End to end planning, 3

Ok, so I said I'd update every month and I haven't. Bin too busy and not a lot to say but now, well it's a new year and we're rapidly approaching the end of January, so only a little over three months to go.

Where am I up to? Since the last update:

i. I wasn't finding the Charge Spoon saddle any more comfy than the original Thorn Velo so I've nicked the one from my Dawes Karakum, which I always found to be fine. Interestingly, when I removed it and turned it upside down I found it's also a Velo, though of a different style to the one Thorn use. It feels like a nice compromise between the very soft original and the quite firm Spoon. So, far, after a few rides, it feels pretty good so I reckon I'll stick with it.

ii. Santa brought me some rather pleasing Christmas pressies, my having been a VERY good boy all year; an Ortlieb Classic handle bar bag, which matches my panniers beautifully,

an MSR Pocket Rocket stove (we've used one o' these for years but Chrissie wanted me to have my own in case we're off doing independent stuff at the same time), 

a very smart Evernew Titanium pan, a tiny 0.9 litre one which'll suit me fine when on my own. It has a built-in handle and a lid,

and, lastly, a clever little device called an NBT2, which allows you to remove the rear cassette should you need to replace a cassette-side spoke whilst touring.

Ain't tried it yet.

To complete my cookset, I bought a windproof lighter and some wind'n'waterproof matches while we were in Aviemore last week.

iii. Given I've pretty much settled on my route I've asked Chrissie to come and meet me at a campsite with the camper somewhere not too far from home, maybe the Dales? I plan on staying with her for two nights so I can do some vital washing. I'm gonna take my two favourite Rohan merino wool 

t-shirts to wear while riding. I know I can make one of these last a week so the two should see me half way on my, nominally four week, trip. I can wash these on the go if needed but it'd be good to set off again with 'em both freshly laundered.

iv. Again on clothing, I'm gonna buy two, maybe three pairs of Rohan's knickers. I considered merino wool but the going rate's about £30 per pair and I think that's a bit excessive. The Rohan ones have recycled silver in 'em which reduces odours (like merino) and they cost £17 a pair. Off to pick up a long sleeved merino top in a few days from Rohan in Bakewell which I ordered in the sale (£30 off) so I'll see if they have any in stock. I hope this'll mean I only need to take two or three pairs of knickers to last two weeks before meeting Chrissie. On a similar theme I'm gonna buy myself three pairs of shiny new wool socks for the trip, hoping to wear each for three or four days.

v. I bought one of these Sea to Summit collapsible bowls which has a base wot can be used as a chopping board.

And Chrissie sneaked off and bought me a tiny salt'n'pepper thingy,

which was nice.

vi. Following a recent motorhome trip we came to the conclusion that we couldn't justify the space taken up by our folding chairs. We'd hardly eaten one meal outdoors during a six week summer journey, but we had sat outside having drinks, snacks or reading. We are increasingly using the van to allow us to follow other passions such as cycling or backpacking, both being equipment-heavy hobbies. We needed the space in the van's backbox for rucsacs, bike gear or whatever. So, we made the decision to buy two Helinox Ground Chairs. These amazing designs are very small when packed.

They take up very little space and weigh just 590g packed in the stuffsac. They assemble quickly using DAC, aircraft grade, alloy poles, as used in the best quality backpacking tents.

Their only downside being they're very low to the ground, so no use for sitting at a normal height table. Anyhow, I mention all this here cos I'm considering taking one on my End to End trip. I figure the comfort offered around camp will justify the extra 590g. I do embrace lightweight gear but comfort is a major consideration. I reckon I can pack one with my tent on top of my rear rack, though I haven't tried yet. One to try out on an upcoming shakedown trip perhaps.

That's it for now as far as I can remember. We didn't take bikes on our trip up to t'Cairngorms last week; too much other paraphernalia; crampons, axes, snowshoes, mountain boots (none of which got used). So, I ain't been on a bike for about 10 days. MUST get out tomorrow, weather permitting.

If you've only just caught up with this planning malarkey and are interested in the rest of the story, dig about on here for the first two episodes.

Feel free to add a comment or ask any questions on here.

