Started in rain with a tough climb over to Lochranza & ferry to Claonaig which was full of bikes. Steady ride up to Lochgilphead and campsite. Beautiful steam puffer on Crinan Canal. Met Dutch couple with car roof tent who fed me fresh pancakes and fruity tea.
32.3 miles. Oban & possibly Mull tomorrow.
Phew! Just sat down to lunch at Costa Coffee in Ayr. I misread the distance from my camp to Ardrossan; thought 35-40 miles - it's 48! Never mind, cracked off 33 rapid miles to here in 3.5 hours; fast for me 'n' the Thorn. It's only 11:30 and just 15 miles to go for the ferry to Arran. Busy rehydrating with tea.
Flippin' 'orrible ride into a headwind to Moniaive. Wore me out. Revived after an excellent lunch at the cafe, enough to manage the easy climb over a col to fabulous open moorland. Now at picturesque wild camp with view of Merrick, highest lump hereabouts. Coffee in the sun!
36.3 miles. Tomorrow's target: make Ardrossan in time for an afternoon ferry to Arran.
Good night's sleep camped at Stewart and Kath Wallace's place. This morning Kath made me breakfast (excellent porage) and we had an enjoyable chat before I was packed off with the remainder of the Tullibardine malt I'd sampled last night. So pleasant to meet such a delightful couple. Thanks both.
Now in G&G Cycle Centre in Dumfries, checking a rubbing noise from front hub. Seems it's the plastic spacers and not important. Had tyres pumped up and now enjoying their superb, cheap Americano and free WiFi. Aiming for wild camp on moor past Moniaive.
Bright, dry day but irritating headwind. Turn it off will ya!
Nice ride into Carlisle. In Starbucks, catching up with t'internet (no phone signal last night). In a short while I'll be crossing the border into Scotland. Hoping to wild camp near Annan.
I rolled through the heart of the Lakes today. Rain in the morning but a fine afternoon. My attempts to wild camp behind Blencathra were thwarted by officious signs but a farmer in Mosedale was happy to let me share a field with a few ewes and their lambs and some inquisitive hens. A good day of fairly easy cycling and a quiet night's sleep.
Fabulous day! Only 24 miles but full of fun. Ian joined me on his folding Dahon and we rode to Wendy's in Carnforth for tea & flapjack. Wendy is the Mum of Nick, a CycleChat friend, and a delightful lady who sent me off armed with flapjack. Further along the road we met Tommy Page on his Thorn Raven Tour, on his stage by stage journey following the UK mainland coastline. Good luck Tommy. Now I'm with Ria and Bob in Kendal enjoying their fine hospitality. Life is good!
32 miles through the Trough of Bowland, a strong headwind making it tough going.
Stopped at Bowland Pennine MRTs training hut on the way. 30 odd years since I was there last as a raw MR recruit. The guys painting the hut welcomed us in for tea and reminiscences. Then, off up to the Jubilee Tower; hard in that wind, and down into Lancaster and Morecambe to spend the night with Twitter friend Ian.
A day of rest. A very comfy night in our van with Chrissie and Tilly and a day of r&r in the sunshine.
Having spent all night worrying about the noise from the bike, this morning I found ... it'd gone. Best guess, mud on a tyre which dried an' fell off overnight.
This morning I checked fixings on the bike and caressed it lovingly. I emptied and repacked my panniers, Chrissie having washed all my clothes and just enjoyed fiddlin' an' fettlin'.
We walked into Clitheroe for shopping and now, having relaxed in the sun, we await the arrival of our friends Kim & Hamish who're joining us with their van. Tomorrow Hamish is riding through the Trough of Bowland to Morecambe with me. Life is good :)
Sincere thanks to all of you out there who've donated to Cancer Research UK via my page at justgiving.com/geoff-crowther
Can't always manage to thank you individually as I travel but you folks need to know how much it means to me. Seeing donations arrive is a real spur to my success. Bless you all, and a big slobbery hug from Tilly.
A short ride today over some tough little climbs to Clitheroe. Along the way I called in at On Yer Bike in Blackburn where Ryan pumped up my tyres for me, let me use their loo and took a photo of me and the Thorn for their website.
Then a happy reunion with my girls.
Spent a pleasant hour or so cleaning the Thorn. Can't solve a funny rubbing noise :(
23.5 miles.
Glorious weather! Crossing the Mersey at Warrington sees me back in t'north; back home.
I chanced upon a cafe run by Culcheth Community Church and spent a pleasant few minutes talking with Michael, the minister from Alabama. A lovely guy.
40.7 miles. On a pretty farm campsite, looking forward to seeing the two most important girls in my life tomorrow.
