OP
OP
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
Kudos to all you N.Devon resident cyclists!
- Thread starter SpokeyDokey
- Start date
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OP
OP
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
Did you cycle up the famous Porlock Hill (A39 Westbound leaving Porlock)? I even struggle going up there in the car! Also I know of a coach driver who had to veer into a field on the way down as the breaks overheated and became defective.
What about the zig zag hill from Lynmouth to Lynton or did you take the Cliff Railway Lift?
No - I didn't cycle at all. It was a walking holiday with Lovely Wife. We did do the little water driven railway thingy which was fun and with good views.
Ian H
Ancient randonneur
It isn't. There are also two toll roads, one easy, one hard. I have ridden all three.
I once overtook a motorbike coming down Porlock. He caught me up in the village and gave me a grin and a wave. I might be a little more cautious these days.
chriswoody
Legendary Member
- Location
- Northern Germany
All this talk of Lynton and Lynmouth and the challenges the adjacent hills provide, has brought to mind the story of the overland launch.
In January 1899 a ship was in distress off Porlock weir, the nearest lifeboat in Watchet was unable to launch because of the fierce winds, so the decision was made to use the Lynmouth lifeboat. However, Lynmouth harbour was also too stormy, so the crew took the amazing decision to take the lifeboat overland, the 13 miles to Porlock harbour and launch there. The best part of 10 tons of equipment was dragged by horses and men up Countisbury hill and then across the top of the moor and down Porlock hill. Along the way several walls had to be demolished to make way for the carriage and the road widened in a number of places.
After this monumental feat of strength, the crew then launched the boat and rowed out to help rescue the boat in distress. The full amazing story can be found here:
http://www.visitlyntonandlynmouth.com/about/overland-launch
I always remember seeing a boat similar to the Lousia on display in the old tourist information in Lynmouth, but when I was last there in April it was sadly gone. Hopefully the memory of this remarkable tale won't fade away.
In January 1899 a ship was in distress off Porlock weir, the nearest lifeboat in Watchet was unable to launch because of the fierce winds, so the decision was made to use the Lynmouth lifeboat. However, Lynmouth harbour was also too stormy, so the crew took the amazing decision to take the lifeboat overland, the 13 miles to Porlock harbour and launch there. The best part of 10 tons of equipment was dragged by horses and men up Countisbury hill and then across the top of the moor and down Porlock hill. Along the way several walls had to be demolished to make way for the carriage and the road widened in a number of places.
After this monumental feat of strength, the crew then launched the boat and rowed out to help rescue the boat in distress. The full amazing story can be found here:
http://www.visitlyntonandlynmouth.com/about/overland-launch
I always remember seeing a boat similar to the Lousia on display in the old tourist information in Lynmouth, but when I was last there in April it was sadly gone. Hopefully the memory of this remarkable tale won't fade away.
Thank you!
swansonj
Guru
I have heard that episode before and I've always wondered about it. It took them just shy of 12 hours to reach the ship in trouble. The ship was still afloat because it had successfully anchored. If it had not anchored successfully, presumably it would have run ashore long before the lifeboat arrived twelve hours later. As it was, two tugs appeared not long after the lifeboat, presumably from harbours that were OK to set out from, and the lifeboat didn't actually do that much. What did the lifeboat crew expect to find after twelve hours? Were there no lifeboats in whatever ports the tugs came from? And was it worth killing four horses?
I salute the madness that contemplates dragging ten tons over Exmoor in the night in a storm. I salute the spirit that is prepared to take risks and expend resource almost without limit and never give up to save a fellow human being in distress, be that lifeboats or mountain rescue or fire crews. But this seems such an extreme example of that imbalance that I'm not sure what I think about it.
Ian H
Ancient randonneur
It's North Devon.
RichK
Guru
- Location
- Birmingham, England
I too have just come back from a few days in Lynton - staying in the 'old' railway station. Most of the hills in the area are well beyond my capabilities &/or enjoyment and being a family holiday limited time is available to go out cycling, though I have concopted a nice hour-ish circular route to Woody Bay station. I also did the (easier?) Porlock Toll Road through the woods which was a very pleasant half hour of climbing.
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CanucksTraveller
Macho Business Donkey Wrestler
- Location
- Hertfordshire
I've heard the same story and came to much the same conclusion. Gargantuan effort and all very admirable, but if the ship in need of rescue can anchor and wait for 12 whole hours you have to ask how dire a situation it was to require all of that death and toil.
chriswoody
Legendary Member
- Location
- Northern Germany
What needs to be born in mind is that this was 1899 and during a massive storm. The only communication that the Lynmouth crew received was a brief telegraph stating that there was a ship in distress. No shore based observers would have been able to see what state the Ship was in. Once they set off no further communication would have been received, no mobile phones or radio back then.
Whilst the Ship was at anchor, she was far from in a safe spot, the swell that close in, would have been considerable and there was a very real danger of her swamping, breaking her anchor chain or dragging her anchor. She'd already lost her rudder. This stretch of coast contains hundreds of ship wrecks for a reason and the lifeboat crew would have considered all of this.
The first tug on scene, was actually the tug that had been towing her and as such had probably rode the storm out further in the Bristol Channel after the tow rope broke. As for the second tug, it either would have come from Wales or more likely was already at sea as well. The tugs would have in all likelihood been steampowered as well, were as Louisa was a simple rowing boat.
I still have vivid memories as a kid watching the big winter storms down on Ilfracombe sea front. The size of the waves rolling in and breaking over Capstone hill and the Harbour is a sight that stays with you.
Whilst the Ship was at anchor, she was far from in a safe spot, the swell that close in, would have been considerable and there was a very real danger of her swamping, breaking her anchor chain or dragging her anchor. She'd already lost her rudder. This stretch of coast contains hundreds of ship wrecks for a reason and the lifeboat crew would have considered all of this.
The first tug on scene, was actually the tug that had been towing her and as such had probably rode the storm out further in the Bristol Channel after the tow rope broke. As for the second tug, it either would have come from Wales or more likely was already at sea as well. The tugs would have in all likelihood been steampowered as well, were as Louisa was a simple rowing boat.
I still have vivid memories as a kid watching the big winter storms down on Ilfracombe sea front. The size of the waves rolling in and breaking over Capstone hill and the Harbour is a sight that stays with you.
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Ian H
Ancient randonneur
OP
OP
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