Above all, enjoy your own travels and keep safe.

A ride and a resolution, of sorts

Today, 1st January, first cycle ride of the year.

Hamish and I set out at 10am for a road bike ride, me on the Cube and Hamish on his, recently rebuilt 1980s Dawes.

I felt like a slightly challenging ride so, we left Hayfield out through New Mills then the A6 to Disley. Here we turned uphill and rode up past the old Moorside Hotel (now a young offenders institution; how the mighty have fallen) then, meeting the road from Whaley Bridge to Macclesfield we turned left to Kettleshulme, then right to climb up towards Windgather rocks. Riding past here towards Pym Chair is a section I've covered many times but today, we had a strong headwind and, despite the modest incline, I couldn't get out of my lowest gear!

Struggling to stay upright in a strong wind at Pym Chair, we turned left to descend into Goyt Valley by the Errwood Reservoir, where we stopped to sup from flasks and consume butties before the grind up to meet the top of Long Hill.

We turned right down towards Buxton then left up Old Road to Whaley Bridge. We had to resort to walking for the broken section of the track but battled valiantly with most of it before it becomes tarmac again near the Whitehall Outdoor Centre. We then had a glorious descent (mostly) into Whaley. We paused outside the town hall for a quick refreshment break before riding back to Hayfield, bypassing New Mills via Marsh Lane.

It was a tough ride, by my standards. We covered 26 miles at an average of 9.7mph, climbing 2633ft in the process. It's a route I've not done before; nor's Hamish but it was exhilarating, 'specially the descent into Whaley. The ascent from Errwood to Long Hill is hard!

The resolution? Well, I've just set myself a target, on Garmin Connect, of 3000 cycling miles for the year so that's 26 down, 2974 to go.

I'm tired now, but Chrissie's just making tea, fruit cake and cheese.

The passing of a friend

Yesterday our precious boxer dog, Dixie passed from this world peacefully.

She was thirteen years old just over a month ago, a good age for a boxer by any standard. Chrissie and I are very upset, our dogs being a very important part of or lives; very, very much members of the family.

Dixie came to us only a few days before Christmas 2001. The breeder, having recognised us as responsible owners (we'd lost our previous boxer only a short while before) allowed us to bring her home aged only 7 weeks, having been reassured that she'd have a quiet, stress-free Christmas in our home. It meant a lot to us. She was a very tiny pup and I remember sitting on the kitchen floor nursing her, in tears, after a seemingly allergic reaction to titbits of turkey saw her face swell up alarmingly; I thought we were to lose her! Fortunately the reaction died away quite quickly, never to resurface.

That was the start of a long and happy relationship with our gorgeous boxer. She grew up with our border collie, Ragga, who herself passed away aged 13 and greatly enriched the life of my daughter Abi. Soon to follow Ragga was our chocolate lab, Tilly, and Dixie made a superb job of raising the upstart lab; always ready to growl and chastise her if she failed to follow our instructions. Together, this happy, inseparable pair have traveled with us on many outdoor adventures and been as far as Norway and Sweden in our motorhome. Only four years ago, Dixie accompanied Chrissie on her walk up the Pennine Way.

I believe that it's the unconditional love and affection caring owners receive from dogs that makes it so painful when they pass on; a dilemma Chrissie and I shall continue to face as years go by, since life without a canine angel is just unthinkable for us.

I wasn't really too much of a dog person before meeting Chrissie but it's one of many delights she has brought to our life together for which I'll be eternally grateful.

It's perhaps fitting she left us at Christmas time, being the time of year she first came here, leaving us, given our sadness, with so many beautiful memories. Thankfully, Tilly's still here with her loving, silly madness, though she's quite subdued just now, understandably. Tears are welling up again so I'll finish by sharing a few pictorial mementos of life with Dixie and I pray she's in a good place along with mine and Chrissie's previous four legged friends.

God bless you Dixie x

Up in t'North Pennines again

Time for another journey north.

Chrissie had organised a ghost hunting trip up to Kirkcarrion, a bronze age burial site in Teesdale. We packed the van with backpacking gear, day sacs, strapped my road bike on the carrier and set off up the Great North Road (sounds better than the A1 don't it?).

