Thursday 26th
June
We had
breakfast together and sorted the bikes out and packed the van by about
9.30am. Graham handed his key in early
as our room was clear. When I went to
pay, the hotel owner thought we had left without paying. We have to check he didn’t take the money out
twice for our room. Caroline booked that
one and left her details.
As we had a
bike this morning, Gra started with Dani, Andy and Graham. They were going to be on cycle paths or by
the river a lot of the journey. It was
quite complicated for Dani so Caroline and I decided not to travel with
them. We went to get our salads from
Morrison’s, more drinks and cereal bars.
We made our
way to Platt Bridge and waited at McDonalds for them to catch up. It was just a place we could focus on and
find easily. We didn’t waist our time. We updated the blog and both caught up with
our emails. We knew the cyclists were
not far away.
When they
arrived at McDonalds we had drinks, Andy and Graham had burgers, Dani had her
salad, me, Caroline and Graham said we would have our salads later. We also had some doughnuts. They seem to go down well.
While talking
about the morning it was noted that Gra wobbled a bit by the edge of the river.
Made them all chuckle. It would
have made their day if he had fallen in.
Anyway Gra
and I changed bike for van for the afternoon.
I was a bit nervous as I hadn’t been on my bike for a few days and
definitely not on big roads. We went
thought Platt Bridge, on to Golbourne,
then right through the centre of Warrington. The journeny was nothing like they had said the morning had been. I think the day was about 38 miles and Gra
and I did half and half.
We are over
half way now. Who would have
though. It’s going by so quickly. Graham has only got two days left. I’m not quite sure whether he will be happy
to leave or sad. He has worked really
hard. We’ll miss him when he’s gone
(especially me and Gra).
None of us
felt like eating much for tea as we had our lovely salads late. Gra and I were in bed by about 8 O
Clock. Caroline and Dani watched a film. I’m not quite such what Andy and Graham did.
Friday 27th
June
Today
breakfast was about 7.30am. It was a
buffet breakfast but we had plenty to choose from. We left before 9 0 clock. Caroline and I were in the van. It was drizzling when we left. We were hoping it wouldn’t get too bad. Caroline and I knew we would not be able to
follow them this morning. We had stayed
the night in between Dutton and Weaverham.
They were heading on the A49 towards Tarporley but then going on cycle
tracks. As we couldn’t follow them we decided to go straight to Tarporley and
waiting for them there.
Tarporley was
a beautiful little town. I went to the
public loo and it was better than the last two hotels we had stayed in. We waited for the others to get to us. They decided that they would not stay and
have coffee, as it was too early and I wasn’t important enough, being only the
van driver. I was a bit disappointed as
no time is too early for a coffee. Never
mind upwards and onwards. (I didn’t really mind).
After we left
them, Dani’s sat nav took them on a road which went into a very small track,
which seemed to be getting smaller and smaller, with long grass on either side
until they were on a very muddy track.
Dani said she had definitely not checked that one out. As they were wet though, the grass seed stuck
to their clothes.
We then all
headed for Whitchurch. When going into
the town, we saw a big Sainsbury’s and thought that would be a good place to
meet up. It’s very difficult when you
are coming in and out of phone signal, to see where they are, so it’s good to
have somewhere for them to head for. By
the time they reached us it was raining really hard. They were drenched. It is the first rain we have had so we can’t
grumble. As long as we are all prepared
for all weathers, we are fine.
We were able
to have lunch, dry off a bit, loo break and get any supplies we needed. Great.
We stayed about one hour, then it was my turn to go on the bike. We set off in the rain but it stopped soon
after. We were on cycle paths again this
afternoon, which was lovely. The views
were not spectacular but good cycling.
We came off
the cycle track at Wem, on the B5476 and there were Caroline and Gra in a layby
with van. It’s always nice to see the
van. (And Caroline and Gra of coarse). We have a little brake, something to drink
and doughnuts. Lovely.
We left them
with about 10 miles to go. We went
through Wem, under a railway bridge, and then thunder. We could see the rain coming. It rained really hard. We were following the B5476. With the rain and traffic we were all just
putting our heads down and thinking of arriving at the hotel. The rain was really stinging our faces. Dani said we were going at about 18 miles an
hour.
