Saturday, 30 April 2011
Day 14!
Day 14 Rosehall to Strathy
When we woke up this morning we couldn't see the hills outside for fog and there wasn't a breath of wind. It is a lovely ride from Rosehall to Lairg on quiet single track roads through forest and over huge quite bleak sections which are still impressive with the mountains in the distance.
We had seen Crask Inn on the map and it turned out to be literally just a tiny Inn with nothing else in sight for miles where we stopped for coffee. We cycled on to Altnaharra for lunch as the people at the Crask Inn had said this might be the last place to get food for a while and stopped at a lovely hotel where we caught the balcony kiss on the TV in the bar.
Until now the weather had been so kind but as we turned the corner out of Altnaharra an Easterly wind hit us head on-the sky stayed blue and the wind was warm but it felt as if stopping pedalling would see us being blown backwards from where we'd come from! Sadly my camera didn't make it through the wind blasting it fell off on one of the hills so the boys are tasked with looking for it as they drive up tomorrow!
The wind stayed blowing particularly hard on uphill stretches it seemed until we reached Strathy on the North coast where we stayed the night at the Strathy Inn-our last stay before we head to John O'Groats tomorrow!
Huge thanks to the propietor at the Achness Hotel in Rosehall and the lady at the Hotel in Altnahurra who both very generously donated to SSNAP.
Last day tomorrow! Hope the winds have died down...
When we woke up this morning we couldn't see the hills outside for fog and there wasn't a breath of wind. It is a lovely ride from Rosehall to Lairg on quiet single track roads through forest and over huge quite bleak sections which are still impressive with the mountains in the distance.
We had seen Crask Inn on the map and it turned out to be literally just a tiny Inn with nothing else in sight for miles where we stopped for coffee. We cycled on to Altnaharra for lunch as the people at the Crask Inn had said this might be the last place to get food for a while and stopped at a lovely hotel where we caught the balcony kiss on the TV in the bar.
Until now the weather had been so kind but as we turned the corner out of Altnaharra an Easterly wind hit us head on-the sky stayed blue and the wind was warm but it felt as if stopping pedalling would see us being blown backwards from where we'd come from! Sadly my camera didn't make it through the wind blasting it fell off on one of the hills so the boys are tasked with looking for it as they drive up tomorrow!
The wind stayed blowing particularly hard on uphill stretches it seemed until we reached Strathy on the North coast where we stayed the night at the Strathy Inn-our last stay before we head to John O'Groats tomorrow!
Huge thanks to the propietor at the Achness Hotel in Rosehall and the lady at the Hotel in Altnahurra who both very generously donated to SSNAP.
Last day tomorrow! Hope the winds have died down...
Friday, 29 April 2011
Day 13!
Day 13 Loch Ness to Rosehall
Loch Ness is huge-we seemed to be cycling alongside it for ages this morning on route to Inverness.
We stopped in Inverness only very briefly then found a farm shop called Stone House just after a bridge on the A9 where they made us an awesome packed lunch which we sat and ate in the sunshine.
We passed Carbisdale Castle YHA on route to our hotel (the YHA was closed) it looked amazing-a proper castle and everything!
As we haven't had much signal it's now Friday and we are now sat outside having a coffee at Crask Inn in the middle of nowhere-we didn't expect this at all in April... Our accommodation for Saturday night has cancelled so we have managed to get a room somewhere else in Callander after a bit of ringing round-thank goodness for mobiles! All sorted now.
The single track roads have started now so we feel like we are getting close!
Loch Ness is huge-we seemed to be cycling alongside it for ages this morning on route to Inverness.
We stopped in Inverness only very briefly then found a farm shop called Stone House just after a bridge on the A9 where they made us an awesome packed lunch which we sat and ate in the sunshine.
We passed Carbisdale Castle YHA on route to our hotel (the YHA was closed) it looked amazing-a proper castle and everything!
As we haven't had much signal it's now Friday and we are now sat outside having a coffee at Crask Inn in the middle of nowhere-we didn't expect this at all in April... Our accommodation for Saturday night has cancelled so we have managed to get a room somewhere else in Callander after a bit of ringing round-thank goodness for mobiles! All sorted now.
The single track roads have started now so we feel like we are getting close!
Day 12!
