{"id":1105,"date":"2021-07-21T18:03:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-21T17:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teignrail.co.uk\/scouting\/?p=1105"},"modified":"2025-10-19T15:18:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T14:18:24","slug":"55-on-the-north-devon-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teignrail.co.uk\/scouting\/55-on-the-north-devon-again\/","title":{"rendered":"55 On the North Devon Again"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In earlier years, this was a ride done in May or June, but the scout’s extremely uncomfortable encounter with a concrete ford on a bridleway near Woodbury at the end of May rendered him out of action, so much so that he had to go without Trampjuice <\/em>for 40 days.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A month after kissing the concrete of this ford on Rydon Lane, Woodbury, the scout returned to see what had done for him. He had gone in the opposite direction numerous times and he remembered straightening his course as he came off the curve going this way, but the bike went from under him like he’d been on ice. The small sign was found partly hidden in the hedge at left and placed where the scout hoped others would take heed of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It could have been worse: had the scout ridden to the left he may have gone over the waterfall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, in mid-July, back in riding condition, after collecting some steel from Crediton, the scout rode to North Devon in the blistering sun, stopping to inspect all the stations except Umberleigh. The valley turnpike was closed north of Pompei Arms and he was forced to divert over the hills via High Bickington and Atherington, which gave him sweeping views he would not have had from below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The volunteers who make Copplestone such a delight deserve more recognition. The scout couldn’t help but wonder how his own Teign Valley stations would have looked today, had they been spared. Although he would not have wanted to see any station’s function so reduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n