Finished Cycle: 23 Jul 2011 18:19:48
Route: Day14 Lands End
Google Maps URL:
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/nDaa28
Import URL: http://share.abvio.com/fce5/02d1/4d5b/f57e/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20110723-0945.kml Ride Time: 5:49:02
Stopped Time: 2:44:56
Distance: 66.32 miles
Average: 11.40 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 34.03 miles/h
Ascent: 3588 feet
Calories: 3271
Here is my Flickr Album for the trip, hopefully more to follow:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7795411@N06/collections/72157627154478891/
Let me know if you cannot see it.
Alex
| Date: | Leg: | Miles: | Ascent: |
| 10/07/2011 | John O’Groats to Tongue | 65.5 | 4,873 |
| 11/07/2011 | Tongue to Colbokie | 74.6 | 5,162 |
| 12/07/2011 | Culbokie to Corgarff | 70.2 | 7,195 |
| 13/07/2011 | Corgarff to Wester Caputh | 63.8 | 5,556 |
| 14/07/2011 | Wester Caputh to Edinburgh | 78.7 | 5,848 |
| 15/07/2011 | Edinburgh to Langholm | 72.4 | 6,050 |
| 16/07/2011 | Langholm to Middleton | 73.4 | 6,613 |
| 17/07/2011 | Middleton to Bolton | 67.4 | 6,451 |
| 18/07/2011 | Bolton to Wrockwardine | 76.8 | 2,190 |
| 19/07/2011 | Wrockwardine to How Caple | 62.8 | 4,408 |
| 20/07/2011 | How Caple to Chew Stoke | 68.0 | 5,308 |
| 21/07/2011 | Chew Stoke to North Molton | 72.9 | 6,992 |
| 22/07/2011 | North Molton to Wadebridge | 71.8 | 7,914 |
| 23/07/2011 | Wadebridge to Lands End | 64.4 | 5,922 |
| Total: | 982.7 | 80,482.0 | |
| Average: | 70.2 | 5,748.7 |
Determined to get an early start but thwarted slightly by the Swan Hotel earliest breakfast being 7:45, and that was a concession, their first offer was 9:00.
Got away around 9:40 into a beautiful, sunny, breezy cycling day.
The route followed the fast A39 out of Wadebridge for about 8 miles then on to back roads around St Columb Major.
Much, much easier hills than the last few days as we cut across from North to South through St Newlyn East, Truro, Peranwell, Stithians, Nancegollan and Goldstithey, reaching the South coast at Marazion.
Got to Penzance around 4:30 and called the waiting wives and children telling them to expects around 6:00.
On Penzance seafront met a guy walking 1,500 miles in 42 days to raise money for his child’s medical treatment. Humbling!
The ride still had a few nasty surprises for us. A massive climb up and out of Newlyn and a couple more at Lamora and Treen. But soon we were at the 1 mile to go mark, donning our team t-shirts ready for our triumphal entrance to Land’s End.
Great to see our families there to meet us unlike 2 years ago at John O’Groats which is so far away.
Massive congratulations to Andy Langton who completed the whole ride without walking, and without the benefit of my bike’s touring gearing.
Massive congratulations to Tom. Great achievement for an 18 year old. Overcoming tough hills, injury, and at times miserable weather. A test if character which he passed with flying colours. I am so proud!!!
Massive congratulations to Andy Compton. 6 days from Bolton to Land’s End, more than twice as far as any of his previous rides. Must have been tough joining us when we were 8 days in and battle hardened. Hopefully you will not still be walking like John Wayne when you arrive at work Monday.
Alex
Arrived Land’s End 6pm yesterday, all safe and well. Will post a proper blog entry and some photos later.
Alex
Started Cycle: 23 Jul 2011 09:45:50
Google Maps URL:
Import URL: http://share.abvio.com/fce5/02d1/4d5b/f57e/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20110723-0945.kml Average: 0.00 miles/h
Distance: 0.00 miles
Ride Time: 0:01
Woke up to rain falling outside so had two things to look forwards to, getting drenched again and the big hill up into North Molton right outside the front door.
Still, set off at 10:00 and made it up the hill, but we were soaked by South Molton a few miles away.
Rain cleared up by midday and we were soon dry apart from our feet.
North Devon has big rolling hills, long but not impossibly steep. And while they slowed us down we were soon at Torrington then Bude where we had a great big greasy pile of fish & chips for lunch.
