Although all the other trips for this year have been cancelled due to the Covid pandemic, the Devon C2C trip went ahead. Some of the original group opted to give the trip a miss, reducing the participants to SueP, Lin, SueC, Carol, Mick, David, Peter, Rod, Graham, Brian and Ray. I was not fit enough to do the full ride so provided luggage transfer and backup. Three of us chose to travel down to Barnstaple on Sunday 16th August with Peter taking the train whilst Mick and I drove down. On the Monday, David, Rod and the ladies travelled down to Barnstaple by car, then David and Rod continued to Plymouth to leave the cars there. Graham drove direct to Plymouth whilst Brian and Ray drove to Exeter, all then taking the train to Barnstaple.

Monday 17^th August

Despite the gloomy forecast it was warm and sunny on the Monday as Mick, Peter and me went for a ride out to Braunton on the Tarka Trail along the coast then over the hills to Croyde. Peter then headed back via Ilfracombe whilst Mick and I followed the coast via the beaches at Braunton Burrows.

By the time Mick and I had got back to Barnstaple, we decided to stop at Wetherspoons for lunch. The ladies had arrived earlier and walked into town from the hotel to join us. Shortly after torrential rain started to such an extent, the roads became flooded and water started pouring into the pub from the ceiling so that it had to be closed. As we were forced to leave the pub, the rain stopped. Mick and I started back to the hotel by bike, picking up Brian and Ray on the way, as we wended our way around the floods – the flooding even made the national news. Mick and I got back to the hotel without getting wet, although the ladies who were walking back got soaked when the rain started again and they had to cross flooded roads.  Barnstaple floods

Wet ladies in BarnstaplePeter got caught in the downpour about 3 miles from the hotel and got completely soaked. David, Rod and Graham arrived later having travelled from Plymouth by train. In the evening, we ate at the restaurant at the hotel. The weather forecasts for Tuesday was dry at first with a risk of showers later, though Wednesday was due to be heavy rain all day!

Tuesday 18^th August

After breakfast, we met up outside ready to leave at about 9:00. It was dry and warm though clouds were racing across the sky. I collected all the luggage before the group set off for the Tarka Trail towards Bideford. It was a nice flat run beside the river all the way to the Puffing Billy café at Torrington where I waited on the group. With the social distancing provisions, it took quite a while for everyone to get served. Some had opted for a Devon cream tea that the many wasps swarmed around.BarnstapleTarka TrailTarka Trail

Queuing at Puffing Billy CafeSue was feeling very off-colour and opted to join me whilst the rest of the group started the gentle climb up the rail trail. By the time I got to Meeth by car, it started raining, so continued onto the intended lunch stop at Hatherleigh where SueC and I had a light lunch in the George Hotel whilst we waited for the group. A rather bedraggled David, Brian and Lin joined us whilst the others opted to carry on to Okehampton without stopping. The rain eased and we all made it to Okehampton by mid-afternoon. The Wetherspoons hotel was very busy with queues for tables so we secured our tables earlier than normal and spent the rest of the evening there. The forecast for Wednesday was fairly dire so we were looking at a late start at about 11am.

Wednesday 19^th August

We met for breakfast between 8:00 and 9:00, except for Ray who was still fast asleep at 9:30! The rain had stopped as the group set off again at 10:00, although it was very windy. Sue and I drove to the Meldon Viaduct to meet them on the Granite Way after their climb up through Okehampton. As it was very windy, most carried on whilst a couple stayed for a photo at the bridge. Sue and I leapfrogged ahead to Lyford to meet up with them again. By this time it was raining heavily and with a strong headwind. After checking everyone was OK when they reached us – they were in remarkably good spirits despite the wind and rain, I carried on to Tavistock.Meldon ViaductUp on the moorsIt's a bit wet!

Sue and I secured a table in the Wetherspoons [the famous Pannier Market is closed on Wednesday]. The group arrived but the pub was very busy by this time, so only Mick and SueP joined us whilst the rest were forced to go elsewhere. With David in charge, he picked the best hotel in town for sandwiches and a beer – service was a bit slow so the group did not start off again until nearly 3pm. We met up with the group again at Yelverton where Brian and Ray decided that they would head directly for the train station at Plymouth whilst the rest of us arranged to meet up at Sutton Harbour in the Barbican.  It is downhill all the way from there and they made good time. We transferred luggage and bikes at the nearby Premier Inn that Rod, SueP and Carol had booked before all heading off home.The Barbican, Plymouth