Ok, it’s Monday evening. Day 5 of 14, and here’s two things I know; I hate UHT milk, and O2 are rubbish. Of all us boys have had such crap coverage. Once again I’m stuck and unable to contact anyone. Rubbish. Ah well. Also why do they have UHT milk in b&b’s? It’s horrid! Nice lovely b&b here in Clun has a little flask with real milk in it. I think my overriding memory of the taste of this trip will be UHT milk tea. Yeugh!
Anyway, here I am with a few mins and typing away on my iPhone. I’ll send to Susie to post as soon as o2 comes into range.
Sooo. Where were we? Ah yes, day one aaaaargh. Day two ten thousand aaaarghs. But at least it didn’t pour. Actually day one was funny really. Driving rain so we couldn’t use iPhones and the maps all dogged into a great mess as it grew darker and we got more lost facing huge steep hills at every turn.
Day 2 wasn’t funny. It was just relentlessly punishing. Severe steep hills and dips non stop for 13 hours.
P.S. By the way, did I say that I have never been to a bed and breakfast before? The boys seemed to think that was a bit odd but I didn’t really know what one was or how it works or anything. Anyway, it turns out they’re nothing to be worried about, some are quite nice really.
Back to day 2; this was a dark day. But anyway, we did it . We arrived in Exeter some time after 9. More than a little tired. The high point of the day for me was topping 70 kph on my bike (I think that’s something like 43 miles an hour?). Now this isn’t something I would recommend and I know lots of people go faster, but I did it on the whizz down from Dartmoor.Dartmoor is a horrible climb up. On top it’s windswept and barren, but I quite liked it. The hills down off it were superb, if a little winding with loose gravel etc. So my chart topping speed was a bit scary. But I did it anyway, I don’t think I’ll be trying the land speed record again though.
The problem with the moor was that it was 3.45 when we first saw it. A huge mass rising above us. And in true CTC style, our route, instead of starting a steady climb, plunged us down onto a ravine before a near vertical climb. We needed to get up and over on quick time because we really needed to make the b&b in time. Luckily the rust bike (!) nearby fed and watered us that evening.
Day 3 started off with my big puncture. We stopped just outside Exeter to look at the map and I hit a patch of broken glass. Pop went the tube and tyre, both had to be thrown away and now I have no replacements. Must get to a bike shop. But day 3 was a good day. A short day. The day we took on the somerset flats. We like day 3 and wish all days were like this.
Day 4, on the other hand was a bit longer. Positives were that we had two guests on the ride; Jeremy Bowen and David Burgin. And we met Simon the photographer, and crossed the Clifton bridge and the Severn bridge. Negatives were that we nearly killed Jeremy and that it was a long old ride. David and Jeremy were troopers, and big thanks to them.
Day 5, hmmm. Ah yes. All of johns mates. Mike, Alison, Paul, Serge, Steve. And a very jolly bunch we were too.

Here’s a little reminder about the online auction for two 18ct gold Bicycle necklaces by Alex. Go take a look!