After much training and chatting on the phone, - see my other blog on the preparations – we left our respective homes and headed for Cornwall. I knew that I was ready....and many thanks to Billy Stanford, who showed me the hills around Milton Abbas and Ibberton - I was leg-strong and confident that a 1 in 4 hill was not beyond me.
Day 1 - Home to Lands End.
The plan for the day is:
Get up early, pack the car with clothes, bike, camping kit, squeeze 2nd son Dan in the back somewhere, my lady Kath in the front with the day's food and drinks, a last minute check that maps, tickets for return journey by plane and train, and then it's a race to Penzanze. (Is it immature to want to arrive before 1st son Ben, his girlfriend Lyd and their house-mate, Torben)
Just before we set off, I had put my 'Prep' blog on to my Facebook page. As we approached Exeter, I received a text from my Clare to say 'you have not mentioned me in the blog!' I was gutted.....I had only mentioned those who were involved in the trip, and as Clare would not be joining us, I had absent-mindedly ommitted her.
I replied with a text begging for her to forgive her 'rubbish Dad' and reminded her that 'I love me' .... a private joke.
So, my lovely daughter, I mention the lovely Clare who was not able to be with us physically, but travelled with us mentally - and is in my heart and mind each day ... hugs n x x x to me, lol.
We headed for the tiny village of Treen, 2 miles from LE. Kath, Dan and I arrived early and we waited for the other car to arrive. Waited. Waited...and Waited. Was this a sign of things to come?
Eventually, they arrived (at the wrong camp site) READ THE DIRECTIONS KIDS!!! After a few telephone calls, they arrived, tents were put up, the kettle filled and brews were handed round. Treen campsite is a great place to see Cornwall at its best and it is only a 200 metre walk to the cliff edge where a pleasant walk may be enjoyed. A good place to stretch the legs after a 5 hour drive!
It is at this point, after the ride is done, that I am able to reflect on the 2 weeks away from home.
While doing so, having chatted with my Kath, it has become very obvious that I (along with Ben and Torben) have to offer a huge thanks to Lyd, without whom, the trip would have been a very different and more difficult challenge.
As with the others, Lyd gave up holiday time to be part of The Team. Unlike the three cyclists, who had the end to encourage us each day, Lyd's day was filled with many hours alone, plenty of tedious motorway driving, quite a bit of hunting for campsites and ofcourse the daily shopping for 'the three boys' - let alone attempting to bring peace to the camp after cross words had been swapped.
No-one could have given more - and the giving was done without a murmur of complaint. Lyd - thank you. There are very few like you.
So .... back to Treen ...
If you walk a short way, in a westerly direction, along the cliff-top walk you will arrive at the village of Porthcurno. It is from here that the first telephone wires were hooked up to the rest of the world.The Treen Farm Campsite is very friendly offering plenty of space, good clean toilets, showers and washing up facilities.
We paid £34 for the 5 of us, 2 cars and 2 tents which we reckoned to be not too bad for the end of May.
After a brew-up there was a bit of re-building and last minute adjustments to the bikes with Ben adding a (birthday present) tri-bar and Torben trying out (without success) a better geared wheel... Torben would live to (silently) regret his choice of gearing many times over during the next 3 days.Over the next two weeks I was amazed/ staggered/ impressed with his ability and willingness to, uncomplainingly, dig deep to haul himself up many very difficult hills in Cornwall and Devon and later in Bristol, Lancashire and Helmsdale (north Scotland)
Maybe the gearing was the reason for his crash (tiredness??) at the end of day 2 – or was there truly ‘a small boy standing in the road who was in need of saving from the wheels of an oncoming car’?
Sadly my ('favourite' – only!) daughter Clare was unable to join us all (as she is very very busy taking her Phys. Ed. teaching exams) but Dan kindly gave up some precious holiday time to be with Ben on his 25th birthday – a very kind gift from a very kind lad. Well done Dan – what a nice guy you are.
The sea air chilled yet more as the evening set in so we locked up the bikes and squeezed into the main tent. The kettle was warmed again, pasta cooked, a list for the shopping trip made for the morning’s run to Tesco (other supermarket stores are available) and then a tray of beer appeared.
Day 2 (Ben’s 25th birthday – and The Start!) - Lands End to Par
After the unwrapping of the prezzies for the 25 yr old, it was time to get changed into the cycling gear and a final photo before heading off on the last 2 miles to Lands End (by car) before heading north (by bike).
