This
was my last shot of Dartmoor, as I headed towards Exeter. Once in the city, I made a mistake I was to repeat several times on the journey. This was to try and find my way out of town navigating by the blue cyclists' signposts. I eventually found the Broadclyst road, but not before wasting time and energy going on false trails.
Once
out of Exeter, the day became a treat. The flatness of the Somerset Levels accompanied by a light southerly wind was only slightly marred by a bit of gastric trouble which I blamed on a pasty I'd had in Devon the day before. I was grateful for the toilet facilities at a filling station.
Toad Hall. I wonder whether it, or Wind In The Willows came first.
I took a bit of a shortcut by staying on the A38 out of Bridgwater instead of going via Cheddar. This was a pity as I've never been to Cheddar, but I was worried by the low mileages I had done on the first two days.
Despite
the slow start before and through Exeter, by the evening, I'd clocked up 88 miles and reached Clevedon at the mouth of The Severn. I was beginning to hope perhaps I might be able to get to John O'Groats on schedule after all.
On the way into Clevedon, I saw a sign to a caravan park. As it didn't have a little tent on the sign, I ignored it, but this may have been a mistake because I later referred to the guide book, which said that they do take tents. Damn! I ended up at a really grim Guest House (see diary entry). Clevedon is not a place I shall be beating a path to in future.
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