Jeff and Vicky organised the August Bank Holiday trip for the Taunton Group.

Saturday morning started with a visit to the Royal Marines Base at Instow.  After Coffee and cakes, 7 Tandems and 1 solo bike set off towards Meeth.  Luckily the rain had cleared by the time we reached Bideford and the weather improved and at Peters Marland we were able to sit outside in the garden for coffee at Yarde Orchard Cafe.  After another couple of miles the trail diverts from the old disused railway line and meanders through a pretty wooded area eventually passing Meeth Quarry Nature Reserve. We then joined the A386, after a short but steep climb up into the village we arrived at the Bull and Dragon in Meeth for our well-deserved lunch. We then retraced our route back to Instow with lots of nice gentle descents.  Everyone was staying at Tarka Trail Camping for the night and in the evening we met up for a meal and were able to watch a glorious sunset over Instow Seafront.

On Sunday morning our meeting place was the Tarka Trail campsite at Yelland and 9 Tandems and 1 Solo bike started out towards Barnstaple, passing the Heritage Centre at Fremington Quay. By-passing the centre of Barnstaple, by using the new bridge to cross the River Taw, we then cycled onto the Quay Cafe at Braunton for coffee. Leaving here we left the Tarka trail heading down the toll road (no toll for the bikes) which goes to Crow Point car park, at the end of which we utilised a small cut through to reach Braunton Burrows where we then joined the old American road. This was built during WW2 by American Forces who used Braunton Burrows extensively for training before the D Day Landings.  We then took the main road to Saunton Sands Beach where in typical British style we enjoyed a blustery and damp picnic. Our route back took us around Braunton Great Field, this is an exceptionally rare medieval landscape with a strip field system still in operation. With none of the usual Devon high hedges we were able to enjoy unrestricted views across Braunton Marsh. We then re-joined the Tarka Trail for a windy ride back to Yelland.
On Monday, Malcolm and Grace arranged a short ride for 7 tandems along the Tarka Trail to Bideford. A steep and rough track then took us up to Northam before dropping down to Appledore for coffee. We then cycled across Northam Burrows to Westward Ho! passing lovely multi coloured cottages. A very steep ascent then took us up and over to Bideford where we stopped for a picnic in the park in the sunshine. We returned along the Trail to Yelland to complete our August Bank Holiday Weekend. 
Very many thanks to everyone who attended, with special thanks to Jeff for organising the visit to the Royal Marine Base where many of us fulfilled our boyhood dreams getting up close to the MOD vehicles.

Jeff and Vicky