I stood in horror to listen to Ben, Lyd and Torben as they discussed maps and directions…… ‘Which way's north’? ....3 people with 2:1 degrees and not a map-reader between them!!!What had I let myself in for?
With Kath and Dan suggesting ‘maybe ….. away from the sea??!! ’ (with just a hint of sarcasm) one or two more photos were taken then it was off – well nearly.
The Team – ready; unsure; wary – fit!A tub of pasta in the rucksack, many bottles of much-needed water and electrolyte loaded up and a plan to get a few pasties on the way. One more ‘Happy Birthday’ to Ben.
A ‘Do-I-Look-Like-Lance-Armstrong’ pose – a Resounding ‘No’ from all within sight....gutted!
A final hug from the ever-supportive Kath, then we are off.
And it’s away - with Torben leading the way...is it much further???Stop!!!! – Tony turns back...to check that Kath has the car keys.
Yes!
Ok...Off we go!
The day start well and remained so ... and to add to the pleasure of finally getting started, joy of joys, the sun broke through the early morning mist. The Devon and Cornwall legs route was to take us along very quiet and gentle sloping roads….at first, and we enjoyed a gentle south-westerly on our backs. Luckily that wind would stay with us for the next 7 days.
It soon became obvious, to me, that neither Ben nor Torben had previously cycled within a group as we wobbled to avoid the cracks and holes in the road. My fault – I should have checked and given out some ‘useful hints’ of group riding.
‘The first man keeps an eye out and points to the side of the bike where the hole is, second man does the same and so on down the chain’. It worked most of the time – where concentration wasn’t broken, and I was guilty of that later more than most! Age? Fatigue? Plain naffed-off?
The route to Par was roughly 60 miles and after much messing around at Par, the campsite at Carlyon was found. It was during the 3 circles of the town that Torben crashed while taking a corner under a bridge. His version (which was believed by Lou, Lyd and Kath!!!) was that he had to 'jump off his bike to save a young lad who would otherwise have been hit by a car'.
It was an impressive crash though, swinging the bike to nearly right angles and nearly holding the slide before crashing heavily on to the badly gravelled and gritty road.
Mmmmm nice burns Torbs.But pleeeease – put it away, eh.
The find-a-campsite saga was to be repeated the next day and then we got in to the swing of things, with my Kath making the Google-searches at home and a few phone-calls during the evening before we were due to arrive in the area, and, in the main, the system worked well.
The camp site http://www.carlyonbay.net/ was brilliant and they generously knocked off a few pennies because we were cycling for charity. The site was beautiful, spacious, clean, very welcoming and we highly recommend it as a stopping place.
In the evening we drove into the local harbour village of Charlestown to eat at the Harbourside Inn http://www.connexions.co.uk/pierhousehotel/ . We enjoyed good food, good beer and good company to help celebrate the end of Ben’s 25th birthday.
Ave speed 13.5.
Distance 59
Day 2 - Par to Collumpton
The plan was to get to Exeter – but it quickly became obvious that the Google-search was not giving us the info we wanted for camp-sites in Exeter. So a repeat of Day 2 was in the making - resulting in our first 100 mile day. That in itself was OK, but the finish was a 1 in 5 hill just to the east of Collumpton on a campsite called Forest Glade http://www.campsitescaravansites.co.uk/campsite-caravan-site6160.asp
Torben stopped about 400 metres from the top, Ben about 200 metres from the top and I, with my Granny-geared Ridgeback, got to the top.....one for the oldies ....King of the Hills!
Again we met more kindness from campsite staff and we were given a discount on the bill because of the charity ride, and, most generously, the laundry room was kept open to allow some much-needed washing of cycling kit.
Once settled in to the campsite, Ben and Lyd went off to town to 'shop' at the town's Chinese Takeaway. It was while we were sat eating that Lyd mentioned that ‘there was another route up to the camp site that you could have used to avoid the final climb!!!!!’.
How Torben stayed sat and calm I have no idea! Another moment of amusement (at the 40 mile point) was Torben declaring that ‘we have gone 40 miles today and done no cycling’
To be fair on his bike with those gears, it probably felt like torture on the hills of Cornwall and Devon. Especially the two 1 in 7’s that we had to go up after missing a turn – thanks Ben (the Navigator for the trip) but with the use of maps, written directions and Blackberry maps we did pretty well I think.
To be fair to Ben, the turning was missed as we were speeding down a very steep hill –at least, that’s Ben’s story.
Ave speed: 13.3 mph
Distance: 94 miles
Day 3 – Collumpton to Bristol
We headed off (carefully) down the steep hill back into Collumpton and set off for Bristol using very flat and quiet roads nearly all of the way.
