There is always a dilemma when cycling an end-to-end – do you start with the Devon and Cornwall hills when the legs are fresh, or finish when the legs are stronger? We of course are finishing in Cornwall, and this was the first of three days in the Devon and Cornwall hills. The finish line may be in sight but there are still plenty of hills to climb. JOGLE Day 14 certainly proved this to be the case!

Leaving Taunton it was another warm and muggy day. The weather forecast was for rain, and potential strong winds. We would see some rain but thankfully the winds would be light.

We were quickly on to the quiet Somerset country lanes.

These lanes are narrow and winding, and with high hedges. It makes for enjoyable cycling but there isn’t much to see. We followed NCN Route 3 for awhile.

We have also been playing a little game – to find the county with the most idiotic drivers. Devon is currently winning by a country mile as time and time again we were met with cars coming straight at us down these narrow lanes, nowhere to move, and the driver making no attempt to slow down!

For awhile NCN Route 3 took us off the roads and on to the Grand Western Canal.

Back on the roads we cycled through Tiverton Parkway and on to Willard.

Here we enjoyed a mug of tea and a toasted teacake.

Meanwhile our support team, Sarah and Nic, had been to the launderette to wash clothes and were now on their way to Crediton to meet up with us for lunch. They too chose to use some of those narrow country lanes …

The cyclists were enjoying the view from another lung-busting hill. Cycling through Devon is like riding a rollercoaster – up and down and up …

Eventually we made it to Crediton where Sarah and Nic had found us a cafe on our route called Wedges. I would like to recommend this place but I cannot, for when we arrived half the items on the menu were unavailable. The food we ate was ok, but sadly there were no gluten-free choices to redeem it.

Back on the road we cycled straight up the next hill and a gap in the hedgerow for the next view.

Sarah and Nic reached our afternoon coffee stop in Sticklepath early. Opposite the planned stop was a National Trust place, the Finch Foundry that Sarah decided to wander in and have a look around.

The cyclists were still on their way to Sticklepath and still ‘enjoying’ climbing the hills so much that Neil decided to make a wrong turn down a hill he needn’t have descended just so that he could climb a little further.

By now we were cycling along the edge of Dartmoor.

Eventually we arrived in Sticklepath and sat outside in the sun and enjoyed a welcome cold drink.

…and a hot cup of tea (for some).

Only nine more miles to go now.

Though that did include a big drop in to Okehampton before climbing up to the Granite Way.

We finished the day by cycling over the Meldon Viaduct.

By the end of the day we had cycled 63 miles and climbed 4600 feet. You can view our JOGLE Day 14 route from Taunton to Okehampton below:

[sgpx gpx=”/wp-content/uploads/gpx/jogleday14-tauntontookehampton.gpx”]

Tonight we are stopping at Sourton Cross Travelodge which at 950 feet above sea level is the highest overnight stop of the tour.

Just two more days to go now. Beginning with more Devon and Cornwall hills on our way to Perranporth