Post by Dave on Jan 4, 2015 17:08:37 GMT
Exeter Quay To Cockwood & Back Cycle Ride 4th Jan 2015
In September last year I had set off from Exeter Quay hoping to cycle to Starcross and back. My new bike had just had its six week free service and a new front chain set fitted by Halfords. The chain set was only being replaced after I was knocked off my bike by some nice person opening a car door without looking as I was passing by. For the second time they failed to set up the gearing correctly (something I fixed myself in the end) and the reason I cut the ride short only reaching the Turf on the Exe Estuary.
The story about that day along with the pictures I took that day can be read on the link below. The pictures on today’s thread are from the Turf onwards only and not the beginning of the ride as they can be viewed on the other thread.
davesworld.proboards.com/thread/410/exeter-quay-turf-estuary-cycle
The last ride I enjoyed was two weeks ago, a real fun ride from Totnes to Dartington exploring all of the estate. On the days I have been free since then, I have been unlucky as those were the days we all enjoyed heavy wind and rain. I simply do not enjoy cycling in such bad weather, some people love, I don’t.
Today the weather has been rather dull, but at least it was not raining and so I decided to go back and have another attempt to cycle from Exeter Quay to Starcross. I had read that a new bridge had just been built and opened in November that went over the railway line past the Turf Hotel.
When I was there in September cyclists were going through a gate by the Turf up onto a high and narrow bank that was also used by walkers. I once watched a video on youtube made by a cyclist riding along that very high bank. It looked rather dangerous and in the video you saw him having to open a gate to cross over the main railway line from Plymouth to Exeter. A very dangerous pastime as at that point the main line trains are going as some speed.
I was expecting to have to ride along that high bank when I got to the Turf until I got to the new bridge. But a wonderful new cycle path as been build on the land side of the bank all the way to the new bridge. It does mean you no longer have views of the estuary, but that’s a small price to pay to have such a great tarmac cycle track.
From the base of the new bridge it does look rather steep to cycle up, but I found it rather ease and it was great going down the other side. You do get to see the back of the Powerham Estate and if you are lucky as I was, get to see some of the deer that live on the Estate.
When I got to Starcross I missed the signs that would have taken along some back streets that would have saved me cycling through the very narrow part on the main road. I got to Cockwood and felt I had gone far enough as I did have to cycle all the way back to the Quay. I stopped and enjoyed the pack lunch I had taken with me before starting the return leg.
I really enjoyed today’s ride even if my bun feels a bit sore now lol. Its so good to see such routes being created so people can enjoy cycling in safety. Even more pleasing to see so many families enjoying a day out together on their bikes.
