Steves
Lands End to John o'Groats blog
Friday 27th June - Lands End to Penzance
Oh my god what grim
weather! It rained constantly from
Devon all the way down to Lands End (which was covered in
mist and was barely visible) James, Mike and i arrived to have
our photo taken by the 'official' signpost but were informed
that this would cost £9.50! Flabbergasted we opted to
be photographed next to an unofficial sign for free! We then
cycled to our campsite in Penzance where we had been offered
a static caravan, which saved us from pitching a tent in the
pouring rain. Sam also joined us to begin our ride proper the
next morning.
Distance - 10.1 miles
Saturday 28th June - Penzance to Lostwithiel
We set off taking the coast road via Marizion past the beautiful
St Michaels Mount whereupon the ride began to get hilly.
This set the tone for the remainder of the day which culminated
in a mile long 1:10 climb to our campsite! The site was
beautiful in spite of 'broken-back-mountain' style comboys
strutting past our tent!
Distance - 51 miles
Sunday 29th June - Lostwithiel to Crediton
Wow..big monster hills! Long ardous climbs all day long. We
met a local cyclist called Tim who had done the End to End
last year and showed us a short cut avoiding the steep Tamar
valley. When we finally arrived in Crediton Mike had
arranged for us to shower at the local sports centre as our
campsite was basic in the extreme and run by a mad eccentric
woman in her 80's riding a 'Paris-Dakar' style quad bike. Sam
left us today..thanks for your support mate!
Distance - 68 miles
Monday 30th - Crediton to Cheddar
Scorching hot weather and we're all getting a bit sunburnt.
The day began with a relentless climb out of Crediton followed
by an all to common wrong turn in Tiverton! Chris was then
nearly wiped out by an artic whilst helping us across the
M5 at Wellington just after a motorcyle cop had done a double
take at two handcyclists apparently about to join the M5! Sal
and Stu met us at Bridgewater and we arrived at our campsite
to an altercation with the owners who refused to acknowledge
an offer of free accomodation made by the previous owner. They
were charging £27 for the tent pitch and a further £5
for our friends and family to come onsite to visit us! I assertively
explained that we were doing a charity ride and and they relented
and honoured the agreement. My mum and dad also joined us for
moral support and to replenish supplies. We also said goodbye
to James and Mike..a massive thank you guys for helping me
through some tough days.
Distance - 64 miles
Tuesday 1st July - Cheddar to Orcop (Herefordshire)
Left Cheddar via Shipham quarry road and a mile long climb
to the A38! Stu had joined Chris to keep him company in the
van and we stopped in to see David and the staff at Motivation
for homemade cakes and squash. We then made quick time to
Aust services to meet Sal's mum and sister but unfortunately
they couldn't make it so i rode on across the Severn bridge
to Monmouth and on up to our campsite at Orcop (10 miles south
of Hereford). A lovely site where the owner waived the very
reasonable £10
fee.
Distance - 64.1 miles
Wednesday 2nd July - Orcop to Shrewsbury
From Hereford long winding B roads led through picturesque
but rather strange villages such as Wellington which had
stuffed scarecrow figures in both house and shop doorways!
I thought i was heading for a 'Wicker Man' style end! Whilst negotiating
a range of hills en route to Shrewsbury i glimpsed black 'Mordoresque'
style clouds creeping up on me..sure enough i got soaked right
through to my boxers! We then arrived to find our campsite
populated by about 200 rabbits! My 'chalet maid' Chris cooked
his best meal yet..a Spanish omelette..delicious!
Distance - 74 miles
Thursday 3rd July - Shrewsbury to Hoylake (Wirral)
This day seemed to go on and on and i can't say that i enjoyed
it.. i'm beginning to feel tired! Caught up with my cousin
Rachel and her husband Alf just south of Chester. We then pushed
on to stay with our hosts Mike and Lynne and their two dogs
'Chilli' a black Lab and 'Bear' a four month old Border Terrier.
Mike kindly cooked us a chicken curry and we kicked back with
a few beers as he did our washing and made us feel at home. A
minor and very amusing disaster then ensued to compound the
fact that my mobile phone was unusable having been immersed
in tea! As i used Chris's mobile with my SIM card to call home
Bear jumped on the sofa began to eat Chris's SIM card! Now
both our mobiles were buggered! Wonder if Chris's girlfriend
Gabrielle will buy that excuse not to phone her?!
