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Day 1,

Wigan-Penzance-Train
Penzance-Lands End-Car
Lands End-Bodmin-Bike
Mileage 60.82
Average Speed 15.10
Time 4hrs 1 min 37 secs.

Today started with my Mum and Dad picking me up from home at 7.30am. Quick farewell to Sarah, Matthew and Alex and then onto Wigan Station.

8.42 train to Plymouth, which ran late and so I missed my connection from Plymouth to Penzance. Met another end to ender Gavin, a retired history teacher from Shropshire who starts out on Saturday in a group of 15 on an organised tour with back up. He must have been nearly 70! Last year he rode from Coast to Coast of USA! All credit to him.

Nice train journey down to Penzance, where my eccentric Uncle Harry and my Mum's sister Margaret picked me up. They are on holiday in Cornwall so that was very handy.

Lands End is nothing to write home about (says he - writing home about it!), but it took a while taking pictures with every one of Harry's 14 cameras and then feature length video footage.

I set off at 6.00pm and realised there was a really strong wind behind me, which was excellent. Harry kept overtaking me and then pulling into a layby to either video or photograph me. I was really grateful to them though, it was a big help.

Before I knew it I had covered the 10 miles back to Penzance. I thought the tail wind was too good to miss so I pushed on up the A30. I reckon that this time of day was probably the best time for the A30 as there was not much traffic. The wind was still right behind me and fairly strong. Before I knew it I was passing signs to Newquay/Peranporth etc. There was then a really big hill with a McDonalds half way up. I couldn't resist! So much for all the carbohydrate loading and all that suff I had read about. I'm not sure how much carbohydrate thre is in a Double Cheeseburger Meal, but it was good!

By this time it was getting dark, but with a strong wind I decided to carry on for a bit. Then in the middle of nowhere, I had my first puncture! It took me about 15 minuts to sort out, and by the time I got to Bodmin it was 10.50pm. Stopped at the first pub I got to and am now sat in my £18 room (+£1.50 for a towel)writing my memoirs.

Let's hope the wind keeps up tomorrow.

Thanks

Chris


DAY 2 BODMIN TO CHEDDAR, A DAY OF UPS AND DOWNS!!

Mileage for the Day 132.46
Total mileage 193.28
Average Speed 14.65mph
Hours in the saddle 9 hrs 2 mins 13 secs

the day started at the Barley Sheaf Public House in Bodmin,quick check that all my limbs were still working produced positive results. Good breakfast, although I think it was only the plate that wasn't fried!
I set off at 8.30am with awful weather conditions, mist and that "wet" rain. Got back on the A30 which should really be classifeied as a motorway. You have the choice of riding in the gutter to the left of the white line dodging the cats eyes and other assorted debris, or riding in the road with HGV's etc not giving you enough room. I chose the gutter (no surprise there then!) Popped in to Launceston to buy an inner tube, but no bike shop. So took the old A30 to Okehampton which was a bit more hilly but a nice break from the dual carriage way. At Okehampton I bought my innertube and sent yesterdays fax to Cathy (thanks) then re-joined the A30 and made my way to Exeter. Took the A377 from Exeter to Tiverton, where I stopped and had a meal in the Kwik Save Cafe! The weather had sorted itself out by this time, it was "cracking the flags" as we say in Eccleston. At Tiverton joined the A38, which although still busy, is nicer than the A30.
Special moment just before Taunton, with 100 miles for the day coming up. I have never ridden 100 miles in a day before, but felt surprisingly ok. Stopped at the roadside and had a little moment of self congratulation!
I was going to try and make Bristol, but it would have been too late, so I started looking for B&B's, a search that ended up in the pitureque village of Cheddar, and a posh B&B.£25.00 but that included the towel!
Only 670 miles to go now!



DAY THREE Five counties in one day!

Cheddar to Bridgenorth

Daily Mileage 110.06
Average Speed 15.02
Hours in the saddle 7 hrs, 19mins, 24seconds
total mileage 303.34


Again I was suprised on waking that everything was still working. A bit of back ache, but that is normal in our family!
I looked at the map and saw a shortcut back to the A38 from Cheddar....bad move it must have been three miles of 1 in 5 hill.... my breakfast nearly didn't make it out of Cheddar!

