Hi All,
I finally got round to typing up my journal. I’m hoping John and Lloyd will add notes or do their own journals. Anyway, I’m very late on doing my thank-you’s so I’m posting this as it is, and big thanks to everyone for all their support, and big thanks also to John and Lloyd for putting up with me, and big thanks to Denise for letting me bunk off for two weeks. (‘The Movie’ to be posted very soon!)
Here’s draft number 1;
EyeCycle
Land’s End to John O’groats 1st to 14th July 2010
Day 0, 30th July
Nice cycle from Champion Grove to Paddington, full of enthusiasm and excitement but I had some slight nerves as well. But it was fun. We chatted to strangers at the station and felt slightly exceptional with our adventure ahead of us.
The train journey was slightly long and slow. The bikes all strapped up in their own carriage, other cyclists joined us along the way, we chatted to bunch of lads on their way to do LeJog as well! (we were to meet them again a few times over the next two weeks)
Arrived Penzance late afternoon and were met by Jill and Di, wearing their Fight for sight T shirts. Jill has a house here. We drove to our hotel, dropped the bikes and off to Jill’s for a great supper of pasta. I had a horrible headache so off to bed early. I was sharing with Lloyd so not much sleep (!)
Day 1 Land’s End to Fowey.
Left Land’s End in the grey. John Salmon, a retired opthalmologist joined Jill and Di to see us off, very nice of them too. Windy and grey but no rain to start off. Gentle hills for the first 2 hours, then the rain set in. We got horribly lost around ?????, the problem was that in the rain our iphones didn’t work (wet hands wet phones = no sat nav) and John’s maps which he stored in his handlebar bag got soggy and started to mulch. We ended up asking this lovely couple who turned out to be blacksmiths. They were trying to move a 5 ton press, rolling it on scaff planks with a winch. I was in 7th heaven, but we had to press on, so in the pouring rain and soaked to the skin we set off again to retrace our steps and get on the right track. Arrived later at the Royal Oak in ??? for a lunch in the dry. We tried our best to dry out some kit in the blower in the loos, ate well and set out again after an hour or so. Completely soaked again in 5 mins. It got really tough from then on. Steep hills, lashing rain and us all exhausted. We were either hard on the brakes or struggling in lowest gear. Nothing in between.
Lovely B+B in Fowey. Jill and Olly, really lovely people. They dried our kit, we showered and Olly drove us to the pub for grub and beer.
This was my first ever stay in a B+B!
Lessons learnt; iphones don’t work in the rain. Paper maps just go soggy. Don’t wear waterproof shorts over normal shorts. My Raffa jacket isn’t waterproof.
131k 81.4 miles
Day 2. Fowey to Exeter
Set out 9AM with a nice ferry crossing then HILLS! And plenty of them. Very severe going, got to Loo, 6 miles in 2 hours!. Looe is a nice little place with horrid traffic. There was a Bristol cutter in the river, we bought Cornish pasties. We decided things were getting too tough and the CTC route was a bit punishing, but we stuck with it. I wrote in my diary, ‘absolutely ridiculously tough. Punishing dark tiny lanes, wet and stony, severely steep.’ Then more hills. Then we did a little detour from the CTC map which was very welcome. Into Plymouth and sat atop a hill for a little break before crossing the bridge (spectacular) and on a bit of A road. Off the CTC route for a while, some bigger roads, very nice for a while. Exhausted, hungry and tired, we approached Dartmoor. 3.45 PM. We saw the huge climb ahead but the route took us plunging down into a deep ravine, and left us climbing up even steeper hills onto the moors. Lots of young ponies on the moor, but very cold and windswept. Stopping every 2 hours we crossed the moor and rejoined the iphone route. Coming down off the moor I did over 70kph! Top speed for me, but I must admit it was a bit hairy! I think the panniers didn’t help, lumps in the road made my rear end swing about like mad, and the corner at the bottom was really difficult. I pretty much lost all control and hope for the best. Good fun though.
We realised we were getting late and had to keep. the pace up
We left at 9, and got in at 9. Quite a long day. John was really tired when we got in. We were all wet.
Nice B+B, Raffles in Exeter, supper at The Rusty Bike.
133k 83 miles
Day3. Exeter to Glastonbury
We stopped to get drinks and snacks then I had a big puncture outside Exeter. Someone had left a broken bottle in the gutter and I pushed my bike over it. No great problems, we changed the tyre and the tube and were off without too much delay. This was the one and only problem we had the whole trip!
