Day 3

East Fleet Farm to Salcombe Regis (42 miles)

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The previous day’s ride was thankfully shorter than the first and ended relatively easily. This was totally in order considering the climbs Day 3 would bring. Dorset into Devon would prove to be hard graft! The back lanes to Abbotsbury were fine with a few hills and most of the cycling around the Rodden area on the road. Abbotsbury was missed out and we headed down to the seafront at East Bexington. This was a great section and a good place to stop and take a breather. Sights included a smart pair of stonechat and lesser whitethroat and an also old bird who had been walking for 99 days along the coast from Bristol – all for charity.

Sadly we had to head inland and slog up a hill towards Swyre then to Beacon Knap and then down through Burton Bradstock to the ghastly grockle hole that is West bay. What a foul place! And yet we still do the ice-cream bit with the best of them!

The immediate climb out of west bay was lung busting and included tracks, trails, paths, puddles, motorcycles and a World War 2 ‘Pill Box’ (very similar to those dotted along the North Downs). The next section seems a blur of ridiculously high hills, beacons, fantastic views, cows, Percy tumblings, superb grassy descents around places I may never see again, that reminded me of the pleasures and pains of the South Downs Way which included Lower Eype, Thorncombe Beacon, Doghouse Hill, Seatown Ridge, Langdon Hill, Upcot to Stonebarrow Hill.

A quick water stop outside Charmouth we slog through Uplyme and begin to realise that the day is fasting running out along with our stamina and patience. Quick and sensible decisions lead to us charging along the A3052 and within in no time the last 15 miles are eaten up and we are at our last campsite a Salcombe Regis.

With fantastic views of the coast and swallows swooping we pitch our tents, shower and a short taxi ride later enter the Blue Ball at the bottom of a very steep hill in Sidmouth.

Beddy frequented this pub many times with his family when he was younger and it was good for him to see it again. Great food, lots of beer and wine later and we are back in our tents with one final day’s ride left.