I was glad I hadn't tried to make Bristol last night because it was very hilly up to Bristol.
I rode straight through Bristol centre, and then made my way up the side of the Severn to Gloucester, for a light Sainsbury's lunch. Weather was great all day, shirt sleeve order.
Just North of Bristol at about 10.30am I met another end to ender, with support team just being dropped off to begin his day, he was taking three weeks, which I am convinced is the way to do it. If only I had more holiday entitlement.
His T.shirt stated he was doing end to end for a toilet! I assume he was raising funds for the renovation of some public building and he had undertaken to raise enough funds to do the toilet... good idea. I wonder if he got his inspiration from Peter Kays "me mum wants a bungalow tour"?
Worcester came and went, as did Kidderminster, I felt I really was progressing at this point.
I had arranged to meet Geoff and Margaret (the in-laws) at Bridgenorth. I spoke to Geoff during the day, during the two and a half minuted he actually had his mobile switched on, and we had agreed to meet in Bridgenorth. Now I have never been to Bridgenorth before, Geoff rang me to say they had booked a hotel and would meet me in Sommerfield car park.
The roads had been fairly flat all day enabling me to make good distance, however I do not recomment the A42 from Kidderminster- Bridgenorth, it became very hilly. When I finally got there, Bridgenorth was also very hilly. I asked somebody where Sommerfield was they just pointed to the sky, it was right at the top of the town, the bloke I asked for directions asked me where I was setting up base camp and if I needed oxygen!
I rang Geoff on his mobile, figuring it would be easier to meet somewhere below outer space, but his phone was switched off again.
I arrived at sommerfield car park with my thighs exploding. But it was good to see them, they took me down to the Falcon Hotel and we went out for lots of Pasta and had a good night. Thanks Geoff and Margaret, it was just the job!
Just in case you were interested, the five counties were:
Somerset
Avon
Gloucestershire (is that how you spell it?)
Worcestershire
Shropshire


DAY 4

Bridgenorth to Middlewood close (Eccleston Lancs, Home)

Daily Mileage 93.74
Average speed 13.85mph
Hours in the saddle 6hrs, 45mins, 53secs
total mileage 397.08

Good breakfast at the Falcon in Bridgenorth, having Geoff and Margaret also had the advantage that they took most of my bags home, leaving me with just my bar bag and maps etc.
Made decent progress towards Telford, but what a funny road the A442 is. Telford must be one of those NEW towns where you cant see anything from the main roads, a bit like Milton Keynes.
Then it was a long flat ride to Whitchurch, it seemed to take forever to get there, the weather today was overcast but fine at this point. Just as I crossed into Cheshire, the heavens opened and it absolutely bucketed down for the next two hours.
I stopped only briefley in Tarporley, as did the rain. Then straight up the A49 past Weverham and over the M56 into Warrington.
Thought about stopping at Ikea, but i would have looked a bit silly in the loading area with all the other people trying to fit £300.00 worth of sweedens finest pine on my back rack!
The wind then started playing tricks on me and seemed to be coming at me from a North Westerly direction. Which was not what I wanted, it was certainly the first time I had encountered a head wind in four days. I found myself shouting at the wind, asking what the hell it thought it was playing at! Maybe the solitude is getting to me.
Anyway, onwards up the A49 everything going ok until i get right outside the entrance to Haydock park....puncture number 2. Closer inspection revealed a tiny piece of green glass (beer bottle glass) straight through the tyre wall. As I sat there in the rain putting the new innertube in, bemoaning my lot because I would be late home, I suddenly relised that Cathy Pickup had called me from Haydock races on Friday evening. Now for those of you who don't know Cathy, she works at Burnley F.C. and likes the odd drink (47 being an odd number!) and is always the instigator of any practical jokes. Well ....thanks a lot Cathy, that glass you scattered over the A49 on Friday night certainly hit the mark!

Uneventful ride on my new innertube took me through Wigan and then to be met by Sarah and the Boys about four miles away from home.

I cycled with Matthew and Alex into Eccleston, which was almost emotional, (it is definitely getting to me)
It is great to be home, but will I be able to get up in the morning out of my own bed and set off for Scotland?

