Day 1 Land's End to Bodmin Thursday 5th August 2010
Ride Facts:
Time: 04:58:51
Distance: 58.85 mi
Elevation Gain: 3,800 ft
Calories: 2,890 C
Avg Speed: 11.8 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 12.0 mph
Max Speed: 34.6 mph
Lands End is a beautiful place albeit for all the tourists that throng there in the Summer and it's only 874 miles from John O'Groats!
Kate and I at the Lands End Marker post.
The start of the long ride!
The first few miles to Penzance are up and down to say the least and then you meet the notorious A30 that runs through the spine of Cornwall! It is basically a motorway. Cycling along it takes nerve and courage. Traffic travels at motorway speeds just a few metres from your right leg. We got used to it though.
Arriving at Bodmin we were faced with a horrible climb into the centre of the town which just about took any energy we had left.
A good day though and ready for some rest!
You can find details and map of the ride here:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/43649367
Day 2 Bodmin to Exeter Friday 6th August
Ride Facts:
Time: 05:45:04
Distance: 65.14 mi
Elevation Gain: 4,616 ft
Calories: 3,309 C
Avg Speed: 11.3 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 11.5 mph
Max Speed: 35.4 mph
After the usual breakfast of cereal and toast it was back out onto the road for the 65 miles ride to Exeter. The weather was damp and was soon to turn into a full blown rainstorm. The A30 was just as unpleasant as day 1 particularly over Bodmin Moor.
As a result of all the rain Katie decided she needed some gloves that were more waterproof ( are there any? ). We stopped in Launceston to find a bike shop where her appetite for dryness was satisfied!
Once out of Launceston we managed to find the old A30 road which goes all the way to Exeter.
This is now a B road and much quieter but still quite hilly in places.
Oh what a relief after the mayhem of the A30!!!
After getting lost in Exeter we managed to find our digs which turned out to be next to the prison. Um!
We decided to keep our bikes in our room!!
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/43649356
Day 3 Exeter to Bridgwater Saturday 7th August
Ride Facts:Time: 03:48:52
Distance: 42.91 mi
Elevation Gain: 1,925 ft
Calories: 1,933 C
Avg Speed: 11.2 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 11.8 mph
Max Speed: 32.1 mph
This was a great days riding, flat compard to the previous two days. Took the quiet road from Exeter which prooved to be brilliant. After stops for flapjack we were soon in Collumpton.
Soon we had to hit the A38, another busy road that goes to Bristol and beyond. By now we were becoming used to the fast flowing traffic and made good progress through Taunton and on to Bridgwater.
The Bed and Breakfast in Bridgwater is one of the best of the whole trip. It is " Self Service" in that there is a communal kitchen with everything provided. It is situated on the main road but once into the back garden it is an oasis of tranquility. A quick visit to Sainsbury's brought Non alcoholic beer a plenty and the local Chinese provided with one of the biggest ( and flavoursome ) takeaways I have ever had.
The back garden of the B and B :
Well worth a visit and bike friendly too.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/43649336
Day 4 Bridgwater to Bristol Sunday 8th August
Ride facts:
Time: 03:09:44
Distance: 38.67 mi
Elevation Gain: 892 ft
Calories: 1,878 C
Avg Speed: 12.2 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 12.5 mph
Max Speed: 24.2 mph
Kate and I had been looking forward today as Jerz, our Son, would be joining us for this leg and the next.
Kate decided to make bacon rolls to eat on the way.
Very welcome they were too.
Riding today was flat usintg the A38 up to near Cheddar and then using a lovely local cycle path known as the "Strawberry Line"
The path was a lovely contrast to the hurly burly of the A38. It goes all the way to Yatton. just South of Bristol.
We had been lucky with punctures so far but poor Jerz did have the misfortune to get a flat!
After a short rest near Bristol we were home.
Once home we decided to have rethink about what we were carrying. The hills of Cornwall and Devon had made us reconsider about the load we were taking with us. In the end half of what we started with was discarded! Mainly extra pairs of tops, shorts, waterproofs,soks, We were now down to the bare minimum.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/43649325
Day 5 Bristol to Cheltenham Monday 9th August
Ride facts:
Time: 03:40:36
Distance: 43.48 mi
Elevation Gain: 2,434 ft
Calories: 2,317 C
Avg Speed: 11.8 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 12.0 mph
Max Speed: 31.6 mph
Today began with a pleasant ride on the Bristol to Bath Cycle Path. This is a well known local route used by all kinds of cyclists, and is particularly popular with families. Probably because it is lovely and flat!
