People have gone text mad. We have had no signal for a couple of days and suddenly all the missing texts are coming through. Everyone sat at lunch texting or blogging....
Sunday 12 August 2012
Half way!
At Crooklands Hotel near Kendal. Just over 500 miles done. Having a full Sunday lunch off the carvery. Chicken is eating turkey... Group photo taken at 500 miles attached. Think we will be asleep on the handlebars again this afternoon..
Day 7. Runcorn to Slaidburn.
Set off on a mission this morning. Needed a new phone as mine died after its dunking in the ford... Dashed into Warrington and got sorted. The diversion cost us some time though and we had to work hard to catch the others
Debbie Read came to support us at the Stag Inn close to Stockton Heath. Lovely to see her!
We managed to catch the van before it left the tea stop so did get our tea break this morning which we didn't think we would... Sharon's hubby Andy had kindly done our washing and returned it. He cycled with us to Belmont which was the lunch stop. Everyone else there and still eating their lunch so we caught up well. Pics of the Black Dog pub and the lovely views on the way up there. And Sharon and Andy. We drafted Andy most of the way, great for our average speed! Shortly before we left the pub Charley decided it would be funny to lie on his side under his bike (pic). Something Janet had done a couple of times.. a clip problem we think she'd been having ;-)
Cycled through Leigh late this morning. Not far from where I used to work at Bedford High school.
The roads up to Belmont gave us great views of Winter Hill. After lunch some amazing lanes with great views of the Lancashire hills. Then into Blackburn. Not so interesting. Whalley was beautiful. From 50 miles on the road was up and down but everyone was feeling fit and hills didn't seem so bad today. Another beautiful day. Everyone feeling great and looking great. Cycling tan lines developing well.
Ended the day at Slaidburn youth hostel. Beautiful Lancashire village and lovely meal in the Hark to Bounty pub to finish off a lovely day.
Stats:
63 miles, cumulative 477. At some point in tomorrow's ride we are half way. Happy but sort of sad too. So soon? In one way the holiday is going really slowly, in other ways too fast. Days merge and it's hard to remember where we've been or what we did on each of the days. Our main focus is cycling and having a good laugh. Nothing else. Don't give a stuff what might be happening in the news..
Day 5. Monmouth to Clun.
If you're wondering about lack of blog recently I cycled into a ford at the end of today and fell off into the fairly deep water. Got absolutely soaked. Was feeling cocky and thought it would be fine as others had gone safely through in front of me. Had an audience of fellow cyclists plus a man on a park bench. Had never cycled through a ford before. First and last time. I am FINE. Pride is NOT... The reason for lack of blog is that my phone got wet and stopped working. An expensive dunking...
Rest of the day was uneventful but beautiful cycling. Gorgeous weather too. No pics to add as all on the wet phone which refuses to work. May be able to add some when I get them off the phone when we get home
55 miles today. 333 in total so far. A third of the way! Cycled through Hereford getting really lost as cycle path signs missing. Saw Ron and Dave up above us on a bridge shortly after so got back on track then.
Lunch at the Watering Hole cafe, Aymestry. A holiday caravan park. Great lunch. After lunch cycled past an amazing hedge that the lovely Steve wanted us to look out for. We expected some impressive topiary but it was actually just an amazing hedge. Undulating and lush.
Late afternoon a steep climb. At this stage we thought we could do steep and so were unfazed until we saw it rising up in front of us... so glad for the tea stop at the top of the hill courtesy of Steve. Those lovely boys know how to pick a good place to stop for tea. The road after that was called Fiddler's Elbow. That described it perfectly. Then a lovely descent into the ford. Literally.
Overnight at the best hostel yet. Clun Mill. Three basins, a toilet and shower in our dorm!
Day 6. Clun to Runcorn.
Still no pics today I'm afraid as phone not working.
Great day bowling along the lanes of Shropshire and into Cheshire. Along some of our training ground too.. the Cheshire Cycleway, Sustrans route 70. Longest daily mileage of the tour so far, 81 miles, average speed 14 mph. Long descent into Shrewsbury where the flower show was taking place. Hot day. Cycling flat lanes was really pleasant with the breeze but hot when you stopped.
Us three girls, Sharon, Janet and myself stopped for a 'wildie' in a field. Turned out to be a 'park and ride' car park for the flower show as we found out when two bus loads of people headed our way....
Amazing and HUGE lunch at Burlton Inn. Chips were at least half a spud each and a whole bowlful of them. Plus sticky toffee pud for dessert and a pint of Dizzy Blonde to wash it all down. Practically asleep on the handlebars after that.
Andy rode out to meet us and cycled along for the last 15 miles or so. Soon after Janet got a puncture; quickly sorted we then cycled past Sharon's office in Frodsham and called in to gatecrash what appeared to be some kind of board meeting. Sorry guys...
Andy then took Sharon and I out for a curry in Helsby. Sharon persuaded him to take some of our washing home with him and bring it back the following morning, which he did. Thanks Andy!
Overnight at the Holiday Inn, Runcorn. Lovely treat as next two nights are YHA and we know what that means now.... Girls behaving badly...
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