7. Devon Roadtour-11-13.07.80

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1980 > 7. Devon Roadtour-11-13.07.80
David Brush, Graham and I took a weekend trip to Devon starting on Friday night. One of the purposes of this was to celebrate Graham's birthday on the Friday evening. We wild camped near to the railway on both nights but David only camped for the first night as he had to return home for family reasons on the Saturday afternoon leaving Graham and me on our own. We travelled in Graham's Mini (UAM 736J) that, true to form, gave trouble with a perished bypass hose (remember those on the old A-series engines?) on the approach to Newton Abbot. After fabricating a repair and judicious driving with the radiator cap removed the car survived in no small part due to it being a relatively cool weekend. However, the temperature gauge needed constant monitoring and the radiator regularly topping up!
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1. Evening drive to Devon-11.07.80 After arriving traditionally late (as Graham usually did!) we left and picked up David in Bradford-on-Avon. We headed straight for Taunton stopping briefly at Silk Mill crossing. We camped near to Burlescombe right next to the railway and, after cooking our camp dinner, had a pleasant pint at a pub in the village to toast Graham's birthday.
After arriving traditionally late (as Graham usually did!) we left and picked up David in Bradford-on-Avon. We headed straight for Taunton stopping briefly at Silk Mill crossing. We camped near to Burlescombe right next to the railway and, after cooking our camp dinner, had a pleasant pint at a pub in the village to toast Graham's birthday.
2. Burlescombe to Newton Abbot-12.07.80 A day spoilt by indifferent weather and UAM's (the orange Mini) failure near Newton Abbot caused by a split bypass hose. After striking camp at Burlescombe, we made our way, following the railway, to Exeter and then on to Newton Abbot but avoiding the famous coastal stretch. After dropping off David at Newton Abbot station to make his way home, Graham and I found a camping spot on the western flank of Daignton bank near to Totnes. Later in the evening, we returned to Newton Abbot for chips and then time exposures at the station.
A day spoilt by indifferent weather and UAM's (the orange Mini) failure near Newton Abbot caused by a split bypass hose. After striking camp at Burlescombe, we made our way, following the railway, to Exeter and then on to Newton Abbot but avoiding the famous coastal stretch. After dropping off David at Newton Abbot station to make his way home, Graham and I found a camping spot on the western flank of Daignton bank near to Totnes. Later in the evening, we returned to Newton Abbot for chips and then time exposures at the station.
3. Around Torbay-13.07.80 A really wet and thoroughly miserable day - the great British summer! As the weather was so poor we decided to have a look at the South Devon Railway and then venturing back towards Aller Junction before heading for home. We had a sedate journey home hoping that 'UAM' (the Mini) would not overheat now running with a piece of nylon cord around one of the flutings of the bypass hose and no radiator cap on; needless to say, we made it!
A really wet and thoroughly miserable day - the great British summer! As the weather was so poor we decided to have a look at the South Devon Railway and then venturing back towards Aller Junction before heading for home. We had a sedate journey home hoping that 'UAM' (the Mini) would not overheat now running with a piece of nylon cord around one of the flutings of the bypass hose and no radiator cap on; needless to say, we made it!
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