Day 1 Friday Sept 3rd
Warm but windy, unfavourably so. Given wind and countless climbs, some on the limit for gears and my legs, I'm pleased to have 75 miles under the belt. Didn't get away from Lands End until 1100. Aiming for Taunton area tomorrow.
Day 2 Saturday
90 miles in hilly and pretty Devon to Wellington near Taunton. There must scarcely be a 100 yards of flat land in Devon, a real test. All prepared to camp out for the night as couldn't find accommodation. Just before dark found classic hotel of the English genre.
Day 3 Sunday
86 miles to Tintern just north of Chepstow. Easier day but wet for the most part. Somerset Levels ... level of course. Cheddar for lunch and unbelievably no cheese. Tricky navigating round Bristol to Severn bridge and am now in nice accommodation with pub across the road. Heading north tomorrow and feel like I have turned the corner. Photo taken at 17.15 on Severn Bridge.
Day 4 Monday 6th Sept
87miles to Bishops Castle Shropshire. Stayed ahead of the rain until last 5 miles. Wind favourable for most part. Beautiful ride throughout the day. Wye Valley then Golden Valley. Finally the quiet rolling hills of Shropshire. All very Edward Elgar. Fell off bike outside this B&B...forgot to unclip from pedals! Must take more care. Lucky not to break something on me or bike. North towards Lancashire tomorrow.
Thanks for all support. Kevin
Day 5 Tuesday 7th
Day 5 shorter day today 68 miles to Chester to stay with Colin with whom I shared a room at college back in 71. He's in good form.
A stop and go day with torrential thundery showers and warm sunshine. Tricky route finding on narrow roads. 419 miles in total. Aim to be through Lancashire tomorrow.
Day 6 Wednesday 8th
107 miles to S Lakes.
It's grim up north...not yesterday it wasn't with cloudless windless warm conditions. Working through Merseyside and s Lancashire is a challenge but helpful open people all the way. It seems true that northern folk are more friendly, excluding my Devon relatives of course! Slept under stars on a river level monitoring device. Thanks sincerely for all the encouraging messages.
Day 7 Thursday 9th
62 miles to Gretna, Scotland!! Delay to fix broken spoke in rear wheel and have wheel trued in excellent bike shop Ambleside. Road kill update... badgers 9, rats 2, grey squirrel 6, rabbits galore, fox 1, snakes 3, hedgehogs' lots... And no I haven't eaten any! Kevin.
Day 8 Friday
Stayed Thursday night with friends and family (Jacky & Jo). Left Gretna in rain for 30 miles then bright. Lovely route on deserted road through S Uplands. Long attractive descent to v poor area of S Ayrshire. No chance of B&B so slept out under a million stars which at 0300 became a million raindrops. A bit wet! Did 78 miles in the day. On ferry to Arran as I type this. Then ferry to Kintyre and up to Lochgilphead to meet 3 Fellside dads for drink and ride tomorrow. All is good. Kevin
Day 9 Saturday
Now in 'real' Scotland. On to Arran and off again after just 2 hours. Enough time to determine it's worth returning (on the tandem Jacky) with quiet roads and lots of cyclists. 68 miles on the road plus 2 ferry crossings to meet up with Fellside dads John & Ged in Lochgilphead. They're joining me for Sun morning on road to Oban.
Day 10 Sunday
76 miles to wet Ballachulish. 12 miles SW of Fort William. First 40 miles with John and Ged to Oban in ok weather. 40 miles back for them and a long drive. Thanks chaps. Good part of route from Oban on superb, new this year, cycle track. Great to be in Highland Scotland even in rain. Exactly 800 miles done. All is good.
Day 11 Monday
80 miles to Inverness in indescribably wet conditions for the first half of the journey, normal wet for the second. Massive climb out of Fort Augustus to escape logging trucks and buses on the A82. Could finish this trip in the next 2 days but as welcoming party can't arrive till Thursday will probably spend all day Wednesday with Pete Daniels near Brora and finish the trip on Thursday. I am fine and enjoying every bit of it. Kevin
Day 12 Tuesday
69 miles from Inverness to Pete's house just north of Brora. 950 miles total since Lands End. Route is shorter than I had anticipated at about 1010 miles. Vicious squalls today with a wintry feel. Impossible to ride over the Kessock Bridge. Delayed by broken spoke on Cromarty Bridge. Borrowed some tools from a recovery man in a caravan. Replaced the spoke, trued the wheel and back on the road in an hour. Gary the breakdown guy was so helpful and even donated £5 for Macmillan. I have seen only the best of people on this trip. Out for dinner tonight at neighbouring big house with Pete. Strong northerly winds forecast for the next few days so it will be a tough end to the ride. All is well. Kevin.