Today was nice and easy and we needed it. We went off the CTC route and I iphoned it. A lovely route 52(ish) miles. The B3181 was super. We stopped at a lovely little bike shop in Collumpton to look for a replacement tyre. Lovely little town it was too. Then on the B3340, not at all busy, flat and broad. A really super ride. Uffculme very nice, Nicolashayne (!) beautiful. Then we took the A38 which was busyish but got us to Taunton in no time. Passed an amazing burrow and the fabulous Somerset flats to Glastonbury. It was nice to get in at 4 rather than 9. Sore wrists, knees and legs so took a long bath. John had a snooze, David Burgin and Jeremy Bowen texted. It was really nice to lounge around for a while.
Jeremy arrived at around 8 and we all walked into town for a pint or two and plenty of pasta. Back at the B+B we woke up the Landlady and were nicely hushed.
85k 53 miles
Day 4. Glastonbury to Ross on Wye
With Jeremy! And we met Simon and David en route. A very nice day indeed. After a nice breakfast off we went. Over the Clifton suspension bridge and followed the lovely bra women of bath doing a charity walk. We met Simon in Clifton and on to meet David outside a pub. We had cake and crisps and off we headed for the Severn bridge. Very dramatic in a high wind, dark turbulent water and a slight drizzle. It was a fantastic thing to do. We said goodbye to David on the Welsh side and pressed on to pass Tintern Abbey until Jeremy had a nasty fall and opened the skin of his knee. We patched him up and he pressed on without a grumble. He came off again shortly after but was equally stoical. We were all very impressed. The Wye valley was beautiful with a long ride down to Ross on Wye for a few beers by the river where all John’s mates were waiting for us. All very nice and a big supper in the dining room en mass. Jennifer picked up Jeremy and then off to sleep.
120k 75 miles? (now at 471k total)
Day 5. Ross on Wye to Clun
Kippers for breakfast! I had a great sleep last night in my little chalet out the back. Anyway, kippers, bikes and off, with Mike, Paul, Serge and Steve. Alison drove the route so we were pannierless! We set a slowish pace because Steve had been a bit unwell so we didn’t want him overdoing things. He did brilliantly but ducked out before Clun just to be on the safe side.
It was a lovely short day today, nice and rolly. And a lovely bunch of guys to chat to. Lunch at Leominster by the old Cathedral picnic area. Pasties and fruit all laid on by Alison. Made me think what a joy this ride would be if we had Alison every day! It was a really super day, rather blustery towards the end as we turned into the wind for the last few miles. But beer, Steve and Alison were waiting for us when we arrived. A quick pint (or two and away to check into the B+B. A really super place run by a lovely chap called Reg. Beautiful gardens. We ate in the pub which Reg had booked for us, Lloyd ate with local friends. Very nice all round. I think this is the day we got the measure of things.
I shared with Lloyd so no sleep.
101k 63 miles (now at 572k)
Day 6. Clun to Chester.
Actually this was a nice day too! Reg did us proud with a huge English breakfast and again we were away by 9. We arrived at the B+B outside Chester around 6. Cotton Farm, a lovely big working farm house. The owner drove and collected us from the local pub. We went off CTC map a bit to make lighter work of things, Shrewsbury. Nice rolling countryside. Very enjoyable route, and I met those boys we chatted to on the train to Cormwall. John was very quiet today, pining for his mates I’ll bet.
I shared with John so no sleep.
693k 121k 75 miles
Day 7. Chester to Slaidburn.
Here’s all I wrote in my journal, ‘We are at the Parkers Arms. Newton in Bowland, Lancs. Very boring and horrid most of the way. Leigh horrid. Very start was nice, middle bit horrid, Later v. nice. Clithero nice. The guy in the shop gave us drinks and snacks for free! AJ at the Parkers Arms SUPER’.
As I remember it the bulk of the ride was through built up dreary suburbs. But we did have a great run down to the Parkers Arms, a huge long hill down for several miles and a super welcome.
826k 133k 83 miles
Day 8. Newton to Carlisle.
Great breakfast and climbed up to Slaidburn. BIG climb up through the pass, North Yorkshire moors on one side, Lakes on the other. When we got to the top we were rewarded with a totally amazing view. Not sure how much John appreciated it, I think hauling his much heavier bike up that climb took the edge off things! But the freewheel down was pretty good.
Today was a tough day. Lunch in Sudburgh (very nice too) then up and over some big hills which we anticipated as we ate. Then the long tough haul to Penrith. We took a route along a railway line thinking logically that it should be flat, but the road was very hilly. It was a long hard cycle today. We arrived in Carlisle at about 8. Super B+B again, and a lovely Italian meal for supper.
