Day 7 - LEJoG

Day 7 started early. It was to be the first of several 100+ mile days and we knew we needed to leave early to make sure we arrived with Anne and Neil Ashworth in Preston at a decent time. Not knowing the route or how we would fair we decided to get on the road by 07.00hrs. Nursie was the perfect host and got up to feed us breakfast before we left and made some delicious sandwiches which Gary hoovered up during the day. It was the first day that we rode without a long steep climb first thing in the morning. We counted our blessings and made rapid progress along flat country lanes. I had mapped the official CTC route onto my Garmin 705 but not the alternative and shorter (at 99 mile) route that I decided might be useful. Knowing that we should arrive at a sensible hour of possible we decided to rode this alternative route. The night before in the B&B I anticipated this and using the map my ride app on the iPhone I wrote a list of Thr villages and we navigated the next day using this list and a lot of reference to google maps and map my ride. Thankfully we were in the industrial heartland of Britain so we had decent phone coverage but it was also harder to navigate around the numerous motorway systems and cities along the way. We picked our way around the major built up areas and slowly progressed to Preston. Apart from a small mishap that meant we bow know Warrington a lot better than we did, we managed fine.

We did pass over the Shropshire canal and looking down on the narrowboaters below made me wonder why we hadnt chosen a 2 week holiday on a narrow boat.




It remained a mostly flat and beautiful ride and we progressed along at a decent pace for a while piggybacking with a group of supported riders doing LEJoG.

Two other places of note during the day were Peckforton castle, a spectacular building by all accounts and the birthplace of Lewis Carroll illustrated by a sign tucked away in a hedge somewhere.







One of the things I love most about travelling by bike is that you see things you just don't notice at the speed a car travels. It's not just seeing, it's all the senses. Today I caught wafts of wild garlic. I know I would have missed in a car. You can approach people and places in a very unthreatening manner. People just tend to trust you if you arrive my bike and there are no airs and graces or social hierarchy to be judged and pigeon holed into based on the car you drive. You are just on your bike and therefore not a danger to anyone. Long may that attitude continue.

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Location:Shrewsbury, Shropshire

Day 6 - LEJoG

The last few days have been full on with high mileage and rest stops at friends houses so I havent managed to post any updates. So I will cast my mind back and try and remember what we have done for the last 3 days. In essence though it goes like this: eat, cycle, eat, cycle, cycle, cycle, eat, sleep, eat, cycle!

Day 6 started with another FEB for Gary at the Sunnymount guest house in Ross on Wye. I felt like a princess in a room with a turret.






We then started the day of course with the standard climb to warm us up after a lovely ride along a quiet sleep lane next to the river wye.Lots of views of the Wye valley.



This carved bench marked a point on the Wye valley trail a walk some women in the B&B were doing. It looked like one to remember and come back for one day.

A quick stop in Leominster for tea and a toasty.



Then we rode on along undulating landscapes with sweeping views of the Shropshire hills.






We went right through Ludlow, another twee little English town.



Where we saw the amazing building of the Feathers Hotel.



The route then led us out of town and across Ludlow racecourse, I mean literally across the race course.

68 miles after we started we got to 'Nursies' house, otherwise known as Julia Dodd. Nursie and I were at sea together on the cruise ship and after checking out the cows and pigs on the field behind her cottage we had a hearty home-cooked meal and made use of her washing machine then reminisced on fun days on the ship

In fact we were so busy having a great time and feeling at home that I completely failed to take any photos at all of Nursie or her cute cottage. Whoops!




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Day 5 - LEJoG

Our fifth day on the road started with breakfast shared with bunch of trainer pilots in Cheddar to do some technical exams. I declined the FEB (Full English Breakfast) although Gary ate his. Oh how glad I was that I made that decision when a few minutes later we were on the now obligatory climb of the morning. This time it was a 3 mile climb up Cheddar Gorge. I was thankful I didn't have a stomach full of fried food! Gary was a shade of green when he made it to the top.






The ride then wove it's way between fields. The cows and sheep meadows becoming more frequently interspersed with fields of cereal crops.






Pretty villages and this fantastic little house perched on a triangle of grass in the middle of a T-junction.





Whilst waiting for Gazza to appear at the top of a hill I chatted to a man who was painting a phone box. He told me how it was given up by BT as only one call a year was made from it. Their village had bought it and taken it over. There was no phone inside but they intended to use it for parish notices and local news! How Cool is that. It wasn't the only phone box I saw today getting some TLC. A true British Icon in my opinion and how nice to see them being preserved.







On we rode through fields and pastures until we reached the familiar sight of one of Sustrans flagship cycle routes, the Bristol to Bath cycle-route.






Sustrans is a charitable engineering company responsible for building and maintaining the National cycle network. They are a charity I support each month and have done a fabulous job creating cycle routes for all across the country. This route was really well used with people of all ages. Alongside the path runs an old steam train taking people of pleasure trips up and down the restored line.






