This time last week.....

Well this time last week, we were in Bettyhill with only ONE day to go. It's amazing how time flies. 

I've had a full-body massage today with Jen, felt like a new woman - she always manages to find the knots!!

The Scottish adventure continued when Geoff arrived last Wednesday and whisked me off to a five-star hotel in Wick for 2 nights - LUXURY!

Champagne cooling!!

Ackergill Tower in the background, lovely.

On Wednesday we just wandered around Wick; we managed to find the quirky local museum, which had the most fantastic display of old B&W photos of life in the town and surrounding area, around the turn of the century (20th Century!!). 

Thursday saw us getting the ferry over to The Orkneys. The ferry was only meant to take 40 minutes, but for some reason took over an hour - issues with the tide I presume. Anyway, we still managed to see a fair bit, plus the weather was kind to us. The highlight for me (and Geoff) was Skara Brae - a settlement dating back to 3100BC.

In the two pictures above you can clearly make out a built-in mantle-piece/storage unit (nothing is new!!??), the fire, and 2 beds. The round huts were connected by tunnels, so that in bad weather, if you wanted to visit your neighbour, you didn't have to go outside..!! A truly amazing place. I'm sure the info said it was occupied for over 150 years, but no-one knows why the people left the area.

The Orkneys were really interesting - there are no trees on the islands, I didn't quite "get it" when the guide said it, but as I was sitting on the coach looking at the country-side  I suddenly realised THERE ARE NO TREES!! It does affect the scenery dramatically.

So, now that I've got your attention, I'm going to bore you with some data - although these are all approximations, as I kept losing some of my data, boo hoo! 

IN 18 DAYS WITH ONE REST DAY:

TOTAL MILES CYCLED = 1042 miles

NUMBER OF CRANK REVOLUTIONS = 345,000

(number of times pedals turned)

NUMBER OF CALORIES BURNED = 28,900cals

TOTAL ELEVATION CLIMBED = 71,484 feet

Or put it another way:

Average daily calories burned = 1,700 cals

Number of times Everest climbed = 2.4

Average daily mileage = 62 miles

Even after cycling 1042 miles, I have managed to put on 4lbs!! BUT, it is all muscle. How do I know? Because my waist is the same as when I left, and my thighs and calves are bigger!! Jen says my thigh muscles are definitely bigger - she should know, she massages them twice a month!

I have managed one bike ride since getting back - 35 miles to see my Mum & Dad - my bottom was sore and every-time I stopped, my thighs groaned!!

Off out on Thursday with Jen - to Jodrell Bank, nice and flat; but we are discussing going to do Mam Tor, near Castleton (not as bad as Winnat's Pass, but not for the faint-hearted  either).

Keep you posted.

  

Last Day – Bettyhill to John O’Groats – July 19th, 2016

I’m actually writing this the day after we finished, ‘cos we were just so busy celebrating yesterday evening that I ran out time to write this blog – sorry!

I’m here in J O’ G waiting for Geoff to arrive, everyone has gone, I’m on my own – it’s a very strange feeling – I haven’t been on my own for 18 days. I can’t get on the internet and the mobile phone signal is poor, so I don’t know where Geoff is….

But enough of that, what about yesterday, I hear you cry.

We set off from Bettyhill in glorious sunshine – the sky was blue with the odd fluffy cloud in the sky. I didn’t have to wear my heavier rain jacket, my lighter gillet or plastic bags on my feet, underneath my overshoes, to keep out the rain for as long possible, marvellous! Such a treat that the last day should be brilliant sunshine - it will colour the memories and make every day a sunshine day!! Haha!

The first 15 miles however were a different story, HILLS- there is always a sting in the tail! Plus, I’ve worked out that it takes at least 15 miles for my legs to get going, so they simply were not working well at the beginning, they were painful actually; but once the 15 or so miles were up and the terrain levelled out a bit it was good cycling. We stopped in Thurso for lunch and then on again. A few more hills to climb and a couple of brilliant descents, lovely scenery all the way; we could see the Orkneys very clearly. The landscape changed to cattle and sheep farming with really flat fields and therefore roads!!