968k 142k
Day 9. Carlisle to New Lanark.
The day started out drizzly. We Joined a road which ran along beside the M74 and stuck with it all the way. It was not too hilly but it rained quite hard and we were soon completely soaked. At Beatlock we stopped for lunch at a super little pub. We dreamt of hot home-made soup and were not disappointed. All the veg was from the garden so I finished off with a big pudding. Soggy clothes back on and off in the rain again. It brightened a bit in the late afternoon and we arrived at a lovely grand Scottish country house hotel in Lanark at about 5, and the lovely Joanna to welcome us. Lovely supper, long sleep.
1095k 127k 79 miles
Day 10. New Lanark to Stirling.
Again, the day started off drizzly and soon got worse. A very wet day, and a very short day, but we got a bit lost trying to avoid motorways. We found a Halfords and bought out fluorescent waterproof jackets. They gave us some free gear!
We arrived at Stirling at 2-30. Very wet but we got a nice tray of tea and had a good rest. I explored the town a bit then returned to eat at Outback later on. We liked Stirling.
14 degrees and wet.
1159.5k 64.5k
Day 11. Stirling to Glencoe.
A huge ride today. We left Stirling in good weather at 8-30. One straight road all the way. A bit of drizzle started as we turned south-west(!) and the wind hit us hard. We were OK and Lloyd and I put on some speed and raced up to the top of Ranoch moor where we waited for a rather demoralised John. Not very fair to race ahead like that, but I must say, it was a cracking power-drive we had! Firth of fourth then N.W. to Loch Linnhe.
The ride down to Glencoe was absolutely amazing! A winding road through the mountains- perhaps the best ride of my life. I stopped a couple of times to try to slow things down, I didn’t want the day to end, it was absolutely fantastic. I had to be on my own to try to absorb it all in my own way.
1295k 135.5
Day 12. Glencoe to Loch Ness (Invermorriston)
A lovely ride, very nice, good weather, a few splashes of rain, no big hills. Down to Fort William, past Ben Nevis, coffee at ? bridge. We met these great Cornish boys cycling the other way. They laughed like drains when we told them we were stupid enough to follow the CTC route and climb over Exmoor. Those Cornish boys know a thing or two about hills.
On to B+B at Invermorriston, we arrived at about 3pm. We each got a lovely apartment, I had a long bath, a rest, then over the old broken bridge to the hotel/pub for a great supper. I could have stayed here for a good while….
(55 miles) 1383k 88k
Day 13. Loch Ness to Bonar Bridge.
A very nice start. ‘A’ roads all the way, weather good, even a bit of sun! We ran along Loch Ness then to Inverness where we met Alizon! We had been texting because she was in town anyway visiting Scott (who was in hospital) and buying supplies. By the way, Alizon and Scott live in a little piece of heaven called Melon Udrigle, the nicest place on earth if you ever want to visit. So we met Alizon on the road outside Inverness and decided to meet for coffee in ? Nice treat but it did start to rain while we were inside. I bought a few bits and pieces including some crap shoe covers which ,anaged to cut the blood supply from my feet and remain completely unwaterproof.
We took the A9 for a while then turned off at about 2-45 and stopped at roadside services for a bite of lunch then we took smaller roads across country. Nice roads but it chucked it down. We had a bit of a climb up then cruised down on a lovely ride to Bonar Bridge. It was very wet and very cold but we wizzed along at 60kph with great views along the way. Again it was about 12 degrees cold. When we got to the excellent (!) B+B I got in bed under the duvet and tried to warm up. A very brown room. Nice supper though.
1494k 111k 69 miles
Day 14. Bonar Bridge to John O’Groats.
Today was always going to be a long day. We left Bonar Bridge at 8-30 and had a nice morning’s ride along a very quiet road along a babbling brook…… then we turned North over a huge high flat moor. It was quite windy and quite hard work. Down to Bettyhill, very nice, then we turned faces into a really strong wind to ? it was a lovely road along a pretty loch and a river met some very chirpy cyclists coming the other way (I’d be as chirpy if I had a 50 mile an hour wind on my back too!). All very windy. Nice cruise down to the sea where we stopped for a bowl of soup. Very wet and very windy run along the coast to John O’groats. We eventually arrived at about 8-30 and it was almost dark. Just made it to the pub in time for a pizza. All rather an anti climax but the people at the b+b were lovely. Champers and chatting ‘till late. Cards from Den and the kids.
Up at 7 for bike dismantling.
1670k 176k 110 miles
Side effects;
Hunger! Plus I was a bit tetchy for a day or so…