A quick stop here to stock up on cake, (I'm not letting the side down IT, keeping cake intake high, I promise)






Also to send a Tweet to Dan timed to appear during his dissertation project presentation and then we were back on our way.

Having skirted east around Bristol we arrived at the Severn Bridge crossing. There is apparently a public footpath across the bridge (the old one to Chepstow) so no tolls to pay. Having expected high winds it was surprisingly calm. The only movement coming from the bridge itself every time a lorry went past.












So we briefly entered Wales before heading north through Chepstow and back to England and up the Wye Valley. This was my first experience of this part of the world. It's stunningly beautiful and highly recommended. We spent much of our time running alongside the river Wye. Passing through Tintern Abbey amongst other villages.












Running alongside a river? Wait that doesn't involve hills, oh ok then here we go, off up and over a seemingly random hill to a village called St Briavels. This involved the longest most painful climb yet I think and everytime I turned a corner expecting to see the summit it just turned and kicked up again, and again and again. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry and by the time I did reach the top I could laugh out-loud and i did, hysterical laughter at the ridiculousness of that hill. I lay on the verge and waited for Gary to walk up. He had of course done the sensible thing.












Yes it was a god view I'll admit but I didn't really need to be able to see northern France I was quite enjoying the Wye valley for heavens sake Mr route planner!

Another county passed and before we knew it we were into Herefordshire.






We are staying tonight in a room with a turret at the Sunnymount hotel and took up their recommendation of a meal in the Gurka restaurant. If you are ever in Ross on Wye it's a must. The most delicious food so far on this trip. Coconut Lassi without the calorie guilt. Perfect.


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Location:Homs Rd,Ross-on-Wye,United Kingdom

Day 4 - LEJoG

We are sitting in a riverside pub in Cheddar at the foot of the gorge, refuelling after the third day of riding through the hilly west country. Tomorrow we turn left and head up the country.

We left South Molton this morning and then quickly headed up (of course) to the top of Exmoor. The sun shone all day today and the view from the top was worth the slog up to it.












Exmoor also marked the county changing to Somerset and signs all day pointed towards places I had visited before on family or school trips. Lots of happy memories drifted though my head as I pedalled along.






We rode across Exmoor and enjoyed a fabulous ride along the northern ridge. The sun was out and Cardiff and South Wales were clearly visible in the distance.Then we slipped gently down into the small village of Bishops Lydeard.

It was one of those fabulous effortless descents which spared what remains of my brake blocks. I barely pedalled for about 15 miles.






A perfectly positioned pub beckoned and we enjoyed a pub lunch knowing there were only 28 miles to go. the Quantock hills which run parallel to the coast at the Severn estuary were the next hurdle and a relatively gentle climb to the top added to the catalogue of spectacular views. Today more than made up for yesterday's fog along the coast. From this point on we moved along faster riding through the lanes and villages with fields of sheep and cows on either side of us.






Bridgewater and the M5 passed in a blur and then flat land for at least 10 miles! Only the second time I had used the large chainring since we left Penzance. Hoorah!!

Then Cheddar and the Constantine Guest house heralded the end of another day.

Location:Cheddar

Day 3 - LEJoG

Day 3 started with a fabulous Full English Breakfast and went downhill from there or should I say uphill!








The low cloud of the day before hadn't lifted in fact it was worse and I could feel the weight of the water droplets on my eye lashes within minutes of leaving the farm where we had stayed.

The roads were wet and we descended steeply down into Boscastle wondering when our wheels would slip as we cornered down 25% slopes in the wet. I wasnt about to take my hands off the brakes.



Somehow we made it down safely and Boscastle was a fabulous little village.



The only sign of the floods that half washed it away in 2004 was a sign on the wall way above my head showing the level of the water at it's peak (you can see the green sign in the photo above).

Of course a descent like that could only mean one thing a steep climb back up and along the coast road. That's when the hills started and they didn't really stop all day. The cloud remained for the whole ride along the coast with only the houses hinting at what might have been, Lundy View, Seaview, High Cliffs etc. etc.



At Widemouth Bay we stopped for tea having walked up several 30% slopes to get there.



While we refuelled with scones and jam ( I turned down the clotted cream this time). By the time we finished our tea the sun had burnt through clouds and we turned inland south of Bude to head to Great Torrington.

The weather may have improved but the gradient of the slopes didn't. However the sign for Devon appeared and we felt relieved to see evidence of our progress through the west country.






At least someone could see the funny side.

Frequent stops helped us with the fatigue and soon any distraction and reason to stop was a welcome one and that included this bunch of cows who came to say hello.



On the last road of the day a passing local cheerily mentioned the 'monster climbs' ahead that we could look forward to and were 1:4. Thanks!

