Day 15 - Wigan to Slaidburn

There seems to be something of a pattern developing that the mornings are generally a good run and the afternoon are a bit of a challenge. Today was no exception. 

The bonus for this afternoon was meeting Julia and Gordon who cycled with me for a short while and have me directions to Dunsop Bridge which is the geographical centre of the UK. BT put a phone box right on the spot! 

Whilst cycling for the last two days I realised how lucky I am to have been able to undertake this trip. Having passed so many areas over the last couple of days where the people are living hand to mouth and only just getting by it feels very self indulgent to be spending as much money as I have done. The value of my bike alone would keep a family going for a good few weeks. 




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Day 14 - Chester to Wigan

Whilst the CTC routes are picturesque and take in all the best sights, they can be a real pain to navigate so I swapped the CTC route through the Delamete Forest for the A56 which pretty much goes all the way. Today was going to be the first of a two day slog through the industrial heartland of the North West and the day lived up to it pretty well. 

The route was easy to follow and the traffic was ok. Quite a lot was on segregate cycle routes! Yippee! The head wind Warrington and Wigan was shocking. Really hope it dies down for tomorrow. 

Anyway. Not much to say about today other than hard work. Route is as follows:

A56 to Hoole
Helsby
Frodsham
Sutton Weaver
Preston Brook
Warrington
Winwick


Right along A573
Goldborne
Abram
Wigan

What I would say about today is how friendly everyone is. You simply can't cycle or walk along the road without someone saying hello. It's great. I've had to explain the End to End about 6 times today. Good stuff! 



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Day 13 - Oswestry to Wrexham

Might be quite short as not much on interest on the way. 

Route:
Oswestry
Pentre Pant
Weston Rhyn
Chirk Bank
Chirk
Pentre
Newbridge
Ruabon
Erdigg
Wrexham
I stopped in Wrexham to re-fuel and this was the first place that I heard Welsh being spoken. I was hoping to hear a bit more as I wove my way back and forth across the border. Had to be a little careful so people didn't think I was a weirdo hanging around listening to them chatting. From what I could here it is a lovely language with rhythm and musicality. 

Driving in and out of Wrexham was interesting as there seemed to be an awful lot of lads in suped up cars who didn't like cyclists. This is the first place where I have been shouted at for simply cycling along and minding my own business. Got called the c word twice in about half a mile!

Anyway, quite glad to be on my way to:
Gresford
Rossett
Belgrave
Finally Chester

The city looks great and need to come back for a proper look around. The racecourse is pretty much in the city centre which would be very cool to go to on race day. 

Day 12 - Clun to Oswestry

This day is a bit of a detour due to the folk festival being on at Shrewsbury. I got a bit tied up with the traction engines and vintage lorries all trundling along the road to Shrewsbury. Whilst it was great to see all the old vehicles it wasn't great for my lungs as the old PM10 count would have been through the roof . PM10 refers to the particle size of diesel and coal engine smuts that clog up cyclists lungs!!

The route is as follows:
Clun
A488 to Bishops Castle
Lydham
Left at Lydham to Churchstoke
Right at Churchstoke
Chirbury
Kingswood
Fron
Welshpool (re-fueling stop)
I then tried to go north up the A483 which was awful. A narrow road with heavy traffic and the worst drivers so far. I can't say strongly enough how bad the drivers were on the stretch of the A483 north of Welshpool. I have never encountered so many people who were prepared to risk the life of a cyclist just so that they didn't have to slow down. A pox on you all!

OK rant over. As soon as I could I left the A483 at Llanymynech and followed the blissfully quiet back roads to:

Bridge
Morton
Aston

Then I joined the A5 and headed to the Travelodge from there. I got a good deal!

I was asked in the pub last night if I had a sense of progress yet. Probably the thing that I have noticed and enjoyed most is the change in the accent. Whilst only doing 30 or so miles a day there is still a subtle change each day. In and out of Wales today was funny as the accent got very confused. Tonight there is a touch of Scouse. It feels like I'm really getting to the North at last!





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Day 11 - Leominster to Clun

After the long day yesterday it was time for a morning off and with only 23 miles to do I didn't need to leave until after lunch. Barbara, the hostel warden did both the bookings at Leominster and Clun hostels so knew where I was going today. I'm not quite sure how but I ended up with the week's booking sheets for the Clun hostel as the fax had broken down. As the fax at Clun had broken down I also ended up with the spare part for the fax machine in my pannier! It felt like being sworn in as a deputy Marshall in the wild west, acting as a courier for the YHA.

