August Bank Holiday Week End

So what did you do?

Hello again. So what have you all been up to this August Bank Holiday? Down 'ere in Devon we have been basking in glorious sunshine. And it's been lovely. To kick off the week end,  I took my trusty road bike out for a little spin. Short sharp 40km up and over Dartmoor [Tavistock, Pork Hill, Merrivale, Princetown] and then across the top of the moor and the lovely fast descent to Dousland , Yelverton and Buckland, before a delightful 20% gradient up Denham Bridge back home. Thoroughly enjoyed this ride. It was beautifully clear with exceptional visibility. Dartmoor really is a special place and only 30mns cycle from home. How lucky I am to live here. 

Georgie

Georgie was waiting for me when  I got back, so she came out for a little run in the woods.  She's not doing too badly in her transition from sprinter to long distance runner. Bit like up-training Usain Bolt to Mo Farah!

Well earned
Saturday treat

My dear wife, Orla was out selling her wares at a vintage craft fayre across the border in Cornwall, so I set about my chores and cooking dinner before settling down in the garden to a well earned beer. 

River Meavy

Sunday was a little more sedate. A few bargains were to be had at car boot sales, prior to a genteel walk along the banks of the river Meavy with Orla & Georgie. As it so happened, there was also a 

Orla & Georgie on
banks of Meavy

Real Ale & Cider festival at the Royal Oak. So it would have been rude not to sample a cider before returning home, don't you think?! But not returning home empty handed, as a take out was available, so cheeky 4 pint flagon of "Ty Gwynig" Welsh Cider [Monmouth / Medium Dry / 7%] was bought. Sunday afternoon was spent sitting in the garden, reading the paper, sipping cider and listening to the traditional summer sounds of leather upon willow on TMS [that's cricket if you don't know- and we beat the Aussies 3-0 in the series to retain the Ashes. Could have been 4-0 but for  bad umpiring ;-) ]

Bank Holiday Monday brought more sun and a race was to be run. The Peter Tavy Plod. A stunning 7km moorland run. There was no respite from the heat, even on the moor. BATs were out in force

BATs psyching themselves
up for the run ahead

 A lovely run. I do so love hill starts that last for 3km. No really, I do. Great weather for sunbathing- but we were running vertically up and then over the moors from Peter Tavy. The run was hot, hard and sweaty. Which meant hydration was required [neigh, essential!] to replace lost fluids. Luckily there is a rather nice pub in the village which sells a selection of outstanding Ales.

That's me in the hat!
[Becky sneaks in on the left,
with Julian & somerset friend!]

"Summa That" from Branscombe seemed to go down well, as did the the "Ideal Pale Ale" from Tavy. 

And yes, there really was a giraffe in the beer garden.

Giraffe in beer garden


All in all, not a bad bank holiday. In fact, it was a rather splendid bank holiday. Here's to hoping you all had a great time as well.

Next up- Hadrian's Wall Walk. Newcastle - Bowness. Wonder what beers they have up North?