Great to meet Steve, Lin and Lee yesterday and Steve today along with Richard the Olympic torchbearer!
What a day we've had - the weather wasn't great
but at the end of the day the sun finally came out just in time for the handover photographs.
We set off first thing this morning and our first stop was at Instow where we stopped for a photo looking across the River Torridge towards Appledore:
Next it was on through Barnstaple, out on the country road towards South Molton, stopping at Filleigh for a photo near Castle Hill, home of Lord and Lady Arran:
We then travelled coastwards again out past Blackmoor Gate, and onto the lanes leading down to Heddon's Mouth. On the way down, we stopped for a few photographs:
When we reached the Hunter's Inn at Heddon's Mouth we stopped for a coffee, after taking a photo of the hotel:
we headed up a I in 4 hill back up towards the main road to Lynton, passing through Martinhoe where there were some amazing views across towards Woody Bay:
After joining the main road again, we followed the road until we reached the turning leading down to Lynton, where we visited the Valley of Rocks:
before carrying on down to Lynmouth via another 1 in 4 hill - fortunately none of the Escape roads were needed!
At Lynmouth we paused to take a photo looking up towards the Glen Lyn Gorge, scene of devastation in 1952 when, following 24 hours of heavy rainfall, the rivers broke their banks and flooded the village.
Then it was uphill again travelling up Countisbury Hill, pausing part way up for views across the bay:
From the National Trust parking area at Barna Barrow we stopped for views from the top of the hill, the first looking back towards Lynton:
the second picture showing the view across Exmoor:
Then it was on to County Gate, where we stopped and took photos of the view down the Doone Valley before visiting the cafe for lunch:
It was just as well we took photos first as, while we were inside, the rain got worse and the views virtually disappeared in the mist. We carried on along the coast road, pausing briefly to take photos of some classics being driven by a group of Dutch visitors:
Eventually we reached the notorious Porlock Hill (easier to drive down than up!):
Our intended journey almost at an end, we dropped into Dunster where we stopped next to the old Yarn Market for a photo:
Then it was back towards Fremington where we were due to meet Steve and Richard at 5 pm.
The hard top was transferred to Steve's car and after a number of photographs were taken of cars and Olympic torch:
we waved goodbye to Steve and Richard, and headed home to Bideford.
We hope our pictures show everyone what wonderful scenery there is in North Devon and South Somerset, and look forward to seeing the pictures from the other areas.
As an aside, huge thanks are due to Phil for lending us back our VVC (which we sold to him last month) so we could complete our leg of the hard top relay - our other MGF is not running at present.
Good luck to everyone who will be carrying on the Hard Top Relay over the coming weeks, we've really enjoyed being part of it all.
