Misadventures on the Tarka Trail | I’m a numpty

[@jimnad6479]

Don't be so hard on yourself. The ability to adapt, improvise and overcome obstacles and still manage to enjoy yourself is amazing.

[@TheLongstaffaudaxer]

That would happen to me!! Great video and loved the music. Church yards are good water stops- for free.

[@WmCRobison]

"Moan moan moan, oh look a lamb." Juliet I love how much joy you take in the simple things like a lamb in a field. You're just such a lovely person.

[@billwelsh7489]

We've all forgotten something on rides, I'm sure! I forgot shoes and water bottles. A friend of mine drove over an hour to a ride start, and had on all his kit, shoes, everything he needed for the ride. However he opened the back of car and realized he forgot to load his bike! Biggest forget ride fail I've seen yet! We are all funny humans sometimes!

[@CanyonWanderer]

Here in NL, in the western parts we have the dunes protecting us from the North Sea. Our local drinking water provider actually uses the dune sand to filter rain water toward drinking water. That company has covered the entire area they service with water taps that provide water that is safe to drink. A great resource for cyclists!

[@ravenfeeder1892]

You should get Devon Tourist Board to sponsor you. You're doing a great job showcasing the place.

[@teryyy5052]

Now I wanna go Devon and the entire south west coast peninsula to ride my bike and I don’t even live in Europe! Anw, I hope you ended up seizing the opportunity to go drive somewhere to feed ur hunger pangs Julia!

[@rbruce63]

And what a nice place it is!

[@T4TipsGuides]

That is a great ride around the Dartington estate, was up there twice last week. Couple of laps of Dartington and then over to Sharpham along the river Dart, lunch at The Maltsters Arms, deffo one of my favourite rides.

[@PillyXJR]

Devon CtC bike ride, (NCT Route 27) Ilfracombe to Plymouth, did it last year, great ride

[@franbrown4971]

Roll up a £20 note and stuff it in you handlebar behind the bar end plug, just tack it in place with a little bit of tape and the replace the plug, for "emergencies" as a fail safe back up. Ace vid, pretty scenery, thanks for sharing.

[@JulietElliottsChannel]

Great idea!! Thank you

[@theshedMTB]

Beautiful contryside to ride in! Lack of water is rough, but looks like you enjoyed it anyway.

[@darrenhitchcox6345]

I did that ride last year from Barnstable down to Hatherleigh and back and the hill are deceptive. It is a long route, but the lack traffic does not make it feel like that. Like you, I had a brutal wide that absolutely killed me on the day. However, I look back on it as an extremely memorable ride with stunning scenery. So glad you found the phone at the end..

[@hannahgreenlee6872]

Lovely video! Water wise - often church yards have outside taps for filling flower vases etc- though its perfectly potable. Though I didn't see any churches on your ride so not sure how helpful that tip is.....

[@claytonjones6868]

Churches were defo your friend. Plus bike shops in bideford, just off Tarka trail. Johns deli, yacht club plus Royal Marines I’m sure would’ve helped in instow. Love Tarka trail, you’re so lucky to be so close

[@paulrerrie75]

The closed cafe you stopped at is the Yarde Orchard, a nice destination going up the trail from Barnstaple.

[@deblordoutdoors5783]

It’s really hard to get your head in the game when you’re preoccupied thinking you’ve least your phone, and then also worrying you haven’t got enough fuel, but you got out there and found some lovely scenery, so that would cheer me up. Looked beautiful.

[@andrewnorris5415]

What a route that is! Gald you had a great time!

[@NAF7407]

Don't be so hard on yourself. It's easy to forget your phone. It happens to all of us. Also, your ride looked incredible! Good on you for going forward even once you recognized you didn't have your phone and were going to run out of water. I would have turned around right then and there!

[@RaRaAv1s]

If only I had known, I live 4 miles from the Meeth end of the Tarka trail, you would of been more than welcome to a refill and some money. I ride it pretty much every 2-3 weeks, it's just so peaceful, and it changes it's look so much with the different seasons.

[@leecrichlow6773]

So nice - Julie depressed at her mistakes, suddenly "I saw some sheep!!!" (smiles all round) Brilliant stuff.

[@JulietElliottsChannel]

Haha, yeah that’s me all over 😂

[@jenniferduby5905]

Dude don’t be so hard on yrself. We’ve all done it... shown up to a ride with the wrong shoes, left the helmet at home, forgotten the water bottle or enough food. Thx for another great vid!

[@spet2904]

Great choice! I've gone bikepacking along the Tarka trail, it was lovely! Particularly recommend stopping for a dip in the rivers and sea every so often.