By the time
we reached Shrewsbury the rain had stopped but we were really wet through. Not too bad for me but it was the second time
today for the others. We have been so
lucky with the weather. It’s the first
day we have had rain while we have been cycling.
The roads
were getting busy by this time. I was
very proud of myself, I went round a big roundabout on the bike, through an
estate with loads of traffic, then arrived at the hotel about 4pm. Dani, Andy and Graham seamed used to the
traffic but I am certainly not.
We booked
into the hotel, which was really nice.
We all got cleaned up. As we went
to the restaurant in the hotel to eat, the heavens opened again with thunder
and lightning. We had a really nice meal
though. It was a really lovely evening
with lots of laughing.
Gra and I are
back in our room at 9 0 Clock, getting into bed. I’m not sure what the weather is going to be
like tomorrow. It doesn’t matter though,
we are prepared for anything. By this
time next week we will be home and dry.
Saturday 27th
June
After a
really good night’s sleep we had a lay in this morning. We had breakfast at 8.30am as we only have
about 28 miles to go to Ludlow. It was a
really nice hotel in Shrewsbury.
By the time
we were all ready it was about 10am.
Caroline’s leg is slowly getting better. Less swollen and doesn’t hurt
as much, but still not enough for her to cycle.
She is really upset about it and it’s no good for us to keep saying it
doesn’t matter. She is still doing a good job with Gra and me in the van but
Caroline wanted to be cycling.
Today Gra is
cycling and I am in the van with Caroline.
Again we are unable to follow along with the cyclist on the tiny roads
they are going on. We have worked out
that we should meet up at Wall Under Heywood as there is a pub there and we
could get a drink. We arrived at 11 0
clock and the others arrived at 12 0 Clock but the pub didn’t open.
Gra and I
swapped then and he went ahead to find somewhere we could get a drink. We hadn’t gone long when he flagged us down
at a place called Westhope College. We
had a drink and a piece of homemade cake.
It was such a lovely place.
Before long
though we were on our way again. It
didn’t seem long before we arrived at Ludlow.
We did make a wrong turn in Ludlow and cycled all the way through to the
other end of town and all the way back.
That meant two quite steep hills one coming in and one coming out. Not to worry though, we are all a lot fitter
now than when we started.
We arrived at
the hotel about 2am but couldn’t get in immediately as the rooms were not quite
ready. Dani had a problem with her gears
on the way to Ludlow but there was a cycle shop nearby so Dani and Andy cycled
there to get it fixed. Bike fixed, rooms
ready, we had time to spend in Ludlow.
Graham took
us in relays into Ludlow as it was about a 25 min walk. We all loved Ludlow. Kevin’s friend Rich owns a bar/restaurant in
Ludlow, called Marches. Lovely food,
lovely people and right near the castle.
We had a really enjoyable evening.
It was Grahams last evening and I’m still not sure whether he was happy
or sad. He will be missed.
At this stage
I must apologise to Graham, as of all things I have spelt his name wrong all
the way through this blog. It would have
made it so much easier if I had remembered Graham’s name is spelt Graeme and
Gra’s name is Graham. Everybody would
have known exactly who I was talking about.
I did say I would alter it but Graham said no, it would only make life
difficult.
Anyway Gra,
Dani and I decided to leave the other three in town and make our way back to
the hotel. Another big day
tomorrow. That sounded easy, if we could
have found which little alley took us to the van. I think we could have nearly walked back by
the time we found it.
Sunday 28th
June
We were in
the Travelodge last night and the restaurant for breakfast, next door, didn’t
open until 9 0 clock, so we decided to
pack all the van, and make do with what we were carrying in the van. We have
cups, plates, bowls, cutlery, some cereal’s and fruit, tea and coffee.
After
breakfast we said our goodbyes to Graeme and got on our way. I don’t think he is leaving Ludlow till about
11am. It was about 9am when we
left. Graham was on the bike. We had about 58 miles today.
We arranged
to meet in a small village called
?. When we arrived, there was
nowhere for us to stop and meet up. We
parked just out of the village and waited for them to get to us.
