Westward Ho!

[Saul]

I had 4 weeks off work on leave and I had great plans about trips to Wales and other destinations in the South West.   Fate as always has a say in my plans.   I had a chest infection for the best best part of the first two weeks so they were a wash out.  Then my younger teenage daughter, who has ADHD and is struggling with her raging hormones had a massive melt down so that and the weather put the kibosh on the third week.  Of course being a dad always comes first.  Now I am entering the last week having done very little and only had a couple of bimbles out on the Hornet.    Finally today I managed to get a day out with decent weather so headed for North Devon at 8:30 am.

I have wanted to go to Westward Ho! for awhile, the last time I went was in 1997 for work.

Its funny when I got a bike again I was waxing lyrical about the freedom of just being able to pop out for a trip when I wanted to.   Didn’t feel like this morning, by the time I got thermals, normal cloths, boots, helmet, gloves  and Rica riding suit on.     Then got the bike out, put the top box and tank bag on it was a good 40 minutes.  Bit more involved than a pop out.    

Anyway with a full tank I headed over to Bodmin to down through Dunmere then took the junction at Trevenning Cross on to the B3266 to Camelford.   The road from Trevanning Cross to Camelford is 12 miles of biking gold, fast sweeping B road with plenty of vision and some great corners.  I enjoyed it but had to have my wits about me as the farmers are  busy this time of year and there was shit all over the road in places.  Not moaning we wouldn’t eat without the tractor pilots.

Once you get to Camelford, very old and pretty little town, you join the A39 which is a great biking road.  It was renamed several years ago as the Atlantic Highway which does suit it.  Wide A road with lots of faster sections and passing places.  Again plenty of vision but it can get busy especially at rush hour.    Luckily for me everything seemed to be going the other way.

I headed for Bude after Camelford out through Otterham Station, Wainhouse Corner and Poundstock.   All scenic places but not my destination today.    Lovely clear road nothing in front  and nothing behind.   Great place to let the Hornet go a little, I love this bike.  It handles and stops so well and for me is plenty quick enough.  A joy to ride, especially now it feels properly run in with 1200 miles on the clock.  Gearbox is sweet and precise and to me it sounds awesome.  I am not a fan of noisy pipes for the sake of it and the Hornets not, but when you get on it, there is a satisfying exhaust note and induction roar.

Before I knew it I had past the Bude turning and was in the small town of Kilkhampton, whose only claim to fame that I know of is that the Rugby World Champion Phil Vickery comes from there.   I took the opportunity for a slash break and a photo.

 

Off again and past the turning for Morwenstow and across the border to Devon.   This is where the road get truly epic loads off straights and tight sweeping corners.  I know the road well, I used to travel it often to go to South Molton and the BMW Specialist based there James Sherlock.   I have got to say it the Hornet is a far better more dynamic bike than my old Beemers I used to travel this road on.  Much as I loved them for other reasons the comparison is chalk and cheese. But then again the newest of them was from 1993 so not really a fair comparison.

Anyway before I know it I hit the roundabout I was looking for, first exit for Appledore and then Westward Ho!.   I ignored Appledore today and went straight for the prize.  I rode straight through the outskirts to the free carpark or the far edge of Westward Ho!   I parked my bike up locked away my stuff and walked into the village.

Again this places has a story.

This picture tells a sad tale.

I love these old beach huts, there were 100 or more of these on my local beach of Par when I was a kid growing up, of course long gone now.  Locals not wanted in Parbados any more.

Certainly a stunning bay and huge beautiful beach, I can see the attraction and I wouldn’t mind paying £300 for a week here this time of year.  Loads of lovely walks and stuff to find.

I can imagine this place would be overpowering in the season.  There are 1000’s of holiday apartments and caravans.  You get the feeling you could solve Devons housing crisis in this place alone.  So many places empty and used for holidays.

Another place with a story behind it’s condition.

There is a feeling that there is a lot of hidden poverty in this place.  Sad really.  I had a look in the estate agents window and you need a quarter million to buy anything here.

The flag of envy.  Devon was envious of the Cornish St Pirans Flag (which dates back to Henry 5th) so following a campaign on BBC Devon in 2003 they came up with their own flag.  Which is a St Pirans Cross with added green bits.  Cool shop though  

After my walk around the village of westward Ho! I headed back to my bike and headed

home.  I had to stop in Camelford to stretch my legs and did chuckle to myself when riding through the villages of Bucks Cross and Fairy Cross for some reason reminded me of this place.    

Got home around 2:00.

Here are the trip stats.  Good day, poor show for 4 weeks leave but it is better than nothing.

 

[boboneleg]

Nice one Saul, I haven't been to Westward Ho for over 30 years .  Shame about some of the buildings but it's like that in a lot of seaside places now .

[XTreme]

Interesting place Saul......any way to get access into that abandoned shit?

[Saul]

16 minutes ago, boboneleg said:

Nice one Saul, I haven't been to Westward Ho for over 30 years .  Shame about some of the buildings but it's like that in a lot of seaside places now .

You would see a difference Bob.  Loads has been built since I last went there.   The place has probably doubled in size I would guess.

[Saul]

1 minute ago, XTreme said:

Interesting place Saul......any way to get access into that abandoned shit?

Very much doubt it mate, all sorts of threatening signs on it.