Okey Dokey

First couple of miles and it looked great, along the river, no wind or rain.
Then we had our initiation into the hill club with a wicked 1/2 mile climb up a 15% hill towards Cadbury Castle which was a killer. Previously we'd have had one or two of these in a day but this was the first of 6 in the first hour!
It's a good job that we both seem up for it mentally and physically.
Refuelling stop in Crediton and pain chocolat with lucozade.
We wanted to get to Okehampton for lunch 18 miles away so set off confidently.
From here we've felt the full force of the gales and torrential rain and it's been truly atrocious. Soaked through to the bone and with the wind just blasting right in our faces. At times it almost knocked me off my bike.
It's been continuous hills up, down, up, down ad infinitum. You start to really resent the descents, even though they are a chance to make miles without pedalling, as you just know that every metre you come down is another metre of ascent to come. It's not like for like as climbing takes 10 times the effort.
The more direct route we've taken is the right choice, not too busy and surely less hilly.
Approaching Okehampton (Oke to the locals) James's chain fell off halfway up a steep hill. Feet clipped in, no momentum and there's only one outcome - comedy fall into the bushes. He gets a 10 for technique and is thankful no falls have been traffic bound.
1.30 in the Fountain Hotel in Oke and don't think they'll let us eat sarnies in here so we'll have to stand outside. Hot chocolate is a great warmer though. Changed into dry shirts and we've stood in the Gents using the hand drier to warm up and dry our jackets as they were soaked through, cold and clammy. Nothing we can do about drenched bottom halfs and our feet feel like they're sat in a sodden sponge. Just got to get on with it.
We're both surprisingly positive and delighted to see how close Launceston seems to be.
The weather couldn't have been worse but thankfully no-one is lame and we are phsically up to the hill challenge and adversity to come. Bring it on.