The route was brilliant again, and we were helped with a gentle southerly breeze nudging us along. One ‘sign’ that we were actually getting somewhere was the first road sign direction traffic to ‘The Midlands’....very cheering, but it came with the realisation that The North and then Scotland were both a long way off.Lyd left us to return to work as ‘the BBC need me’ so we had to fend for ourselves for 3 days before support could be provided by Torben’s girlfriend (Lou).
The loss of the support car meant the loss of cooking facilities and we became reliant on pasties – and I assure you after 3 days of pasties every hour and biscuits – you get more than a little tired of them.
The plan was to meet up in Bristol with my sister Clare and her family for a late afternoon snack - but our snack and water breaks were becoming longer and longer. So we arrived in Clifton, Bristol quiet late. It was the next day that we discussed the idea of trying 'cycle for 25 mins, have a 5 mins stop and then get going again'. I assure you that so much time is lost by not controlling the length of time being used up at the stops. On that 9 hour day we only cycled for 6 hrs and 15 mins!!!
A personal highlight on this day was that I was able to get to see (close up) the spectacular Clifton Bridge – the first of its kind – built by the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunell to allow movement across the Clifton Forge. http://www.clifton-suspension-bridge.org.uk/On arrival at Bristol it was obvious that stopping with Clare was a non-starter and Torben came to the rescue by contacting an old school friend (Kate) who, at no-notice, very generously gave up her lounge for 3 sweaty cyclists and their bikes for the evening.
Kate and her friends are a fine bunch, great company, chatty, amusing and generous with their space and time, and, for me, that evening was one of the highlights of the whole trip.
The biggest laugh of the evening came when Kate was telling us all about part of the medical-course that she is taking. As an aid to learning, the students are required to carry out simulations of incidents (roleplay). Once Kate had finished telling her story I attempted to show support for her approval of idea of simulations by declaring, to a room of 10 or so people ‘I like roleplay’.
Much laughter and more than a little red-faced embarrassment for Dad.
Ave speed: 14.1
Distance: 79
Day 4 – Bristol to Ludlow
Being right on target (timewise) things were looking good and with a little effort, over the next few days we were hoping to get ahead of schedule if the weather and wind held up.
We woke to sun and another southerly wind. Shaking off the after effects of the previous night's drinking we were encouraged by Kate to tuck into her muesli, coffee, tea and milk. What a lady!
Then back on the road, up to the heath to take on the few more hills of Bristol before heading for Aust and the bridge over the Severn River into Wales and on to Chepstow.
One of my plans for the day was to stop at the bottom of the valley at Tintern to take in the beautiful sight of Tintern Abbey just outside Chepstow. We stopped for a photo-shoot then jumped back on the bike for the lovely ride down in to Monmouth.My directions took us on to Monmouth using A466 – and there in town, we became lost!!
Due to my poor map-reading we ended up on the most horrible track of road one could imagine, 2 miles off course, on roads that are ideal for training if going to the mountains but most certainly not ideal for our trip.
My thanks to the other two for not giving me any grief for my tiring error.
After some sensible map reading we made our way back to the A466 and had a very well-earned long rest.
Ben suggested that ‘as the road appears pretty quiet and is in good condition, why not stay on the A466 for now and make up time’? All were in agreement and we speedily headed for Hereford on the surprisingly quiet main road and enjoy a flatter-than-expected route.
The day ended with a stopover at Wolverton TravelLodge 5 miles south of Ludlow ( very good accommodation) and a few steps across the road, a pub where meals were large, beer plentiful and service provided with smiles. Who could ask for more?
During the meal – Torben piped up with ‘did you know, polar bears are right handed’! How useful, thank you Torben! I guess for a lad who has lived in Greenland that may be useful information, but on a summers evening in Ludlow the only response was a laughter and ‘where did that come from’?
Ave speed: 13.7
Distance: 100 miles
Day 5 – Ludlow to Northwich
We awoke to see the sun shining and the wind blowing a southerly yet again....could this luck continue? Ahead of us was a very long days riding....lots of pasties and other high carb’ food would be needed .... and then we would hoped to meet up with Lou-the-support(2) at the camp-site.
The lovely Lou.The route was mainly flat and speedy. As we left our accommodation, the A49 was surprisingly quiet so for the 1st time we abandoned the pre-arranged ‘quiet-rode’ route/directions and instead, we stuck to the flat and well-surfaced main road. This was the 1st day that Ben and Torben led off and very quickly they both needed to be reminded that taking off at 20 mph was crazy – ‘if we want to survive the day, let alone the week we have to slowly build up the speed’. There would be some very cross words later in the trip about the same issue....youthful enthusiasm?