I think so..... as long as the wind changes direction overnight, or I will be having further words!

thanks



Monday 9th. June 2003
Eccleston - Scotland
Daily total miles - 112.09
Average speed - 13.73 MPH
Hours in Saddle - 8hrs 9 mins 48 secs
Cumulative total miles - 509.59

The hardest part of today was getting out of my own bed and setting off again after a farewell to Sarah and the boys - again. Popped round to my mum and dad's for obligatory photograph and then set off on familiar roads. Dave Keating met me just North of Lancaster with a bacon sandwich and a cup of coffee - much appreciated - cheers Dave!
We worked out that I was almost exactly half way there. It feels good to have done more than I have to do.Then pressed on to Kendal straight up the A6. Once through Kendal I followed th signs for Shap. Well, it was steep and my progress could best be described as - steady. (This is reflected in my daily average speed today), but I made it and the descent into Penrith was rapid.Penrith to Carlisle was a bit up and down, reached Carlisle at around 5pm. Decided to push on to Gretna, down the A74. Cycles should not be allowed on this road, it was so busy, just like cycling on a motorway. A couple of times I walked with my bike because the traffic was so heavy

Great sense of achievement to see the Scotland signs passed. Decided to stay in Gretna, I don't suppose they are used to selling single rooms here!Got a room in a really nice B & B and went for a beer to the Pub next door, where I met Gordon and Rita McDonald, who donated to the Charity and wouldn't let me buy my own drinks. Thank you Gordon. If anyone needs a tyre fixing in Fife, go to HiQ Tyre Services in Leven. That is Gordon's business.

Weather was great all day today, and I am pleased to tell you the wind obeyed my instructions!

Chris

Tuesday 10th. June 2003
Gretna - Ballock (Loch Lomond)
Total mileage for day 106.16
Average speed - 13.49 MPH
Hours in Saddle - 7hrs 51 mins 49 secs
Cumulative total miles - 615.75

Good breakfast in my small B & B, the proprietor even lubricated my chain for me as he got my bike out of the garage. Gretna had disappointed me, I thought there would have been more there.
As I set off, I realised the wind was complying again (a strong south-westerly). Set off on the B7076, which apparently is the old A74. Great cycling road, virtually traffic free, but became the most remote cycling also. There were no shops, houses, garages ... just nothing but trees for miles and miles. The wind was still blowing but it brought some rain with it. As I entered Abington I was very cold and wet. George & Anne (mum and dad) had rung me to tell me they were coming up today, following me to John O'Groates and bringing me home. This is a great help as they can go ahead and book the B & B's. They caught up with me 25 miles south of Glasgow. We had soup and sandwiches at the side of the road (great things mums aren't they?) Then dropped into the seeminly never ending suberbs of Glasgow. Realising my map wasn't detailed enough, got lost twice which is very demotivating. Parents rang to say B & B was in Balloch, Southern Shore of Loch Lomond, and that there was a cycle path from the City Centre. I took it, which was pleasant, but slowed me down due to gates/junctions etc. Hopefully tomorrow should be less traffic, but more climbs??? We will see

Chris


Day 7

Balloch - Spean Bridge
"Bens, Lochs & Glens"

Daily Mileage 95.19
Average Speed 13.48
Hours in Saddle 7 hrs 3minutes, 25 Seconds
totalCumulative Mileage 710.94


Good early breakfast in Balloch, many thanks to Anne Rankin at Monday cottage in Ballach, who not only was a superb host, but popped a fiver in the charity pot too. Then a nice prologue to the days tougher stages by riding up the A82 up the side of Loch Lomond, Then we started to climb, which was to become the order of the day.
Climbed to Crianlarich (good Scottish name) at about 35 miles and then turned and headed towards Fort William.
This road went up, and up, and up, but it was a fairly gradual climb, and my steady (!) progress got me there in the end. The downhill then compensated forthe ups. Just after the second big hill of the day, I met a bloke on a mountain bike coming the other way, he was on day five, having set off from John O Groats on Saturday. I don'tenvy him, all loaded up with tent etc, and cycling into the wind.
I was really looking forward to the promised 10 mile descent into Glencoe, but the wind was now into my face, and I had to pedal hard downhill! Gutted!
My mum and dad caught me up at this point, so it was nice to have sandwiches and a coffee in a warm car, although it does make it dificult to set off again
Fort William was finally achieved, and we then went on another 10 miles to Spean Bridge, where the marvelous Mr. Horner is allowing me to use his computer to update this site.
So, Only 160 miles to go now, in some ways it seems to have flown, in others it seems ages since I started. My thighs are feeling the worst now, they scream at me to stop when I try to exert them too much. My legs are generally giving up the fight a bit, there seems to be little left in reserve, but I am definitely going to make it, hopefully by Friday midday.
One nice call today, my mate John Sharkey from San Fransisco who has being following the progress on the site daily, I know his mum Aunty Sheila (not my real auntie!) has been logging in as well. It is nice to know people are taking an interest, and I thank everyone who has called or texted.
Nessie ... are you ready for the cazy cyclist who talks to himself? .... we will see tomorrow

