We were up early to go to Exeter for the world naked bike ride and looking forward to it. The weather forecast wasn't too great but at least it was positive; overcast but warm.
Just outside Brynmawr traffic was diverted due to roadworks and we navigated the alternative route without any hiccups.
We stopped briefly at a service station along the motorway to pick up breakfast. Whilst there I one of my flip flops felt a bit strange on my foot and on looking at it, discovered that the toe thong was coming loose. I ended up having to get a pair of cheap flip flops in a hurry, which was a pity because I did rather like my comfy croc flip flops.
Next thing to start going awry was a traffic notice on the motorway advising that there was traffic congestion one junction along a road that we intended to take to Exeter. We ended up getting off the motorway at the next junction 5 miles further on, only to get off and find at the next turn-off to Exeter was chock-a-block with traffic . So we continued up the road to take an alternative route to bypass the traffic, an 8 mile diversion, but it did the trick. We finally arrived close to the destination and drove around a bit trying to see if we could see anyone else with bicycles or signs of life near the area that they were due to meet. We didn't see anything. Contrary to weather forecasts, it started to drizzle and we were at loath to take the bicycles out, pump the tyres and cycle around the estate and private roads to get to the river and see if we could see the group. Unfortunately the map that we had been as to where the group was meeting up wasn't very good. We drove around a bit more and even sat waiting a while to see if the drizzle would ease off but it didn't. We ended up giving altogether, cutting our losses and heading towards Exmoor for a cream tea (scone, cream, jam, tea/coffee/hot choc) somewhere.
Tarr Steps was an obvious choice because it a lovely area and also there is a tearoom there, as well as accommodation. We decided to take the direct route there rather than the fastest routes. It made for an interesting journey: very narrow roads, tall hedges, stopping or reversing for oncoming traffic to pass. Sometimes it was tricky to find a passing point and try to not to end up in a hedge or go off a steep cliff. Found eventually got to Tarr Steps but on the wrong side of the river. Fortunately the river wasn't too deep and we managed to cross it at the 'ford' crossing point. The area was very busy with visitors as was the tearoom so we didn't stop. Further along the road there was a farm (Liscome Farm Ice Cream Parlour) that advertised home made ice cream and cream teas. We couldn't let that pass us by so we went in and consoled ourselves over warm home made scones, thick clotted cream and jam and Paul had a cup of tea. We finished our visit with a delicious ice-cream.
Whilst having our scones and ice cream we were able to watch cows being milked via a dividing glass panel of the barn/tearoom walls. It was a very interesting mechanised process. From what we could see, a cow would enter the milking area and a reader would read a chip in her ear to check whether she had been milked or not. If she had, a chest-high barrier would remain open for her to leave, if she hadn't the barrier would close. The machine would then get to work via sensory lasers. An arm would go between the cow's back legs and brushes gently washed and cleaned her udder and teats. The automated laser guided suction cups would go onto the teats and the milking started. In the meantime the cleaning brushes were washed/disinfected. You could see milk going through the pipes to a big glass container, and which also measured how much milk the cow yielded. Once the cow had been milk, the suction cups were released and the barrier would open so she could walk out into the barn. Usually another cow was waiting to go in or in time a cow would take herself to the milking machine. In between cows the suction cups would go to a cleaning point where they were cleaned. It was a very interesting piece of equipment and a fantastic way of seeing cows being milked whilst having a snack.
Absolutely full and just about 'creamed out' we waddled back to the car for the drive back up to Brynmawr. Part way back Paul got me to take over the driving because he was very tired. I've not driven a car, let alone a big car, for a while so it took a bit of getting used to – width vs lane size. Poor Paul was almost sitting on the edge of his seat and by the time he got back I can almost swear he had a few more grey hairs! We also had to negotiate a diversion because one of the roads towards Brynmawr was closed off due to a traffic diversion. Somehow we lost sight of the diversion signs and ended up having to use the satnav to find our way around but even then Paul had to do a bit of zooming in on the satnav map because the unit quite often got confused as to where exactly we were. What a shemozzle! We got back to Brynmawr in the end though. If not we would have sent out smoke signals to Sue and Ian!
Dinner was absolutely delicious. Ian had sliced up some salmon, dotted it with garlic, lemongrass and ginger; and then baked it. He also did some stir-fry with it. Some beers and plonk were on hand to compliment the meal.