This is just as well because we knew what was coming later in the day! The ride from Stroud to Birdlip through Slad. This is notoriously hilly route that goes on for several miles. It proved to be a hard slog in the granny gear and required several pit stops on the way. It is well worth it though because the views are very pleasant.
With that out of the way it a blast down into Ullenwood which it just a short hop from Cheltenham.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46627407
Day 6 Cheltenham to Bridgnorth Tuesday 10th August
Ride Facts:
Time: 05:42:03
Distance: 61.45 mi
Elevation Gain: 3,054 ft
Calories: 3,272 C
Avg Speed: 10.8 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 11.7 mph
Max Speed: 35.2 mph
The overnight rest at the "in laws" was just what we needed. Feeling suitably refreshed we woke to damp drizzly rain. Breakfast over we raced down Leckhampton Hill into Cheltenham and onto the A38. Soon we were through Tewkesbury and ready for a stop in Worcester. This route gave us lovely views of the Malvern Hills. I was just pleased not to be going u them!
The rain has dispersed now and Kate went foraging for lunch, returning with some calorific sandwiches and flapjack!
Suitably refreshed Bewdley awaited and so did the route from Bewdley to Bridgnorth.
Bewdley is situated on the River Severn and busy with visitors.
From here we took the minor roads to Bridgnorth. Hell it was hilly and very tough going, something we were not expecting! After passing through the Wyre Forest we reached the aptly named Highley!
Eventaully we arrived in Bridgnorth, a typical Shropshire town and full of Tudor styled houses like this:
The Indian Restaurant was good, too good for Katie who took on a rather "green" appearance as we left in a hurry!!
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46627399
Day 7 Bridgnorth to Kelsall nr Chester Wednesday 11th August
Ride Facts:
Time: 05:27:36
Distance: 60.97 mi
Elevation Gain: 2,754 ft
Calories: 2,890 C
Avg Speed: 11.2 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 11.4 mph
Max Speed: 31.6 mph
Just north of Bridgnorth is the well known town(?) of Ironbridge. We decided we would make a detour to take a look. Ironbridege is the site of the first Irin Bridge built in the late 18th Century and is now very popular with day trippers and holidaymakers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironbridge
After spending longer than we anticipated we made good progress using the main A road to Whitchurch.
Turning off the main road at Tarporley we somehow got completely lost looking for the road to Kelsall. This must have cost us a good hour overall. However the local pub served fantastic duck, so we didn't complain too much.
Got an early night in anticipation of the most feared leg of our journey tomorrow
, through the concrete jungle that is Warrington, Wigan and Preston!!
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46627386
Day 8 Kelsall to Garstang Thursday 12th August
Ride Facts:
Time: 05:39:08
Distance: 57.03 mi
Elevation Gain: 2,145 ft
Calories: 2,516 C
Avg Speed: 10.1 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 10.8 mph
Max Speed: 26.3 mph
Today was day that neither Kate nor I had been looking forward to! If you look at any map you will see urbanised sprawl, huge roads, motorway junctions etc etc! It was all of this that we had to negotiate on our route to Garstang.
Warrington was OK but Wigan and Prestron were horrific. Traffic everywhere, huge three lane carriageways and roundabouts that for a cyclist would make you want to disappear into a pothole. Yes they were that bad. The worst were motorway junction roundabouts , usually four lanes, sometimes but not always, controlled by traffic lights. Having to negotiate those withouts lights felt like your world was going to come to a sticky end at any moment.
It was a great relief once we reached the A6 past Preston.
This doesn't give you the full picture but gives you some idea :
Kate shows her relief:
Arriving at our B and B in Garstang we were treated to tea and scones. It was as if our host had known what we had gone through! The end of a difficult day, mentally and physically!
Find our route here:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46627371
Day 9 Garstang to Shap Friday 13th August
Ride Facts:
Time: 05:40:09
Distance: 51.49 mi
Elevation Gain: 2,879 ft
Calories: 2,384 C
Avg Speed: 9.1 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 9.3 mph
Max Speed: 24.9 mph
Today we knew was going to be a hard day but turned out to be more stressful than first thought. It started off fine and once we had passed Carnforth we knew that we had reached the half way mark.