So the light route was as follows:

Leominster
Eyton
Kingdland
Lugg Green
Mortimer's Cross
Wigmore
Leintwardine
Marlow
Hoptonheath
Twitchen
Purslow
Clunton
Clun

Although a light day, my legs felt like lead and there was still a fair bit of climbing. With a strong head wind it took a good few hours to get to Clun. The hostel is in an old mill in a tiny Shropshire village. No mobile signal and no cellular data. Hence the late posting of the blog .

An added bonus was that the local pub was having a 'folk night' and one of the guys playing was staying at the hostel. Obviously had to go :-)

Just found broadband at the pub. There are no other signals here. Very remote!




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Day 10 - St Briavels to Leominster (Pronounced Lemster)

Well I posted a new Personal Best of 47 miles today and it certainly wasn't on the flat. The route I took is referred to as "The Highroad" in the CTC LEJOG guide. Maybe that explains it! So the route was as follows:

St Briavels
Coleford
English Bicknor
Stowfield
Kerne Bridge
Walford
Tudorville
Brampton Abotts
Hole in the Wall
Brockhampton
Fownhope
Modiford
Hereford
Shelwick
Sutton St Nicholas
Bodenham
Leominster

What a day. In the morning it was so hot I had to stop and sit in the shade. Then in the afternoon I had head winds and thunderstorms. There was a detour into Hereford for tea and sandwiches to revive me.

A passing cyclist stopped for a chat and told me the best route from Hereford to Leominster and it was perfect. The heavens opened just as I got to Leominster and was soaked by the time I got there. The wardens here are amazing and washed and tumbled dried all my kit this evening. So not only am I dry but smell much better too.!

It was by far the hardest day both in terms of distance and the number of hills!! Easy morning tomorrow. I need to find somewhere to stay on Saturday night. Bank Holiday weekend.....I'll be lucky!




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Day 9 - Bristol to St Briavels

This might be short as the internet cuts in and out this being a remote area of rural Gloucestershire. Not much in the way of phone signal either. No pics I'm afraid either but I'll see if Facebook will accept them.

So from the B and B it was a dull peddle along A38 to the outskirts of Bristol. What looked easy on the map proved to be a horror of a little hill up to the Clifton Suspension bridge. Well worth the work as the bridge is a fine piece of Brunel's engineering.

I wiggled through the residential areas of Bristol following the A488 I think. Anyway it crossed the M5 at junction 17 and I continued on the back roads toward the village of Aust to pick up the cycle path across the Severn Bridge. This is a great bridge standing out for miles as it is painted white.

I stopped in the middle of the bridge and it was only then that I realised that the bridge moved so much with the wind and traffic. Quite scary :-) Finishing off the bridge I followed the A466 into Chepstow.

In Chepstow I decided to carry out some bike repairs myself as the back brake was very loose. Of course I made it worse so I went to Chepstow's only bike shop with my tail between my legs and asked them to fix it which they did in 45 minutes!!

This is my plug for a great bike shop who really looked after me. Pay them a visit:
http://www.559bikes.com/

After that headed out of Chepstow on the A48 towards Gloucester and then took the left hand turn off the A48 to St Briavels. This proved to be 7 miles of pretty hard climbing. So much for it being easy once over the Severn!

Anyway the Youth Hostel is a pukka castle and I'm in the East tower. Hope its not haunted!!


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Day 8 - Street to Bristol

Phew! What a scorcha! Hottest day of the trip so far and after a little mist it was sun all the way.

Up early and off by 9. I didn't have any supplies so had breakfast at the Wetherspoons in Street. As I was tucking into porridge everyone else was tucking in to Abbot Ale!

Route for the day:
Leaving Street and headed towards Glastonbury but turned off to head towards Meare then Westhay followed by Wedmore. This was a beautiful ride across the Avalon Marshes before popping up to the Isle of Wedmore. Down hill then up again into Cheddar. This is a strange place that time forgot.

Jon Skipper recommended the detour up and through Cheddar Gorge and I thank you from the bottom of my bottom for that! :-) it was gorgeous! Hard on the legs but worth it.



Hats off to the National Trust who appear to have turned what could have been a beautiful geological feature into a tourist hell hole!

From the gorge it was back roads all the way across and up and down the Mendip Hills. A real treat in the August sunshine. After the gorge I took a left fork then left turn to Charterhouse left again onto B3134 to Burrington. Straight across until I hit the A38 which was then a horrible slog up hill mostly with lots of traffic to the B and B. It's on the A38 at Barrow Common.

Obviously stopped to watch a couple of planes take off from Bristol airport! Mmm! Planes :-)

Lots of climbing but a lovely day to be out on the bike. About 33 miles today so must be up to about 240 miles now.

