MIXED EMOTIONS

Day 6

Distance 86.3 miles
Cycling time 6 hours 42 minutes
Average Speed 12.8 miles
Total Miles 485ish


Personal blog from Geoff:

I woke this morning to a phone call telling me that my grandmother had died during the night. She was 97 years old but had been in failing health for a while, physically deteriorated but mentally sharp. It was sad rather than bad news as I knew she wanted to go. She said to my mother the previous evening “How come Michael Jackson gets to go and I am still here?” on the ball to the last.

It was a strange day on the ride today as well. We travelled along main roads between a series of Lancashire towns from Warrington to Wigan to Chorley to Preston and beyond. Along stretches of carriageway followed by the chaos of built up suburbia.

We had an advantage of no luggage to carry in the morning as the girls had arranged to meet us at Jane and Eric Thompson’s house outside Wiggin for lunch. What a difference it makes especially going up hill.

We had a lovely lunch (thanks to Jane) before heading north again. We travelled on main roads before we got to Bambrugh Bridge where we found a cycle track along a disused railway line leading to a big park in the centre of Preston. We enjoyed an ice-cream while we watched the police chasing a hoody on a moped around the park.

In Lancaster we happened across a cycle path along the river. We asked another cyclist which way to go to Carnforth which was our stop for the day. He took us with him along the track to Morecombe sea front and then along the promenade for a few miles until we joined the Lancaster Canal for the last 4 miles to Carnforth. What a great end to this ride.

Off to see the girls!

Day 5

Distance 81.9 miles cycling time 6hrs 17 mins average 13.0 miles

Total so far 400 miles!

We had a big day today - off to Chester to meet up with Jan and Linda at Jenny's house in Chester. We got up early and were on the road by 8am. We decided to try and get as many miles as we could under our belts as early as possible before the roads got busy. We followed the A49 to Shrewsbury alongwith loads of bikers travelling at obscene speeds. We covered the 35 miles in good time and were in Shrewsbury by 10.30am. Shrewsbury is a pretty town and we took time out to cycle along the river and take in some of the town.

We then moved on a quieter road for the 20 miles to Whitchurch. The road was flat, no wind and very hot but pleasant as we continued to make good progress. We had lunch at Whitchurch and were pleasantly surprised to find it was only 20 miles from Chester. We set off at 2pm on minor roads through some stunning Cheshire villages and arrived at Jenny's by 3.30pm. So much easier when the land is flat and the wind is with you!

We then had a great BBQ at Jenny's with the girls and Geoff's brother over from Wales. Plenty of booze but some restraint, we think the hills will be back tomorrow.

The night ended on a happy note when Nurse Jan declared that Geoff's backside was healing nicely and that the suspected bruising was in fact dye from his new shorts. If only Phil had made a closer inspection earlier!

WD40 works wonders!

Day 4

Distance: 93.6miles Cycling time: 7hrs 40 mins Average 12.1 mph

320 miles so far

The Stoke Inn at Chew Stoke was very basic with nowhere inside to leave the bikes. In the morning we discovered that someone had nicked Geoff's water bottle. The landlord washed out an empty cider bottle to replace it. A touch of class attached to the bike !

We followed the Avon Cycleway to Nailsea, Clevedon and Avonmouth all the way to the Old Severn Bridge. Some great scenery topped by crossing the bridge - stunning view and a bracing breeze.

The only problem was that, after getting soaked yesterday, the bikes were creaking and groaning even more than we were. We stopped at a garage in Chepstow for a liberal application of WD40. The transfomation was amazing - the bikes were back to their best!

The road from Chepstow to Monmouth was easily the most ejoyable stretch of road so far. The temperature soared to over 30c. But the road was flat, shaded and we had a following wind. We flew along through stunning countryside.

At Monmouth we mistakingly turned onto the A40. It was flat and fast but cars constantly whizzed passed us at 100 mph. Fortunately we got off after 6 miles and turned towards Hereford.

We reached Hereford in time to see the end of the 2nd Lions Test but couldn't find a pub with Sky. Phil took it well as Dennis talked him through the vital last few minutes on the mobile.

We then moved on to Leominster and our next B&B, The Roebuck Inn, at Brinfield. We arrived at 6pm - a great day's cycling. The WD40 worked magic, long may it continue.

An easier day!

Day 3

Distance: 71.4 miles cycling time 6hr 33 min. Average speed 10.8 mph.

We woke early at 5am, to the sound of torrential rain outside. But, at least, no wind.

We switched on the news. By 7am we were both experts on the life and times of Michael Jackson. The good news from the weather forecast was that the rain was moving north and had stopped by the time we went to breakfast.

Our original intention was to follow the 'West Country Way' all day from Tiverton to Bristol. This is a national cycle route. Very pretty and quiet but very winding and circuitous.

After yesterday's struggle, we decided to modify our route to make it shorter. We decided to stop 10 miles south of Bristol at Chew Stoke and followed some main roads along the way.

The first part of the day was from Tiverton to Taunton. Initially along canal tow paths then country lanes. Very pretty.

At Taunton we came off the NCR3 onto A361 all the way to Glastonbury along the Somerset levels. No sign of the festival!