Our first night was spent at a favourite van wild camp spot in Upper Teesdale. The weather looked dismal.

We met up with a friend who Chrissie was off to Kirkcarrion with. Chrissie planned to take our lab Tilly for company on the overnight camp while I took care of Dixie, our boxer, who's just turned 13; her days of long walks are over sadly.

As Chrissie left I took Dixie for a short wander then left for a run on the roadie. I left Teesdale at Newbiggin and climbed through mist and fog over the fells to Westgate in Weardale on a remote, gated road. I took no photos cos the weather was just 'orrible. Turning west from Westgate I entered the village of St John's Chapel. Imagine my delight when I came across the Chatterbox Cafe. Their endless coffee and delicious scones were a godsend on such a day. Give 'em a try if you're hereabouts. The proprietor, himelf a keen cyclist, tells me my return route takes me over the highest road in England. Wow! I leave, in heavy drizzle, climbing 1000 feet in around 2 miles. It's a slog but rewarding. From the top I enjoy the descent back into Teesdale at Langdon Beck, then steadily down to the van again.

Dixie and I had a quiet night in the van and next day I rewarded her with an easy wander along the Tees Railway Walk from Mickleton. We found a pleasant pace down to Romaldskirk.

We met up again with Chrissie and Tilly (who'd failed miserably in her attempts to find ghosts - see the full story here: https://chrissiedixie.wordpress.com/), shopped in Middleton in Teesdale then pointed the van north again to the wilds of the Otterburn ranges in Upper Coquetdale.

If you've not been up here it really is true wilderness. With much of the land owned by the MOD it's one of the army's biggest training locations but allows free access so long as you observe basic rules relating to training schedules and red flags. We're regular visitors and had arranged to meet another friend at another wild camping location. There were no red flags but the weather was still dismal.

The next day, despite miserable, misty weather Chrissie set of for a long walk with our friend James but I opted for another bike ride. Heading down Upper Coquetdale along the quiet road I encountered few vehicles.

After an hour or so I found myself down in Alwinton.

After a short break I turned round and rode back up the valley.

We enjoyed a great meal, beers and wine that night then, the following morning, we drove down to Alwinton ...

 ... and left for a long walk up to the remote top of Wether Cairn.

We had a great day, with somewhat improved weather and finally, some views.

We spent that night on the moors above Rothbury, dropping into the town next morning for supplies.

Heading south west we aimed for the Camping & Caravanning Club's site at Bellingham, on the edge of Kielder.

We've bin here a number of times and we're becoming quite familiar with the area now. I felt it was time for another ride so, on a cold morning I rode off up into Kielder Water and Forest Park.

I arrived at Kielder Castle, former summer hunting lodge of the Duke of Northumberland, just in time for lunch.

I'd come up all the way on the, quiet, roads but on the way back I started out on the south bit of the Lakeside Way.

It was pleasant along the trail, but after a while I tired of the slow rate of progress. It was chilly and there were several gates, so I returned to the road to speed, and warm, up.

This beautiful church near Bellingham appears to have recently become a house.

That was a 40 mile ride, still quite a long way for me (though I have done longer) but I enjoyed it and my Charge Spoon saddle proved comfy enough for the task.

For our last day we chose a fairly easy walk so Dixie could join us. She's really beginning to show her age these days, particularly in the lack of control over her back legs, poor love, but still seems to enjoy joining us on shorter walks. In the end we covered at least six miles so not bad going for our 13 year old.

Leaving Kielder Castle we set out along the north side of the Lakeside Way. Dunno what this little shrine was about.

After 3 miles or so we came upon Silvas Capitalis aka the Forest Head. If you look carefully you can see Tilly in the first pic and me 'n' Tilly in the second.

 

Back at Kielder Castle, this is the Minotaur Maze.

We had lunch at the Castle's Cafe ...

... and on the drive back to Bellingham were greeted by this fantastic temperature inversion. It looked almost like a lake down in the valley.

We'd enjoyed a great week in an area we enjoy visiting again and again.