Day 12 Glencoe to Loch Ness
Today was another brilliant day-we rolled all of 2 miles down hill to Glencoe village before we stopped for snacks and coffee-the sun was just rising over the mountains which was lovely. The couple who took a photo for us at Land's End also turned up a few minutes after us-next time our paths are due to cross is on Saturday at John O'Groats..!
We spent most of the day riding alongside huge Lochs through Fort William past Ben Nevis and on to Loch Ness YHA spag bol, a much needed clothes wash (Be's post cycle clothes didn't make it in to the van with the boys) and bed!
The Highlands continue to be amazing-tomorrow we are off to Rosehall near Lairg via Inverness-then we head North until we hit the sea and turn right!
Pete and Jamie aren't far behind us-they are on route to Glencoe to walk a ridge before heading up to Ullapool-then up to meet us on Saturday! We're very excited about seeing them!
Planned mileage: 60
Actual mileage: 59
Today was another brilliant day-we rolled all of 2 miles down hill to Glencoe village before we stopped for snacks and coffee-the sun was just rising over the mountains which was lovely. The couple who took a photo for us at Land's End also turned up a few minutes after us-next time our paths are due to cross is on Saturday at John O'Groats..!
We spent most of the day riding alongside huge Lochs through Fort William past Ben Nevis and on to Loch Ness YHA spag bol, a much needed clothes wash (Be's post cycle clothes didn't make it in to the van with the boys) and bed!
The Highlands continue to be amazing-tomorrow we are off to Rosehall near Lairg via Inverness-then we head North until we hit the sea and turn right!
Pete and Jamie aren't far behind us-they are on route to Glencoe to walk a ridge before heading up to Ullapool-then up to meet us on Saturday! We're very excited about seeing them!
Planned mileage: 60
Actual mileage: 59
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Day 11!
Day 11 Callander to Glencoe
We had a brilliant day-the views have been amazing and the sun has been out all day. It's still a bit chilly on the descents but we are so lucky that the wind has dropped-Scotland is fantastic!
We rode through the Trossachs National Park-the views are huge and the ride down to Glencoe was spectacular. We stopped and had something to eat at the Kings House Inn just at the foot of Buachaille Etive Mor and saw a family of deer wander over and eat crisps offered by the people sat outside.
This is the best days riding we've had-I'm looking forward to the next few days in the highlands. Beth's cough is ever present-we've dosed her up with anything we can get our hands on-we should have been sponsored by Beechams. She doesn't feel unwell but doesn't sound too hot in the mornings.
Tomorrow we're off to Loch Ness!
We had a brilliant day-the views have been amazing and the sun has been out all day. It's still a bit chilly on the descents but we are so lucky that the wind has dropped-Scotland is fantastic!
We rode through the Trossachs National Park-the views are huge and the ride down to Glencoe was spectacular. We stopped and had something to eat at the Kings House Inn just at the foot of Buachaille Etive Mor and saw a family of deer wander over and eat crisps offered by the people sat outside.
This is the best days riding we've had-I'm looking forward to the next few days in the highlands. Beth's cough is ever present-we've dosed her up with anything we can get our hands on-we should have been sponsored by Beechams. She doesn't feel unwell but doesn't sound too hot in the mornings.
Tomorrow we're off to Loch Ness!
Monday, 25 April 2011
Day 10!
Day 10 New Lanark to Callander
Today we deviated from the plan! Rather than staying at the SYHA in Stirling we cycled another 16 miles to Callander. This means tomorrow we will be cycling 65 miles rather than 80 which seemed to make more sense than having a mega short day today.
The hill out of New Lanark wasn't so bad after all! We set off a little later than normal after a cup of tea and bowl of porridge. After Lanark we headed to Airdrie and on to Stirling for lunch.
Past Stirling the skyline started to look like the part of Scotland we were looking forwards to with the mountains in the distance. We are headed for Glencoe tomorrow so will keep the camera at the ready.
Our change of accommodation turned out to be a brilliant move! The Annfield B&B is fantastic! We are both sat here in robes sipping sherry... Good times...
Planned mileage: 43
Actual mileage: 57
Today we deviated from the plan! Rather than staying at the SYHA in Stirling we cycled another 16 miles to Callander. This means tomorrow we will be cycling 65 miles rather than 80 which seemed to make more sense than having a mega short day today.
The hill out of New Lanark wasn't so bad after all! We set off a little later than normal after a cup of tea and bowl of porridge. After Lanark we headed to Airdrie and on to Stirling for lunch.
