LEJOG
Sorry to say that the Ride and Blog have come to a premature end with the death of my father this morning. Luckily I saw him yesterday on my rest day in Cheshire. Not sure whether i will carry on but Andy is so good luck to him.
Gloucester to Worcester 61.7 kms
Terrible internet speed here. Short day but hit the wall. Physically and mentally exhausted so no post till tomorrow. Sorry
The river Severn in Worcester.
BRISTOL TO GLOUCESTER 80 KMS
Life is like a 10-speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.” — Charles M. Schultz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip
Cannot believe we have been so lucky with the weather with another sunny day. Flattish ride apart from a few climbs out of Bristol. Lovely countryside again with canal paths making interesting riding.
Berkeley, an old Saxon town was a classic old English town with castle, although it was not open to the public.
Glastonbury to Bristol. 59.6 kms
Flattish 20 kms to the smallest city in UK. Wells. Lovely cathedral and old houses.
The big deal for today was the climb into the Mendip Hills which started at 22kms just after Wookey Hole. It was very tough with some walking. Unfortunately there was a drizzle mist so no visibility or photos from the top.
The gradient rose to 19% at one stage, so hardest climb so far.
Weather improved as we got closer to Bristol. Stopped at a nice pub for a late lunch run by a couple of Aussies. Got lost in Bristol but eventually found the Hotel which had cheap deals on today.
Met up with Pete and Pat Maczimczk for a lovely dinner at Galssboat Brasserie on the river Avon. Thanks to them for coming to meet us from Weston Super Mare.
Dulverton to Glastonbury 103 kms
Saying of the day
It’s only a hill, get over it.
Tim Badger
Wifi here terrible so apologies for short blog.
Stopped at Taunton for lunch. Met up with American cyclist who we had met before. They clearly dont like being beaten as were off very quickly.
Long slog by the end but relieved by canal section from 40 to 80 kms.
Glastonbury apparently is full of alternative lifestylers, psychics and people who like witchcraft.
Had a nice meal though at an Italian restaurant.
Day 6 Barnstable to Dulverton 43kms
Saying of the day.
When my legs hurt, I say: “Shut up legs! Do what I tell you to do! JENS VOIGT. Professional cyclist
After a lovely stay at Coombe farm with a huge breakfast set off up hill. And up and up towards Exmoor. Wild horses and sheep on the road side. Magnificent views on a lovely day but hazy for photos.
Maybe Andy and I have seen the "light" as we once again found a church coffee morning notice on road side. Went in and they were very welcoming, chatty group of ladies offered us coffee and biscuits. We gave them a donation but they didn't want it. Told them we were cycling LEJOG. One of them said they knew someone who had done it in a tractor but most had hardly been out of the village.
Meet up with some fellow cyclists near the summit but we all thought it was down hill from there but the Sustrans book lies again.
Arrived in Dilverton with shaky legs. Showered and went for Devon cream tea although I think we are in Somerset as a late lunch.
LEJOG DAY 5 Bude to Barnstable
Pleasant stay at a pub in Bude last night with a big cooked breakfast to start a long day. Chilly overcast weather but no rain.
We ended up doing 83 kms as accommodation was the other side of Barnstable.
Hilly start with early leg aches having not recovered from yesterday. Crossed from Cornwall into Devon. About halfway we reached a lovely village of Sheepwash. Great sandwiches at the pub.
After a couple more hills reach the Tarka trail.
Stretching for over 52km / 32 miles from Braunton to Barnstaple, then to Instow, Bideford, Great Torrington and on to Meeth. Entirely traffic-free, this section of the “Devon Coast to Coast” is known as the Tarka Cycle Trail as it follows the journey of Tarka the Otter in the classic tale written by Henry Williamson.
Arrived at a beautiful farmhouse for the night. Great cooking and accomadation st Coombe Farm.
LEJOG day4 Bodmin to Bude 59kms
This was called a gentle day. Woke up with legs aching and could barely walk. Wish I had asthma like all the SKY cycling team then could take some steroids.
Another hot day with plenty of sun. The landscape is rolling hills with lots of ups and downs.
Bigger day tomorrow!
LEJOG DAY 3 Truro to Bodmin
Wonderful weather for today, although wind against for some of it. Gosh there are a lot of hills in Cornwall. We were constantly going up and down. One hill was 15% but still managed to stay pedalling. Legs are paying for it now.
Stopped for coffee at National Trust house called Trerice near Newport. Sue would be proud of me going round the house and garden before our coffee.
30kms further on we got to the famous coastal village of Padstow of Rick Stein fame. Packed with people on a Sunday afternoon enjoying the sun. Brass band was playing on the harbour side.
Lovely final 20kms along the Camel Way to Bodmin where we are staying in a B & B.
LEJOG DAY 2
Day 2 Penzance to Truro: We have found the hills
Thursday April 26, 2018, 51 km (32 miles) - Total so far: 76 km (47 miles)
Not far to go today so a slow start was not a worry as Andy had to contact his bank as his credit card had been hacked before leaving New Zealand.
Weather was good with a stiff breeze initially behind us. Went along the water front passing St Michael's Mount. The causeway didnt look open as we passed but we started to head inland then anyway.
Cycled through some lovely country lanes and bridle paths although the hills soon became regular and steep. I had always read about the hills in Corwall and devon and now we were experiencing them. One was 13% so nearly had to walk.
Late morning just when we were desparate for a coffee we saw a sign outside a church saying it was open for coffee. We went in and were greeted by a very friendly parishener offering coffee and buscuits. Couldnt say no.
More quiet roads with huge flowering hedgerows and fields made the ride very pleasurable.
Arrived at a crossroads at Twelveheads and found a cafe catering for bikies and had Cornish cream teas. Great for lunch. This sustained us up the last few hills to Truro. Will enjoy the rest before the real riding which starts tomorrow.
LEJOG DAY1
Day 1 Lands End to Penzance: Here we go!!
Wednesday April 25, 2018, 25 km (16 miles) - Total so far: 25 km (16 miles)
Drove from London in a hired van with the bikes in the back yesterday and stayed at Sennen Cove last night. Dropped off by Sue at Land End this morning who will drive the van back. Weather a bit misty at lands End last night but great today for biking. Got the usual Photos at The End and then set off. Had decided to only go as far as Penzance today to iron out any problems on the bike.
Andy's GPS was playing up for the first 10 kms and was telling him to do a U turn all the time. Managed to get it sorted. Andy broke his bike mirror getting into the van so once we got to Penzance we found a bike shop and replaced it.
It is National Fish and Chips day today in UK so had a nice cod and chips sitting on a bench on the promenade in slight drizzle before having a beer at a local pub.
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