Then with 10 miles to go it started hitting me that I was nearly there – I kept praying that:

· the bike held out, with no punctures, plus I’ve been nursing my gears since the start really!! (I tried to get them sorted in Stirling, but failed)

· my legs and bottom held out!! (sudocrem and “fanny fondant” - as Sarah & I started calling chamois cream in the end – are fantastic for sore BTM’s)

·  the motorists behaved themselves – we’ve had a couple of near misses as a group, and I’ve had a couple of times where I felt cars/vans passed just a little too close for comfort really

I actually started to cry a little bit at one point when I began to realise how close I was to completing this challenge that I’d set myself; when I started to realise how “strong” I was in all sorts of sense of the word:

• strong base level of fitness, at nearly 60 years of age (September is the big-60-birthday)
• strong muscles in the legs
• strong enough to get up every day and pedal, even when my legs said “NO!!"
• strong enough to cope with cycling in the downpours with wet-through everything!! (I mean everything!)
• strong enough to climb every hill the 1030 miles of road through at us, 25% in places!
• strong enough to FINISH!!

I think it was the realisation that I’m not passed it, physically or mentally, that made me cry a bit. It was something that Alex, our fantastic 83 year cyclist, commented on the other night at dinner. He said it was marvellous to be accepted as an equal in the group, and not as some doddery old bloke. I think I understood what he meant with 10 miles to go.

So there it is, I’ve done it, I’ve achieved it. 

Harry (in his 70’s!!) worked out that we’d cycled 1030 miles altogether.

Many thanks to my fellow LEJOG-gers for getting me through it, especially to Sarah, my room-mate - such a lot of laughs - hysterical or otherwise!! And many thanks to Chris our tour leader, who sorted out the route, the hotels and other things besides (mainly to do with bike-shops and cake shops!!).

WONDERFUL!!

WELL DONE IT ALL TWELVE OF US!

BILL

HARRY

LIZ

SARAH

ROBIN

ROGER

ALAN

SIMON

ALEX

KEN

JOHN

JANETTE

Tain to Bettyhill, 71 miles

Well, what can I say.. despite the rain we have all had the most fantastic day.

The rain stopped about 11-11.30am, when we were in Lairg, having an early lunch. This was necessary because we were about to enter the back of beyond with very few places to stock up on calories. We climbed up to a place called Crask (896 feet) and then sailed down into the valley to a place called Altnaharra by Loch Naver. 

The photos above don't really do the scenery justice - it was stunning, as was cycling alongside the River Naver.

Left the River Naver behind to see a sign for John O' Groats - the first sign!! Hurrah!! It says 55 miles, but I'm sure we are doing more than that tomorrow as most of are going to Durness Head, the most northerly point of the UK mainland, before John O'Groats.

I arrived in Bettyhill about 3.30pm, to see the Atlantic Ocean!! The last time I saw the Atlantic was at Land's End - 16 days ago, and here it is again!! 

Amazingly this is the view from our hotel window.

So, last day tomorrow, it is quite incredible, Land's End seems such a long time ago.

We have to be vigilant tomorrow - that's when the most accidents happen apparently, at the end of the trip, when people are relaxing and getting de-mob happy!!

Bye for now!

Nethybridge to Tain, via Inverness

Another good day in the saddle - although my legs did rebel for most of the 70 miles, especially on the hills, which weren't too bad when I think about the Peak District hills.

It's 10.25pm - dinner was incredibly slow but good. So this is it I'm afraid - short and ??? sweet.

Saw two red deer today and a red squirrel; sadly the red squirrel was dead - road kill - NOT nice.

Met two shetland ponies in a field together - very naughty ponies; fighting each other over the grass! And then a horse and a pony further up the ride, who were disparaging about the grass I was offering them!

Cycled through Inverness and over the bridge and then followed the coast line to Tain - saw 3 huge Oil Platforms in the Firth of Cromarty (thank you Sarah!!). Beautiful scenery. 