Past Stirling the skyline started to look like the part of Scotland we were looking forwards to with the mountains in the distance. We are headed for Glencoe tomorrow so will keep the camera at the ready.
Our change of accommodation turned out to be a brilliant move! The Annfield B&B is fantastic! We are both sat here in robes sipping sherry... Good times...
Planned mileage: 43
Actual mileage: 57
Day 9!
Day 9 Carlisle to New Lanark
We're in Scotland! The 'Welcome to Scotland' sign suddenly appeared out of the mist this morning and all of a sudden we were over the border and outside the Gretna Green marriage house things-bizarre!
We spent the day making our way along a cycle path which ran along side a motorway which was lovely and hill free but was an odd lumpy affair which rattled us till our teeth shook.
We dined out at service stations sticking to our traditional mid-morning Costa stop and kept going to Lanark about a mile away from the YHA. When staying at hostels we have been buying food at a supermarket on route and cooking it ourselves this has meant piles of pasta or a jacket potato but tonight we found a paella pack at Morrisons which was lush we dined in style.
New Lanark is as the bottom of a long steep hill so we rolled down it complaining all the way that we would have to ride back up it in the morning but it was grand to have an easy end to the day.
We are meant to be doing 43 miles tomorrow then about 80 the next day but we are hatching a plan to do a few more miles tomorrow to reduce the 80 miler slightly...
It feels good to finally be in Scotland! It has been suprisingly flat so far (hope that continues...) and is a little chillier now-we have our waterproofs on just to keep the wind out.
Onwards and upwards tomorrow!
Planned mileage: 78
Actual mileage: 76
We're in Scotland! The 'Welcome to Scotland' sign suddenly appeared out of the mist this morning and all of a sudden we were over the border and outside the Gretna Green marriage house things-bizarre!
We spent the day making our way along a cycle path which ran along side a motorway which was lovely and hill free but was an odd lumpy affair which rattled us till our teeth shook.
We dined out at service stations sticking to our traditional mid-morning Costa stop and kept going to Lanark about a mile away from the YHA. When staying at hostels we have been buying food at a supermarket on route and cooking it ourselves this has meant piles of pasta or a jacket potato but tonight we found a paella pack at Morrisons which was lush we dined in style.
New Lanark is as the bottom of a long steep hill so we rolled down it complaining all the way that we would have to ride back up it in the morning but it was grand to have an easy end to the day.
We are meant to be doing 43 miles tomorrow then about 80 the next day but we are hatching a plan to do a few more miles tomorrow to reduce the 80 miler slightly...
It feels good to finally be in Scotland! It has been suprisingly flat so far (hope that continues...) and is a little chillier now-we have our waterproofs on just to keep the wind out.
Onwards and upwards tomorrow!
Planned mileage: 78
Actual mileage: 76
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Day 8!
Day 8 Slaidburn to Carlisle
The notes on our directions said this would be a long hard day and it was quite tough right from the very start with two huge climbs up from Slaidburn through the amazing Yorkshire Dales. For the rest of the day we followed A and B roads up along the M6 all the way to Carlisle.
We stopped for a break at a tea shop in Kirkby Lonsdale (which is lovely) and lunch at Teaby a tiny place just off the M6 which did lovely food.
After a bit of a misty start to the day the wether had been great again today then for the first time since the start of the trip the sun stopped shining and it rained-lots. For about 25 miles in fact until we spied our hotel just outside Carlisle-only sadly it wasn't our hotel-ours was the other side of town. It wasn't until we were at the third Premier Inn reception desk that we found the one we had a booking for... Third time lucky...
Poor Beth has been heading towards a horrible cough for a few days and was in quite bad shape this morning but has been heroic and hasn't complained once-she's destined for a bath and an early night tonight to sort her out.
We have another long day tomorrow but then we have a 43 miler the next day which will be a bit more relaxed. Scotland tomorrow!
Planned mileage: 80
Actual mileage: 76
The notes on our directions said this would be a long hard day and it was quite tough right from the very start with two huge climbs up from Slaidburn through the amazing Yorkshire Dales. For the rest of the day we followed A and B roads up along the M6 all the way to Carlisle.
We stopped for a break at a tea shop in Kirkby Lonsdale (which is lovely) and lunch at Teaby a tiny place just off the M6 which did lovely food.