We knew though as we pulled out of Bude around 4:00 that the worst was to come. Absolute monster 30% climbs up and out of Millook and Crackington Haven which seemed to climb up and up forever. Real lung and leg busters. We managers them in the end but by the time we reached the road to Marshgate it was 6:00. Rather than continue cycling on to 10:00 or later we transferred to the A39 and completed the remaining 19 miles to Wadebridge in no time. Very fast road if a little scary with cars zooming by.
Evening meal in the Swan Hotel with live music, which we were all too tired to appreciate.
Weather forecast is good for our last day tomorrow. Overall the weather has been much kinder to us this time around.
Alex
A very mixed day today. Left Chew Stoke around 10:00 which has become our normal leaving time, skirted around the Chew Valley Lake then the first of today’s punishing climbs from Compton Martin up into the Mendips.
A few miles of flat then we were into Cheddar Gorge, with the added pleasure of cycling down it this time rather than up. Andy Compton’s first visit to Cheddar Gorge so we stopped for a few photos before descending quickly down to Cheddar itself. Tom was so impressed by cycling the gorge he is planning a 100 mile route out from home, up and down the gorge 3 times, then home again.
After a quick pharmacy stop in Cheddar we realised we had done if again. It was midday and we had only covered 10 miles. But the Somerset Levels beckoned. Large parts of Somerset are reclaimed land and pancake flat so in what seemed like no time at all we had reached Bridgewater.
After Bridgewater the bulk of today’s punishment began. Through the Quantocks and Exmoor we were subjected to excruciating long climb after long climb. Lungs busting and legs aching.
Finally got to our B&B around 8:00, just in time for a quick wash and walk up to the Miners Arms who had kindly agreed to continue serving food until 8:30 for us.
Nice meal (lamb shank) followed by beating a local 13 year old at pool twice, and both Andys once each, although the game with Andy Compton was close.
We made a very funny sight waddling and limping down North Molton high street looking for unprotected … Wi-Fi and trying not to strain our knackered legs too much. Andy Compton claims the best technique us to walk down the hill backwards.
One Important decision reached tonight. Day 13 will follow the challenging north Cornwall coast route rather than the easier and shorter inland route. A brave decision.
Four very tired chaps tonight, but the end is in sight, only 2 days to go.
I’m so proud of what Tom has achieved, and his determination to soldier on in the face if so much pain and discomfort.
Alex
Had a mammoth night’s sleep last night from 9:30 to 7:00, only interrupted around midnight by a killer bout of cramp in my thighs. Still exhausted but grateful for the rest.
Brilliant Falcon House breakfast, then a bit of bike maintenance before Steve took our gear away.
First puncture happened half a mile after we started, Andy Compton’s turn this time. Of course recorded on camera.
Then off through the Ross on Wye, the Wye valley, Coleford and turned back towards the Wye again at St Briavels. Andy Langton and I were looking forwards to the descent down to Brockweir, because it had been such a massive climb two years ago. My turn to get a puncture near the top (photographed of course), then sped down as fast as we dared on the narrow twisty roads.
Along the Wye again to Tintern, then up to Chepstow where we had another Tesco Express lunch.
Across the Severn bridge which is a thrill, especially today as the weather was quite good. Then through Alveston, Iron Acton, Pucklechurch and Warmley. Difficult point at Warmley where I saw a sign saying 16 miles to Chippenham, the closest point on our JOGLE route to home.
Followed the cycle path to Saltford, then a string of quiet country lames and little villages before we ended up in Chew Stoke.
A special treat tonight was Jehane and Flo joining us. We all had a good curry at the nearby curry/pub.
The wear and tear is starting to show today. Both Andy Langton and Tom are in pain while cycling, and Andy Compton and I are just plain exhausted. But only 3 days to go now, so no-one is considering giving up.
Alex
Another slow start, got away from the B&B around 10:15 and quickly suffered a failure of route planning. What had looked like a minor road on the 1:50k map was in fact a steep, muddy stoney bridleway which we skidded and slid down for 2 miles.
Then we saw a sign welcoming us to the Shropshire Hills, not a welcome sight!
We had arranged to meet up with another friend, Colin, today. He parked at How Caple in the morning and cycled back along our routr to meet us. Trouble was by midday we had cycled about 10 miles whereas he had cycled about 30. But we got into our stride after that and met up just north of Ludlow where we returned for a sausage sandwich and chips lunch, yummy!
With the help of Colin’s strong pace we powered on through the afternoon making very good progress, but the day had a sting in its tail. An absolutely monster triple climb between Mordiford and Fownhope, the third and steepest climb was especially difficult.
Still, got to the B&B at a respectable 6:00pm.
Alex
tadjogle 