Over the previous few days I had been hearing a strange clicking sound everytime I turned the pedal. Today it was worse and made me very nervous. I had my suspicions that there was a problem with the Bottom Bracket.
Once in Kendal on the edge of the Lake District we decided to take the bike into Brucies Bike Shop for them to have a look. Fortunately it turned out that the Crank was nothing like tight enough and was soon sorted!
kendal was busy being full of holiday traffic as it usually is:
After the obligatory cup of tea or two it was time to move on:
Now came the hard slog over
Shap Summit This is an infamous hill several miles long which always gets blocked with snow in the Winter. Now it was raining which made it even worse. By the time we reached the top we were thoroughly drenched :
The start of the climb
Still some way to go to the top:
Kate looking thoroughly soaked at the Summit :
Once over the top it was a brilliant descent all the down to Shap and our B and B with a nice warm bath!
Route :
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46627355
Day 10 Shap to Dumfries Saturday 14th August
Ride Facts:
Time: 05:39:56
Distance: 66.41 mi
Elevation Gain: 2,278 ft
Calories: 2,858 C
Avg Speed: 11.7 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 12.0 mph
Max Speed: 25.4 mph
Today began with a spectacular breakfast. Having stayed here before we knew what the breakfasts were like. So we decided to break our rule and go for everything:
This:
Followed by :
Fantastic it was too!!
After such a hearty breakfast it was hard to get going. With the wind against it was tough going but with gradients a lot easier than yesterday we soon made Penrith followed by Carlisle.
Carlisle:
By lunchtime we had reached Gretna. We had cycled the length of England and were now in Scotland:
The next part would take us due West to Dumfries. We followed the quiet B road following the Solway Coast. Beautiful scenery and flat riding.
The river at Annan:
The Solway coastline:
We reached Dunfries in good spirits despite getting lost in Dumfries looking for the B and B.
Dumfries was to be fair not too pleasant on a Saturday night. Full of drunks and folks generally being loutish.However, the place itself is quite pleasant with a beautiful Cathedral:
After a nice Italian Pasta meal it would be an early night for a long day tomorrow.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46627333
Day 11 Dumfries to Ardrossan Sunday 15th August
Ride facts:
Time: 07:57:33
Distance: 84.29 mi
Elevation Gain: 3,398 ft
Calories: 3,751 C
Avg Speed: 10.6 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 10.9 mph
Max Speed: 35.9 mph
At 84 miles this leg was to be the longest of the entire journey. Out of Dumfries we soon reached the hills and beautiful scenery. The weather proved fair and we were able to appreciate the glorious freshair of the Svcottish countryside.
Moniaive:
A nice Morgan in the village:
The Scottish hills:
Kate admiring the view:
It took us a long time to get to Ayr on the Scottish coast!
We followed a cycle route up the coast however it soon became clear that we were not going to get to Ardrossan before dark!
On the way though we passed:
Prestwick Airport
Troon Golf Course:
After getting lost on the cycle route we decided to take the easier but busier main roads to Ardrossan. It wasn't until late that we found some where to eat. A fish and chip shop selling greasy fish and chips which we consumed on the pavement!!
A really tiring day . Thank God for the easier day tomorrow!
Route:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46627300
Day 12 Ardrossan to Kennacraig via Arran and two ferries! Monday 16th August
Ride facts:
Time: 02:00:10
Distance: 21.26 mi
Elevation Gain: 1,415 ft
Calories: 1,067 C
Avg Speed: 10.6 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 3.9 mph
Max Speed: 30.2 mph
Today was planned to be a kind of rest day with only a short mileage and two ferry crossings. What a brilliant day it turned out to be!
One mile from our lodgings is the ferry terminal taking passengers over to the Island of Arran. No need to book and cycles go free too!
Waiting for loading!
Thankfully the sea was as flat as a pancake:
The crossing took one and a half hours and soon we were at Brodick on the Island of Arran:
Arran is a small island with a road going all around the edge. We had to go around anticlockwise to get to Lochranza on the other side of the island.