After a bit of a misty start to the day the wether had been great again today then for the first time since the start of the trip the sun stopped shining and it rained-lots. For about 25 miles in fact until we spied our hotel just outside Carlisle-only sadly it wasn't our hotel-ours was the other side of town. It wasn't until we were at the third Premier Inn reception desk that we found the one we had a booking for... Third time lucky...
Poor Beth has been heading towards a horrible cough for a few days and was in quite bad shape this morning but has been heroic and hasn't complained once-she's destined for a bath and an early night tonight to sort her out.
We have another long day tomorrow but then we have a 43 miler the next day which will be a bit more relaxed. Scotland tomorrow!
Planned mileage: 80
Actual mileage: 76
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Day 7!
Day 7 Chester to Slaidburn
For some reason it felt so much hotter today? I'm not sure if it was on the thermometer or if we just spent more time in towns rather than on lanes and up high.
We donned our Primark vests and wiggled up from Chester through Warrington, Wigan (where we spent a good half hour at a round-about trying to figure out where to go!) on to Preston and then Clitheroe where we stopped at Sainsburys just to buy some food for tea before nipping the 8 miles to the YHA... Which didn't look to bad on the map-only because the map didn't show contour lines. Slaidburn YHA is in Bowland Wood in the Yorkshire Dales and the last 6 miles of our 75 miles day was 4 miles of up and 2 miles of down!
The views at the top were the most impressive so far but it was a tiring day all in all. In bed and fast asleep by 8.30!! But we're half way!
Planned mileage: 80
Actual mileage: 75
For some reason it felt so much hotter today? I'm not sure if it was on the thermometer or if we just spent more time in towns rather than on lanes and up high.
We donned our Primark vests and wiggled up from Chester through Warrington, Wigan (where we spent a good half hour at a round-about trying to figure out where to go!) on to Preston and then Clitheroe where we stopped at Sainsburys just to buy some food for tea before nipping the 8 miles to the YHA... Which didn't look to bad on the map-only because the map didn't show contour lines. Slaidburn YHA is in Bowland Wood in the Yorkshire Dales and the last 6 miles of our 75 miles day was 4 miles of up and 2 miles of down!
The views at the top were the most impressive so far but it was a tiring day all in all. In bed and fast asleep by 8.30!! But we're half way!
Planned mileage: 80
Actual mileage: 75
Friday, 22 April 2011
Day 6!
Day 6 Clun to Chester
BBC North West is on the TV in Chester! North!
We had a bit of a slow morning in the end-after planning to only use A or B roads from now on as the minor roads have proved to be so difficult navigation wise-a lady at the YHA convinced us to go off on little roads to Bridges because it was 'pretty' which seems to be some sort of code for 'hilly with frequent tractors'. It was very pretty as was the rest of the countryside today and got lovely and flat in patches.
We stopped for a coffee in Shrewsbury where we met a fellow cyclist and young girl who donated to SSNAP-thank you both very much and good luck with your cycling mission! Then got on some lovely B roads past Ellesmere Lake and on to Chester.
First stop in Chester was Primark for some strappy tops (likely to curse the hot weather!) after being pushed up a hill out of a subway by a helpful busker.
The route tomorrow up to Slaidburn looks a bit complicated so we're off to Bella Italia for some tea and a bit of a plan.
Planned mileage: 60
Actual mileage: 72
BBC North West is on the TV in Chester! North!
We had a bit of a slow morning in the end-after planning to only use A or B roads from now on as the minor roads have proved to be so difficult navigation wise-a lady at the YHA convinced us to go off on little roads to Bridges because it was 'pretty' which seems to be some sort of code for 'hilly with frequent tractors'. It was very pretty as was the rest of the countryside today and got lovely and flat in patches.
We stopped for a coffee in Shrewsbury where we met a fellow cyclist and young girl who donated to SSNAP-thank you both very much and good luck with your cycling mission! Then got on some lovely B roads past Ellesmere Lake and on to Chester.
First stop in Chester was Primark for some strappy tops (likely to curse the hot weather!) after being pushed up a hill out of a subway by a helpful busker.
The route tomorrow up to Slaidburn looks a bit complicated so we're off to Bella Italia for some tea and a bit of a plan.
Planned mileage: 60
Actual mileage: 72
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Day 5!
Day 5 Welsh Bicknor to Clun Mill YHA
We had a more relaxed day today-the planned mileage was less than most other days-our shortest day yet. We had a long stop at Costa in Ross-on-Wye which resulted in a toilet stop at a doctors surgery in a village not far away-we held our breath on the way through the waiting room to prevent any contamination...
