RogueRunners Devon The Third - Day 2

 

Day two dawned fine & clear, though I'd had a rough old night. Stomach cramps had kept me awake & without any of my usual fixes available, I was in quite a bit of pain & thinking I would have to miss the day's run. but eventually I managed to get some sleep which relaxed it all, but - disaster - I had to skip breakfast!

We headed south out of town & had a good run as far as "The Quince" honey farm & cafe.

It's a Turner

This year I didn't slide to a halt after very nearly missing the entrance.

This year it was warm enough to sit outside

This year coincided with "drive it day", so there were some interesting cars in the car park (and some MGBs).

Sadly there was no cake for me in case I gave myself more stomach problems, but having soaked up some sun, we headed off into the wilds of Devon. Today what traffic there was seemed intent on trundling along 20mph below the speed limit & not pulling in to allow faster traffic through. I don't expect to be let through, but it's nice when it happens.

Travelling north towards Dunster on the lovely country lane we even got stuck behind two caravans. Fair enough there was nowhere for them to pull in, but fortunately they turned into a camp site, so we got a little unimpeded driving in after that.

The next stop, just after Dunster was the Driftwood Cafe at Blue Anchor on the north coast, when we arrived it was festooned with bikers, but by the time we'd got our drinks, they had all but left. Here I felt I was safe to indulge, so had a cake with my drink.

Back in the cars & heading for home via the private toll road that cuts out Porlock Hill. The story goes it was used when cars & lorries couldn't pull trailers up the steep Porlock Hill, nothing is said about how they negotiated the hairpin bends. It's a fun & scenic drive though & the honesty box was pretty full, so it's not just me that thinks so. After the toll booth, one of our number sped off & parked to take some dramatic photos as we went past - Thanks Brian

I just held a small point-&-press camera over the screen arch - relax, it's a private road.

Then all too soon we were back at Laston House & walking down into Ilfracoombe for tea in our usual haunt - The Smugglers, where the proprietor remembered us from previous years! 

I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not