Sunday, 11 May 2025
I arrived in Ashburton a few hours ago, my usual taxi driver and buddy Dave Ward at Tarka Taxi in Newton Abbot picking me up. I sat in front and we compared notes on our favorite Star Trek characters. It is a good omen for this trip to start in such a nice nerdy manner.
Captain Jean Luc Picard does a face palm
I then rolled into West Street and my home away from home at Doffy Milner’s place. I’ve stayed here since my first visit and, after a transatlantic flight, seeing Doffy’s friendly smile at the door is like a beam of light. We caught up for a bit and then spent some time setting up the bike and making sure it survived the journey intact.
Gosh if feels good to be back here. I had a short constitutional around town to stretch the legs, said hi to Tom Vignieri, and picked up Gabi Mills’ viola which she has kindly lent so I can get at least two days of practicing in before the ride. I then walked over to the Co-op as Exeter Inn wasn’t serving – no steak and ale pie for this weary traveler today, alas.
Ready to roll! (If you are reading this over the next week,
I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with a lot of bike pictures.)
The good news is that it looks like the weather from Wednesday to Sunday of this week is near-perfect cycling conditions. Not too hot or cold, overcast, and specifically NO RAIN. The cycling gods are smiling on me.
There is a bird calling outside my window that I associate with Ashburton and never hear in the US. I think it might be a wood pigeon? I suspect over here that probably isn’t very special (someone referred to it as the British national alarm clock) but hearing that, along with the chimes of St. Andrews, tells me I’m back in Ashburton, my happy place.
David Yang, Artistic Director, Ashburton Chamber Music Festival
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