[@oddjob4877]

CHURCHYARDS - All churchyards have an outside tap so that people visiting the graves can water the flowers on the graves. The water is drinkable mains water and free to all.

[@kevvjj2629]

I'm always surprised how many cyclists/walkers don't know this.

[@oddjob4877]

@@Bungle2010 I should have said the vast majority of churchyards to be completely accurate. Lol.

[@kevster6244]

So jealous of the lack of traffic around there. Looks fantastic.

[@GCG1964]

Awesome video, Juliet! My friends and I have this little moniker we always use to help us remember the vital items before we set out. It is: PHONE, KEYS, WALLET. Keep that phrase in mind, and you can't go wrong. Cheers, love!

[@erinohagain9841]

Good for you Juliet... I have to admit. I am typically so organized, but I always manage to forget something every time I do an endurance route! I think its important to depict what the real cycling experience is about... the good, bad, annoying and everything in between. The important thing is that you went out and did it,! Happy riding friend!

[@ceftx2375]

Love this video, but then again, I love all of your videos. You always brighten my day! : )

[@pavlovzdog]

Church yards, often have stand pipes for watering flowers. But in a situation like that it works 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😁

[@stephencherriman2838]

Lovely day for a great ride plus you never lost your phone 📱❤

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

What a beautiful ride. You had fun and it doesn't get any better than that. I too have ended a ride early once or twice. Well maybe more often than that. Umm...all the time really. All it takes is the smell of good food. Thanks for the video.

[@sleepingdog8525]

We have all been there. When the bike and trail calls, it's easy to forget stuff. Do not be hard on yourself. Be safe.

[@cjohnson3836]

Recently bought a Katadyn Befree just so that this never becomes an issue again. Well, so long as there's some water somewhere. You've no reason to be critical of yourself. Most of us would have used all those obstacles as an excuse to call it easy for the day, but you kept to it. You've some amazing discipline.

[@joshualewis8068]

Amazing ride!!!

[@garyhall117]

Juliet, I got this tip from GCN and it`s to roll a tenner up and put it into your handlebars for emergencies !! x

[@JulietElliottsChannel]

Good idea

[@Pesmog]

I enjoy riding the Tarka trail when in that part of the world. Despite being asphalt for most of the way, doing the 30 mile traffic free route South from Braunton past Bideford to Meeth is surprisingly challenging. The prevailing winds along the estuary and the last 10 mile near continuous climbnearly always gets me and I did once badly bonk-out on that route. Most of the return journey North is downhill so there is always that to look forward to.

[@pauloosterhout]

I'm so jealous that you live in such a beautiful area. Devonshire in the spring looks lovely and that scenery must make riding for hours without water a little more bearable.

[@BikepackingAdventures]

I went out of my way to ride the Camel and Tarka Trail during LEJOG last Summer. Glad I did, it was very much one of the highlights! Idk if its the Tarka one, but at the end of one section of it there was a cafe that served the best Wraps imaginable, in fact I was ravenous so went back and ordered a second! Later than day, 10pm, I turned up a campsite literally just off the Tarka Trail. Cooking in the dark was bliss! Roll on Summer!

[@graffix11us]

Great timing on the 'don't quit, you don't suck' comment. I'm sitting here with my legs up after a 4 hour ride, training for a 12 hour race in 6 weeks and hoping I don't suck :-) Thanks for being an inspiration!

[@JulietElliottsChannel]

You can do it!! Happy to help in some way : )

[@jeanmarcdumont4130]

hi Juliet what a lovely countryside you have! have fun,from Alsace in France .

[@stevenrobinson807]

Cycled some of that Trail with my boys a few years ago. Absolutely beautiful. Must come back and do the whole trail 👍

[@MrMongoJoe]

That’s a great trail. I’d recommend doing the coast to coast cycle route 27 which goes between Plymouth and Ilfracombe - some great scenery along the way and the Tarka trail is a good part of it!

[@0999pip]

Love the tarka trail

[@fredrichards3998]

You’re an inspiration. Focused mind set or what. Well done. Awesome Devon in all it’s glory too. 👍

[@tomjm8047]

You are a road warrior Juliet! You give me motivation for my triathlon this summer!!!👍🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏊‍♀️

[@John-un2co]

Thank you for sharing Juliet. Like the way you work through challenges and stay cute doing it take care.

[@jimmylovescake6813]

Thoroughly recommend Fremington quay cafe bout 7 miles on from Bideford....spectacular cake, good coffee...and they probably do water too🤣

[@longnik]

I’ve knocked on random front doors a few times. Once the surprised owners realise you’re genuine, they are invariably very generous. I’ve occasionally had offers of cake and mugs of tea too. The Tarka trail is beautiful.

