Post by Dave on Jul 20, 2014 17:52:12 GMT
Topsham To Budleigh Salterton And Back 20th July 2014
I thought I was mad three months ago arranging a works cycle ride. A thirty mile ride from Plymouth to Tavistock, but in truth, I’m so glad I did as I have since caught the cycling bug. So much so I recently treated myself to a new hybrid bike that I can’t stop riding.
Its hard sometimes to try and motivate yourself when you have done a full days work, but I want to get much fitter and lose some weight, so I know I have to keep finding the motivation I need to find. I have been going out late in the afternoons after work and also very early on Sunday mornings ( about 6am) . The Sunday morning rides have been along the beaches in Torbay, so good to have them nearly all to myself that time of the morning.
I have been planning today’s ride all week, it was meant to be from just outside Exeter to Exmouth, but I decided at the last to add Budleigh Salterton on as well. Mainly because I found out you could cycle along some of the old train line that ran from Exmouth to Budleigh Salterton.
I found the ride along the Exe Trail very enjoyable and rode to the very end of Exmouth beach, to be honest I did not know it was as long as it was. I asked someone if they knew where I could find the start of the old line and soon found out I had to cycle over two miles back to the local football ground and turn off there.
I found the track bed in the end and was surprised no one else seemed to be using it, slightly up hill for a while and then down hill through a wooded valley as it gets nearer to Budleigh Salterton.
On my return leg I took some time to cycle and fully explore Topsham, great place with so many narrow streets I enjoyed cycling through. The Exe Trail was so much busier on the return leg and its so good to see so many people out cycling. I did thirty five miles myself so was very pleased.
