Fernworthy Reservoir and Haytor; September 2020
Home to Fernworthy
The weather turned out nice for September 2020, an Indian Summer. I had planned a ride to Wales but with 2 Welsh counties on lockdown my planned route was no longer viable. Instead I had another ride to Dartmoor to visit Fernworthy Reservoir and Haytor. The Tracer had picked up a 2" nail in the rear tyre so I rode my 25 year old CB1000F 'Big One' instead. It was annoying to pick up a puncture but I had got some wear out of the OEM tyres and I tend to agree with most owners that the OEM tyres are not the best.
When I go west to Dartmoor I usually take the A35 and the A30 (Honiton) or drop down towards the coast to take the A3052 from Lyme Regis to Exeter. For this ride I fancied a change of scenery and some different roads so I took a more northerly route to Fernworthy Reservoir via Yeovil, Tiverton and Crediton. I planned my route so as to keep to minor roads and avoid the M5 and A303. Overall it was a nice ride apart from a stretch around Crewkerne and the A3072 from Bickleigh to Crediton which was chock-a-block with huge trucks and the occasional tractor.
Dartmoor
The heavy rain we've had recently has dumped a lot of gravel on the roads and the ride down narrow Devon lanes from Crediton to Fernworthy Reservoir via cosy Chagford was interesting. Fernworthy Reservoir turned out to be a good place to have lunch. I guess primarily because the children are back at school, Fernworthy Reservoir wasn't too busy and it was easy to find a nice quiet spot with nobody around.
After lunch, a flask of tea and sausage rolls, I rode south across Dartmoor to Haytor. It was a beautiful day for a ride across Dartmoor. Bright sunshine and great scenery. At Haytor I parked up at a spot inaccessible to cars and laid down to take in some rays. The last time I was at Haytor was last December when Martin and I saw the Exeter Chiefs play. (Hope to see them again soon.) It was certainly a lot warmer than it was that day.
Haytor to home
On the ride home I took the usual route via Honiton although I avoided Chideock and Bridport by turning onto the B3165 at Raymonds Hill. I've found it's best to avoid Bridport. It's a much more pleasant ride to Dorchester via Broadwindsor and Beaminster. One thing I did note that day was the huge number of large tractors everywhere. I know they were only doing their jobs but it does peeve me when they create large queues on busy main roads at peak times. As I left Honiton accelerating up the hill on the A35 it was hard on the brakes as I came around a corner to be greeted by a large creeping queue of vehicles behind a tractor. Luckily being on a bike I could easily pass but I do think tractor drivers should pull over now and again when the queue behind them gets too big. Arriving back home I had done 256 miles on the CB1000F and, since I did the clutch, it goes better than ever. I've had that bike 21 years now and it's great to ride although the thin hard seat does becomea bit uncomfortable on longer rides.