Off to the Moors...

Well I'm getting through my seven packets of biscuits disgustingly quickly - so fast I'm too embarrassed to give exact figures. Anyway, I need to lighten my load and this is the most fun way.

I left Dorchester on Monday and followed the National Cycle Route number 2. Lots of ups and downs along narrow country roads lined with hedges. At Charmouth I went to the local weekly market and bought 10 nectarines for £1 and some veges for dinner. Then I sat on the 'beach' and watched the english people at play - in the cold and wind. The coastline is quite beautiful though with its rugged cliffs.

Tuesday was a great day cycling; dipping in and out of coastal villages. There was a particularly cute village in a valley, called Branscombe. It just looked so English - but not what I expected Modern England to still be like, if you know what I mean. Reminded me of pictures I've seen in books, like Milly Molly Mandy.

I had my first flat tyre and it was when I was changing it I realised how worn my back tyre was - the rubber was so worn you could see some red stuff coming through! Next stop was a bike shop in Sidmouth. I so almost splashed out on some super deluxe puncture-proof tyres for £30 each - but they were about three times the weight of the usual ones and my bike has been feeling a bit heavy recently (something to do with hills and headwinds I expect).

I arrived in Exmouth, another nice seaside town and stayed in a campground on a farm. Even though the day was warm it was freezing all night - I think because the sky was so clear. I had all my clothes on and my sleeping bag pulled tight around my face and still kept waking up cold. Then the cows and birds started making a racket at sunrise. Then when I finally woke up properly at 8am, I was boiling hot as the sun had now been shining for the past 3 hours...

England is full of pleasant surprises. I'm in a charity shop (op shop) using free internet of all things! Sitting amongst old books and the usual crockery is me in my bike clothes using a computer... There are so many charity shops in England - on average about 3 on the main shopping streets - and that is just in the small towns. I now have a very reliable supply of cheap books - I've discovered one of the secrets to travelling alone is to have a good book to read - a bit like a portable friend.

Today I am heading into Dartmoor, a large area of moorland, I guess. I'm expecting it to look a bit like National Park with tussock and stuff. It's quite nice not really knowing what to expect...