We had a quick stop for food and drink at the famous Shropshire beauty spot of Church Stretton and, for Ben and myself, a cheerful time chatting about our occasional visits when we lived at the local RAF Unit, RAF Shawbury. It was here many years earlier, along with some schoolmates, that Ben had completed one part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award (Bronze).
In Shrewsbury the now-saddle-sore lads suggested we head for the Tesco superstore to pick up gel-seat-covers, and, yet more pasties!!! The stop in Shrewsbury allowed me to once again meet up with a former work mate and squash partner, Peter Howells – or Punky Pete as my kids came to know him – because he runs a couple of punk bands.
With the seat covers fitted, Ben decided that it would be best to wrap a bunjee cord around the nose of the saddle ‘to stop it moving’!!!Remembering he is already saddle sore, and against my advice he insisted he would be fine!
Apparently it would be ‘no different to the tape I had wrapped around my seat cover’! Oh really....we’ll see! And within 10 miles the cord was removed – resulting in more than a little mockery - which was taken in very good style.
Having said byebye to Punky Pete we headed northward once again to the village of Loppington - where we would pass the family home of Ben’s girlfriend, Lydia.None of us could decide if it was the temporary toilet for the building contractors or the two cyclists pictured that most spoiled the photo. Or maybe it is the massive (filled up) shopping basket strapped to the back of my bike?!
So, on we went to Whitchurch and after a couple of miles of annoying slopes and poor surfaces, we diverted back on to the A49 in search of an easier ride.
With a still-following wind we headed at fine pace to Nantwich, stopping only briefly to give, by phone, Lou directions to the camp site and offer our apologies ‘but we expect to arrive much later than planned....sorry’.
Forest View camp site http://www.ukcampsites.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=5686 was our target, 84 miles and too long with the longer than necessary food and water stops ....
There were a couple of cheeky slopes as we approached the campsite but as compensation we were pleased to find a very good pub (and great food) right next to the campsite. Bargain!
Much food was enjoyed with a great landlord and landlady who offered much enthusiastic chat and a very good price for the food and campsite along with the free loan of an electric hook up cable.
The biggest laugh of the day came when Lou was asked by Torben to feel the weight of his bike (very light) then mine (very heavy). Lou who is quite dainty could not lift mine ... although, to be fair to her, it was still loaded with my clothing, tools, bike locks, rocks collected along the way and water bottles.
‘Why have you got a shopping trolley on the back’? Huge roars of laughter and the bike became known as the shopping trolley thereafter.
Ave speed: 13.1
Distance: 93 miles
Day 6 - Northwich to Lancaster (and The North)
Today it was agreed that the stops were still too long and too frequent and we had to keep a check on it. With that agreed we set off at a sensible pace from the start and good progress was made. The wind was a westerly – and quite brisk. It neither helped nor hindered but it brought on the first bout of rain and big winds later in the day.
The start had been delayed quite a bit by Lou who was feeling less than confident with here ability to find our destination, but with much good work by Torben, we sent her on her say with a smile. Massive thanks and praise go to her for over-riding her fears and bottling up her lack of confidence.
As with the previous day, we stayed on the larger roads and made good progress. We had my Kath at home doing more Googling and phoning around to find us a good place to stay that was near to our route.
With many apologies to us she declared that she couldn’t find anything we hoped for and gave us directions to New Parkside Farm. http://maps.Google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=new+park+farm+lancaster&fb=1&split=1&gl=uk&view=text&latlng=4433526567430877034
We were disappointed to hear that we would be needing to travel quite a way off route but beggars cannot be choosers.
As we arrived in Lancaster and made our way to the campsite, we found to our great pleasure that, contrary to Kath’s words, the camp site was bang on the route we wanted (A683). To add to our happiness, the site manager allowed us a reduced price and we settled down to a cup of tea/coffee/beer knowing we had achieved a good day's cycling .... and we had found a place with great facilities again – and we were now 15 miles ahead of schedule.
Once camp was set we piled in to Lancaster and ate and drank well at an Italian restaurant before retiring for another drink or two.
Ave speed: 12.7
Distance: 81
Day 7 – Lancaster – Ecclefechan (Scotland) – ½ day ahead!
We awoke to big westerly winds (which was fine) and lots of rain (which was not). Added to that combination we knew we were about to face the (supposed) horror of the climb up to the town of Shap and you will no doubt understand why we were all feeling pretty low at breakfast time.
