Cycle dist 57.2miles
Avg speed 12.09mph
Saturday 31 May 2008
Friday 30 May 2008
Day 7 photos
Dinner at the Red Pump Inn
Welcome relief from the industrial north west England
The Manchester Ship Canal
Day 7: Mobberley to Bashall Eaves nr Clitheroe
Woke at the crack of dawn (well, 7.30) to freshly laundered clothes and a full english breakfast (including perfectly poached eggs) courtesy of jo. Said our goodbyes and sped out of wilmslow at 9am sharp via the bicycle shop to get some much needed new brake pads.
From there we headed up towards the Manchester ship canal crossing before rolling into Bolton at about midday - being careful to keep moving for fear of having our wheels stolen. We resolved to push on to Blackburn for lunch setting ourselves a target of 2pm, which if we beat we'd reward ourselves with a pint.
Blasting out of Bolton, driven perhaps by the promise of beer, we quickly crossed a range of hills that were reminiscent of cornwall and rolled into Blackburn with minutes to spare.
Instantly wished we'd stayed in Bolton - a cultural and architectural jem by comparison when the only option for food was a weatherspoons. Studiously avoiding eye contact with the locals (they'd clearly never seen cycling clothing before and had patently assumed we were some sort of travelling troupe of lycra clad homosexuals) we settled down with a pint of guinness and some grub.
Politely ignored the chap rooting through our ash tray looking for cigarette stubs and chatted briefly with a young man (no front teeth) who offered us advice on securing our bikes before continuing north.
Raced through the last 15 miles to the pub where we're staying tonight. The Red Pump Inn is a modern, recently refurbished little place near Clitheroe - look it up if you're ever in the area...
Day 6: High Ercall to Mobberley
Distance 59 miles
Cycling time 4hr 18m
Av speed 13.63mph
Woke up in the Mill House b+b to a welcome first sunny morning with weather forecast to remain this way for the rest of the day.
After a great breakfast using tasty local ingredients, we picked up our cycles from stables where we were met by the owner's unusual pets of a donkey, peacock and dog casually strolling around.
Setting off at 9.15 in good spirits, we made the most of the relatively flat terrain by getting some good mileage done to the sleepy town of Market Drayton 15 miles away where we stocked up on energy supplies.
Good progress continued to be made through the cheshire countryside along so much so that when we arrived at Nantwich at 1230 with 32m on clock, a pub lunch as a reward was agreed. Found a good central pub to have a sandwich and a couple of pints - it almost felt as if we were actually on holiday.
After relaxing in the sun for an hour and a half, getting back on the bikes was a bit of a struggle but we targetted the town of Middlewich as the next stop and with this we made swift progress for the next 13 miles. Found a great little pub down by the Trent and Mersey canal to have another refreshment and to do a bit of work on our brakes which have been taking a battering since our start in Cornwall with the mileage and poor weather.
Another straightforward 15miles we arrived in Wilmslow via Mobberley just south of Manchester at about 5pm. Agreed that this had been almost a ' rest day' but also that we're feeling the benefits of being a bit fitter too.
Took the opportunity of an early arrival to hose down the bikes and to do some much needed laundry. Our kind hosts (Nick's sister's fiancee's father and girlfriend) had prepared a great home-cooked lasagne washed down with some wine before retiring to bed.
Thursday 29 May 2008
Wednesday 28 May 2008
Day 5
Well day 5 started slowly, mostly because it was chucking it down again and we eventually got going after faffing around looking for a new phone for me and some really effective waterproof shoes. We thought we'd found some great shoes but after 20 mins of cycling we were as wet as ever. Despite that we made some pretty good progress north out of Hereford. A detour round Shelwick because of the flood, we stopped just outside Bodenham to put some air in Nick's tyres only to put a tear in one of them. Doh! Without a spare inner tube we were a bit fooked. Luckily the very nice people (they all are round here, except the chav who slapped my ass as he was driving past later in the day) could give Nick a lift to Leominster while Patrick and I cycled up there. After lunch in Leominster and only 20 miles done plus no bike shops open, we carried on to the lovely Ludlow to meet Nick who had his bike all fixed. We then made good progress through some smashing countryside following the River Corve to Much Wenlock for a quick coffee, down the hill to Ironbridge, up a mother of a hill skirting round the West of Telford, past the Cock Hotel and on to High Ercall. Wet and tired but a quick change before heading down to the local pub to watch England beat the States and listen to the commentary from the village idiot.
Tuesday 27 May 2008
Day 3: Shobrooke to Lower Langford
Total dist: 69miles
Cycling time 6hr 50min
By far the toughest day yet. Woke up to rain lashing against the window and for once the bbc weather report of severe weather warnings of heavy rain and gale force winds proved spot on.
Set off into the rain and made slow progress across the hills towards Cullompton and the roads running parallel to the M5. By 130pm we arrived wet, tired and cold from strong headwinds along our route to Wellington with 25miles done. Dried off in a cafe for lunch before moving to a laundrette to dry off cycling gear. Set off again in a brief respite from the rain before arriving in Taunton, joining up with the canal to take us to Bridgwater b efore promptly leaving it again in favour of a tarmac more direct route along the busy A38.
Now in Somerset, the terrain became a bit flatter as the rain eased off again. Made good headway until the passing through the Mendips and onto the Strawberry trail (another great disused railway track running towards Sanford) before finally arriving at our farmhouse B@b at 8.20pm. An unbelievably tiring and miserable day having been going since 9.45 in the morning.
