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| To Looe for a Loo* |
| Like many old churches, Dymock was built nearly 1,000 years ago without a toilet, which is not acceptable in the 21st Century. We're currently working to raise funds to pay for one. In the summer of 2008, our organist Bob May and his wife Chris bravely undertook a sponsored cycle ride to help raise some of the required funds. (Return to top) | |
| Tuesday 29th July | |
| Our trip began with a train journey from Cheltenham to Liskeard, taking our bikes with us. The train delivered us to Liskeard at 2.45pm, where we had arranged to meet friends last seen 37 years ago! Amazingly, there was instant recognition and following a cup of tea, we set off down to Looe. The delights of this bustling fishing community justified an extended stay but faced with the uphill ride under threatening skies, we opted for an early return to Liskeard for a most convivial evening with our friends and a chance to catch up on significant life events! (Return to top) |  Bob and Chris start from outside Dymock Parish Hall |
| Wednesday 30th July | |
| Our early departure in the heavy rain made us thankful for our high visibility garments. Nevertheless, lights were essential as we puffed over Bodmin Moor. A welcome midmorning break in Launceston provided some respite before we pedalled on towards Holsworthy, a pretty market town that we had originally planned to make a stop over. Whilst making enquiries for accommodation at the Information Centre, a kind parishioner gave us a donation for our “loo” project. Good progress despite (or probably due to) the weather persuaded us to push on, arriving at the quiet village of Langtree near Bideford. Spirits rose after a hot shower, a good feed in the Green Dragon pub and a welcome sleep in the Old Rectory. (Return to top) |
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| Thursday 31st July | |
| This was a day of up hill and down dale (1:4 gradients don’t suit cyclists!). With no sign of climatic improvements, the climb up over the top of Exmoor was revised and we concentrated upon easterly progress to South Molton. Here we were warmly welcomed in a café that provided two (un) upholstered chairs for us to drip on. Quiet progress through the north Devon lanes and sleepy villages eventually led us to the delights of the beautiful home of Charlotte West’s parents at Temperton near Tiverton. Here we were to be warmly pampered and cosseted amidst charm, warmth and great hospitality. (Return to top) |  Where's the road gone? |
| Friday 1st August | |
| The route from Tiverton to Bridgewater is a predominantly flat, traffic free, enjoyable ride; much of it along the towpaths of part of the Grand Western and Bridgewater to Taunton Canals. There were many beautiful and peaceful moments along the route to be savoured and the occasional distant hum of M5 traffic served as a poignant reminder of how canals provide a more pleasurable, if leisurely method of travel. Care was certainly needed as towpaths narrowed under bridges (although the occasional dip in the canal would scarcely have raised our moisture level). The timely arrival at the Information Centre at Bridgwater with five minutes to spare before closing provided us with a comfortable (if noisy) location for B&B in the town. (Return to top) |  Next year, let's do a boating holiday! |
| Saturday 2nd August | |
| A barred gate on the track followed by a puncture provided a faltering start to the pleasant, quiet route over the Somerset levels. We were soon compensated by numerous sightings of interesting (and slightly bewildered) wildlife. The increasingly outrageous screeching from Chris’s brakes reminded us that new brake blocks were imminently required. Our arrival in Glastonbury marked a sudden contrast from the rural peace to bustling crowds, busy shops, singing loos (have you ever listened to Cantique de Racine by Faure as you contemplate – now there’s an idea for the Dymock loo!!) A few miles further we arrived in Wells and departed with new brake blocks and high energy lunches to equip us for the Mendip climb. Something round and yellow mysteriously appeared above us as we negotiated the pull above Wookey Hole and up to Priddy. Eventually Chew Valley lay before us and we joyously free-wheeled down in search of accommodation. The emerging prospect of a bus shelter was replaced by a comfortable B&B at the interesting village of Stanton Drew. (Return to top) |  Bob doing early morning weight training! |
| Sunday 3rd August | |
| Careful study of route maps the previous night enabled us to cycle through most of Bristol on an impressive network of traffic free cycle routes and the prospect of arriving home at Dymock suddenly became a reality as the A38 to Gloucester appeared. A good tail wind, sunny intervals and a reasonable number of cycle lanes made pedalling up this busy but generally level road a pleasure for most of the way. Distant views of bridges across the Severn Estuary and Cotswolds hills to our right added interest and the distinct, though distant clump of tress on May Hill was now emerging, urging us forward with every pedal; (Indeed, I found myself singing along with Johnny Coppin’s setting of F.W. Harvey’s “Song of Gloucestershire.” (Return to top) | North, South, East and West, Think of whichever you love the best Forest and Vale and High Blue Hill You may have whichever you will. Johnny Copin |
| A final push and we arrived back in Dymock at the Beauchamp Arms at 5.15pm, weathered but in good spirits.
Thank you to all of you who have sponsored us to make this journey (£1,350 so far pledged, Ed). We’ve enjoyed the challenge, the varied company and places (not to mention sampling a wide variety of loos on route). We hope that our loo now becomes a reality for all to use in the near future. (Return to top) Bob and Chris May * (Explanation for overseas visitors to this website: 'Looe' is a place in the UK's county of Cornwall and 'Loo' is a familiar name for a lavatory or WC)! (Return to top) |
 Back home again - anyone for a cool beer? |