[@garethjones3806]

You’re awesome. Love the positive vibes. Think the gardener bloke was referring to water butts. Definitely don’t drink from there. 😩

[@matauboy]

Having gone off on a two week holiday and left my back door open I find I can totally sympathise.🥺

[@JulietElliottsChannel]

Oh damn!!

[@zu_1455]

Good morning from Denver, CO! About to run but cycling later. Fixed the tube on my friend’s tube last night. Lovely to see your face today. 😊😊

[@ARJWright]

Neat route. Maybe a solution for losing phone or not having spare cash on hand, the McLear payment ring. You could simply load it with some funds and have that as a backup (ring works like your mobile wallet, tap and PIN). It’s only sold in UK, so that might be an option

[@andrewnorris5415]

I knocked on a house and asked a couple of times when bikepacking. Cemeteries are good places too. I carry a water filter bottle, but the low-level stuff is full of chemicals that do not get filtered!

[@kendobson9009]

We've all been there! Great effort though and it's a plus that you didn't lose your phone! 👏🏻

[@66spacemonkey66]

Great ride along........🖖🏻

[@mikevermeylen8657]

Hand wave 👋 and Morning 🌞 really makes my day, best into ever! Thanks @julietelliott

[@buck197]

Love you are riding roads I know or have ridden occasionally. How far did you manage and I think I need to do Devon C2C again, this time on my newish gravel bike.

[@fredthornberry249]

My favorite move is to make a list of things to remember and then forget to take the list on the way out the door. I also have heard the saying "I don't make the same mistake twice. I make it six or seven times till I get it right." Glad it had a happy ending after all. New book recommendation for you - Stand - A Memoir on Activism. A Manual for Progress. by Kathryn Bertine. Just started into it but already learned a wealth of information on women cyclists.

[@markpanter3871]

Love the fact you make the same schoolboy error mistakes as the rest of us lol

[@riderrunco]

Meeth to torrington or torrington to meeths a rad gravel sector

[@craigrandall5138]

loved the music in the first half of the video, it sort of matched the anxious tone.

[@stevepowell-thomas5918]

That ride looks lush nice one juliet

[@alanprioroutdoors]

Churches normally have water taps (for watering flowers in the graveyard)

[@PiquePictures]

What a beautiful ride!!!!!!!!!!!! There’s nothing like a beautiful ride! Well done, Juliet! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@pierrehenri2297]

I would be a mess after 2hours and 1 bottle of water- you’re a warrior and you do it with a smile!

[@luctielen]

Extra long video, hurray! As always, I'm jealous of the landscape & trails in Devon.. :)

[@garyhall117]

Well done Juliet, you must be careful and hydrate x.

[@waveydaveydiver]

Another great vid, can’t wait till I get my new gravel bike 😀

[@randysgutful]

I'm just thinking how much pain I'd be in doing 6 hours on 1.5 bottles of water, the fact you managed to still smile for the camera is impressive....enjoy that well earned sandwich!

[@Francesco_M.]

That made me stop for a bit and think back at all the times it happened to me; I felt like the only one on earth who acts on impulse, who's disorganized and overall not up to the task. Cycling makes you taste a special kind of joyous freedom, yet it can allure you a little to much and swallow you beneath its shiny tar; balance will come with experience. You did great nonetheless, and made me feel less alone too 🙂 🏞

[@paulcollins4932]

My summer afternoon ride is to take a train from Plymouth to Barnstable and then cycle back to Plymouth, 4.5 hours of absolute bliss

[@JulietElliottsChannel]

Lovely!

[@kevintanner577]

Do you ever go towards Torbay? Wondering what the trails are like near Brixham where I grew up as a kid.

[@rubikspixel]

I was waiting for you to realise you was actually filming with it, but i think we’re all happy you found it 😬 I need to move down to Devon, you have some of the best riding routes and scenery a cyclist could dream of, so jealous!! 😂

[@BokorRider]

what was wrong with river water up in Scotland its ok to drink that in the countryside... I'd have taken the rain water out of the allotment water butt to keep going worst thing is you might get the S***s :D amazing ride ! glad the phone was there....I had a similar problem years ago going up through Australia on the Ghan train it stooped at a place called Kathrine Gorge you could walk a loop that took about an hour and the train was only stopped for about 2 hours....3/4 way round the loop I notices my wallet was going....I turned around and went back as fast as I could ...eventually to the shop where I had bought water.... there my wallet was! Duh!