Anyway time for bed; hopefully a more interesting blog tomorrow - too tired tonight, sorry. We have another 70-miler tomorrow. Penultimate day tomorrow, WOW!! Almost there.

Sleep tight.

Day 15, Pitlochry to Nethybridge: 70 miles

Today has been really good, AGAIN!!

We did 70 miles today, climbing up  through the Drumochter Pass on national cycle route 7; according to Strava we climbed 1504 feet, but the gradient was so gradual I didn't notice it!! The only thing we all commented on was the head-wind - hard work!

Then after a lunch stop the wind changed direction - at last behind us!! So before lunch av speed was 10 mph and after lunch I managed 13 mph!!

34.9 % % climbing	46.8 % % flat	18.3 % % downhill
02:14:43  Climbing time	03:00:52  Flat time	01:10:54  Downhill time
7.1 MI/H Avg climbing speed	13.1 MI/H Avg flat speed	12.3 MI/H Avg downhill speed
15.8 MI Climbing distance	39.4 MI Flat distance	14.6 MI Downhill distance

Had some good views today:

Happy days!!

Stirling to Pitlochry

What a wonderful day!

The rain stayed away until 10.30am and then gradually built up to a complete deluge. But despite all that the cycling was glorious! A bit of uphill at the start out of Stirling (23% in places!!). Managed to fall over - I stopped for a car and then set off again on a hill - and WHACK! over I went, grazed my knee and damaged my pride! I need to practice my hill starts, this is twice now.

We had a couple of downhill stretches, fast, fast, fast. Such a shame the weather was awful because the scenery would have been wonderful - long sweeping valleys, large full, fast, flowing rivers. 

After lunch I joined Bill (from Vancouver, Canada) and Roger (from Liverpool) and we flew along, 17 miles per hour - so fast that I arrived at the hotel at 3pm, the earliest I've arrived anywhere the whole trip. 58 miles in 5 hours!!

Brilliant!

Days 12 & 13 Abington to Stirling, rest day in Stirling

Today's blog is going to be short and sweet because I'm writing it a day late and I'm at the point where the day's are merging into one!!

We set off from Abington full of the joys of spring after the previous day's miserable end.

The road was smooth and the scenery pleasant.

Lovely scenery

Just to prove we are in Scotland - HAGGIS LASAGNE

We passed through 3 closed roads - one of them we had to be escorted through as pedestrians, never had to do that before.

Needless to say I got left behind (again). We had a choice of routes, one on the garmin "gismo" and one from the Falkirk wheel where you had to find your own way on to Stirling. The benefit of the Falkirk Wheel route was that it was FLAT; whereas the other route was hilly. Anyway, I opted for the hilly route - I could just see myself getting lost, and knew it wasn't worth it.

Anyway, despite the hill climbing (16% in places) I had a really good day. Although I did get wet through - I was on the edge of a shower cloud all afternoon. I even stopped and wrung my socks out at one point!!

On the ride into Stirling

Fast forward to the evening and I met up with an old nursing friend, Nicky and her husband, Tony. I worked out that Nicky and I have known each other since the early 1980's, 30+ years, amazing!!

It was good to see them and tell them about my trip so far and catch up with their news, but by 9.30pm I was flagging and had to say "Night, Night". 

Then today, Thursday - WE'VE HAD A DAY OFF!!

Time to lie-in! Time to visit Stirling Castle! Time to have a lager with lunch! Time to have a massage, (legs, neck and shoulders)!! And on top of all that - lovely weather, blue skies, just perfect.

I'm a bit worried that it is going to be difficult to get going again tomorrow. Anyway, we'll see!

Bye for now.

Day 11 – Wetheral to Abington

Posted on 14th July, but written on Tuesday 12th July

Well, WHAT A DAY!!

The day started off so well – we made it to Gretna i.e. SCOTLAND, at about 9am and took quite a few pictures – jubilant that we’d made it after 10 days of cycling. I think it was about 10 minutes later that we all suddenly realised we still had over 400 miles to go!!

