Day 3 Monday 11th May
Okehampton - Tiverton Parkway
Susan took me across Dartmoor to yesterday's finishing point and I set off into the east wind. Lovely Devon scenery on B and A roads via Crediton and Tiverton to Tiverton Parkway Station. All the time the wind was full into my face taking so much energy. The sun shone but if only I'd been going the other way. Stopped for lunch in a field with lovely views over the Devon countryside. The bike was locked up at the station and I took the train home to Totnes.
Stats: Distance 38.4 Cumulative 137.4 Moving average 9.5mph Time moving 4hrs 1min Start 0945 End 1445
Day 4 Tuesday 12th May
Tiverton Parkway - Bristol
The 7.30 train from Totnes got me back to Tiverton for 0845. I was on the A38 almost the whole way to Bristol - it was much busier than expected. I was expecting a quiet A road by-passed by the M5. The wind was again very strong, perhaps 30mph, full in my face. Even cycling across the Somerset Levels it was a struggle. When I turned northwards the wind seemed to turn too. Through the Mendips the road rose to over 600 feet past Bristol airport - all very tiring. Eventually I reached Clifton Suspension Bridge via Long Ashton and Ashton Court - what a relief. Stayed with Albert, a friend of 55 years, and wife Pramila in Clifton
Stats: Distance 63.8 miles Cumulative 201.2 Moving average 9.8mph Time moving 6hrs 31mins Start 0855 End 1700
Day 5 Weds 13th May
Bristol to Hereford (Fawley)
Damp and drizzly but no wind - wonderful. The ride north out of Bristol was via Cribbs Causeway (past 305 Passage Road - my shared rented house 40 years ago). Just over an hour to the Severn Bridge then up the Wye valley. A hot chocolate at Tintern Abbey was very welcome to warm up. The route from then on was was relatively quiet and with some lovely scenery. Stopped at Monmouth for a bit of shopping - extra fleece needed! (Probably slowed my average speed as the GPS recoreded my every slow step) The ride out on the A466 rose to 650 feet but little traffic - then down to the Wye and round to Albert’s cottage. What a beautiful place right on the bank of the Wye. The best day yet in spite of the drizzle and the cold.
Stats: Distance 51.5 Cumulative 252.7 Moving average 10.4mph Time moving 4hrs 58mins Start 0850 End 1615
Day 6 Thurs 14th
Hereford (Fawley) to Shrewsbury
A pleasant days cycling through Hereford and Shropshire - overcast with a bit of drizzle at times. Along B roads from Albert’s to Hereford the A4110 to join the busy A49 just north of Craven Arms. a detour through Church Stretton gave a break from the busy road - situated between the Long Mynd and Wenlock Edge, both invisible in the cloud. Arrived at Shrewsbury on cycle paths and paused in town before staying with Andrew and Loes Pattison (church contacts)
Stats: Distance 68.2 Cumulative 320.9 Moving average 10.9mph Time moving 5hrs 59mins Start 0850 End 1615
Day 7 Fri 15th
Shrewsbury to Willaston (Wirral)
Manoeuvred around Shrewsbury on cycle paths. Drizzle most of the morning but lovely level route on A528 not too busy. Stopped at Ellesmere to buy lunch - it looked lovely beside the lake. Through Wrexham, very run down, and then traffic got busier except through Hawarden. Took the parallel B road across the Dee parallel to A550. Then A550, narrow and busy, to A540. Arrived at Nigel (friend of 50 years) and Clare at Willaston not very tired.
Stats: Distance 51.7 Cumulative 372.6 Moving average 11.5mph Time moving 4hrs 30 mins Start 0830 End 1400
Day 8 Rest day Visited Chester by bus
Day 9, Sun 17th
Willaston to Lancaster
Set off with Nigel with a strong following wind all the way to the Birkenhead Ferry. Much derelict land. caught the 0905 ferry across the Mersey to a deserted Liverpool. After navigating through the city, I set off north on the A59 stopping at Ormskirk for a loo stop at Morrisons. It was mainly a following wind but sometimes from the right but a flat route giving a good average of 12.8mph. had to shelter in a church lytch gate just north of Preston for prolonged shower. Arrived early in Lancaster so had a long wait until 6 to arrive at scheduled time at David Beddings (church contact). Enjoyed a prolonged hot choc in Costa's. rain between 5 and 6.