We set off rigged up in full wet-weather gear, grateful that we had not needed to be so dressed before now.
After several longish and hard climbs we came to the bottom of the long-awaited 'horror-climb' to Shap which, we were to find, was quite gentle and nothing too much to worry about. I did wonder what we would have encountered if we had chosen to follow the A6 out of Lancaster and whether or not we could have avoided the big hills before the ‘climb’ up to Shap … probably .... I shall investigate for the next time I do the LE-JoG.
Once at the top, the sun broke through, wet weather clothes were removed and to help us once again, the wind reverted to a southerly. We made good progress on to Carlisle only slowed slightly by the climbs around Penrith. Torben was having more and more problems with his chain slipping and once in Carlisle we were lucky to find a brilliant bike shop on the main street, just before the main lights where the A6 ends.
The shop is called Palace Cycles. http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/dealers/dealer_outlet_details.php?outlet=59
They kindly kept the shop open to allow Torben to have his gears and chain replaced – and even offered us all a cup of tea. Quality people providing a great and friendly service. Many thanks guys.
With an improved drive system for Torben, we left Carlisle behind us and headed for Scotland avoiding the busy A74 choosing to add a few miles by going through Longtown then back to Gretna. I saw the border as we topped a small climb and Ben just beat Torben in the final 200 metre dash to be the first to Scotland. Our route took us along the very bike-friendly B7076 and, late in the day, we finally made it to Ecclefechan and yet another lovely camp site, with the added bonus of the campsite being right on the road so no time was lost that evening or the next morning.
http://maps.Google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&view=text&hl=en&gl=uk&q=ecclefechan+camp+site&ie=UTF8&sll=55.076933,-3.293893&sspn=0.120377,0.352853&latlng=55058338,-3260541,12448619229107276199&ei=uFgtSp6YJqC8jAfF6tzpDg&cd=1
By good fortune this campsite also had a pub along side. To my pleasure and Ben’s displeasure, we were also able to catch most of the European Cup Final involving Manchester United losing to Barcelona. It’s always good to see Man Utd losing.
Ave speed: 13.6
Distance: 102
Day 8 – Ecclefechan to Luss
A cool day with a westerly wind...we had southerly winds for all days except 3 and only on the last 20 mile day did we get anything like a headwind and that a NE (cold but gentle). I awoke to find my right knee was very sore, so I set off slowly and in low spirits with.
Lou was not enjoying the idea of another long day alone and a long drive on the motorway and looking forward even less to the very long return drive home to Nottingham. For someone who does not enjoy driving long distances Lou gave much to the trip, and, out of everyone, I believe that Lou gave most and my huge thanks to her for that.
Like her man, Torben, Lou is a good and giving person and a pleasure to be with and they both made a very pleasant addition to the team.
So, we headed on northward, eventually getting to the edges of the sprawling suburbs of Glasgow where the quality of roads became very poor, road signs were less than helpful and both Ben’s and my tyres began to fail.
On top of that, within a mile of the centre of the city, the road signs failed to give direction, Ben was unsure where we were on the written directions and the Blackberry mapping system was no help either! So for 20 minutes or so, Ben and Torben turned their beloved machines this way and that, with me becoming increasingly fed up (and cold) until rather grumpily I told them that ‘we are going this way....let’s go’.
Fortunately for us all, I luckily chose the correct road and after a brief stop for a snack we were heading along the Clyde and picking up signs for Loch Lomond.
Having avoided the horrible climb out of Glasgow, (by taking the left at the bottom of the hill), we joined the very busy A82 to Loch Lomond in search of Luss camp site (and the midges). http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=4573
After yet another puncture (or ‘disappointment’ – as Ben and Torben prefer to call the ‘P’ word) for Ben and minutes after, I clipped a large stone and my already tired front tyre began to bulge as if it had caught a virus.My rear tyre must have clipped the same stone as at the same time I had an instant flat and, on stopping, we found a split about 3 inches long alongside the rim. The other two reckoned (probably correctly) that it was the weight I was carrying was too much for a thin (700x30) tyre.
After replacing the tube, the replacement immediately exploded whilst inflating the thing for the first time. We all agreed that I was in need of new tyres and a visit to Halfords first thing the next day was a must for me.
After another rubbish end of day with the Blackberry map sending us every which way except the correct one, me limping in on part inflated tyres to save the inner tube with a very very sore right, knee humour was in short supply. Sadly, maybe as a result of the rubbish trek through Glasgow, Lou’s bad day or/and the midges, we forgot to cook ourselves pasta for the next day....and I would suffer for that lack of food the following day. So we all went to bed feeling pretty rubbish and not fed too well either.
