Day 2 - Fowey to Moretonhampstead

Day 2 was 63 miles with nearly 6,500 of climbing. We started with a ferry over the River Fowey. We were advised to be in a low gear on the ferry, for good reason: just off the ferry was a long steep climb of a few hundred feet, the first of many in the first 10 miles. The pain was tempered by the loveliness of luscious landscapes, and miles on narrow roads, like yesterday lined with ivy-covered stone walls, many of which date from the early medieval period. Then a descent to our Brew Stop (brew in this context means tea, not beer). At the stop, Jim (one of Peak Tour’s excellent guides) advised me that leaving the stop would be a “cheeky” climb. I soon discovered that a cheeky climb means short stretches at 8-9% followed by hairpin turns in the mid-teens, repeated until your legs want to fall off.

River Fowey

After many more miles of spinning up steep inclines, we descended into Plymouth for lunch, and it struck me that the real reason the Pilgrims left on the Mayflower wasn’t the pursuit of religious freedom but to escape the bloody cheeky climbs of England.

Eventually we made our way to the high moorlands of Dartmoor, where Larry found the beef.

The day ended with 15-20 miles of mizzle (a term specific to this area). It’s like riding through a very wet cloud. As you can see, visibility was limited which made for some slow, careful descents.

Here’s a shot from our lunch stop, with a look at Wack’s vehicle. You can just see the controller under his chin. (”Wack” is how Andy’s friends refer to him.)