We then rejoined NCR3 to Wells and passed Wookey Hole then up an enormous climb onto the Mendips. We stopped at the viewing point and watched two Red Kites soaring majestically above us.

Then a very easy 10 miles cycle down hill to Chewstoke. A nice easier day - we took our time and really enjoyed it.

Raw Hide!

DAY 2 - 25/06/09

Distance: 83.2 miles
Cycling Time: 7hrs 52min
Average Speed: 10.5 mph


We spent our first night at Restormel Farm near Lostwithiel, it’s part of the Duchy of Cornwall’s Estate. The building next door is Restormal Manor it’s just been restored by the Duchy as luxury holiday accommodation. Princes William and Harry where the first guests last weekend and Charles and Camilla are coming next week – we felt very much at home!!!

Meanwhile back on the road the easterly wind was still howling straight at us, the hills where also steeper and longer than the day before. Again up, down, up, down…… no flat bits.

Outside Liskeard we asked for directions from a postman, he appeared to greet us with a ‘Heil Hitler salute’. It turned out however, that he was just describing the gradient of the next hill we had to climb.

We moved on from Liskeard to Tavistock and then we turned north to Okehampton. We picked up the Granite Way, Sustrans route, this was very pleasant and relatively flat and quite sheltered. At Okehampton one of Geoff’s spokes broke, luckily we found a bike shop in Crediton where they were very helpful and fixed it, plus sold Geoff some luxury biking shorts (Geoff was in some discomfort having become an early run-away leader in the sorest backside competition).


Calorie Burner Counter – Day 2 (to date)

Phil says that we shouldn’t count the calories consumed on the way down to Lands End, so 7 pints of beer, 2 bottles of wine and 2 pork pies have been deducted from the running total.

Pints of Beer = 14
Bottles of Wine = 2
Pies = 3

And we're off.....

DAY 1 - 24/06/09

Distance: 70.1 miles
Cycling Time: 6hrs 33min
Average Speed: 10.6 mph


Woke up this morning to glorious sunshine and a howling Easterly wind! And we’re heading east!!

We left Lands End at 8:30am and arrived at Lostwithiel at 5pm, in between the wind battered us all the way.

We took a mixture of major and minor roads today. The major roads were very open, windy and busy with cars whizzing past every second, but they were much more direct. The minor roads were more scenic, lovely hedgerows, quiet but very circuitous and hilly.

We did a bit of the Cornish Way from Lands End to Penzance (great views of St. Michael’s Mount), some main roads around St. Truro and St. Austell and bits of other minor roads elsewhere.

Everyone says Cornwall is hilly, and it is! We don’t think there are any flat bits - you are constantly going up and down, up and down! The hills are not particularly steep, they just keep coming….

Overall, a very pleasant day made hard by the wind. Tomorrow we have to get over Dartmoor, which should be a challenge, all be it a scenic one!


Calorie Burner Counter – Day 1 (to date)

Pints of Beer = 13
Bottles of Wine = 3
Pies = 3

Well and truly battered!!!

We finished our training on Thursday with a 90 mile round trip to Whitby and back. We think this will be a tougher day, in terms of miles and climbs combined, than any day we will have on the big trip. It passed off ok, although we did get lost at one stage and Phil fell off his bike when he failed to anticipate me stopping somewhat abruptly. And as he couldn’t get his feet out of his pedal straps in time it was a bit painful. Still, ever the trooper, he completed the ride undaunted but slightly bloodied.

The biggest problem was the wind. Very strong and behind us all the way there (3hrs 40 mins) and even stronger into our faces coming back (5 hours). What a nightmare! Still at least we got back just before the heavens opened.

We can recommend the cakes at Danby Tearooms and great fish and chips at Silver Street Fisheries in Whitby. We have been told that we will need to increase our calorie intake by at least 2000 per day to cover what we will be burn off. We think this is great news and have decided, therefore, to increase our alcohol consumption by 10 pints of beer each per day. We’re sure Chris Hoy would approve.

Next stop Land’s End!

THE CUNNING PLAN!


We have finally agreed a route from Lands End to John O’Groats as indicated below. We want to keep it fluid though so we have decided not to book accommodation in advance. If we’re having a good day we might crack on further and if we’re having a bad day (surely not!) we might want to stop a bit earlier.

We have acquired a good book called Beer, Bed & Breakfast (apparently there isn’t a book called Beer, Pies, Bed & Breakfast unfortunately) which appears to fit the bill, and we aim to stay in as many pubs as possible.

Our first day’s cycling is 24th June and we hope to start blogging the next day!


Start point Land’s End

Day Date Target Finish Point Estimated Mileage
1 24th June Lostwithiel 70 miles
2 25th June Tiverton 70 miles
3 26th June Bristol 100 miles
4 27th June Ludlow 80 miles
5 28th June Chester 90 miles
6 29th June Carnforth 80 miles
7 30th June Gretna 80 miles
8 1st July Cumnock 75 miles
9 2nd July Ardlui 85 miles
10 3rd July Spean Bridge 70 miles
11 4th July Dingwall 65 miles
12 5th July Helmsdale 65 miles
13 6th July John O’Groats 50 miles
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980 miles
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