the moors today and we feel very unlucky due to the fact that although after six months without rain or wind the like should decide to inflict thereselves on us on our first day of riding. 5000 climbing feet over 40 miles was hardly a light warmup for the afternoon. We find ourselves in Tavistock tonight I take the commander straight to the hotel I stayed in some four years ago doing End 2 End only to find out they've gone belly up! We scratch around Tavistock looking for accommodation it seems there is nowhere. Then with the help of a beautiful bed-and-breakfast lady we are directed to what seems the only two rooms left tonight at another bed-and-breakfast. It's a strange place and although cosy one of those houses that is full of  little ornaments and framed pictures covering every part of the walls in fact so many of them if they were removed the space in my bedroom would probably be doubled. The commander is of the opinion that he will be relieved of my snoring tonight - The fact that I just heard him fart next door means his optimism will be short lived. Not a great deal to report really but looking forward to our adventure off now into Tavistock for the obligatory ale and plateful of Pasta. I am also pleased to report that the commander claimed the first puncture. I am sure he is muttering Under the breath it's my fault as I jinxed it mentioning that there seemed to be an inordinate amount of hedge cutting going on. We sail tomorrow on what will be a fairly lazy day but all part of the course. Touch base tomorrow Commander and Spally x