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LEJOG
Blog
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Date |
|
Blog |
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22 May Friday |
Land’s
End - |
Found
Lands End – but not the photographer Z : Own photo
evidence made ! |
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23 May
Saturday |
Tintagel |
Nine and
a half hours to do 70 Miles to Tintagel, not all in saddle. Glorious day,
Cornish lanes, pretty, hills steep!
Christine Collin |
|
24 May Sunday |
South
Molton ( |
Killer
hills in |
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25 May |
Cheddar |
78
Miler! Cramp. John Burn with us. Cooler slight rain. |
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26 May Tuesday |
Coleford
( |
A brisk
start to the day riding up the Cheddar Gorge, then endless lanes around |
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27 May Wednesday |
Much
Wenlock |
Wet. Rain
this morning. Tried new waterproof overshoes. Toasty toes! Brilliant. On 2nd hill chain snapped, rear mechanism
broke, help! Jack fixed chain, limped
next 20 miles to Hereford, where MARK GREENHILL of COMBES fixed it all. Fantastic. Thanks MARK. Distance
77miles. Average 10.3 mph and fastest 37 mph. Christine Collin |
|
28 May Thursday |
Wimboldsley |
Were well
looked after at the Fox last night, not rolling in until 8pm. Hard to leave the 4 poster bed for another
day on the road, but we did! Laundry
all done too. Diverted to view
Telford’s Iron Bridge, rewarded by another stonking climb. Then lanes and gardens of middle England.
Distance 58 miles, average 10.5mph, fastest 31.7mph. Bye for now. Christine Collin |
|
29 May Friday |
Bashall
Eaves |
A great
day. Colin Pinder joined us. Sped on the hills, oh to be a youngster! Crossed the M6, M56, M62, M61, M65,
Manchester Ship Canal and countless A roads, including deadly A580. Rode most
of day on quiet roads. Fab views: from
Rivington Moor saw Blackpool Tower. Dallas style mansions in Tatton. Climbing into Pennines, now eating and
supping in Pump Inn, Bashall Eaves. Hot!
76 miles. Average 10.7mph. Max
34.2mph. Thighs aching!! Christine. [Update
on Berkshire NRU Virtual Mileage total - up to and including 29.5.2009:
148.28 miles. Patients and staff contributing (motomeds and exercise bikes) -
and enjoying doing so!! Thanks for water bottles - popular incentive to join
in! Liz Lewis] |
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30 May Saturday |
Dufton |
Serious
climbing into Pennines today, moorland birds, skylarks, snipe, circling
around. A fast descent to Kirkby
Lonsdale the natural habitat of the motor bikers. Time for an ice cream, then more climbing
towards Appleby where gypsies Romany caravans, ponies’ travellers and more
were gathering for Fair next week. Sun
all day. Shadow in front = right
direction. Distance 64 miles. Average 8.8mph. More up than down. Max 38.8mph. Over half way. Christine. |
|
31 May
2009 Sunday |
Langholm |
Saw Cumbria
at its sunny best, breakfast outside watching swallows and sheep. The Trubys of Eden Vale CTC led us on a
remote beautiful route to Talkin Tarn where we picnicked before continuing
north. Thanks for your help and
time. Exited when stood on Scottish
boarder at Scots Dyke on Liddell Water. As Scots piper playing outside set
the scene for the rest of the ride.
English section done J
Jolly carnival in Langholm with pipe and brass band. Met Margaret
Phillips and suppered together in the Crown Hotel. Dist. 53 miles. Average 9.9mph. Max
32.7mph. Cheers. Christine. |
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1 June Monday |
Cramond
Mill |
Langholm
to Edinburgh took a long time, very hot, spectacular landscapes in the
Borders. Oyster catcher and buzzards new birds of the day. Navigating around Edinburgh complicated by
road closures due to new tram system. Found road to Firth of Forth then
followed bike path to Cramond Mill. Good having Margaret with us, pacing us
up he hills! Dist 83 miles. Average
10mph. Max 31.5mph. Christine. |
|
2 June Tuesday |
Lance
Sloan's house in Cupar |
I'm
writing today's log from the comfort of a deep armchair after a wonderful
meal at Lance Sloan's house in Cupar. We've had a convivial day riding
from Edinburgh to Luncarty north of Perth, with Lance as leader and Margie,
one of his past team members. The mist descended over the Forth Bridge
and cooled temperatures down, preferable for riding. Margaret mentioned
the forbidden "P" word and within a few minutes we
experienced the first, and then the second puncture of the trip, ably sorted
with surgical assistance and skill. Fife provided superb views of Loch
Leven, quiet roads and an excellent cycle path from Perth to Luncarty, unlike
the cycle paths of Edinburgh which were punctuated with long flights of steps,
and a fallen tree. In Perth we visited a bike shop to buy more inner tubes
and astonished to find isotonic tablets for the water bottles costing £1.15
each. We'll be sticking with tomato juice and packets of crisps to
correct the daily electrolyte imbalance. A long uphill to Braemar awaits
tomorrow. |
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3 June
2009 Wednesday |
Braemar |
Led
through the Highlands to Braemar by the Sloan Racers, Lance and domestiques
Alison & Margie. Sunny, cold, strong
NE winds. After climbing up pass at Glenshee around Devil’s Elbow, a long and
hard climb, had to pedal hard to descend against strong wind. Sorry to say
cheerio to Lance, Alison & Margie who were met by Lance’s wife with a car
in Braemar. A great team from Fife.
Thanks for the good company.
Good supper in Braemar. Dist 50
miles. Average 10.2mph. Max 31.2mph. Hoping for a drop in winds tomorrow.
Christine. |
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4 June
2009 Thursday |
North
Kessock |
From
Braemar against cold North wind, huge climbs over Grampians passing 3 ski
resorts and more snow. The A939 from Gairnshiel Lodge to Tomintoul was the
most challenging, with gradient and icy wind against us. Soup and a bun in the old fire station in
Tomintoul restored our temperature and morale. Rain just about stayed away, but falling
now was a rainbow over the Moray Firth.
Super Views from B+B of the Firth.
Distance 85 miles. Average 10.1mph.
No punctures today! Margaret,
jack and I all very pleased with our progress. Margaret a whiz at spotting birds.
Christine. |
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5 June
2009- Friday |
Altnaharra |
Thawed
out in Altnaharra. Hail rain and wind.
Water proofs on and off all morning.
On the rest of the day. Soup
& bun in Bonar Bridge today. Great
welcome at B+B and exciting parcel received, opened when fingers thawed. Thanks for the T shirts, a good
surprise. Distance 69 miles. Average 9.2mph. Max33mph. Excited to be
near JOG. |
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6 June
2009 Saturday |
John
O’Groats |
Done it!
Have downed the champagne and done the photos. Today’s ride flatter against wind and
showers. Sightings today include many
orchids, one eagle, and hooded crows.
My head ser (a bike part) stopped squeaking yesterday. Can anybody
explain? Distance 77 miles. Max 31.5. Average10.1 mph. Trip total 1030 miles. Tomorrows plan is to
ride to Thurso railway station! Christine. |
|
7 June
2009 22:50 Sunday |
On the
sleeper back home |
PS; Hi
again! Easy ride of a mere 20 miles from JoG to Thurso with sun and heavy
showers. Amid a gentle NE wind behind
us for once. Magnificent train ride from Thurso to Inverness where enjoyed
parks around |