Arran is very popular with tourists in the Summer and the road is small and in places very narrow. However, it was a joy to cycle along unhindered by throngs of traffic. We did wonder where all the cars go!
Views of Arran:
Just one big climb stood between us and a fantastic descent into Lochranza!!! What a climb it was!
Kate climbing the hill:
The view towards Lochranza:
Finally into Lochranza and another ferry:
This ferry took us over to Kintyre which is back on the mainland again. A shorter journey of some fourty minutes.
Once off the ferry we had a short ride up this road to our Bed and Breakfast.
Just the kind of day we needed.
Route:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46627265
Day 13 Kennacraig to Taynuilt Tuesday 17th August - Kate's Birthday
Ride Facts:
Time: 05:20:00
Distance: 55.72 mi
Elevation Gain: 4,243 ft
Calories: 3,022 C
Avg Speed: 10.4 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 10.7 mph
Max Speed: 30.6 mph
Today was Kate's birthday and we were looking forward to working our way up the West side of Scotland to Taynuilt. There is little that can be said about today in so much I think pictures speak louder than words!
The harbour at Tarbet:
Loch Fynne:
We just had to stop for lunch at this fantastic loch, Loch Leathan:
It was a fantastically quiet road too!
The road next to Loch Awe was awesome!
If not hilly in places:
The final few miles went down through Glen Nant, all down hill thank goodness.
We did come across some Red Deer too
As a treat for Kate on her Birthday we had booked a hotel for the night. The Taynuilt Hotel was the only one in town! Very nice and typically Scottish. The food was good too!
The route:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46627248
Day 14 Taynuilt to Fort William Wednesday 18th August
Ride Facts:
Time: 03:40:45
Distance: 46.92 mi
Elevation Gain: 2,999 ft
Calories: 1,656 C
Avg Speed: 12.8 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 12.9 mph
Max Speed: 28.8 mph
Today was to take up the side of Loch Linnhe to Fort William. It began with typical Scottish rain deeming all waterproofs necessary.
Despite the inclement weather it was a pleasant ride albeit rather bumpy around the coast through Appin and Portnacroish where a super hot chocolate warmed our spirits! The view was pretty good too:
Continuing to hug the coast we soon arrived at Kentallen where a newly constructed cycle path brought us out to Ballachullish. The main road had been busy so this was a welcome surprise:
Now we had to endure the nightmare for cyclists which is the A82 to Fort William. It is the main holiday route into Fort William and is clogged with every kind of transport imaginable. Some respectful to cyclists, some not! The worst offenders - coach tours!!
During a stop on this road we met a fellow cyclist dressed from head to toe in Harris Tweed! Mr Tweed was cycling fom Kent in England to Stornoway in the Outer Hebredes - a long journey indeed! An interesting character riding a classic Holdsworth Touring bike :
Despite the traffic, the road is very scenic as it virtually runs along the edge of Loch Linnhe all the way to Fort William.
Having made good progress we arrived in Fort William by mid-afternoon, not too tired but hungry!
Fort William is a very busy tourist hot spot. It has walkers, campers, bikers all year round. We have been here previously with our mountain bikes riding the World Championship Mountain bike trail under the shadow of Ben Nevis.
Evening was taken up in the local Indian and good it was too :
The end of a good day, Not too far and with lovely scenery!
Route :
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46628362
Day 15 Fort William to Beauly near Inverness Thursday 19th August
Ride Facts :
Time: 05:54:29
Distance: 63.88 mi
Elevation Gain: 3,446 ft
Calories: 3,246 C
Avg Speed: 10.8 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 11.2 mph
Max Speed: 38.5 mph
After a very restful night we approached Day 19 with some uncertainty. The plan was to take the Great Glen Way as far we could up towards Inverness. This route is well used by walkers and is managable on Mountain bikes. The question was how far could we get on our tourers!
From FW we managed the first few miles following the Caledonian Canal on a well used path :
However despite the great views it soon became evident that this was not going to be possible :
So it was back onto the A82 and the traffic! Several encounters later we reached Invermoriston :
The ride took us by Loch Ness ( no Monsters spotted today! ) to Drumnadrochit :
After a pit stop we found the road to Beauly and the notorious hill at Milton. For us the steepest climb of the whole trip :
It doesn't look much but it is a killer!