We took a little comfort that we were now 5 hours ahead of the schedule and by Glen Coe we would have less of a need to push along with long days.
Ave speed: 12.5
Distance: 102
Day 9 – Luss to Glen Coe (1 day ahead)
We woke early, breakfasted and then Torben and I headed back into Dumbarton to find Halfords and two fresh tyres. Along with two more tubes, £40 pounds poorer we headed back to sort out my wheels and then break camp. To my huge annoyance one of the new tyres was deformed and I was very grateful to my Ben who kindly allowed me the use of his very narrow spare for the day.
As we set off along the A82 we said cheerio to Lou who was heading home to Nottingham as soon as Lyd arrived to take on the support-car duties once again.
There were more enjoyable views to be seen each time we stopped for a snack.The road continued to be either poor or extremely dangerous in its condition and with the shabby driving of some of the sometimes impatient drivers our first 2 hours of cycling were to our liking. Eventually the surface improved, the road straightened out, traffic passed by more easily and with seemingly more patience. To cheer us yet further, the sun shone and the wind returned to south-westerly.
The day went very well - if you exclude my very painful knee and Ben’s two punctures. He was to suffer 8 in total...lesson to anyone...do the trip on fit-for-purpose tyres. The expense of 8 tubes is not worth the ‘saving’ by using worn out tyres.After 3 longish climbs and the resulting very very long downhills, 30 miles from Glen Coe, we pulled in to a lay-by for a stop to be followed in by Lyd who had a Tupperware box full of flapjack ‘for her boys’ . To her amazement we ate all of the flapjack in one go. ‘I thought I made a lot – but obviously not’ she said. But, it was very very nice. Thanks Lyd.
The Loch Lomond to Glen Coe ride is one of the most scenic rides I have ever done. Nearly every corner gave us yet another spectacular view, and if we had been in less of a rush to get the day over I think we would have taken double the time and used up the memories on all of our cameras. I for one shall return for a more leisurely look around the area.We went at a fair pace over the final miles sweeping down into Glen Coe at over 30mph. Lyd had given us pretty good directions – ( the Blackberry had been relegated to the ‘unreliable’ pocket) and we easily found the campsite at Invercoe. http://www.caravancampingsites.co.uk/argyllandbute/invercoe.htm
With me now struggling to walk normally, Lyd gave me some Ibuprofen tablets that began to help by the time we went in to Ballachulish to find some food. I won’t share the name of the pub, but the service was poor and the food not exactly plentiful.
Once camp was set, we spent the first hour or so taking the bikes apart, fresh brakes for Torben and the spaer tyres moved from Lyd’s car to my bike and Ben’s.Yet again, for no good reason, the on-the-road-pasta was not prepared by any of us for the next day’s cycling up to Loch Ness and the two days of lack of food was to leave me extremely tired for the rest of the trip. We had also run out of squash for my sugar/salt drinks and I was close to shut-down by the final day. Lesson learned! ! !
The food issue has been a great lesson for me (and hopefully the two lads) ...to ensure that there is a rosta to make/arrange for the food for the next day! Additionally, there has to be an agreement on starting off speeds, how long to take the lead, top speeds and ride and rest periods
Ave speed: 13.8
Distance: 56 miles
Day 10 - Glen Coe to Inverness (The Caledonian Canal)
This was one of the days to which I had most looked forward and it was not to let me down. We again awoke to sun, a blue sky and a south-westerly wind. I was beginning to feel that someone special was looking after me/us. What a shame they did not take care of sore knees and arrange for food to be prepped – but one can’t have everything, eh.
We left the beautiful Invercoe and headed for Fort William, to where, one day, I will return to ‘do’ Ben Nevis. The road, traffic and wind were all favourable and my drugged up knee were all keeping us moving along very well. I had a ‘disappointment’ with a massive blow out after only 10 minutes after which, thankfully, we had a trouble free day.
Not far from Fort Augustus there is a swing bridge crossing the ‘canal’ where we were halted as a trawler moved up stream towards Loch Ness. From a previous visit to the area, I recognised the tow-path that led to Fort Augustus and we diverted from the busy A82 on to the slightly bumpy 7 mile route alongside the canal.
After a stop at the local store for pasties and ice-lollies (yes, it was THAT warm !!!) we once again bumped into Lyd who had just bought some snacks and as we tucked in, I noticed a game of cricket IN SCOTLAND!!! Is the world going mad? What ever next?
