Day 5

Writing blog (Steve) after another looooong days riding. We clocked 131 miles yesterday and 131 miles today very strange coincidence. It's so mad thinking that we were setting off from Glastonbury at 8.30am yesterday and we are here at home two days later.
We are going to be down to two riders tomorrow. I'm totally gutted to be losing Lee. He will post his own blog when he can. We pray that he can join us en route asap. What a great ride to date mate, proud of you. It goes without saying how much you are going to be missed. We have become a tight bunch.

In a bit of a daze here, so tired and lots to do to get ready in the morning for the push up North.
Today was really tough, all running on empty for much of the day. But the good ting was that it was relatively flattish. Look up Aymestrey on a map and take in that it's south of Birmingham. A long trek up to home.
Really looking forward to getting out of here, a strange sensation being home, but also looking forward to riding out to Scorton with the club on our way to Grassmere.
Big mention to Denis and Jenny, who we have had giving the most amazing support in the first half of our epic journey. Drivers, navigators, masseurs, medics, pa's, organisers, the list is endless. We will be forever indebted to you both and will miss the pampering that you have given us. Welcome on board Stevie B, a great addition to our group.
Time for some shut eye and hope to update from the Lake District tomorrow.
X

Day 4

131 miles! Set off from Glastonbury at 8:30am arrived at B&B at 10pm with two 30min breaks! (blog updated via phone call to Amelia). Long day tomorrow. Pics of cheddar gorge, 7 bridge etc to follow. Off to sleep!!!!!
Pics of Cheddar Gorge and 7 Bridge (England to Wales).
Pics include Much needed drinks north of Monmouth Wales.
Setting off from Meare (Glastonbury).
Lee and Kev shattered after 131 tough miles of climbing.
Lee and Denis arriving at the accomodation in Herefordshire 10pm.
Kev and Steve tackling Cheddar Gorge.
Lee and Kev on the Severn Bridge crossing into Wales.

It's hot and no amount of linen will help....

We stayed in a great place last night and dined at the local eatery, the Harris Arms, which, as we have more or less found with everyone we encounter, we received a friendly and warm welcome. In fact the four people sitting close to us in the restaurant gave us £20 and the owners of the pub another £10. We woke up this morning really looking forward to the day but it started badly, 1 hour of pure hills followed by Lee's cassette on the back cog breaking. Thankully Matty M had provided a spare back wheel otherwise we'd have been in a right state. Things got better and going through a beautiful village called, well who knows, there are so many, a little old lady and her husband stopped their car where we were parked getting supplies and handed us £4 out of her purse. We also met a bloke called Rob in a big yellow jacket and a bike laden with two huge saddle bags who is doing the ride on his own. Hello Rob if you are reading. The country side is beautiful and we've had our best day yet...93 miles today and considering we've got over 100 miles to do tomorrow as well as negotiating Bristol and one of the bridges....who knows which one the sat nav will take us over...we'd better get some kip.

Me in Denis's gear

He still does't know I had his Safari outfit on! I look like Jom Carey in The Mask, smokin!!!!

day 2 (more pics)

Day 2

The most enjoyable day I think I (Steve) have ever had in the saddle. Glorious weather (Zebra tan), stunning scenery along a rugged coastline and monster climbs all day. Don't think Lee will agree re the hills and their steepness.
Set off from St Agnes at 9am and headed for Newquay. It tested us all fo the first hour or two with constant climbing. At Padstow I decided on a detour and the Camel Trail cycle route, which slowed our progress a little. Stopped for lunch overlooking Bodmin Moor and had Cornish Pasties all round (as we were about to leave the county). Cut inland and headed for Launceston. Made it to the B and B for 5pm with Lee looking for a new set of lungs and legs. But he lad did well and we spent a lot of the day allowing im to dictate the pace.
Met another End to Ender just outside Launceston and he's taking 18 days for his.
Totally loving this adventure and for some strange reason, I loved the hills today.
Denis has just left for he village pub, so I'm expecting there will be bunting and a brass band laid on by the locals after last nights saga!!!!!
Take the mick out of Denis, but his support driving and all it includes is first class. They (Denis and Jenny)are there at the side of the road, either handing out drinks or video camera/ digital camera in hand. Kev's going great and it's wonderful to see him riding with a huge grin on his face.

The day started with a lot of faffing (mostly by me, Kev) Weather was not good with a lot of sea mist which kept visibility down. We got all the photos, signed in at the Lands End Hotel then we were on our way.
I was pretty emotional at the start, Carla would have given me a slap, so decided to put my head down and just get on with it.
As we cycled towards our half way break the weather started to improve, we rode down into St Ives with the sun out and lovely blue sky. St Ives was packed, found it difficult to find somewhere to stop for a bit of lunch, eventually found a little place out the way. People are generally very supportive but some think we have almost finished....one more day, they shout......maybe that was because we were going in the wrong direction....sat nav decided to do its own thing...or was it because Steve had fixed it to his bike backwards? Who knows, but we made it eventually to St Agnes, having done an extra ten miles. We are staying in a lovely B&B called Kimberely..really lovely. We went into town to the nearest pub/restaurant, although Denis and Jen had gone ahead. We walked into the pub and received a round of applause...very embarrassing, who knows what Denis had told them, and as Steve pointed out, his postman had probably ridden further than us that day.
Tough day ahead today, very testing hills and the miles increase considerably.

Day 1

Penzance (eve before the start)

Arrived safely in Penzance after stress free 6hr drive down. Booked into Faulty Towers with Basil. I (Steve) ate a banana every time I spotted a significant hill South of Bristol. Got through 4 bunches and found myself swinging (like a baboon) out of the car when we arrived. Wish I had packed blinkers, it's either up or down, playing on my mind.
Took a walk around Penzance and had a quick coffee whilst we waited for Lees train to arrive at 5.30.
Passed a weigh bridge as we were walking near the sea front and had to climb on, me being the groups fat cyclist. Be interesting to see how much I lose by JOG.
Pics include Lee arriving, weigh bridge and 1st days nutrition. Off out now for more Food!!!!

Ready to travel to the start line

Well, it seemed like we had ages left and suddenly it's crept up and here we are setting off in the morning. (Steve) Opted to ride with the clubs social group this morning and it was a very gentle pace. Lots of stop starts too, as there was a fella with us called Flat Eric (Just the name I gave him due to puncturing several times). Been rushed off my feet with last minute arrangements. I have still got to pack, eat and then reroute the Gramin Sat Nav for parts of days 3 and day 11.
Poor Lee's last few days have been a nightmare and it didn't look like he was going to join us on Friday night as baby Eze was taken into hospital. Just spoken to him and the little fella has picked up and came out after 24 hours. So looks like we will be back to a three now. Lee's had no riding in the past week and will naturally be a bit rusty come Tuesday.
However, it's Kev who has had the biggest problems leading up to the ride. He can't decide what type of conditioner to pack (oh, to have hair).