I arrived in Ol' Blighty not sure if I would head north or south until I got the weather outlook. South didn't look very good and north looked even worse. I began the trip from Shropshire by cutting over into Wales to catch the A483, an old favorite that cuts a twisty path into South Wales. A Tunnel of green
and on into the Exmoor National Park where there are some comfortable roads that match the Truxton's engine output
An Exmoor village
Even the smallest villages in the UK have a monument dedicated to those they lost during the World Wars
Approaching Lynton
I just happened to visit Lynton while they were hosting a classic car show. They had several brands I had never heard of before
Stig was rumored to be making an appearance although this was never proven
As I continued south, the coast began to take on a more rugged appearance
I stayed at a hotel with a great view of an inlet
The tides rose and fell dramatically, revealing large, sandy beaches
Another tunnel of green
Catching the ferry to Fowey
The coast road from St. Ives to Land's End offers sweeping vistas of the sea
Approaching Land's End
Land's End
Sweeping country back roads.
I remember someone once complaining that, they would never ride in England again because of all the traffic. If you have a list of destination you want to see, then you will probably try to string them together along the main arteries and, more likely than not, you get stuck in an endless line of cars doing 55 mph. Like in baseball, the secret is to hit them where they ain't and just wander the backroads without a destination.
My last night in Cornwall was spent in the fishing village of Portloe with a snug little harbor.
After having experienced Land's End and other heavily touristed spots, I had begun to despair of ever finding a village that hadn't succumbed to surf shops and pony rides. Portloe was at the end of a one lane road shouldered by thick hedgerows. I would have never have found it on my own but, I'm glad I precevered because it was fantastic. The only other tourists were the other guests at my hotel.
Heading back north along the coastal road approaching Bude
There is a street in Shaftesbury called Gold Hill. It has been used in many movies and commercials due to its descending slope revealing the Dorset countryside in the distance. Unfortunately, I arrived at midday with too bright a day for dramatic pictures. You can google it for some perfeshunal pictures.
Unfortunately, my speedometer cable broke so, I couldn't track the mileage but, I was on the road for about 8 days and maybe averaged 120 miles a day. The weather turned bright and sunny over the week before becoming a tad warm on the last two days. I only got sprinkled on once in 8 days so, that's considered a moral victory of sorts in the UK.