Once we had said our adieus to Lyd, I reminded the guys that we were about to take on what would seem like the worst climb of the trip, which, after the first two days may have seemed to them to be a little far-fetched, but after 10 days of cycling, the energy and legs are not as they are at the start. We were wiser bikers by now and headed off without haste and got stuck in to the climb, which did indeed seem endless, but as way of compensation, we were treated to yet more spectacular views.
Once over the top we headed for Dores and the Loch Ness beach from where there is a constant camera watch for ‘Nessie’.Lyd had gone ahead to find a campsite (now closed) near Dores and had called to suggest that we all meet at the Dores Inn ….. to give us the bad news. She apologetically told us that ‘the nearest one is another 5 miles’ .....in fact it was closer to 10 miles (those damn Blackberry maps!!!) in Bught (on the southern edge of Inverness). Lyd’s daily searching for campsites saved us a huge amount of hassle and cycling - for that alone we were all very grateful.
http://www.invernesscaravanpark.com/
We were once again treated like royalty by the people on the site, allowed cheaper than normal rates and given permission to choose our own place to pitch tents. Although the site was virtually in the town/city next to a swim/theme park and had an unusual feel about it, we were comfortable and safe enough.
Lyd and the guys walked in to town for a meal while I nursed my sore knee and tried to catch up on my carb-loading and grabbed an early night.
Ave speed: 14.1
Distance: 81 miles
Day 11 - Inverness to Durnoch – a shortish (and painful) ride of 60 miles
Once again we awoke to good weather and soon after we were on our way, keen to get an early start and therefore an early finish. Topped up with pills, my knee was feeling OK, but my legs were heavy and without much energy - lack of carbs - foolish me.
Soon after leaving Inverness for some reason I ended up crashing, luckily ending up on the pavement rather than the road. After carefully carrying out the ‘is everything still working ok’ I sat up to find my bike gloves torn to pieces, my left knee badly grazed, and my left elbow very cut-up.
Having picked out the grit and washed away most of the dirt from the cuts I re-adjusted the handle-bars and climbed back on, though in reality I wished only to sit down and sleep. Shock???
The rest of the day was a ‘bloody’ mess for me. Each time we stopped I washed down my arms and leg cleaning away the drying blood. 5 days on, the yellowing bruises are appearing on my arms, legs and chest, the cuts are healing well but the sore bits are still sore. Lesson – Pay attention while riding!
The pre-ride Google maps (terrain) promised a mainly flat day and, yet again, we enjoyed day of good wind and blue skies. On arriving at Dornoch we a found a welcoming site and the prettiest site on the route - set amongst the sand dunes, close to the beach and plenty of space. http://www.dornochcaravans.co.uk/
Having arrived at about 4 o’clock - quite early (for us) - I set about patching up my cuts, Ben sorted out some food to take with us on the following day (good lad!) and then he headed for his tent for some kip.
Torben stripped his bike to replace his pedals (again) and the bearings for the pedal-crank. Once patched up I was making some adjustments to my bike, I noticed my rear tyre was half flat. After checking the tube and tyre I found no reason for the flat so simply replaced the tube – and hoped that would be OK. Within ½ mile the next morning I had to stop to fix a rear flat tyre this time finding a piece of glass deep inside the tyre-tread! Lesson – Check properly!
Lyd and the guys went in to town for a walk and a beer with a promise to look for a pasty or 3 for me, and I took myself for a kip to nurse both of my knees. They returned without the hoped-for food, so I made do with a bowl of muesli and a large glass of wine. Silly me. Lesson – Don’t be silly.
On their return from the village, we were able to enjoy the late evening even more when Torben was rewarded for his honesty and kindness with a crate of Boddingtons. He had earlier found a (very expensive) watch in the washroom and had searched out the rightful owner to whom the watch was returned. Top man Torbs!I think that the wine and beer stopped the pills masking the pain in my knees because I was to wake to very sore knees.
Ave speed: 12.8
Distance: 51
Day 12 - Durnoch to Wick
The day was much the same as day 11. We had a relatively late start, blue skies, flattish roads but a gentle easterly breeze.
Before we headed off I was fortunate to find myself chatting to a local chap who confirmed my pre-trip reading that there were a couple of big hills near Helmsdale – ‘that some vehicles find it hard to get up’!
Armed with the knowledge that there was a little more hard work to do, we set up awaiting the climbs. We were not let down. Just north of Helmsdale there is a very long and wearing hill followed by a sharp drop the other side, and then yet another long climb – just to finish you off.