Cheers



Day 8
SPEAN BRIDGE- HELMSDALE- a big final full day
Daily Mileage 126.00
Average Speed 14.21
Hours in the saddle 8 hours, 52 minutes, 48 secs
Total Mileage 835.94

Started the day at 8.10am, just east of Fort William, basically followed the Great Glen all the way up the A82, the thought process was that this route would be flat, in reality, it kept on leaving the side of the lochs and going up and down a bit, but nothing like yesterday. Made it to Fort Augustus in a couple of hours, and then pushed on up the side of Loch Ness to Inverness, which seemed to take forever to get to. No sign of the monster, but loads of German tourists (mugs!) Mum and Dad met me with lunch outside the crematorium in Inverness (were they trying to tell me something!) Then I got off over the bridge and onto the Black Isle. I had decided to put a big day in today so I could hopefully finish in reasonable time tomorrow and give us a chance of getting home tomorrow night. As planned I made for the Cromarty -Nigg ferry, which was ok but the climb to get there took a lot out of me, and I arrived at the Jetty ro see the ferry just setting off. I waited half and hour whilst it made it's round trip, by which time it was raining and I was cold. The ferry ride took 10 mins (£3.00) and then I set off to ride the final leg of the trip up the north Eastern coast of Scotland.
I had told my Mum and Dad to go and book somewhere near wick (17 Miles from John o' Groats) which would have meant doing a daily mileage of over 150 today. Luckily for me, my Mum and Dad have sense and they decided discretion was the better part of valour and booked in a Helmsdale (55 miles from Jo'G)
The last 10-15 miles were completed in driving rain, I was knackered, it was possibly the worst I have felt all trip. I thought Helmsdale was never going to appear on the Horizon, I was shouting at the road, telling it what I was going to do to it if Helmsdale (Which I re-christened "hellsdale" in my head) didn't appear round the next corner. I nearly kissed the ground when I arrived, (7.30pm) had a quick bath which my mum had run for me (bubbles and everything) and then went for a meal in what looked like a jumble sale hut. Needless to say, the food was the best I had in all the trip, funny how it works out like that isn't it.
Then early to bed for a big day tomorrow.

DAY 9
Hellsdale(Sorry Helmsdale) - John O Groats
Daily Mileage 55.00miles
Average Speed 12mph
Hours in Saddle 4 hours 34 minutes 0 secs
Total Milage 890.94

Got off at 5.30am! and was faced with the biggest five miles of hills of the whole trip! They are really not what you want at 5.35am on your last day! Finally made ip up the hill and then was treated to one of the steepest descents of the trip into Berridale. Guess what, then another thigh-burning ascent up the other side.
It finally leveled out and the rest of the 55 miles were fairly uneventful apart form the obligatory rain showers. I stopped in Wick for breakfast at Safeway, and rang mum and dad , who were just setting off after their breakfast. They told me to slow down or I would get there before them! they caught me up with about ten miles to go, I reckon my Dad had been driving like Schumacker to get there (all in neuteral though AND past some cheap petrol... bit of a family joke!)So they were there, cameras at the ready as I rolled in to Jon o Groats punching the air, ...still talking to myself!
More photo's.. quick wash and then pack the bike up into the back of the car, for the long journey home.
Made it back to Eccleston by 8.45pm (480 miles)
Thanks for reading the column, hopefully it has been interesting and mildy entertaining/informative
I'm off to bed now ... I have an appointment with a counsellor tomorrow, I keep talking to myself!