[@dalem1140]

Love the BIG ride Vids👌

[@davidharris1562]

One of the advantages of cash, always got 10 quid stashed on the bike.......keep in an old film canister.......Bideford/Barnstable is a beautiful area....well all of the South West is

[@bromptinowner763]

I woulda kept asking for cup after cup of water in costa until my water bottle was full. Some covid restrictions are redic. Enjoyed your journey Jules x

[@Largerider]

you should have an emergency cash stash on your key ring for time like that.

[@shoalinbob2878]

Hilarious!! I empathise, half hour in to any journey... .did I leave the gas on??

[@heytreacle]

Don’t feel bad, I used to mix running in with cycling- so much less faff and baggage. Just a quick change, half hour run, chuck clothes in wash, shower and all done inside 50 minutes. Cycling’s a whole different game. It’s entirely normal for me to get a third of the way in to a ride and discover I left that bottle I prepared in the kitchen, or not have my gloves, or I used a tube last time and forgot to replace it. I’m sure some people nail it each and every time but, in my humble opinion- they’re weird.

[@JulietElliottsChannel]

Yeah, it’s such a faff! Mountain biking is even worse. I sometimes wish I was a swimmer or runner!! The simplicity is appealing to the disorganised

[@richardhall263]

Great video again thank you xx

[@cleggycyclist]

Churches / graveyards always have outside taps

[@JulietElliottsChannel]

Good to know, thank you

[@carolinelief9132]

I think Church's normally have a water fountain or tap

[@kodiesrevenge]

welcome to my world .. SAWYER , job done

[@rachymay7534]

If you had gone slightly further around the quay in Bideford ...we have a great cycle shop " cycles suderia" Craig and Alan would of filled up your bottle and given you a hot coffee.... 🚴😊

[@nicc4602]

did a similar route myself recently on £3 a bowl of cous cous and a pear. started raining when i set off but i was determined to continue, got just past meeth and the tarka trail was closed so had a nice steep diversion. was soaked by the time i got to barnstable, started coming home and ran out of energy completely.. went all the way back in the granny ring hahaha. but still completely enjoyed it even though i was freezing cold, wet all the way through and severely under-fuelled lol.

[@HKFan1960]

Thanks for showing you're human just like the rest of us. Lol. Who hasn't forgotten something important? Like, um, shoes. 😏

[@davidgallop654]

If you are short of water, grave yards have taps to get water. Also if using one bottle use a large one !

[@domfluin1819]

Shame Yarde Orchard cafe was closed. They do an awesome coffee 👍

[@markreams3192]

It happens to everyone. Phones are often forgotten. People arrive at events without shoes and a helmet. You’re not stupid. Intelligent people are often forgetful. Have you considered coming to the US to do events like unbound gravel (dirty kanza) or lead boat? Leadville 100 on Saturday, Steamboat gravel on Sunday.

[@OurnameisLegion66]

I had Chicken Tarka for mi dinner, bit like Chicken Tika but otter.. Yes/no?

[@thedecliningcyclist3321]

Reckon we’ve all had a ride like that. After an epic no money, food, or water induced hunger knock years ago I tucked a folded up £5 note into my spare tube in the saddle pack. Of course I’ve never ever needed it since 🙄

[@milan4ever]

Very cool looking helmet :)

[@davidharris4062]

You should keep a couple of £££ in your handlebar bag, also cemeteries and churchyards usually have outside taps

[@Spookyb329]

7:40 "I just can't see any outside taps anywhere..." Its behind yoooo!

[@SuperDarrenwong]

Hey Juliet, was wondering if you had a smart watch? Ive done the same thing as you and left my phone somewhere. Manage to pay for stuff on my watch.

[@jonathandingle]

Don't beat ya sen up gal, keep up the good work x

[@tacconelli]

bummer about the phone. i've been there before and it caused me to build a system around leaving the house/setting off on a ride. spectacles, keys, wallet, phone: check. go.

[@ragsnasramoninus2443]

There is a 75k stretch on the 120k between my home and my in laws home where there is nothing to refill. 75k of NOTHING. And i keep forgetting to fill up before i hit that stretch. Especially on hot days. So i kind of a little tiny bit know how you felt :-D

[@333wheeler]

All been there . Panic stations dabbing the rear jersey pockets thinking something important is missing like the wallet, keys or only spare tube.. yeah a spare £10 note stashed safe on the bike is worth the effort for emergencies.. Like the look of that Tarka Trail.. Might be worth a rumble one of the days ! :0

[@dafred9898]

Glad you didn't loose your phone.

[@flyingvee1000]

Churches and cemeteries nearly always have a water tap in the grounds.