We then had a
mission to find somewhere to have coffee.
We saw a place which was perfect for us.
It was a really nice picnic place with a coffee shop, not very
busy. We had coffee and tea cakes. When we came out it had got very busy and now
Dani wanted the loo before we left. A
whole coach load of girl guides had just arrived. The queue was enormous. Rather than queue she used the disabled one
with Caroline.
Anyway we
managed to get on our way again soon after.
They were on main roads today and it’s not so good for parking
places. We did find a great hotel called
the Pilgrim Hotel, to have lunch. Graham
then went and had a little sleep in the van, otherwise he would have fallen off
his chair.
After that,
Graham still on the bike, they had about 20 miles to go. It’s much more difficult without Graeme. When he was there, we went in twos. Dani and Andy are about the same
standard. We just bring up the
rear. Had Graeme had a lighter bike I
don’t think he would have been at the back with us. I think Graeme thought we would be travelling
at Caroline’s speed, but with her not cycling, the pace is a lot quicker. I have to say, without the electrics I
wouldn’t be doing any cycling. Graham is
being very good and not using the electrics, to save it for me. Although some of the hills are a bit
daunting.
Caroline and
I actually lost the others around Symonds Yat.
We had no idea where they were,
or what’s worse, where we were. We had
to set the Glympse up with Andy. We
found them eventually and then stopped on a little patch of grass and made a
cup of tea.
Off we went
again with only about 10 miles to go.
Graham seemed to want to do the whole journey today, so I kindly let him
do it. We arrived in Chepstow about
6pm. We unloaded the van and parked in a
local car park. After showers tidying
ourselves up, we went to look for somewhere for tea. The B & B owner said there was a pub down
by the river, so we walked there. It was
beautiful, but no food on a Sunday evening.
We went to about six other pubs or wine bars, no food on Sunday evening. In the end we had to go to
Weatherspoons. None of us wanted to
after the fiasco in Ayr, but we were hungry and Caroline’s foot was hurting.
Anyway, we
had a nice evening. While there I went
to the bar to order our food and drinks.
As I was paying, I said to the boy at the bar “I’m sorry I dropped one”. He smirked and I felt a bit embarrassed as he
did know that I was talking about a penny in my purse. Then somebody came to the bar and said to him
“I don’t want to worry you, but your bin outside is on fire”. Well he rushed off. When I was relaying this
to the others, Andy said “That was probably code to get him away from the
smell”. It might not seem funny now, but
we found it hilarious.
We then went
back to the B and B and to bed.
Monday 29th
June
This morning
we had breakfast at about 7.30am. It was
very nice, full cooked of course. We are
still finding it difficult to say no.
This morning
everyone, including Caroline is very excited about cycling over the old seven
bridge. Graham was cycling so Caroline
and I drove over the bridge to the services on the other side. We then got Caroline’s trike off the van, got
her togged up in her cycling gear and she was off. I walked down some steps to the cycle
track. Caroline soon overtook me and was
off to meet the others half way. I
thought it might be windy on the bridge, but it was beautiful. We had a photo call on the bridge, when I
reached them, out of breath. Took some
more of them leaving, then I walked back.
Caroline was really pleased, I was exhausted. It was one of the things her and Dani had
talked about when planning the trip. It
did make her realise that her ankle is not better yet and she would be silly to
attempt to cycle any more. yet.
Dani, Andy
and Graham had already left us, as today Natashia was meeting us. She is the lady who started LEAF, the charity
who we are supporting.
Caroline and
I got the bike into the van again and went to meet her at the ? pub in . She was already at the pub when we
arrived. I had not met her before. She was lovely and really wanted to know all
about the journey we have been on. Dani,
Andy and Graham arrived about an hour later.
We all had a really nice time with Natashia and I hope it gave her a
taste of the fun this journey been. By
the time Natashia left we realised it was lunch time and had we thought about
it we would have asked her to have lunch with us.