Day 7 - Chard to Street

Bit late posting today. Only just got reminded to do it because a group of End to Enders who were currently doing it were having a loud discussion outside the dorm with a bloke who had done it a while ago and he had done it faster, harder and worst weather! Boring gits!! I was just about to tell them to be quiet in no uncertain terms when someone from another dorm beat me to it!

Just a short one with the route:
Chard,New England, Dowlish Ford, Kingstone, Shepton Beauchamp, East Lambrook, Coat, Stapleton, Long Sutton, Sommerton and Street.

Weather was great and had a lively rude through the back lanes. Mire of the same tomorrow and the mighty Cheddar Gorge.

Day 6 - Exeter to Chard

The first proper rain of the trip and I put off leaving for as long as possible in the hope that the weather would clear up! Some hope. It took about an hour to work my way out of Exeter by a contorted route of cycle paths and pavements but found a signed cycle route to Honiton.

So for the route followers I have just listed the place names as the roads were too small for numbers:

Exeter, Sowton, Clyst Honiton, Fairmile, Fenny Bridges, Weston Honiton, Cotleigh, Stockland, Wambrook and Chard.

I was completely soaked within 10 minutes and whilst the road to Honiton was mercifully flat the head wind and driving rain were a pain. Fortification was required so I squelched round Honiton taking on food and drink when the rain stopped and the sun came out. A quick map check and the route was changed from a pootle along the A303 before cutting across to Chard. Why not take the back roads? The back roads cut across the Black Down Hills. The road ran at right angles to the ridges and valleys of them there hills and the 2 hours pedaling between Honiton and Chard whilst beautiful was some of the hardest pedaling so far. I'd you've got an OS of the area check out the contours!

Once checked into the B and B the routine of stretching, showering with the kit on to wash it, shuffling in to town for good, shuffling back, sleeping and then shuffling back into town for more food took up the rest of another great day.

An unexpected cost on the trip is food. My intake today was:

Breakfast:
Muesli.
Scrambled egg and hash browns.
Toast and marmalade.
Coffee.

On the bike:
Banana.
Cereal bar.
Peanuts and raisins.

Elevensies:
Cheese sandwich.
Hot chocolate.

On the bike:
Banana.
Cereal bar.
Jelly snakes - for moral in the rain!

Lunch (about 3pm after ride):
Tuna sandwich.
Apple juice.

Dinner:
Pint of beer.
Steak, chips and salad.
Spotted dick and custard.

Late snack:
Chocolate peanuts and raisins.

I'm repeating this pretty much every day but despite all that I'm looking pretty lean and starting to develop the slightly pinched features of a Tour cyclist!

Confirmation of arrival in Chard:



A couple of friends that I met on the way:

Day 5 - Gooseford to Exeter

After a great breakfast and having been "adopted" by the other guests at the B and B it was time to saddle up for another day in the Devon hills. Having found out that the B and B owner, Mary, rode both horses and bikes round the back lanes I thought I could probably trust her route suggestion. I was rewarded with a fantastic run through the lanes of the northern fringe of Dartmoor. Route as follows:

Gooseford to Crockenwell, Cheriton Bishop, Tedburn St Mary then a choice. A fork in the road and lanes called Five Mile Hill or Six Mile Hill. In for a penny....Six Mile it is. This took me furthest away from the A30 which was the main aim of the day but had the most punishing hills so far. Mercifully short but brutally steep. This series of hills took me into Exeter.

Devon hedges are something to behold. At points they were towering at least 8 feet above my head and solid vegetation. Year on year of careful laying in and with a solid burm at the centre. They are SOLID! Having just reached the top of a crippling hill I was face to face with a double slurry tanker. The nearest passing place was at the bottom of the hill and I wasn't going back. There was a bike shaped kink in the hedge so, panniers off, bike rammed into hedge. Ollie rammed into hedge the lorry passed with about 2 inches clearance.

Policy updates
None today.

Pain update
All pain appears to be at stable and tolerable levels.

A huge curry and pint have been downed at the Exeter YHA. I need a bit of a route planning bash tonight before bed and a 7.30 call tomorrow to start carb loading!

I'll post a couple of pics on Facebook as the 3G won't cope with them on the blog.

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Day 4 - Launceston to Gooseford

It was raining this morning which is why I didn't get underway until about quarter to ten this morning. I found myself faffing which was all to avoid the inevitable departure in the cold rain. The chap on reception this morning was a keen cyclist so obviously we had to have a good half hour chat about the Tour de France and LEJOG.

Before I forget, there were no policy changes today.