So off we went on our way, travelling quite fast – we (Sarah and I) made it to Lockerbie at 11.45am and decided to have an early lunch. Lockerbie was 32 miles into the 66 total mileage for the day – so you can see why we thought we were doing so well.

Then it all started going downhill from there. I increased my pace and left Sarah only to discover that the going was decidedly TOUGH.

• The wind was head-on (as Sarah has pointed out – hence why the Clyde Wind farm is where it is!!??)
• The road surface was DREADFUL. Basically we were on the old “A” road which had a tarmac surface of extra-large chippings; and a white line drawn 3 foot in, to suggest a cycle lane. So the “cycle lane” was full of loose chippings, old tarmac and over-grown trees/shrubs….
• The motorway was on our right and the train line on our left (most of the time) so lots of noise from the Motorway – no babbling brooks!
• Scenery a bit boring in the Borders

And then to cap it all – my bottom started hurting from the “lumpy” road surface!! Oh No!

Then, with 6 miles to go, the batteries on my Garmin GPS died and my other Garmin told me I was off-course, so naturally I started panicking, even though I knew I was going the right way…

By the time I got to the hotel I was feeling really sorry for myself and completely shattered. In fact it’s taken about 2 hours to start feeling human again. Managed to speak to Geoff and off-load my awful day on him – what are husband’s for??!!

Soon be time for supper and a glass of white wine, methinks!

Day 10, Hawes to Wetheral, Carlisle

Here I go again - what a fantastic day cycling!! Really, really good, despite the showers. 

We set off from Hawes, up and down rolling hills. Our leader, Chris, said an easy day today, but Strava says we were climbing for 30% of the ride, 15 miles out of the total, 60.

We cycled through the Eden Valley - with The Pennines on the right and the Lake District on the left of us. 

Got the bike fixed in Kirkby Stephen; it was something to do with my "head-set bearing" - broken in two apparently. As soon as I got back on the bike I could tell the difference - worth the £17 to get it fixed. 

Then on towards Appleby and lunch at Culgaith - where I had the best victoria-sandwich sponge cake ever!! So good I fell off the bike trying to get started on a slight incline - ooopps!!

Somewhere along the way I saw a sign for "Scotch Corner" on the A66 and a sign for the M6.

We were cycling through red squirrel country, my room-mate Sarah saw one, but I missed it. But I did see 5 oyster-catchers - according to Roger, from Liverpool - two parents and three (grown up) chicks!!

In the afternoon the showers stopped but we had a head wind instead, made things a bit difficult, as you can see from the stats below.

4.9 MI/H 25% Quartile Speed

9.6 MI/H 50% Quartile Speed

14.5 MI/H 75% Quartile Speed

We are staying at the Crown Hotel in Wetheral, 4* hotel. Lovely place. Just had pasta for supper, delicious and .. a decent portion.

And so to bed, we have the option of doing 83 or 66 miles tomorrow. I'll sleep on it, but I think 66 is going to win.

Night, night.

Day 9, Huddersfield to Hawes

I seem to start each blog entry with “What a fantastic day” – and today is no exception – what a fantastic day! 60 miles in total.

We climbed up onto the North Yorkshire moors, out of Huddersfield and carried on over the top. At one point I’m pretty sure we could see for almost 50 miles – the sky was so clear. Then down into Skipton, gateway to the Yorkshire Dales. And through into Wharfedale. The Dales are so beautiful, white, dry stone walls, and practically every field has a little stone barn in it. The valley floor is flat and lush with a beautiful river running through it toppling over small waterfalls. Brilliant scenery.

Cycled through Oxenhope today – that’s where we (Geoff and I, with Chris – Geoff’s son - and Trudie, our friend from Southampton) watched the Tour de France when the Grand Depart was in Yorkshire, cool!! Then, on to Haworth for coffee and a scone, yum.