Stats: Distance 66.5 Cumulative 435.6 Moving average 12.3 Time moving 5hrs 7 mins Start 0810 End 1510
Day 10 Mon 18th
Lancaster to Penrith
Met Mark, brother in law, at Lancaster station - drizzling. Set off and found a good canal path to Carnforth. mark had the first of 3 punctures on new tyres. Punctures had to be mended and new tube bought in Kendall. Slow progress in the morning. The canal path became mud and we had to take to the A65. Some back roads via Burneside before getting to Kirkstone Pass which climbs to 1500 feet. Not too bad some walking for me but Mark ok with low gears. Wonderful run down to Patterdale. Wind behind all day. Lovely ride along Ullswater. Arrived Penrith Station perfect timing for Mark’s train back to Lancaster and meal and accommodation at Thelma and Graham Allen (church contacts). It was good to have Mark’s company today.
Stats: Distance 61.1 Cumulative 496.7 Moving average 10.4mph Time moving 5hrs 34mins Start 0850 End 1800
Day 11 Tues 19th
Penrith to Dumfries
After a cooked breakfast I pedaled off up the A6, a good wide fairly quiet road with a following wind – made it to Carlisle non-stop 17.8 miles at 14.5mph. Enjoyed a Costa coffee before setting off for Scotland. Crossed the border at Gretna – worth a photo. Turned west on the B road to Annan and Dumfries. Wind on the “beam” so buffeted and rather tiring. Sunny and very breezy spending time beside the river at Dumfries. Annan and other places along the Solway rather run down. Stayed with Lesley and Graeme Tait (church contacts)
Stats: Distance 59.7 Cumulative 556.4 Moving average 11.9 Time moving 4hrs 33mins Start 0825 End 1500
Day 12 Wed 20th May
Dumfries to Kilmarnock
Early start out on to the A76 – very busy. On advice took B roads via Monaive. Lovely Borders scenery. Very quiet roads, sometimes no cars for 20 minutes. Two climbs of 1,000 feet dropping in between to 500 feet at Carsphairn. After Patna I took B roads again through Drongan to Kilmarnock. This latter part was a series of ups and downs across rolling hills. I was trying to get the 14.55 from Kilmarnock but missed it by 10 minutes and had ¾ hour wait. Changed stations at Glasgow for fast train to Edinburgh. At the end of a long day the 5 mile ride uphill to Simon’s barracks was very tiring but after a hot bath the 3 course mess dinner was very welcome. This was the longest day so far but probably the best cycling.
Stats: Distance 68.9 miles (plus 5 in Edinburgh) Cumulative 625.3 Moving average 11.2mph Time moving 6hrs 10mins Start 0800 End 1505
Okehampton - Tiverton Parkway
Susan took me across Dartmoor to yesterday's finishing point and I set off into the east wind. Lovely Devon scenery on B and A roads via Crediton and Tiverton to Tiverton Parkway Station. All the time the wind was full into my face taking so much energy. The sun shone but if only I'd been going the other way. Stopped for lunch in a field with lovely views over the Devon countryside. The bike was locked up at the station and I took the train home to Totnes.
Stats: Distance 38.4 Cumulative 137.4 Moving average 9.5mph Time moving 4hrs 1min Start 0945 End 1445
Day 4 Tuesday 12th May
Tiverton Parkway - Bristol
The 7.30 train from Totnes got me back to Tiverton for 0845. I was on the A38 almost the whole way to Bristol - it was much busier than expected. I was expecting a quiet A road by-passed by the M5. The wind was again very strong, perhaps 30mph, full in my face. Even cycling across the Somerset Levels it was a struggle. When I turned northwards the wind seemed to turn too. Through the Mendips the road rose to over 600 feet past Bristol airport - all very tiring. Eventually I reached Clifton Suspension Bridge via Long Ashton and Ashton Court - what a relief. Stayed with Albert, a friend of 55 years, and wife Pramila in Clifton
Stats: Distance 63.8 miles Cumulative 201.2 Moving average 9.8mph Time moving 6hrs 31mins Start 0855 End 1700
Day 5 Weds 13th May
Bristol to Hereford (Fawley)
Damp and drizzly but no wind - wonderful. The ride north out of Bristol was via Cribbs Causeway (past 305 Passage Road - my shared rented house 40 years ago). Just over an hour to the Severn Bridge then up the Wye valley. A hot chocolate at Tintern Abbey was very welcome to warm up. The route from then on was was relatively quiet and with some lovely scenery. Stopped at Monmouth for a bit of shopping - extra fleece needed! (Probably slowed my average speed as the GPS recoreded my every slow step) The ride out on the A466 rose to 650 feet but little traffic - then down to the Wye and round to Albert’s cottage. What a beautiful place right on the bank of the Wye. The best day yet in spite of the drizzle and the cold.
