RM Instow was the start point for 3 rides for the Taunton Tandem Club August Bank Holiday Weekend.

Day 1 saw us head first along the Tarka Trail towards Braunton for coffee. We then continued on to the holiday resort of Ilfracombe where we had a picnic lunch sat around Verity, the Damien Hirst statue overlooking the sea. Glorious weather gave us fabulous clear views of Dartmoor and Wales before route 27 took us back via Slade Valley to Instow.

Day 2 we set out along the Tarka Trail in the opposite direction, towards Dartmoor for coffee at Yarde Orchard Café. Leaving the Tarka Trail to pick up route 27 towards Sheepwash, where we were joined by Liz and James for lunch at the Half Moon Inn.  After a good lunch we retraced our route through glorious scenery back to base.  The Tarka Trail provided the opportunity to enjoy the engineering prowess of our Victorian Forefathers in the form of the Rolle Canal, Beam Aqueduct and a number of Railway bridges and Tunnels.
Day 3's ride was organised by Malcolm and Grace and took us to the picturesque Village of Appledore where we sat on the Quay to enjoy Coffee and cake. We then made our way to Westward Ho! where we cycled behind the great pebble ridge, avoiding the golfers on one of the oldest Golf courses in the country. Lunch was a picnic in Victoria Park, Bideford before riding back to Instow to complete a great Bank Holiday Weekend with a great bunch of Tandemists.

Jeff & Vicky Conibear