In Skipton I stopped at the bike shop, but nothing could be done about my “clicking” front fork – no mechanic working (it is Sunday after all!!). Have to sort it out tomorrow.

At the sign for Hawes – 7 miles to go – the road went up, and up, and up. When I got to the top I saw a road sign “17%” and I worked out that I been climbing for 3 miles – I kid you not. Whoever said that Cornwall and Devon are the hardest bit of LEJOG, obviously did not go through the Yorkshire Dales!!?? The descent was a bit scary too. At one point I thought I could smell rubber burning!!??

I managed to avoid the rain – I just kept on the edge of it, getting the odd spit & spot – unlike my room-mate Sarah, who came in after me, wet through and cold!

We are over half way now, and only three days to go to our rest day. Hurray!!

Day 8, Bakewell to Outlane near Huddersfield

Oh my goodness - what a day!! We set off at 9am, from Bakewell in the rain. Within an hour I was wet through. I think the only part of me that was dry at that point was my left foot! By morning coffee time in Bamford, (just up the road from Castleton), that was wet through too. The staff in the cafe we stopped at, were very understanding and didn't seem too bothered about us dripping water everywhere.

Oh yes! Yesterday evening, when Geoff came to see me in Bakewell, he bought me a present - a waterproof cap to wear under my helmet. Sorry Geoff, it couldn't cope with the Peak District rain... I got a wet head, eventually, (2-3 hours of heavy rain), sorry!?

So after coffee, on again in the rain, past Ladybower Reservoir and onto Mortimer Road between Bradfield and Wigtwizzle (awesome name!) - climbing a massive 25% incline. The picture below shows me and Alex (age 82) at the top of the hill.

Many thanks to Richard Storer, (again!), my PT, for getting me up Mow Cop (also 25% in places) during my training. So pleased to get up this hill today. I saw Alex ahead of me walking up the hill (you are allowed to walk at 82!!), and I thought "maybe I can do that?" Then, of course, I just had to go for it! All of us who did it, were elated!! Such an achievement! Chris, our tour leader, said this is the worst hill on the tour. 

And wouldn't you just know it - the worst hill and the worst weather so far, is in the Peak District, TYPICAL!

Sarah, my room-mate is getting desperate, she's checked the weather at least 3 times since we got to the hotel, to see what's happening tomorrow and if it's changed since she first checked it 30 minutes ago. It hasn't changed, IT IS GOING TO RAIN AGAIN TOMORROW.

Carrying on the animal theme - here is a fine specimen! He was very relaxed in the field with his harem of cows and very many offspring.

Another problem has occurred with my bike - the front fork is making a dreadful clicking noise. Hopefully both me & my bike will make it to Skipton tomorrow, where the next bike shop is. I know it's Sunday - but Chris assures me it is open. 

Watch this space.

Day 7, Shifnal to Bakewell

Cycled 60 miles today and have managed to lose ALL my data!! That's even though I pressed the correct button at the end of the ride to "save" it, technology can be so depressing. Also the battery has run out on both my heart rate monitor and cadence meter, I think I will be able to cope without both as I'm getting used to pacing myself accordingly up the hills and utilising my deep breathing as instructed by Rich, my PT. And today, we had the worst hill so far (worse than Cornwall or Devon, wouldn't you just know it here in the Derbyshire Dales). It went on forever, and was quite steep in places.

Anyway, met up with my cycling buddy, Jen, at Hulme End, at the end of the Manifold Way (an old railway track, now made into a walk/cycle way). Her dad, Gordon came too - and not only bought me tea and cake but sponsored me as well. Thank you Gordon!!

Jen, is thinking that she might do LEJOG to celebrate her 60th birthday, could be "trending" soon!! She asked if I'd be interested in doing it again (in 5 years time), hmmm not sure, have to wait and see!!

We are staying in the centre of Bakewell, which is lovely. Geoff will be arriving soon, really looking forward to seeing him. Our friend, Pauline, is coming too, so it's quite a day for catching up.