It felt really hot today-we are drinking lots of water and stopped to refill water bottles at Luctonians Rugby Club. Despite the heat we've been right off our ice cream? Too many Jelly Babies probably we're a bit sugared out... Tomorrow we're going to swerve the sweets and take bananas and stuff-it's most unlike us to be off our food!
The Shropshire countryside is really beautiful and Clun Mill YHA is another awesome hostel-it's tiny and everybody here is a cyclist.
Tomorrow we are off to Chester! After this we are a bit hazy so need to look more at our route as people keep asking us for details and we have to confess we aren't really sure.
Planned mileage: 50
Actual mileage: 65
We had a more relaxed day today-the planned mileage was less than most other days-our shortest day yet. We had a long stop at Costa in Ross-on-Wye which resulted in a toilet stop at a doctors surgery in a village not far away-we held our breath on the way through the waiting room to prevent any contamination...
It felt really hot today-we are drinking lots of water and stopped to refill water bottles at Luctonians Rugby Club. Despite the heat we've been right off our ice cream? Too many Jelly Babies probably we're a bit sugared out... Tomorrow we're going to swerve the sweets and take bananas and stuff-it's most unlike us to be off our food!
The Shropshire countryside is really beautiful and Clun Mill YHA is another awesome hostel-it's tiny and everybody here is a cyclist.
Tomorrow we are off to Chester! After this we are a bit hazy so need to look more at our route as people keep asking us for details and we have to confess we aren't really sure.
Planned mileage: 50
Actual mileage: 65
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Day 4!
Day 4 Glastonbury to Welsh Bicknor (near Ross-on-Wye)
We are further North than Oxford! Was another fantastic hot day today and we suddenly felt like we were making some progress.
We left Glastonbury at about 8:30-after being told by a slightly manic looking woman that we couldn't be cycling to John O'Groats we'd die.
Navigation round Bristol was a bit sketchy! We ended up on some big fast roads and missed the suspension bridge out altogether by accident but Be took us on a magical mystery tour up steps, over footbridges and up a massive hill and we made it out of the big smoke to head towards the Severn Bridge.
We met a guy in training for LEJOG on the bridge who had bumped in to several more cyclists on the same route as us earlier in the day so for the first time we were crossing paths with people doing different routes.
We had our first bike malfunction on a hill out of Bristol-my chain fell off and my abrupt halt very nearly caused Be to fall off but no great drama just a few tell tale streaks of oil on my face after the repair.
Welsh Bicknor YHA is really lovely-it's right on the Wye in a fab spot. Not ideal for road bikes as you have to get up some steps on to an old railway bridge then ramble along the river to get there but worth it!
We arrived at about 5:00, had a beer by the river and ate a super human amount of pasta. The bike shed was rammed with bikes here-there was another group of 8 also headed for John O'Groats and loads of other cyclists so it was good to compare routes and stuff.
Tomorrow we head up via Hereford to Clun which is about level with Birmingham-hurrah!
Planned mileage: 75
Actual mileage: 67
We are further North than Oxford! Was another fantastic hot day today and we suddenly felt like we were making some progress.
We left Glastonbury at about 8:30-after being told by a slightly manic looking woman that we couldn't be cycling to John O'Groats we'd die.
Navigation round Bristol was a bit sketchy! We ended up on some big fast roads and missed the suspension bridge out altogether by accident but Be took us on a magical mystery tour up steps, over footbridges and up a massive hill and we made it out of the big smoke to head towards the Severn Bridge.
We met a guy in training for LEJOG on the bridge who had bumped in to several more cyclists on the same route as us earlier in the day so for the first time we were crossing paths with people doing different routes.
We had our first bike malfunction on a hill out of Bristol-my chain fell off and my abrupt halt very nearly caused Be to fall off but no great drama just a few tell tale streaks of oil on my face after the repair.
Welsh Bicknor YHA is really lovely-it's right on the Wye in a fab spot. Not ideal for road bikes as you have to get up some steps on to an old railway bridge then ramble along the river to get there but worth it!
We arrived at about 5:00, had a beer by the river and ate a super human amount of pasta. The bike shed was rammed with bikes here-there was another group of 8 also headed for John O'Groats and loads of other cyclists so it was good to compare routes and stuff.
