I really love how things work out sometimes!

So, the ride today can be summed up in one word. Hills.

Big, long, bloody hills! I'm not ashamed to admit that I got off and pushed. Twice.

It was a beautiful day again and I set off from Seaton at about midday. Straight into the first of many big, long, bloody hills. Today I mostly followed cycle route 2 along the south coast. So many picturesque thatched villages and rolling fields.

It was when I saw the mountain leading out of sidmouth that I realised that my hopes of reaching dartmoor this evening were a tad ambitious.

Sidmouth itself seemed lovely. Really nice seafront and loads of people out enjoying the sun.

Despite the hills, I have spent most of day with a big silly grin on my face. It's great to not have to worry about rushing, or about being at a certain place at a certain time.

So, I had planned to catch a ferry from exmouth across the river so that I could cycle past dawlish. I arrived at the docks in exmouth at about 20 past 5 to discover that the last ferry for Starcross was leaving at 5:45, no worries there.

It was while waiting for the boat that I had the idea to get in contact with a friend (of a friend) and see if he fancied a Cornishman sleeping in his garden. Who wouldn't? I messaged him on facebook, not expecting to hear from him before the ferry left (5 minutes) but lo, Dan got straight back to me with the very kind offer of a sofa inside or a gazebo in the garden!

Chuffed!

Will probably even be able to have another shower!

At the moment I'm sitting on the dock of the bay wasting time til Dan finishes football. Having a cider.

Simple pleasures.