Day 9

Fine dining at Crianlarich Youth Hostel (not)

Day 9: The end of

Today has been very dreary: the bike track is long and in poor order. It might have been better coming up the side of Loch Lomond had it not been chucking it down with rain; so much so that we packed at Tarbet and got a room in an hotel some 15 ml short of our original destination. Tomorrow we may have to revue our overnight arrangements which were to stop at Loch Ness youth hostel, but to do so would be a very long 110 miles in the highlands. Watch this apace for further developments. Right now we are going to live it up in Tarbet Hotel dining room with a bottle of wine. Cheers everyone.

Day 9 New Lanark to Loch Lomand

As promised here are our friends leaving us behind. They were fun to ride with.

We are now well on our to our destination via the Glasgow Loch Lomand cycle track which is by and large is a dump
Hopefully will be at the Youth Hostel by 6.00pm

Day 9 New Lanark to Loch Lomand

Turns out that fastening your shoes to your pedals too tight snaps your chain!

Day 8: Armathwaite to New Lanark

The team has been strengthened!!

Many thanks to Turner Boy for sending us some help. After yesterday which was a hard day we need as much help as is possible. While all the team are
stiill in one piece cracks are beginning to show. However with our new friends and a southerly wind we made comfortable work of today's 91 mile ride. The youth hostel is fine with en suite facilities - posh or what. But that does not make up for the absence of a bar. We will have to keep an eye on Scott and note any withdrawal symptoms. We will be sorry to see the back of our new team helpers tomorrow but you can if you check the blog later!!
Thanks for all your support

Day 7 Clayton Le Dale to Armathwaite

91 miles, very difficult, arrived 6.15pm. A few 'issues' with nether regions to contend with but nothing a stop at the pharmacy won't sort out! Beautiful scenery and fast downhills. Keep checking for live tour updates as they happen!

Day 6 Shrewsbury to Clayton Le Dale

Wow! Rattled off the first 70 miles by 2pm and the team were looking in good shape. The next 40 miles tell a whole different story, they were about survival! A 10 mph head wind coupled with tricky navigation through the metropolis of Warrington, Leigh and Blackburn really put the team to the test. Not to mention the 5,000 ft of climbing came in the last 40 miles. This was only slightly eased by seeing Helen and Mark whiz past us in the banana mobile. A snarly welcome from the B&B lady and our day was complete. Bodies are starting to show signs of deterioration now but spirits remain high. Let's hope the curry can push us through the Lake District tomorrow. Yours in sore bums and aching knees, the team x

Day 6: 110 miles

A meadow by the roadside

After a flying start 50 miles in 4 hours things got back to normal, hills then more hills; the result being that we did not arrive in Clayton le Dale until 6.30. So after 9.5 hours in the saddle none of us were at our best.
Helen and Mark who are event commissars were here to greet us, which cheered us up greatly. We think they had heard that Sarah had been taking substances (she said ibuprofen) and Scott has been seen downing large quantities of some brown liquid so testing was in order. While they were about they considered a dope test on Eric but decided against on the grounds that anyone who chose to do this bike ride to celebrate their 65th birthday instead of a big party could be nothing other than a Dope. However we were all passed as fit enough to proceed to stage 7; Clayton le Dale to Armathwaite, 85 miles 8,500 ft of climb all due North which is where the wind is forecast to be blowing from: happy days!!!

Day 6: 110 miles thro' Lancashire

Scott & Sarah on arrival at The Riverside Inn.

We are not looking forward to this. Because of the hills and the luggage our speed is down to 10 mph. So with the best will in the world we are looking at arrival in Clayton le Dale well after 6.00pm.
It was good to see our friends last night and the added bonus of meeting with Hanna's mum & dad.

Day 5 Welsh Bicknor to Shrewsbury

Day 5 puncture number 1

Day 4

Magners on arrival....'nuff said!

Day 4; The Grand Depart

After a luxurious B&B in Street we left bound for Welsh Biknor (where we have now arrived). Earlier we reported that days 1 & 2 were the hardest days; well we would now like to add days 3 & 4 to that list. After 9 hours we were well ready for cocktails and our evening meal. All team members still intact.

Day 4....the panniers are on

The support car left this morning and despatched the team with panniers fit to burst for days 4~13. A slow and hilly start as is becoming the norm. Beautiful weather and stunning scenery. Having well earnt lunch and map inspection at Bristol Downs. Thanks for the comments; they are much appreciated.

Day 3

Our leg from Exeter to Street has been successfully concluded without drama. We will not be sorry to see the back of the Devon and Cornwall hills. By previous days standards today (59 miles 3,500 ft of climb) was a bit of a rest day. Tomorrow we move on to cross the the river at Bristol and stay at Welsh Bicknor just South of Ross on Wye - at last we shall be heading North.
For those of you who have not been paying attention day 1 was from Lands End to Fowey, day 2 from Fowey to Exeter.
All the team members more or less in one piece.

On Bums & Saddles

In the beginning a saddle and a bum are brought together in the ridiculous hope that there will be lifelong love at first sight.
What happens in practice is that these two items behave like two young siblings, tormenting each other until one gets hurt and the other wins. In time there does develop some sort of understanding, but never as best mates. My saddle was hand made by Mr Brooks, who assured me (via one of his minions) that this saddle would become to be a comfortable old friend. He managed to do this without sight of my bum (and that is the way it is going to stay). While my saddle and bum get on reasonably, like all friends prolonged periods of each others company is not to be recommended .

Day 2

The fun for today's trip started and ended with a cruise across the river Fowey. The remainder of the 80mile, 10,500 foot trip, with the exception of a few stunning downhills, was agony from start to finish. Please feel free to share our pain! Fear not, spirits are high and rising still, thanks to Mr and Mrs weatherspoon! Summary of the day, hills, lumps and bumps.

Day 1 over

Word was that the first 2 days were the worst...they weren't wrong about the 1st! A tough day on the bumps, oh well, at least we can kick back and relax in the dormitory dream of Golant youth hostel!

Day 1: We are off

So this it . After all that training the team is ready for the start of our epic journey. So far 12 of the most stunning miles we have ever ridden. Keep logging in to check our progress. No ailments to report other than a bout of nerves.

Prologe 21st July

This is the start. Sarah & Eric are leaving for Lands End, overnighting near Dartmoor. Tomorrow we pick up Ros who will take the car off our hands, and be joined by Scott who is detained by business until late Friday. Keep a watch on this space.