In my excitement leaving home I realised I'd no contact for some kind soul who said they might join me for a ride around the Ardrossan area. So, are you out there? Try to contact me here or via contact details you'll find in an earlier post. Cheers ... whoever you are.
Enjoyed a lovely overnight stay with Ian and Anne in their Cheshire (it's right on the border) farmhouse. Ian and I are about to head off up to Delamere Forest and the Camping Club site there. I'm probably as close to home now as I'll get here, on the far side of "Cheshire East", the other side being about 3 miles from home. Also watching BBC North West on t'telly, as at home. It feels strange.
So I treated myself to a bed at Bridges YHA last AND dinner. Very comfy night. Today, cycled 42.5 miles through beautiful, mostly flat, Shropshire to Manor Farm, home of Ian & Anne who're feeding & accommodating me for the night. Many thanks to them. Following early showers it's been a great day of t shirt & shorts riding. Hopefully, Ian's riding with me up to Delamere Forest tomorrow.
Rode a while with two girls from Nottingham on road bikes; Nicky & Sarah (I think, apologies if wrong). They're on LEJOG too, covering around 100 miles a day. Well done and good luck girls.
Murderous hill before Clun. Recovering in a cafe with soup & coffee ... LOTS of coffee:)
An early post today.10:45 at cafe NW of Leominster.
The joy of this journey is connecting with folk along the way. Folk like Ian & Ian, ceiling contractors from Knowsley. These funny, friendly scousers pitched next to me yesterday afternoon. We had great fun chatting & taking the p**s out of each other and they treated me to fish 'n' chips and forced me to drink their beer!
This morning on the road I shared a few moments with Adele on her road bike. Adele's off on her LEJOG in a coupla weeks. Good luck Adele!
Here's a pic of Ian & Ian. The second pics the two donkeys at the campsite :)
Ian, Ian & Adele, I'd love it if you left a comment here.
More later. Smile!
39 miles or so. Not quite at campsite but takin' a break in a cafe in Hereford. Pleasant cycling this aft after morning rain. Found an appropriate sign along the road. Thanks to Zack, who took the photo. Herefordshire's lookin' very green (and yellow). I should think so after all this rain.
PS sign mileage doesn't reflect mine :)
47.5 miles, longest day so far. Picked up waterproof boots in Bristol - Northwave Celsius Goretex. Saw SS Gt Britain and crossed the hideous, for me, Severn Bridge. Oh, just remembered, yesterday had 2 cash donations along the way.
Camped Beeches Farm nr Tiddenham Chase. I'm a quarter of the way!
A wake up call. This morning I woke at 5am with a headache. I don't get headaches. After suffering a while I took some paracetamol. It didn't work. I also felt quite nauseous. Seeing my foul state, Sally immediately diagnosed dehydration (I was thinking food poisoning) and force fed me some miracle hydration salts. Washed down with a couple of pints of water and an hour on the sofa cuddling either Charlie the dog or Scooby the cat, the miracle cure took effect.
SO, following advice from Ellen, Sally and, of course, Chrissie, I shall, henceforth, mostly be drinking and eating LOADS. You live 'n' learn. My sincere thanks to Ellen & Sally.
And, despite a dodgy start I covered my biggest mileage so far, 44 miles, and am now happily ensconced at a site near Cheddar.
Oh, you'll note my lovely Thorn has no truck with daft, instructions.
A superb day. Easier cycling through East Devon then a short, sharp climb onto the Blackdown Hills to discover I was cycling along a WW2 runway. I'd stumbled upon the site of Upottery US airbase. The volunteer run Nissan Hut Heritage Centre was fascinating. Then on to stay with Twitter friend, Ellen & her sister Sally, Charlie the dog and Scooby Doo the Burmese.
Windy night up on the moor. Showers & gales forecast but the wind's pushed me uphill for breakfast at the Fox Tor Cafe in Princetown.
Yay! Passed the first 100 miles! Wild camped on Dartmoor with a pony for company.
Techie stuff. Powergen recharging each day from SON dynohub, allowing me to charge satnav & phone each night from Powergen.
Today I shall mostly be feeling ... sickeningly organised.
35 tough miles to Looe, with a few nasty, sneaky hills. High points: Stephan, a French stonecarver, who poured me an excellent coffee as I waited for the King Harry Ferry & the woman cop in St Austell who apologised for colleagues blocking the cycleway.
Here's a pic of the Bodinnick Ferry from Fowey.
37.5 miles to farm site N of Falmouth. Rode 20 great miles with a fellow LEJOGer. Lots o' rain but beautiful countryside & peaceful roads. King Harry Ferry tomorrow.
Fuss free drive to Penzance then a 12 mile bimble out to the Lands End Hotel. Very comfy. It's bin a long day. Waiting for dinner but an early night's on the cards. Excited!