Tomorrow we head up via Hereford to Clun which is about level with Birmingham-hurrah!
Planned mileage: 75
Actual mileage: 67
Monday, 18 April 2011
Day 3!
Day 3 Okehampton to Glastonbury
We had set our alarm for 6:30 this morning so we could get cracking early given that today was going to be a long one and it looked like it was going to be hot again!
The man on reception at Okehampton Travelodge hadn't flinched when we asked if we could take our bikes to our room so they were parked up there over night so we just packed up and rolled on out after a breakfast of a banana, a 9 bar and a cup of tea.
We made it past the hills! It seemed as we rolled past the 'Welcome to Somerset' sign everything flattened out a little but it had been big, long hills today to about mile 60.
We stopped to put air in our tyres at a bike shop called 'Bike Shed' just outside Crediton where the people were fanastic letting us fill water bottles and use the loo! We also met a guy there who had completed LEJOG recently which was grand and passed some cyclists with huge panniers heading South who were much closer to their destination than us but we're getting there!
We stopped for lunch in Taunton and arrived in Glastonbury at about 4:00-about 4 hours earlier than we had feared!
Mum and Denis provided a BBQ for dinner at their campsite tonight and dropped us back to the hotel where we said goodbye to them for the rest of the trip. Thanks Mum!
Tomorrow we head up to Welsh Bicknor via the Severn Bridge and Bristol which sounds a bit hilly again in patches but hopefully not so consistently!
Planned mileage: 89
Actual mileage: 76 (even better!)
We had set our alarm for 6:30 this morning so we could get cracking early given that today was going to be a long one and it looked like it was going to be hot again!
The man on reception at Okehampton Travelodge hadn't flinched when we asked if we could take our bikes to our room so they were parked up there over night so we just packed up and rolled on out after a breakfast of a banana, a 9 bar and a cup of tea.
We made it past the hills! It seemed as we rolled past the 'Welcome to Somerset' sign everything flattened out a little but it had been big, long hills today to about mile 60.
We stopped to put air in our tyres at a bike shop called 'Bike Shed' just outside Crediton where the people were fanastic letting us fill water bottles and use the loo! We also met a guy there who had completed LEJOG recently which was grand and passed some cyclists with huge panniers heading South who were much closer to their destination than us but we're getting there!
We stopped for lunch in Taunton and arrived in Glastonbury at about 4:00-about 4 hours earlier than we had feared!
Mum and Denis provided a BBQ for dinner at their campsite tonight and dropped us back to the hotel where we said goodbye to them for the rest of the trip. Thanks Mum!
Tomorrow we head up to Welsh Bicknor via the Severn Bridge and Bristol which sounds a bit hilly again in patches but hopefully not so consistently!
Planned mileage: 89
Actual mileage: 76 (even better!)
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Day 2!
Day 2 Treyarnon Bay to Okehampton
We had a really good day today!
First stop was Padstow where we stopped and had coffee then got on the ferry across to Rock where we had to push the bikes across the beach to get to the road! Huge thanks to the handsome generous man who handed us £20 for Shan's charity SSNAP! It was much appreciated!
From Rock we aimed for Launceston where we stopped for lunch then on to Okehampton.There were still plenty of hills but they were no where near as steep and with no hairpin turns half way up! We gave the minor roads a miss and stuck to more A and B roads which made it much easier to navigate than then tiny signless country lanes but still had beautiful views.
We arrived in Okehampton at 3:30 this afternoon! Felt like part-timers! We were rescued from the little Chef by our Mum and Denis who took us for a lovely meal which has fuelled us up for the 87 miler to Glastonbury tomorrow.
Planned mileage: 65
Actual mileage: 65 (better!)
We had a really good day today!
First stop was Padstow where we stopped and had coffee then got on the ferry across to Rock where we had to push the bikes across the beach to get to the road! Huge thanks to the handsome generous man who handed us £20 for Shan's charity SSNAP! It was much appreciated!
From Rock we aimed for Launceston where we stopped for lunch then on to Okehampton.There were still plenty of hills but they were no where near as steep and with no hairpin turns half way up! We gave the minor roads a miss and stuck to more A and B roads which made it much easier to navigate than then tiny signless country lanes but still had beautiful views.
We arrived in Okehampton at 3:30 this afternoon! Felt like part-timers! We were rescued from the little Chef by our Mum and Denis who took us for a lovely meal which has fuelled us up for the 87 miler to Glastonbury tomorrow.