Finally we made it to Jasmine B & B and walked the 100 yards to the local pub. We survived another day.

It was a pretty ride and we finished weary but fine and but I had to say I am looking forward to a little flat ground soon.



Tomorrow we head on over Exmoor to Cheddar.

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Location:South Molton,United Kingdom

Day 2 - LEJoG

Phew, we survived the first proper day of cycling. It was 70 miles of up and down and about 500 yards of flat. I think Gary would say it was 68 miles of uphill but he did it and didn't walk any hills as he had feared.

The SRAM Apex groupset proved it's worth effectively flattening most of the hills with it's amazingly low gearing.

We left Penzance and skirted the southern coast for a few miles which offered gorgeous views of St. Michael's Mount from Morazion.






Then we headed inland and north east through winding narrow country lanes. The lanes were steep and covered in pretty wildflowers and we barely saw a car for more than 20 miles.



We met a nice chap out for his Sunday ride and discovered that he had completed LEJoG two weeks before. So we rode along with him chatting about the route and finding out more of what we have to come.

We stopped for coffee and a spot of lunch in Truro where the police had surrounded the cathedral. A man dressed as a superhero was protesting about boiled eggs or father for justice or something... I don't know but a policeman pointed us in the direction of a coffee shop.

We pressed on passing the odd disused tin mine and pretty rural villages. Glimpsing far reaching views from the gates which offered respite from the high hedges.



During the last few miles the cloud closed in and spoilt the views somewhat but the sign for Tregatherall farm was a welcome one.



Gary was feeling the hills in his knees but I felt reassuringly fine. Mmm tomorrow is another day, let's hope it lasts.

Off to the pub for dinner and 4500 calories to cash in on If the Garmin is to be believed. Kerrching...!

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Location:Boscastle, Cornwall

Day 1 - LEJoG

Today we started what we hope will be a decent block of training and a good adventure too.

Gary and I took the train to Penzance early this morning from Paddington and headed to the Lugger Inn to drop the bags off. Today's ride was only down to the official start point at Lands End so a short 9.8 miles there and back marked day 1.

It was a lovely sunny afternoon though and we sat in the afternoon sunshine and toasted the start of our adventure as well as taking the obligatory photo at the signpost.




Actually the photo was taken by a nice chap who had just completed the ride having come from John O'Groats and before that Norway. I did invite him to join clock to rock to complete his European transcontinental bike ride but he turned down my offer.

The place was heaving with end to Enders, we must have passed about 8 in the road in 9 miles.

We picked their brains a little about the route and waved farewell after confirming what we suspected. The west country is the worst for hills and general difficulty. We are slightly nervous of what lays ahead it has to be said. Gary is not a fan of hills and I am wondering how my body will cope with a 2 week ride. It's going to be interesting and hopefully a lot of fun too.

I can't wait to see this country all stitched together in one go. I want to see the landscape change into all the places I went to as a child for a week here and there; Cornwall. The Dales, Scotland etc.

By the time we got back from Lands End it was late afternoon and we found a fab tea shop for a Cornish cream tea.




Unable to quite finish it we left for a lie down and catch up in the Tour. I have to admit to feeling rather nauseous now. Hopefully the result of all that clotted cream and not the lurgy that Kirsty had last week. That would be bad timing.

Congratulations to Cadel Evans though for winning this years Tour de France, you rode a good race. However in my opinion you are still the most boring of all general classification contenders (sorry but it's true)! If it could be awarded for panache and style Andy would surely have won with the alpine attack earlier in the week.

We are hoping to finish in time for The final sprint tomorrow and fingers crossed see Mark Cavendish collect his deserved green jersey.

And so to bed, 68 miles tomorrow up to Boscastle.

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Location:Station Rd,Penzance,United Kingdom

Anyone have a Tricyle for Dan Dan the IT Man?

Tomorrow the 26th August will be just 5 weeks away and we are planning our "Grand Depart".

We plan to leave Big Ben at 07.00hrs in the morning from Victoria Embankment on the north side of the river (opposite Big Ben). We have friends and family coming to wave us off but there's always room for more so come along if you have nothing better to do at that time of the morning (as if..!) come along. An open invitation has been extended to anyone who would like to join us for a ride be it the first 15 miles or the whole 90 to Portsmouth.

Plenty other Healix colleagues will be bringing their bikes out of the shed and riding with us the first miles to the Healix office in Hampton where a breakfast will be on hand for all. Everyone welcome and here's somewhere where we need some help....

Does anyone have or know anyone who has a tricycle? Dan Dan the IT man at Healix at the ripe old age of 24 cant ride a bike and they dont do stabilisers big enough anymore so the only chance he has of joiung us is if we can find him a trike to ride. If you can help please do let me know.