Pain update
Early soreness in legs persisting for the morning but lessening towards end of ride. Knee pain rose unexpectedly but ok after a rest. Elbow continues to be problematic and now deferring to the right shoulder. Additional stretches should take of that.

Route today
Joining A30 3 miles South West of Launceston and continuing to the Liftdondown junction. Old A30 through Liftondown, Lewdown towards Sourton. Rejoin the A30 at Sourton. Take back roads off A30 towards Belstone then take road to Sticklepath and finally Gooseford.

The time spent on the A30 first thing was horrible. Every lorry passing left me covered in oily, gritty water from tip to toe. Soon after Launceston I left Cornwall and hit Devon. Photographic evidence below :-)



A couple of miles after Launceston I could get off and on to the old A30 which was much quieter and had lovely views of the moors. However, it was almost as hilly as yesterday and it was hard going with a head wind most of the way.

I got to mid day and had to rejoin the A30 up on Dartmoor and was in need of food. Egg and bacon buttie at the Sourton services and I was good to go. Just as I was re-mounting a black 3 door VW parked next to me with Ed Dalton inside. Bowling up to the car shouting "Hi Ed great to see you" through the closed window I realised too late it wasn't him! Oh look my shoe lace needs doing up.

Nasty hilly bit on the A30 gave way quickly to a great few miles on back roads in the Dartmoor National Park. Awesome.

As my reward look what I got when I got when I got to the B and B :-)


So I'm sitting in bed writing this having had a lovely roast pork supper here with all the other guests. What a great evening. If you need a B and B down here this is great:

www.gooseford-farm.co.uk

Day 3 - S'Norstle to Launceston

There will be no more Runkeeper updates as it's eating my battery and I need the map app for navigation. So route will be updated each day.

Today's route was from St Austell following the A391 to Bodmin. With some side tracks to keep off the main road a bit. Then a long run along the A30 from Bodmin to just before Launceston.

Have been musing this morning about adding some regular updates and first of these will be pain:

Pain
General leg pain reducing early. Bottom pain rising expected high later. Anticipated knee pain remains low thanks to streeeettttcchhingggg! Un-expected elbow pain rising sharply.

While cycling, "policies" are to be implemented to make the way easier or to deal with certain repetitive situations. Policy updates will be filed as required:

Policy update
1. A 'wave at courteous' lorry drivers policy was implemented and immediately withdrawn after a cheery wave nearly resulted in a swerve and dive into a Cornish hedge.

2. No pedaling down hill policy was introduced this morning which is saving a little wear and tear and energy. With panniers the bike wobbles at speed and when this is combined with the playful nudge in the back from the passing lorry "pressure wave", it's a little bit scary so speeds down hill are kept low.

Every morning I hope for a flat mile or so to get myself warmed up and every morning I'm rudely awakened with a horrible couple of miles uphill. This morning was no exception as climbing out of St Austell was a bugger. The rest of the run into Bodmin was lovely and I thought I was going to be done and dusted early.

After a longish stop in Bodmin for new mits as the old ones fell apart yesterday after 3 days, the drag over Bodmin Moor was horrible! Rain, lots of traffic and quite high winds. Spending the majority of the ride in the gutter I was amazed at the amount of roadkill there was. I could avoid most but if a lorry if overtaking, there is no room for manouvre so have to close mouth and eyes tight before ploughing on through!

More of the same tomorrow I guess :-)






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Day 2 - S'Norstle (St Austell)

I knew this was going to be a long day for me having to set a new Personal Best for daily mileage. Having chatted last night to locals in the pub I got directions for a route away from the main roads to Truro. I was assured that there were only a couple of little hills. I must remember next time to ask them if they are cyclists. If they are not then it's best to ignore the directions!!

Hill after punishing hill came my way and in drizzly rain I quietly cursed my new friends from last night. To put a top hat on it I then took a wrong turn but didn't realise until I'd gone a mile and a half down hill. Bugger! I looked at the map and the only thing to do was turn round and go back. That's 3 extra miles and 2 big hills I can ill afford.

The grim and very busy A394 beckoned as the navigation would be easier. The main road whilst busy is easier and the hills felt slightly less sharp. Progress was much faster on the big road but dull. I was soon flying down the hill into Truro. Wearing a yellow top was inviting a lot of attention from bees today and I hit a huge bumble bee in the chest. (My chest that is.) At 30 miles an hour it hurt! Probably him more than me.

Queuing in Marks and Spencer's for supplies I must have stood out like a sore thumb. Bright yellow top, bright red face and an un Godly smell! I think the latter expedited progress towards the till.

