Video: Exeter to Sidmouth on NCR 2
Being self-employed, bank holidays usually have very little meaning to me. A week ago, I remembered that Easter comes with its haul of bank holidays and that my partner and I could take four entire days off. OOOO. To be honest, I mainly felt overwhelmed about fitting ten days of work into eight days.
As it turns out, that worry was entirely invented because on Wednesday night I looked at the forecast and saw bright sunshine and 18C for Thursday. As my partner was making a rare work visit to Sidmouth, I hatched a plan. Forget work, I'd start the bank holiday weekend doubly early and spend Thursday afternoon riding to Sidmouth and catch a lift home.
Muahaha.
Thanks to an all-encompassing haze, the sun didn't really make it out on my ride. But I did. And that's what counts.
This route leaves Exeter Quay and follows the National Cycle Route 2 the whole way. The vast majority of the first 2/3 is traffic-free until you reach the back of Budleigh Salterton. It's also largely flat up until that point. After Otterton, it's a steady uphill and then an incredibly steep section to the summit of Pinn Hill. Then it's a white-knuckle ride down into Sidmouth, so check your brakes before you do it. I'm not kidding.
Check out my video on the route, rambling all the way.