We set off
about 1.30pm. I was cycling now. Graham and Caroline in the van. We went on some fabulous cycle tracks today. By the way we had a little rain today. We were on the Strawberry Line cycle
track. It went for miles. At one stage we saw a sign that said “Tunnel,
put your lights on”. Dani and I thought,
we can see the tunnel and we can see the other end of the tunnel. We didn’t have lights with us. I followed Dani into the tunnel and you
couldn’t see anything. There were cats
eyes in the tunnel and if it hadn’t been for these, we wouldn’t have found our
way out. Dani stopped at one stage and I
nearly bumped into her. It was really
funny and very cold.
We came off
the cycle tracks and on to the A38. It
was a very busy road and after the cycle tracks, we just put our head down and
just cycled. Andy stopped at one stage
and he usually catches us up quite quickly.
We had cycled quite a way when my phone started ringing. I thought it would be Graham and Caroline
wanting to know where we were. As I was on a busy road I just ignored it until
I was off the main road. We realised
then that Andy was not with us. When I
looked at my phone it was Andy ringing us.
For a second I was really worried, until Andy said on the phone “where
are you”. We had gone quite a way ahead
not realising and Andy didn’t see where we were. He thought we might have turned off the road
somewhere. He really wasn’t far behind,
just out of sight.
Next we came
to a little village called Mark on the Somerset Levels. There was Graham and Caroline. It was really hot by then so we had a
well-deserved ice cream. We had about half hour stop. Then Graham took over the cycling.
Caroline and
I followed them for a while, then decided we had to go to the Boat and Anchor
pub at Huntworth, just outside Bridgewater, where we are staying tonight. Our friends Konrad and Lesli were coming to
meet us and have dinner with us. We had
a drink in the garden as it was still lovely weather when the others
arrived. When we had had showers and got
changed we had dinner in the pub. Again
we had a really lovely evening.
Then to bed.
Tuesday 1st
July
This morning
we were up at 7am. Breakfast at
8am. Today we had 53 miles to go to just
outside Crediton, a place called Coleford.
We left the hotel about 9.30am.
It was a
really sunny morning, Graham on the bike, so Caroline and I were in the
van. We could not follow them as there
were cycle tracks again. We had to buy
lunch today so went into Bridgwater to Morrison’s. We had arranged to meet them in
Uffculme. As we didn’t know which
direction they were going to come from, we waited for the Glympse to catch
up. There was a layby we stopped in and made
a cup of coffee. It seemed hard for the
three of them this morning.
They left us
then to meet up again to have lunch.
(Our salads). While waiting there
a man on one of these disabled scooters came to talk to us. He was very nice and gave us some local
information, like loos and things. Then
he went on and on and on. Within half an
hour he had told us his life storey, about how he became disabled. All about his visits to the hospital. Really just telling us how many thing he had
wrong with him and how he coped.
Caroline was sitting on a stool
near him but he hadn’t notice she was disabled and she didn’t want him to
know. She text Andy, who by now, along
with Graham and Dani had wandered off,
“How can I move away without him realising that I am disabled”. Andy text back “Just do a commando roll, get up and walk
away”. I’m so glad I didn’t know what
they were laughing at, also glad that Caroline couldn’t leave me too.
Anyway, by
the time he left us, it was time to move on.
Graham was happy to stay on the bike, as I was still tender from
yesterday. We then said we would make
our way to Bickleigh and meet up there.
I love Bickleigh and was happy to go there. They arrived about 2.30pm. We had a cream tea, or toasted tea
cakes. It was a nice break and they only
had about 10 miles to go.
Caroline and
I then went to find the New Inn at Coleford, where we are staying the
night. Andy’s mum, sister and niece,
Sue, Lucy and Erin were meeting us tonight, having tea with us and staying the
night. The New Inn was lovely, really
nice rooms. We all unloaded again, got
showered and dressed and met in the restaurant to eat. We had a lovely evening again, with lovely
food. By about 8pm Erin was ready for
her bed. The owner gave Lucy some DVD’s
for Erin to watch. By then we were all
getting tired, so made our way to the rooms.
Andy, Caroline, Dani and Lucy went back out to have a drink in the
garden. At the moment they are making
quite a lot of noise outside our window.
Only two more
hotels to go before the end. I can’t
believe nearly three weeks have gone by.