Stats: Distance 51.5 Cumulative 252.7 Moving average 10.4mph Time moving 4hrs 58mins Start 0850 End 1615
Day 6 Thurs 14th
Hereford (Fawley) to Shrewsbury
A pleasant days cycling through Hereford and Shropshire - overcast with a bit of drizzle at times. Along B roads from Albert’s to Hereford the A4110 to join the busy A49 just north of Craven Arms. a detour through Church Stretton gave a break from the busy road - situated between the Long Mynd and Wenlock Edge, both invisible in the cloud. Arrived at Shrewsbury on cycle paths and paused in town before staying with Andrew and Loes Pattison (church contacts)
Stats: Distance 68.2 Cumulative 320.9 Moving average 10.9mph Time moving 5hrs 59mins Start 0850 End 1615
Day 7 Fri 15th
Shrewsbury to Willaston (Wirral)
Manoeuvred around Shrewsbury on cycle paths. Drizzle most of the morning but lovely level route on A528 not too busy. Stopped at Ellesmere to buy lunch - it looked lovely beside the lake. Through Wrexham, very run down, and then traffic got busier except through Hawarden. Took the parallel B road across the Dee parallel to A550. Then A550, narrow and busy, to A540. Arrived at Nigel (friend of 50 years) and Clare at Willaston not very tired.
Stats: Distance 51.7 Cumulative 372.6 Moving average 11.5mph Time moving 4hrs 30 mins Start 0830 End 1400
Day 8 Rest day Visited Chester by bus
Day 9, Sun 17th
Willaston to Lancaster
Set off with Nigel with a strong following wind all the way to the Birkenhead Ferry. Much derelict land. caught the 0905 ferry across the Mersey to a deserted Liverpool. After navigating through the city, I set off north on the A59 stopping at Ormskirk for a loo stop at Morrisons. It was mainly a following wind but sometimes from the right but a flat route giving a good average of 12.8mph. had to shelter in a church lytch gate just north of Preston for prolonged shower. Arrived early in Lancaster so had a long wait until 6 to arrive at scheduled time at David Beddings (church contact). Enjoyed a prolonged hot choc in Costa's. rain between 5 and 6.
Stats: Distance 66.5 Cumulative 435.6 Moving average 12.3 Time moving 5hrs 7 mins Start 0810 End 1510
Day 10 Mon 18th
Lancaster to Penrith
Met Mark, brother in law, at Lancaster station - drizzling. Set off and found a good canal path to Carnforth. mark had the first of 3 punctures on new tyres. Punctures had to be mended and new tube bought in Kendall. Slow progress in the morning. The canal path became mud and we had to take to the A65. Some back roads via Burneside before getting to Kirkstone Pass which climbs to 1500 feet. Not too bad some walking for me but Mark ok with low gears. Wonderful run down to Patterdale. Wind behind all day. Lovely ride along Ullswater. Arrived Penrith Station perfect timing for Mark’s train back to Lancaster and meal and accommodation at Thelma and Graham Allen (church contacts). It was good to have Mark’s company today.
Stats: Distance 61.1 Cumulative 496.7 Moving average 10.4mph Time moving 5hrs 34mins Start 0850 End 1800
Day 11 Tues 19th
Penrith to Dumfries
After a cooked breakfast I pedaled off up the A6, a good wide fairly quiet road with a following wind – made it to Carlisle non-stop 17.8 miles at 14.5mph. Enjoyed a Costa coffee before setting off for Scotland. Crossed the border at Gretna – worth a photo. Turned west on the B road to Annan and Dumfries. Wind on the “beam” so buffeted and rather tiring. Sunny and very breezy spending time beside the river at Dumfries. Annan and other places along the Solway rather run down. Stayed with Lesley and Graeme Tait (church contacts)
Stats: Distance 59.7 Cumulative 556.4 Moving average 11.9 Time moving 4hrs 33mins Start 0825 End 1500
Day 12 Wed 20th May
Dumfries to Kilmarnock
Early start out on to the A76 – very busy. On advice took B roads via Monaive. Lovely Borders scenery. Very quiet roads, sometimes no cars for 20 minutes. Two climbs of 1,000 feet dropping in between to 500 feet at Carsphairn. After Patna I took B roads again through Drongan to Kilmarnock. This latter part was a series of ups and downs across rolling hills. I was trying to get the 14.55 from Kilmarnock but missed it by 10 minutes and had ¾ hour wait. Changed stations at Glasgow for fast train to Edinburgh. At the end of a long day the 5 mile ride uphill to Simon’s barracks was very tiring but after a hot bath the 3 course mess dinner was very welcome. This was the longest day so far but probably the best cycling.
Stats: Distance 68.9 miles (plus 5 in Edinburgh) Cumulative 625.3 Moving average 11.2mph Time moving 6hrs 10mins Start 0800 End 1505
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