I checked the map on my phone expecting 12 miles to S'Norstle and it was 15 miles! How my heart sank. The last leg wasn't dull but can be summed up in a few words:

Cars, hills, clouds, hills, snot, drinking water, hills, eating, hills, swearing at drivers, giving v sign to drivers, hills, helpful lady at Tourist Information, last hill and Bed and Breakfast. So a very happy boy has supper with a pint of Trelawney (I was hoping for "Proper Job" but it was off. Now very ready for bed.

Day 1 - Lands End to Helston

I would love to post my departure photo but there is no 3G here so it's too slow. I'll post it to Facebook with the link to this blog.

There were a handful of people starting off today. A couple of groups, a couple of lads with support vehicle and me....solo and un-supported. We all got there before 10 do although it wasn't open and we didn't get photos with the finger board, there is a sign saying Lands End 2011. That was enough for me.

All of a sudden, I was off and doing what I have been day dreaming about for so many years. The hills so far have been pretty much OK apart from the one when I came off the main road to avoid traffic which did a spectacular down hill followed by.....you've guessed it a massive up hill.

So my route was following the A30 from Lands End to Penzance where I dropped down onto the sea front and found the coast path cycle route along to Marazion. At Marazion I picked up the A394 which I followed before turning off on to minor roads to wiggle up to Sithney which is a tiny village north of Helston.

I'm staying in the Granary Barn bunk house run by Tom. I've got the place to myself so I'm in a huge dorm off the farm yard with bathroom and toilet ensuite (well they are the other side of the farm yard). It's really great and only £10 so fantastic value.

The rain has just started and the forecast is for 4 days of rain. Oh goody! Looking forward to that!




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First taste of Cornish hills and Cornish miles

I'm having supper over looking a beautiful valley running down to the sea just north of Lands End. I thought the hostel was a lot closer so have an extra 4 miles to do tomorrow but it is just down hill so should be ok.
The day was mostly taken up with the train journey from Winchester to Penzance via Basingstoke. I didn't realise that a train could stop so many times between Basingstoke and Exeter.

It's now time for a short rant about the parlous state of cycle provision on trains. On the whole of a 10 coach South West Tains service there are 3 cycle spaces. The racks are floor mounted ones that clamp the front wheel. Offer no support to the rest of the bike and all the panniers have to come off. First Great Western was better but there were probably still only 6 or 8 spaces on an 8 coach train. End of rant but I will have to give some serious thought to getting back from John O'Groats. After today's experience, I might courier the bike back and fly home.

The train ride from Exeter to Penzance was one of the prettiest I have ever been on and I had always wanted to go on that stretch by Dawlish and Teignmouth where the train is jammed between the back of the beach and the cliff:
I had a few minutes in Penzance to get an egg and bacon bap and wonder at the cross section of people that live there. It appeared to be a strange mix of public school boys and girls on holiday, fishermen and festival goers. Although there aren't any festivals going on!!

LEJOG is nearly here....

It's time to fire up the old blog again having had two weeks of faffing, training, sore knees, packing and re-packing. I'm sitting in bed having hot milk (so Rock and Roll!) typing this first entry of the Lands End to John O'Groats (LEJOG) blog.

For the bike minded amongst you I shall be cycling on a 2008 Gary Fisher Excalibur hardtail. The knobbly 29'er tyres are hanging in the shed and a fresh new pair of Schwalbe Marathon Pluss's have been fitted. I asked for the most bomb proof tyres in the shop. Obviously the front shocks are locked off.

Much head scratching went into the fitting of the pannier rack to overcome the disc brakes and frame geometry that makes this a reluctant tourer. Extension tubes sort out the disc brakes and the stabilising lugs fitted neatly into the seat post quick release assembly with a little hammer shaped persuasion.

The rack is carrying 2 no. 24 litre Altura mid range pannier bags. I looked at Ortleib and then the price tag and carried on down the fitment in the bike shop, stopping short of the "My Little Pony" pannier bag and pink bottle cage set! On the handle bars I have a Topeak "hand bag" for valuables and the days maps.

Kit has been stripped to a minimum:

Not on bike kit:
Long trousers.
T shirt.
Fleece.
1 pair pants.
1 pair socks.
Fleece.
Wind proof souvenir Mont Ventoux cycling jacket!
Flip flops.

Cycling kit:
Trainers.
2 pairs socks.
3 pairs cycling shorts.
3 cycling tops.
Fleece.
Wet weather gear.

With the other odds and sods the whole lot adds up to 10kg :-) I'm not sure if I could get much lighter. Even cut the tooth brush in half and only have 1 reading book.

Right I really do need to sleep! Alarm set for 6 tomorrow morning! Early train to Penzance. Not sure if I'll get much sleep ...... very excited :-) This is what I'll be lugging round for the next month.......