Evening cycle

5 of us cycled last night for 22 miles. Nick joined us, he usually goes cycling on his own, because he lives in a village that's 5 miles away. He is very apologetic, but he can’t make the Land’s End to Oxhill charity cycle ride because of his work commitments. Nick will be sorely missed.

Nick, Brian, Vanessa & Lycra Liz

Liz's mirror was coming loose and drooping down. Brian tried to be a hero and fix it, but his 'functional multi tool' was not working....that's his excuse.

Brian & Lycra Liz

I would like to thank: Graham & Steve for getting the route sorted; Steve for organising the railway tickets; Vanessa for arranging the b&b’s & hotels along the way and editing my inane waffling.

Cycling alone

I've cycled every day this week, Sunday to Wednesday, which amounts to 105 miles!

Yesterday I cycled 40 miles alone - I've got to build up my stamina. In the first 5 miles I was not enjoying it, but over the next 18 miles I was like a pig in muck! I ate a lovely warm spinach & sesame seed pie half way round. Things went down hill at 23 miles and I wanted to cancel the whole trip. But by 26 miles, with 14 miles remaining, I got over the hurt and concentrated on going home to a relaxing bath.

My strokes paralysed my right side, so shifting the gears with my right thumb is difficult. I also tore the ligaments on my thumb when I was dry slope skiing at the tender age of 16 - a common injury called Dendix thumb.

My haemoglobin is increasing since I had blood pumped of me last week. Touch wood everything is splendid and I don't have to go to hospital again! I will go cycling tonight.

6 turns into 7

On Sunday we cycled the same 42 miles of last week, but in the reverse direction. 6 of us started and we met a lonely Hugh going the other way on the Greenway, he turned round to join us.

We did a photo shoot in the morning for my old school magazine, before Hugh joined us.

Graham, Brian, Liz, Me, Steve & Vanessa

'Lycra' Liz looking sharp with her new racer. But a couple of miles later she ended up cutting off the rear mudguard with first aid scissors.

We briefly stopped at the Stratford-Upon-Avon Dragon Boat Race: 2 boats overflowing with oarsmen and a coxswain, racing each other to the sound of a solitary drummer. On land the ‘Sambassadors of Groove’ played in the band stand. There was a great festival ambience. Steve and I could have stayed there all afternoon, drinking beer and soaking up the atmosphere but the others had different idea – On your bikes!

I cycled 103 miles last week!! & I feel fine as one could.

The Rollright Stones

We cycled to The Rollright Stones today (26 miles). We were disappointed & dumbfounded by what we saw...

6 stones round a campfire!

We met a couple of American tourists who had driven far to see the stones. They said ‘Is this it?’ and left disappointed. 

We went back to our bikes and saw a small sign and path leading to the main stones. Poor tourists! Have a look at the King's Men and Vanessa:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzdZNEwvFJA

King's Men

A bit of good news: My blood iron levels are correct and I no longer have to go to hospital to get a pint of blood removed....Hallelujah!

5 go cycling

5 of us cycled 41 miles today – the most yet! We picked a relatively flat scenic route which included the Stratford Greenway, going along the Avon, Walton Hall and some spectacular countryside.

The Stratford Avon

We tried to dump Steve, but couldn't away with it! Brian has a new touring/racing bike so he was hardly out of breath. Graham's sure and steady cycling goes on and on like a Duracell, and true to form he was the first one to reach the pub.

Graham, Brian, Steve & me on tea break

I got my cleats stuck in the pedal, fell off my bike and bloodied my knee. Déjà vu. I’ve now taken off the left cleat.

The last 5 miles were difficult because 4 days ago I had a pint of blood pumped out (left over issues from chemo treatment). Must keep training!

Cycling in Île de Ré

Île de Ré boasts over 100km of cycle paths, though the island is only 30km in length.

We experienced a head wind which almost stopped us in our tracks when we were going to the light house, but on the way back we hardly had to pedal. We cycled over 50 miles today and it was truly the best cycle day I've ever had.

Saint-Martin-de-Ré

Île de Ré is a truly magnificent island. Life is laid back and appealing, I wouldn’t mind retiring here. I also recommend our hotel, Le Peu Breton, where the patron was most cordial & good humoured.

Cycling in Médoc

I suffered from a tummy bug for 36 hours in Bordeaux so I was cautious being on a bike at Médoc.

We cycled around the vineyards of Pauillac, viewed Château Mouton-Rothschild & Château Lafite-Rothschild and others.

We cycled easy for 24 miles, sipped the wine, had exquisite food and relaxed.

Lourdes

I went to the grotto, wanted a miracle to happen, but unfortunately it didn’t.

Lourdes is a place where they thwack you down and then some. The hotels are basic and the food is appalling (sorry but that's the way it is, call me a sinner).

We enjoyed cycling the ‘Route de la Foret’. 5 million people come to Lourdes every year and the forest is empty. C’est la vie!

Route de la Foret

Lourdes is in the Pyrenees and cycling (as with skiing) means going downhill is a nightmare because my gyratory system is all out of whack. I have to get off and walk when the gradient is too steep. I use the rear brakes with my left hand, while my right hand, affected by the stroke, cannot pull on the front brakes, so I only stop with one brake. I must put both brakes on my left handle bar for the long cycle trip ahead.

Cycling in San Sebastián

It was like being in a movie. The promenade was full of suited gentlemen and expensively dressed ladies dripping with costly jewelry. There was a white swan in the sea to top it all!

Vanessa poses

We were just idling along on our bikes having tapas and cervezas. In the afternoon I froze- up when getting out of the funicular with our bikes, Vanessa came to rescue me.

View from the top of the funicular

In all the day was relatively flat with plentiful good cycle lanes.