Laterooms have let me down

When you put a trip of this magnitude together you have to hope that all the stop overs give you the chance to rest up and be comfortable. Sadly laterooms have let me down badly when I booked a pub bnb for day 4. The room was quite disgusting and the shower facility a danger to health. I washed up as best I could after 100 miles cycling then walked the village to see if there was anything else but no joy. I couldn't have slept in the bed so lay on top desperate for sleep. However within two hours I suffered an allergic reaction. My eyes became swollen and I was asthmatic something I haven't had for at least 20 years. I had to get out of that room but there were no night staff and everything was locked up. My night from 2am has therefore been spent sitting on a kitchen chair in the breakfast room. I wont be offering to pay for this awful night and only hope I can manage 80 odd miles to Preston on no sleep.

Day 4 over!

I was expecting a hard day and it didn't disappoint. A beautiful morning got the day off well as i set off before breakfast at 7.15 and got a quick 27 miles under the belt to Hereford via Monmouth and the back roads. Some climbs but manageable. But the next 30 were hard as I seemed to hit the wall. No energy at all. The miles to Shrewsbury via Ludlow seemed never ending. And the A49 was not bike friendly. A problem developed with my pedals and these had to be replaced. Good to find a helpful bike shop. Thanks go to Brian Ben and Jacquie for re-fuelling me at their excellent village deli in Shrewsbury. They wouldn't let me pay so when I get back I will make a donation on their behalf. Todays mileage tipped over 100 miles owing to some poor roadsigns in the city centre (or my bad navigational skills!) .... Running total since Friday is 344

Day 4

Its a beautiful morning in the Forest of Dean and an early start for me. Should be around 94 miles today to Ellesmere, 20 miles north of Shrewsbury. Burnt my legs yesterday without feeling it.  Could be a tough day.

Tonight's lodgings, honest!

Hello Wales

Met a great couple last night Andy and Maureen from Taunton who asked me to join them for dinner as they could see I was Billy No Mates. Fantastic couple and I sold them on the North East so maybe they'll come to Alnwick Gardens for Sunday lunch in the treehouse! Nice to have met you both. Last nights food was great and my room comfortable. Out like a light by 9.15pm. Later start today as breakfast had been prepaid and was served at 9. Todays trip was 78 miles from Trull to St Briavels uneventful but too hot and too much traffic on the A38. Some hills ...err think theyre the Mendips!   Staying in a fabulous Norman Castle used by King John as a hunting lodge. Ive been allocated a spot in the Guards Hanging Room so any trouble wil be dealt with. The local brew here is Bishops Tipple and is very nice. Full Sunday dinner is on the menu tonight. Thanks to Richard and Keith for their support today.

Sorted!

One piping hot bath later and a beer - no problem. Just ordered a steak - time to put something back in the tank for tomorrow. It cant get any harder than this day can it? Thanks Jan for the remote map reading by mobile.

Devon hills part 2

My last blog ended abruptly when my chubby fingers hit enter instead of full stop! The point I was trying to get across was where can I possibly find another 50 miles from after a gruelling morning 42. Why did I book so far away on day 2. I cannot answer that. Anyway I am a bit more settled into the afternoon and have just reached 75 miles for the day and 149 for the trip so far. About 17 miles from my hot bath! Thanks to Julie and Alison for their messages of support. I cant do facebook on this mobile, security settings are wrong so I cant log in.
Steak could be good tonight with loads of chips or a buttery bakey! Cant wait to get this lycra off haha!

Devon hills

I didn't post on my lunch stop because I felt children might be reading this and I might offend! 42 miles to North Tawton of sheer lung busting hills. I think I have fairly strong legs but this was something else. When I sat down in the village deli looking at more hillsides I could have wept.....

Day 2

Well after a short start of 74 miles yesterday I enjoyed a lovely meal of sea bass and prawns in ginger with spring onions, new potatoes and salad. It hit the mark. I tried two local brews Harbour bitter and Tribute from local Tintagel brewery. Excellent. Today is a very early start at 7 am - my sat nav is saying 92 miles to Trull in Somerset and hills all the way. Bliss!

Day 1 over!

Enjoyed today. The long morning jaunt of 57 miles meant  I only had 17 to do in the afternoon but very hard climbs before the most amazing decent into Boscastle. This is an incredible place carved into a sink in the hillside. Well worth a visit except no phone signal. You have to walk up a very steep hill to get anything. Off now for some eats and a pint!

Day 1 lunch break

Set off from Lands End at 8.45am and it was earily quiet. No one to take my photo in front of the plastic sign! No expense spared there. Maybe its because people steal the metal ones! Just stopped for lunch break at Wadebridge, done 57 miles so far. A lasagna pub lunch. About 20 to do to evening stop from here. Couple of mechanical issues but Andy will fix them over the phone for me I'm sure!

Day 1

Good morning. Well I made it in total darkness to the yh about 4 miles from Lands End. Bought some pasta on the way so cooked up tuna pasta for tea and enjoyed the company of my room mate also called Tony from Notts. He had tea bags but no milk and I had milk but no tea!   Perfect teamwork! Off shortly to Lands End starting point for my trip. Heading for Boscastle today as I am curious about the Cornish village that dramatically flooded in 2004.

On my way!

The train has just pulled out on my 10 hour journey to Penzance. No issues on the ride to the station. Feeling very nervous for some reason. Like the time shortly before an exam. Good sign usually. No turning back now!

One more day to prepare!

With a little over 24 hours before I need to pedal to Newcastle and catch an all day train to Cornwall, I must admit to a few nerves.  I secured my pannier bags to my rear wheel and filled it with my four changes of kit, some clothes washing gel, usual bathroom kit, some waterproofs and a warm fleece in case of snow in Scotland!!  Unfortunately, it weighed in at a full stone, and I couldn't pick my bike up off the ground.  I went for a test run and decided it was a little too heavy, so I've rejected two sets of kit and a few other luxuries (shaving foam, after shave, towel, pocket radio etc) and I'm now travelling with only 7 pounds on the back wheel.  It probably means I'll be washing clothes every night or else I'll be buying throw away stuff all the way up!  Thanks to Andy Dixon for popping over on Monday night and checking my brakes, gears, cogs and stuff and showing me how to change a brake cable.  Pity you weren't coming with me Andy....... Thanks also to my Australian cousins and aunt who have sent their best wishes from down under, how thoughtful !

Next update from the train, assuming there's a wifi signal.  I'll also be using a tiny qwerty keyboard on my mobile phone so please don't expect a spell checker or any punctuation until I reach an internet PC again whenever that might be!  Messages may therefore be short...!