The lung bursting climb required regular gasps for breath and checks to see if faculties were still functioning! Horrible! Once that was over it was a pleasant few miles to Beauly.
Here we found the worst B&B of the trip but the entertainment was OK!
Route :
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46627218
Day 16 Beauly to Golspie Friday 20th August
Ride Facts:
Time: 04:17:23
Distance: 49.27 mi
Elevation Gain: 1,556 ft
Calories: 1,451 C
Avg Speed: 11.5 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 11.6 mph
Max Speed: 26.3 mph
Glad to be rid of the B&B we mounted our steeds for the relatively flat journey to Golspie on the East coast of Scotland. Having had a rushed breakfast and with a strong wind against progress was quite slow.
On reaching Tain we stopped for well needed refreshments including wild raspberries! :
We were extememly pleased to see the Welcome to Sutherland sign and the roads became quieter and better surfaced :
After a quick stop at Loch Fleet we arrived in Golspie.
Golspie is a nice village situated on the A9. It has necessary refreshments and a fine beach. Particularly recommended is the local fish and chip restaurant. Freshly caught fish and plenty of it too!
Kate enjoys a well deserved Guiness:
Route :
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46628349
Day 17 Golspie to Wick Saturday 21st August
Ride Facts :
Time: 04:02:48
Distance: 54.57 mi
Elevation Gain: 3,577 ft
Calories: 2,083 C
Avg Speed: 13.5 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 13.9 mph
Max Speed: 43.9 mph
Today's ride was to take on a rollacoaster journey following the North East coast of Scotland to Wick.
A day of real up's and downs! The weather was fair as we set off from Golspie. It quickly became apparent that we had a following wind. We absolutely belted along ( by our standards anyway!).
It proved to be the best day of the whole trip.
The views in these parts are stunning. Very few trees and miles of coastline to enjoy. The A9 was pretty quiet which helped.
After a brief stop at Helmsdale we were on our way again :
Out of Helmsdale there is a long hill to the Ord of Caithness but we dragged ourselves up :
Very soon we reached Caithness :
And now had the adrenaline hills of Berriedale. These are notorious, particularly in bad conditions. The downhill into Berriedale was just one adrenaline ride, reaching 43mph at one point. We did feel very sorry for the cyclists we met coming up the other way. At the bottom we had a rest beacuse the climb out of Berriedale was coming!
After a Mars Bar and a Banana we started the long climb:
The road bends round like a U then climbs out. Fortunately some traffic lights were in operation which gave us bit of a break.
After another 30 minutes of climbing we had reached the top, quite exhausted but pleased we had made it. I wouldn't like to do that every day!!
This is the road looking back down :
Dunbeath provided the top speed of the day and indeed of the whole trip - 43.9 mph . It felt fast particularly loaded with gear. Great fun though.
The route passed through some spectular scenery :
We seemed to arrive in Wick in no time at all. A great ride with fab views. A brilliant day!
The outskirts of Wick :
Wick :
One more day to go!
Route:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46628338
Day 18 Wick to John O'Groats Sunday 22nd August.
Ride Facts:
Time: 01:43:13
Distance: 18.06 mi
Elevation Gain: 822 ft
Calories: 529 C
Avg Speed: 10.5 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 10.7 mph
Max Speed: 21.6 mph
We had planned today to be a short celebratory ride into John O'Groats, a short pootle to the Finish line.
We were due to meet our daughter and her partner at the finish by lunchtime so we set off about 10am in high spirits. The weather was Ok but not brilliant, a snse of rain in the air.
The miles were ticked off and the views continued to be great:
About a mile from John O'Groats we stopped and put on our silly hats that we bought in Fort William. Apologies to all the Scots reading this but no offence is meant :
Finally in ablaze of glory ( or not!) we reached John O'Groats and the Finish line.
Ness and Carl had left a bottle of Champagne on the Finish line which we drank extrememly quickly. Most welcome it was too.
We had done it!
Route:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46628327
940 miles covered with 47,233 feet of climbing over 18 days.
What a journey!
Finally here is the whole route thanks to Google Earth :
Now a week's rest near Aviemore mountain biking! Yes we did !!
Thanks to everyone who sponsored us on this ride and thank you to everyone for taking the time to read this.
nige