Dan will be joining us in Biarritz as one of our support drivers, well actually he cant drive a car either. Jeeze, why did we employ this boy I can hear you cry? Well because in every other way he is a generally good egg and alot of fun to have around. He's also a bit if a technical geek and is furiously working away at night to complete his IT foundation degree. Why am I telling you all this? Well here take a look at the product of his work: http://dangrigg.com/clock2rock.php .

Cool isnt it? So when we are out on the road down to Gibraltar every time I send a tweet it will be registered here on the website. Provided of course there is a phone signal. I should warn you that its a work in progress and may change in the next few weeks. I think he deserves a first for that though dont you? I shall be planning to test it out next week as we set off on our summer holiday across Britain.

We are headed down to Penzance early saturday morning to start our ride to John O'Groats, arriving (hopefully) arriving Friday 5th August then back down via the caledonian sleeper train. We have various stops with friends planned along the way so I am really looking forward to catching up with them.

There's a down side though, Saturday is mums cake sale in Saffron Walden outside Boots so if you are in town do go along and buy a cake from them. There are loads of yummy cakes of offer and in that respect I am rather upset to be missing it. :-( . The entire IT department at Healix will be upset to be missing it too as there is nothing we like more than cake in IT. Good luck mum and Chruc and Ann and all the other bakers. I hope it goes well and will be thinking of you. xx

A Family Affair in Saffy City

Saffron Walden or 'Saffy City' is my spiritual home and the place where I grew up. Its a beautiful town in North West Essex and I always love the chance to come home for a few days. Mum & dad and my sister Christine still live here so there's always a good excuse to visit.

Today we had a family fund raising event in the market square, I dusted off my stationary trainer and sat in the market square amongst the stalls to pedal and raise some cash in the process. Mum, dad and Christine came and shook the collection tins. Oscar came down to pedal for a half hour or so to give me a break and Marlon helped us to pack up when the rain persisted and drove most people indoors. A real Kennet family effort, thanks guys you are the best.

The weather sadly wasn't on our side. The rain came after the first half and hour and barely stopped. I was fine on the bike as I was exercising to keep warm but the sight of mum in her sodden clothes got a bit much by early afternoon and we decided we had to call it a day. She's as strong as an Ox at 74 and runs on and on like a battery so its hard to persuade her to stop but she was glad to call it a day and go home for a cuppa. Of course now that we are home and showered the rain has stopped and the sun come out. Doh!

Me in the Market Square Saffron Walden

Oscar covering the lunch break.

I had a lovely time catching up with people I haven't seen in a while and also chatting to the kind townsfolk who donated. An easy and sociable spin for a few hours. Its a great way to combine training with fund raising.

When we got home we emptied the collection bucket which contained about 5 pints of rainwater as well as the amazing totoal of £297.42. Thank you Waldeners, I knew you would be a generous lot.

Last weekends ride turned out to be a fabulous trip with significantly better weather than today. We disembarked the ferry in Dieppe on Saturday afternoon and rode south on the Avenue Vert cyclepath to Forges Les Eaux where we called into a local Boulangerie for a cake before continuing on to Lyons La Foret.

Avenue Vert, 45KM of cyclepath from Dieppe to Forge Les Eaux

Chateau Mesniere-en Bray

Lyons La Foret

Lyons La Foret is a beautiful Normandy village which was the end of the London to Paris BHF off road bike ride last weekend. I spotted an errant sign as we rode into town and made sure I removed it before we left. We cant be accused of spoiling the image of such a beautiful spot.

The next day we set off as the local produce market was setting up for the ride into Paris. Its a 70 mile ride through rolling landscapes to the outskirts of Paris where it flattens out and the roads cross back and forth over the Seine.

Entering Paris from the west we arrived at the Arc de Triumphe. It seemed futile to ride that distance only to get off and walk around so we were gripped by some insane idea to ride around and before we knew it we had and survived! it was quite an experience but one I shall long remember. We then rode on down the Champs-Elysees. How Cavendish takes his hands off the handlebars in the final sprint of the tour at 75km/hr over those cobbles I have no idea.

We had booked at the Art Hotel in Paris a 2 minute walk from Gare du Nord so we headed there dropped the bags then rode up to the station. Eurostar offer a fabulous and efficient service for bikes. If you take them in advance of your journey they will ship them (no packing required) on an available train so they are available for collection in St Pancras on your return. At 22 euros a bike it was fantastic value and meant we had a day in Paris with no bikes to worry about. We headed up to Sacre Coeur with a bottle of Normandy Pear cider and watched the light fade over the Paris vista while toasting our arrival and a great ride there.

Its now 40 days to go until the start of our trip and apart from a cake sale in Saffron Walden on Saturday thats it for fund raising events. They have been tiring but fun and I have to admint to a small amount of releif at now being able to concentrate on training only but WOW what amazing people and encouters we have had along the way. I have plenty to think about and reflect on for the ride. Just as well its a long ride!