At the top of the 2nd climb Ben and I had another ‘heated discussion’ about the lead bike keeping a regular pace allowing the 3 of us to rest from the wind so we would be re-freshed for our turn.
We did however manage to get to see more great scenery as we went along..and especially moving for me was this glorious monument to the Royal Marine Commando's perched on top of a hill - a former? training ground of theirs. Good people, truly deserving of the highest respect!
Fatigue from lack of carb’s and the pain in both knees was not helping my patience with Ben and there was quite a tension as a result.
After the Helmsdale Hills we carried on to Wick and the final campsite for the ride. The down side of the day was a 5 miles stretch where we met a very chilly sea-mist.....which we soon forgot with the highlight of the day doing the last 10 miles tucked in behind a tractor that crept passed us doing about 20 mph, and I, being lead bike at the time, slotted in behind it and was mainly using my brakes to stop myself running in the back of it all the way in to town.
The recently reopened campsite http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=6335
was very quiet with a couple of walkers doing the North-South route and they were full of questions about what route we used and what to they were going to encounter. The smaller highlight of the day was the showers. They were/are best showers on the route without ANY doubt.
Kath was due to join us late that evening and, naturally, I was looking forward to that very much, especially as our conversations and texts had been kept to a minimum because of lack of battery power on all of our phones, despite us having re-charged a few times enroute – and I missed her.
A (rubbish) meal of sausage in batter and chips from the only chippy in Wick was easily forgettable and had I been less hungry I would have stuck to muesli again... but finish the ‘food’ I did and after a few cups of coffee and a glass of wine I headed for the railway station to greet Kath.
Ave speed: 13.1
Distance: 63 miles
Day 13 - Wick to JoG
We awoke to cloudy skies and a chill in the air for the first time on the trip. We were all up early as Kath and I had to get the 12.00 train to head south. So feeling a little worse for wear from a late evening we bikers set off to finish the last 20 miles with Kath and Lyd passing us a couple of times to take some photos and meet us at JoG.
As the girls made their penultimate stop, 2 miles from the finish, Ben and I nearly collided as he pulled across me, without warning, to stop beside their car.Lesson - If you are going to move off line - INDICATE!!! I was relieved that I/we didn’t crash and fall again as I was in enough pain already.
Lyd and Kath gave the three of us a lovely welcome and I was especially touched to read 'Happy 50th Tony' chalked on the roundabout - Ben's idea I was told later. Thanks mate. You are duly forgiven for nearly killing me 2 miles back!
After a couple of photos Kath and I had to cut short the celebrations so I could quickly change, get in the support car and head back to the train station and Aviemore for a night out as a group to enjoy my 50th birthday evening.Ben and Torben cycled back to Wick and, to their great satisfaction, notched up the 1000 miles cycled.
Ave speed: who cares (12ish mph)
Distance: 21 miles
Overall average speed: 13.3 with 8 days of very helpful southerly breezes!!
Total Distance: 980
Kath and I had a good train ride south taking only 3 hours and we waited for the others to make the 200 mile trip /5 hour trip by car. Once at the camp site the midge-cream was handed out and we opened the wine, champers, prezzies and cards.
Then it was off to town for an eat-all-you-can Italian, back to the campsite for more vino, then bed.
Day 14 – Home
Kath and I had long train journey south early the next morning then a flight home and the others a very long car journey but atleast there were more great views to enjoy:
Homeward bound and yet more lovely views to help pass the time – that and a pack of cards.Day 15
Back in my car to do a return-journey to Nottingham to collect all of my gear from Ben's place.... and I assure you that the two days of travelling left me more fatigued than the 12 days of cycling!
Would I do it again? Yes, even with Ben, lol.....as long as he promises to use good tyres, use manageable pace and doesn’t run me off the road.
Althought I doubt there will be, if there is a next time for a long trip for Ben and myself, a few things would change - the food rosta and better chat about speed, teamwork and close-quarter-cycling.
As for the three of us, I think that our strength on the hills and overall speed was excellent - each day averaging good speeds considering the distances.... and my age.
Cost for Kath and me was:
£200 fuel
£100 flights
£50 Trains
£150 bike parts and repairs
£80 post-ride momento
£120 meals out
£70 food en route
£70 campsite fees
Plus bits and pieces I have no doubt forgotten.
Next stop – Barcelona 2010 for a trip to Paris - hopefully with Clare along as support if not riding. Love me lots, lol, x x x.
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