Planned mileage: 65
Actual mileage: 65 (better!)
Day 1!
Day 1 Land's End to Treyarnon Bay
We left Land's End YHA at 7:30 this morning after a beautiful sunset and a really good meal last night and rolled in at Treyarnon Bay YHA at 7:30 this evening... Both in one piece!
Land's End YHA is about a 6 or 7 mile ride from Land's End proper with sign etc. but we had a stop on route as Be's gears had stopped working altogether. Thankfully this was only due to her huge handle bar bag which was promptly removed and strapped on the back of her bike with the other panniers.
Land's End itself took us all of 5 minutes-some other LEJOGers took our photo and we were off! The route took us on B roads and minor roads which took us very close to our Great Uncle Ray's house where we stopped for a much appreciated Kit-Kat and coffee which was grand. Closely followed by a pannini in Cambourne.
It was certainly the hills that we will remember from today-they were impressive and frequent! There was also a distinct lack of signposts which meant stopping to navigate often on the minor roads and that you were never really sure if the huge hill you were climbing was taking you where you needed to go... We also cycled a large stretch of off-road cycle track by accident. Could have happened to anybody!
Be has been amazing-she shot up hills while after mile 60 I could be found crawling up behind her with my head close to my handlebars until she saved me with a handful of Jelly Babies.
We knew today was going to be hard but Treyarnon was beautiful when we arrived and we have eaten our own body weight in pasta near enough so we are all fueled up and ready to head to Okehampton tomorrow.
I am very proud to say that despite big hills and a lack of signs we are still mates and didn't fall out even once and we still feel like we're on a mini adventure. We hear tomorrow might be another hilly one but it should flatten out a little after that!
Planned mileage: 65
Actual mileage: 83(!)
We left Land's End YHA at 7:30 this morning after a beautiful sunset and a really good meal last night and rolled in at Treyarnon Bay YHA at 7:30 this evening... Both in one piece!
Land's End YHA is about a 6 or 7 mile ride from Land's End proper with sign etc. but we had a stop on route as Be's gears had stopped working altogether. Thankfully this was only due to her huge handle bar bag which was promptly removed and strapped on the back of her bike with the other panniers.
Land's End itself took us all of 5 minutes-some other LEJOGers took our photo and we were off! The route took us on B roads and minor roads which took us very close to our Great Uncle Ray's house where we stopped for a much appreciated Kit-Kat and coffee which was grand. Closely followed by a pannini in Cambourne.
It was certainly the hills that we will remember from today-they were impressive and frequent! There was also a distinct lack of signposts which meant stopping to navigate often on the minor roads and that you were never really sure if the huge hill you were climbing was taking you where you needed to go... We also cycled a large stretch of off-road cycle track by accident. Could have happened to anybody!
Be has been amazing-she shot up hills while after mile 60 I could be found crawling up behind her with my head close to my handlebars until she saved me with a handful of Jelly Babies.
We knew today was going to be hard but Treyarnon was beautiful when we arrived and we have eaten our own body weight in pasta near enough so we are all fueled up and ready to head to Okehampton tomorrow.
I am very proud to say that despite big hills and a lack of signs we are still mates and didn't fall out even once and we still feel like we're on a mini adventure. We hear tomorrow might be another hilly one but it should flatten out a little after that!
Planned mileage: 65
Actual mileage: 83(!)
Friday, 15 April 2011
First stop Penzance! Sort of... With some unplanned stops at Bristol and Exeter...
Oh and Plymouth... We got on the wrong train at Exeter... But we made it to Penzance! We missed the easy direct train from Swindon this morning at about 8:30 so had a magical mystery tour with lots of changes which actually worked out fine!
Now we're sat in a cafe in Penzance and heard that the train we should have been on got stopped in Taunton and changed to a coach so were saved huge trauma!
Today we have learnt that catching trains should always take priority over trips to Costa, bikes are well hard to keep upright with panniers on when holding cups of coffee and some of the people who blow whistles on platforms deserve medals for helping fools like us.
Now we're sat in a cafe in Penzance and heard that the train we should have been on got stopped in Taunton and changed to a coach so were saved huge trauma!
Today we have learnt that catching trains should always take priority over trips to Costa, bikes are well hard to keep upright with panniers on when holding cups of coffee and some of the people who blow whistles on platforms deserve medals for helping fools like us.
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