2nd
July 2014
I have to
say, the New Inn we stayed in last night was lovely. Beautiful old building, lots of space, lovely
comfortable beds and good shower. The
food was lovely too.
This morning
we had breakfast with Sue, Lucy and Erin at 8am. The sun was shining again, everything was
rosy.
I was cycling
today, as Graham cycled all day yesterday.
It was very hilly and we had a really big hill to get out of the
village. I did manage to cycle all the
way to the top, with the help of the electrics but it was still a massive
hill. Every time we reached the top of a
hill, we had a lovely quick decent and then another hill, and another hill, and
another. I was managing very well and
keeping up with Dani and Andy. We met up
with Graham and Caroline in Okehampton.
They had takeaway coffees for us at the Waitrose supermarket. We were able to go to the toilet and get cash
for the kitty. And of course our
doughnuts.
Just before
we met them I stopped next to Dani. I
was still sitting in my bike but unfortunately my feet don’t reach the ground,
luckily Dani caught me. Later I did
exactly the same, but this time nobody was close enough. I didn’t fall down and managed to cock my leg
over the saddle and slide off. (I didn’t
know my leg still lifted that high). It
did make Dani and Andy laugh.
After we left
Okehampton Dani’s sat nav took us down a little lane to get off the main
road. There was a tractor cutting the
edges, we couldn’t get by so we followed him along the road. It took a few minutes but we didn’t
mind. It was a welcome break. As soon as we could we left the tractor, the
sat nav took us down a little gravel track.
It did seem strange as it was not the usual sort track we go on. We thought about the miles we would save by
taking this track and decided to do it.
As Dani and Andy’s bikes are road bikes it was very difficult for them
on a track like this. They slide all
over the place. Also we had to go slowly
and it’s difficult to steer when you are going slowly. The path split at one stage and we ended up
in someone’s garden. We then had to
retrace our steps and go over a little bridge across a steam. It was funny and a wonder none of us fell
in. We had another bridge after
that. We eventually came to the end of
the track and on to the road for a short while.
We then found a new cycle track.
For a short while it was lovely. Up on a ridge with no hedges either
side so we could see for miles. It was
lovely. Then we came back to the
road. By now the electrics were running
out on my bike and I knew the hills we were doing would not be done by me
without the electrics.
We were by
now at Lydford Gorge. We flew down one
side and I just couldn’t get up the other.
On these high hills it’s really difficult to push a heavy bike up the
hill.
With that
Dani and Andy decided we would call Graham and Caroline to have our lunch in
Lydford Gorge car park. We had a lovely
lunch time of salads, crisps and tea.
Then we put my bike in the van and travelled with Caroline and
Graham. It had been a very hard but
really nice morning.
Andy and Dani
had about 20 miles to go. As we were
just leaving the car park we had a phone call from Andy and Dani to say Andy’s
tyre had burst and they were at the top of a steep hill. When we got to the them they had already
taken the tyre off the bike. We had a new tyre and inner tube in the van and
quickly fitted it and they were on their way again.
We caught up
with them once after that, at Bretnor Church on the hill. Once they left us we lost them down the tiny lanes. When they said they only had 5 miles to go we
decided to go to Elnor Guest House in Liskeard where we are staying and wait
for them there.
It looks
quite nice. The only trouble for me and Graham is the toilet is down the hall
and the shower in the cupboard next door.
The toilet I can cope with but the cupboard with the shower I’m not
quite sure of. It doesn’t look big
enough for me to get dressed in there and I won’t want to be walking along the
landing in a towel.
Anyway when
the others arrived they said yesterday and today were the hardest days they had
done. So many hills and so hot. It had been really difficult for them.
None of us
felt much like doing anything this evening.
After we were cleaned up we walked up the main street. There seemed to be something going on in
Liskeard and all the town was out. We
were told it’s Carnival week and tonight they had the parade with dancers.
We went in
the local pub that had been recommended to us, for tea but had a drink and was
not too impressed. We then went next
door to had fish and chips. It was
lovely and warm and we sat on a wall, watched the parade and ate our fish and
chips.
By then we
had all cheered up a bit but as we were tired went back to the B & B and
went to bed.