Had a great chinese nearby with nick's sister Noellie and her fiancee Ben before retiring to bed.
Fingers crossed for better weather as we head into wales tomorrow.
Day 4: Lower langford to Hereford
Much improved weather wise with no rain, lighter winds today and consequently a more enjoyable but still tough day.
Making good progress after a great farmhouse cooked breakfast, we clocked up 15 miles by 1030am and stopped next to the Avonmouth bridge near Bristol for some food and lucozade. Headed towards the second severn bridge along the windy waterfront by Avonmouth and Severn Beach into south Glocestershire.
Crossing the severn bridge, we met a solo cyclist doing JOG-LE who had experienced similar bad weather that we had had but at least the wind was with him!
Satisfied with progress, we stopped for lunch in Chepstow and then moved through the beautiful Wye valley past Tentin abbey to Monmouth and refreshments. A hilly route afterwards meant slow progress towards Hereford but still arrived 2hrs earlier than yesterday at 630pm.
Stumbled to an Italian for a bit more carb loading and a couple of beers.
Monday 26 May 2008
Day 2: Lostwithiel to Shobrooke nr Crediton
Trip distance 65.9miles
Av speed; 10.41
Cycling time. 6hr 18m
An anticipated long hard day was thought be made even tougher when we woke to heavy rain in Lostwithiel. This fortunately eased off as we tucked into our full english and we were able to climb out of Lostwithiel and get on with a slow tough initial 7 miles on a busy a road towards Liskeard leaving about 930am.
Made it onto some welcome country lanes and headed across the south east corner of bodmin moor reaching the village of Minions before a spectacular long descent and then another tough 10 miles to Horsebridge and the crossing from Cornwall to Devon. Further steep ascents and descents meant we made slow progress before arriving for a late lunch in a cafe in Linford at the foothills of Dartmoor. A bit demoralised and worried by the slow progress (30miles by 2pm) , we set off to try and get some more miles under our belts. A couple of miles later we joined onto the granite way - a stunning 12+ mile route along a disused railway track running along the north west side of dartmoor running up to okehampton. The flat surface was a very welcome relief to try and bring our pitiful daily average speed back up. On top of that we were lucky to see some great scenery westwards to devon and east to dartmoor with two v impressive viaducts esp at they were only built in the late 19th c.
Pleased with the progress at okehampton we loaded up with some more water and energy drinks and met 3 other guys doing the same trip to jog and planning to arrive the day before us.
The weather by now had really started to clear and become quite sunny which made the undulating last 20 miles to our inn accomodation along country lanes that bit more pleasant stopped in Crediton for some provisions before climbing upto the red lion inn in shobrooke. Hosts v friendly and great to be so close to food and beer. A couple of beers and another hearty meal along with joining in with the local quiz bfore heading upstairs to another well earned sleep.
Sunday 25 May 2008
Saturday 24 May 2008
Day 1: Penzance to Lostwithiel
Woke up in penzance to dry overcast but windy weather. A hearty full english breakfast later and we set off along the waterfront just before 9 with the destination of Lostwithiel.
Made slow but steady progress along a picturesque cornish country lanes before a mid morning snack in a pub beer garden in Porkellis. Contemplated staying till it opened but consciences got the better of us.
Next stop was the 200m chain King Harry ferry river crossing near Falmouth after about 27 miles where we met a good guy called John and some of his friends. After we said what we were doing, he let slip that between the 3 of them they had won 6 cycling track medals from the Athens olympics. - I think they could luagh at how un-aerodynamic our bikes are!
A quick late lunch at.a garage en route before we cycled down into St Austell and stopped off at Nick's housemates parents place (.the Powleslands) for a great cup of tea and a comfy sofa (anything beats a thin saddle). Resisted the temptation to watch the football and continued to make out way to our destination via halfords for a couple of extras. A few miles down the road I turned back to halfords as needed to get back wheel spokes tightened - perhaps carrying too much.. The others carried on up and up to Lostwithiel and I caught up with them at the hotel about 7pm. A long tiring day..
A quick shower before heading up the road to the Crown pub with a cornish beer festival and hog roast meeting Barry, Claire and Hazel celebrating the Munster win in the Heinekin cup. Another quick pint in Lostwithiel before heading to bed.
We're off!
Arrived into Penzance on the train and set off along the waterfront in beautiful sunshine.
Made it down to Lands End via country lanes to have our photo taken at the signpost and signing the guestbook.
Reset all our mileometers and set off back to Penzance and our accomodation for the evening.
Trip time: 51:03
Av speed: 12.78
Total mileage: 10.87 miles
Friday 23 May 2008
Day 0 - On the train...
Nick, Ed and myself are on the train from London Paddington down to Penzance.
Albeit only just as Nick and Ed arrived at the station with only 3 mins to go - a mad dash to the other end of the platform to throw our bikes in the guards van before hopping on the train just as the doors closed - nothing like a smooth start... Fingers crossed the bikes are still in one piece when we arrive.
Unfortunately, no Tom with us as he suffered a bad ankle sprain last week playing rugby. Hoping that he will be able to join us later on in the trip as and when the ankle has healed enough to cycle.
Planning to do penzance to lands end and back this evening (approx 20miles) so that we can start heading east tomorrow.
Weather as it is is overcast but with showers and strong easterlies forecast and the look of the very hilly scenery out of the train window - it looks the first few days will be very tough indeed... What are we doing?!
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