So must away

Day 6, Hereford to Shifnal

60 miles and feeling so much better today. Bottom aching still but with plenty of stops I survived!!

So! saw some beautiful lambs today. I don't know what breed they were, but obviously hand reared, as one of them let me stroke it's face. So cute! And then!, we were cycling up the high street of Ludlow, when we spotted a mother duck with about six little ducklings running down the street, she eventually took them under the parked cars to keep them safe. If she was taking them to the river at the bottom of the street - they had a long, long way to go; hope they made it. 

So, a relatively flat day, we cycled through a race course, through the grounds of the Earl of Plymouth's estate, near Ludlow, through Ludlow itself and onto Ironbridge, where the Industrial Revolution started. We followed the River Severn (had no idea it was up here!!), onto Coalport (of china fame). We left the river side and climbed our biggest slope of the day, short and sweet 18%, no problem!! and finally Shifnal. 

We are staying  in a four star hotel, you should see the room our bikes are being stored in, none other than the "Wedgewood Room", very posh!! 

Excited about tomorrow, meeting Jen for coffee at Hulme End, Karl, from the Rossendale Trust, somewhere near Youlgreave and then Geoff and Pauline in the evening in Bakewell, very full day; starting out at 8am I think, to fit it all in!!

Day 5, to Hereford - Shattered!

We've cycled 73 miles today, I'm absolutely shattered, so short but sweet tonight. Set off dead early at 8am, 'cos we knew we had a tough day ahead. Left Sidcot and made our way around Bristol on various cycle paths and eventually over the River Avon, cycling along a cycle path next to the M5; and then eventually made our way to the Severn Bridge, and over into Wales for oooh, all of 5 minutes and then back into England - but  I can only describe it as an "awesome" experience!! So special to be able to do it.

Then on to Ross-on-Wye for tea and cake before the last push onto Hereford. This was where I was really suffering, neck ache, thigh ache and bottom ache!!?? 

We had some lovely moments cycling along side the rivers, Avon, Bristol Channel and the Wye, truly beautiful.

No baby animals seen today,😥. Maybe tomorrow.

That's all, really tired now, perhaps I shouldn't have stayed up to see Wales versus Portugal match....

Sleep tight.

Day 4, Exeter to Sidcot, Cheddar, 67 miles

What a fantastic day!! We climbed (yes more climbing!!??) up onto the Blackdown Hills and then down onto the Somerset Flats. Once on the "flats" it was wonderfully flat, no surprise there then. Climbing at first though was a bit of a shock to the legs after all the climbing we did yesterday. 

So yesterday we had "chocolate box" scenery, today we had "picture postcard" scenery, beautiful villages with lots of thatched cottages. Quintessential Britain.... can't beat it!

Swans with signets today, and cows in ditches craning to eat the grass on the other side. 

Weather was brilliant too, blue skies and white fluffy clouds, not too hot, thank goodness.



Other LEJOG-GERS include 3 chaps from Canada, 2 know each other (and are from Vancouver) and the 3rd is a pastor from Ottowa I think... All nice blokes. In fact one of the Vancouver men, has had more problems with his bike than me!? New tyre, new wheel and new bottom bracket, 💵💷💵💷

We have a long day tomorrow, over 70 miles including the Severn Bridge and a quick hop, skip and jump into Wales, before making our way to Hereford for the evening. So we are up at 6.30 am for breakfast and on the road by 7.30am, so time for bed, 💤💤😴😴.

Day 3, already!! Lostwithiel to Exeter, 65 miles, 6500 feet of climbing😳

The days are just flying by, Day 3 already and what a day.... We have just climbed and climbed all day. We set off this morning from Lostwithiel, in mist and cloud and drizzle, all the way up Dartmoor. I can't give you the mileage, 'cos guess what.. I've lost some of my data (by the time I get to John O'Groats I may have figured out how to use my Garmin). I think it was about 20 miles. And then the sun started appearing. I've seen rabbits, cows with young calves, sheep with lambs AND Dartmoor ponies with foals, lovely.