Distance - 65 miles
Friday 4th July - Hoylake to Lancaster
A glorious sunny ride began along the Mersey cycle track
to the ferry offering views across the Albert dock and the
Liverbirds building. This was followed by a lovely flat ride
all the way to Lancaster along the A59/A6. Bizzarely whilst negotiating
heavy traffic through Preston i came across an old Police colleague
Andy Bevan and his partner Gwen stood on the pavement waving
at me! They were en route to an adventure race in the Lake
District and had been redirected through Preston following
an accident on the M6 when they recognised me winding my way
through the traffic..what are the chancesof that?? We
then arrived with our next hosts Peter and Jacqui who are the
in-laws of some Bristol friends Pete and Jayne Evans. They
made us very welcome in their beautiful home overlooking Morcombe
Bay and we joined them in watching a gorgeous sunset over the
Bay.
Distance - 66 miles
Saturday 5th July - Lancaster to Carlisle
A tough day began into a headwind to Kendal where an almighty
storm caught up with me and stayed with me all the way over
Shap fell. When i arrived in Shap i was again soaked
through to the Boxers and was grateful that Chris had found
a coffee shop and ordered me a hot chocolate (with extra cream!) We
then made good time to join our third and final hosts James
and Sarah in Carlisle before Chris departs and Sal joins me
for the Scottish leg of the ride. A huge thanks to Chris
for all his help.. i really couldn't have done it without him!
Distance - 61 miles
Sunday 6th July 2008 - Carlisle to Glenmidge (Dumfries & Galloway)
Set off from Carlisle with Jim and his son Benjamin in
tow en route to Scotland! Chris had left for Glasgow airport
leaving the van for Sal to pick up on her arrival and transfer
driving, cooking, tent pitching and general pandering duties
to her!
A lovely flat ride to Gretna and i could hardly believe we
were in Scotland..Jim had parked at the border and photographed
me as i crossed it punching the air with a rather bemused
expression! We then arrived in Annan and i caught sight of Sal behind me
in the van..it was lovely to be reunited with her after a
week on the road.
I then rode on through Dumfries to eventually find our beautiful
and remote campsite run by Hamish and Margaret at
Glenmidge Smithy. This was populated by red squirrels and
must be the luckiest campsite in the UK..why you might ask..well
as i was trying to sort out my gears a fellow camper (there
were only two other tents at the site) offered his assistance.
It turned out that he works in a bike shop and ended up changing
my inner and outer gear cable and setting up my gears to
perfection..thanks Mike!
Distance - 50 miles
Monday 7th July 2008 - Glenmidge to Saltcoats (Ayrshire)
Left Glenmidge having been woken by a persistent cockerel
at 4am and Hamish waiving the site fee and supplying us
with some lovely honey from his own bees...this will be great
for our porridge! I then rode through the beautiful Dumfries & Galloway
counrtyside to find Sal at my first stop sat in the sun reading
the paper with the van parked outside a tearoom (what a surprise!)
From hereon the road surface deteriorated as i crossed
into Ayrshire making the cycling a bone (and bladder) shuddering
experience! We finally arrived at Saltcoats having negotiated
the busy and horrible A78. What can i say about Saltcoats..(think
everything you hate about tacky seaside resorts and times
it by two hundred)..amusement arcades, parents swearing
at their kids, train track 10ft from tent..need i go on!
Distance - 71 miles
Tuesday 8th July 2008 - Saltcoats to Inverarary
The day began with a lovely ride down the coast to catch
the ferry to Dunoon, Sal had driven onto Grenoch to get
the brake pads and discs changed on the hire van as the
squeal had turned to a grind! I took the ferry and having
crossed to Dunoon rode on through the breathtaking Loch Lommond
and the Trossachs forest route. The stunning scenary
even made up for the soaking i recieved as i reached Loch Fyne
(home of the famous oysters). Sal caught up with me as i hit
52 miles, which was just as well as i had run out of food and
water! Finally arrived ta Inverarary YHA to dry out and
prepare for the Highlands!
Distance - 68.4 miles
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