Some of the villages we've passed through have been "chocolate box" pretty, even in the drizzle. 

The sun decided to show up this afternoon, think I've burnt my nose.

I've found out from one of my fellow cyclists that we climbed about 6500 feet today. It felt as if I'd cycled, for those who know, around the Isle of Wight, (Freshwater Bay and Black Gang Chine) and over The Cat & Fiddle, twice!?, up Gun Hill and Wincle!!? In other words a lot of serious climbing. I DID IT THOUGH!! All that training paid off today, big time.

I haven't said much about my fellow LEJOG-GERS. I am sharing a room, with a lady called Sarah, in her early 50's, who is great - chatty, funny and feisty - she's struggled to train after having really bad flu in May, so is struggling a little bit, but is determined, as we all are!! 

There is one other lady, Liz, who I think is in her 70's; she is here with her husband. They are dead fit, don't see them for dust, or at least we wouldn't if it wasn't raining. 

Then there is Alex, who is 82 and dead fit too. He says he is struggling on some of the steeper bits (16%+) but he hasn't got off yet, inspirational! 

I'll tell you more about the other LEJOG-GERS tomorrow.

Getting sleepy now so must say night, night, sleep tight.

Day Two, Helston to Lostwithiel

Well what a day! 46 miles of uphill and downhill. It is so true what I've been told about Cornwall, any height gains are lost so, it all evens out; so at the end of the day it's as if you've cycled on the flat. Sadly I can't prove it 'cos I've lost all my data!! I stuffed my Garmin in my back pocket at Charleston, 38 miles done, 6-7 miles left, and all my data got wiped, gggrrr! 😡😡😤😰

The last 6-7 miles were tough though, we had a 17% gradient at one point, I did it though. Then on the descent, I got to the bottom and thought "something sounds funny, hope it's not the gears gone mad again" No, it was a flat tyre, more gggrrr!!!

Fortunately there was only a third of a mile to go to the hotel, so I walked it.

Hopefully I'm not going to have a disaster every day!! 

Off to have a drink now, might go for an alcoholic one??!!

Day ONE

What a day, we started at 7.30, Geoff and I packing, re-packing!! I ate a hearty breakfast! The biggest bowl of porridge I have ever seen at The Godolphin Arms in  Marazion. Then back to the Campsite, Dove Meadows in  Marazion. The weather couldn't decide what to do, showers and sunshine. Then, 11.30 we made our way to Penzance. I can only liken the morning to waiting for an exam to start, you've done the preparation, and you've just got to wait to be told to turn the paper over before you can see what is being thrown at you.

So Geoff dropped me off, big, big hug and then he was gone! Said "hello" to the rest of the gang already gathering, and then we were off!!  

I was leading the way to Land's End! We went via Mousehole, (nasty hill on the way out), 5 of us. Problem number one, my gears started slipping, big-time, oh no!!!!

Land's End, arrived at 2.30, time for a cuppa, group picture and back on the road, back to Penzance, after checking with Chris, our tour leader if he knew anything about gears. No, but he knew a bike shop in  Penzance - next stop!!

After 15- 20 mins in the bike shop my gears were sorted, many thanks to The Cycle Centre.

Then back through Marazion, past the entrance to our campsite, Dove Meadows and on to Helston, via Godolphin. 

So total miles today 39.6

D-day minus one

We've had a really lovely day in Marazion, we've visited St. Michaels Mount, walked over on the causeway and came back by boat. I've indulged in a cream tea and now we're here in the Godolphin Arms awaiting the "last supper". 

How are you feeling Geoff? - " It hasn't hit me yet, it will when I say goodbye - but I'm seeing you again on Friday in Bakewell, so that's not too long to wait. And there is always FaceTime. "

How are you feeling Janette? "Apprehensive, meeting new people and cycling into the unknown!!"

So, just hope I sleep well tonight and my bike has survived the trip down. That's all folks, back to my soda and lime. Geoff's on "rattler" so he'll be tiddly in no time, I know I was the last time I had some!!t