London to Sidmouth

Vanessa and I were 'panniered up' for cycling from our house to Banbury railway station early in the morning. We went to London for a poetry show at the Southbank. In London the cyclists have some attitude!

London Eye (Big Ben in background)

Next day we cycled round St James Park, Green Park and through Hyde Park to Paddington. A motor cycle convoy with a very posh vehicle came by and Camilla Parker Bowles waved at Vanessa.

In Paddington station we got 20 tickets to go to Banbury via Exmouth!

A Handful of Tickets

We cycled from Exmouth to Sidmouth climbing Peak Hill (above 150 metres altitude). Vanessa climbed the hill ,but I conked out 50 yards before the brow. The owners of  The Salty Monk gave us champagne for achieving the feat!

On the way back in Exmouth we saw a blown down tree left for the children to climb on.

We went on disused railway cycle routes half the time. We dodged the old age drivers the other half of the time.

£1000!

Donations have reached £1000 on-line today! Thanks to everybody who contributed.

Everything is coming together: the b&b's & hotels are sorted; the route is (almost) organised; the train tickets have been purchased; the support vehicle has been sponsored; fuel is virtually paid for by donations; the pledges are coming in and the training is going on schedule (except for Graham who is out of action, but hopefully will be back soon).

One bit of bad news: Hugh fell off his bike tonight grazing his knee and elbow. He slipped on some grease at the side of the road. It looked painful!

Bike Modifications

I took my bike to Mike Vaughan Cycles today to get modifications. I had butterfly handle bars fitted and the gears & brakes are now controlled by my left hand. I have only one brake lever for both the front and rear brakes.

Butterfly handlebars with brake and gears on left.

We went cycling this evening for 17 miles. The butterfly handlebars were excellent. One shoe has cleats (on my semi-paralysed right foot) and keep my left shoe free from a cleats, to put on the ground when I stop.

Canal Trip

Liz, Vanessa, Brian, Steve, Hugh & I went out for a 30 mile cycle to Banbury yesterday. We took the tow path down the Oxford Canal to Cropredy. It was rather dangerous, exceedingly narrow and very bumpy.

Very, very wide bit of the tow path.

I found it no problem because I have a mountain bike, but the some of the others found it rather more difficult. Brian was whining because he broke a piece of his front mudguard and messed up the gears of his bike! I hit my wall and was cycling squares at the end of this ride. I’m having a day off from cycling today.

Today Vanessa & I will contact the newspapers, radio & tv to try and get the Different Strokes cycle ride publicised.

More Animals

Vanessa & I cycled 36 miles yesterday and the road was blocked by a herd of cows going to be milked.

Today Hugh, Steve, Brian & I did 42 miles. We started early - 8am! We apologise to Liz for not telling her the cycle time had changed. Sorry.

We cycled by a traffic jam caused a pair of swans and their eyrar of cygnets. The river is 400 yards away.

Graham has a knee problem and has abstained from cycling this weekend. We wish him well. 

I cycled 210 miles this week, my legs feel tired.

Animal Magic

Brian found a tawny owl, 3 weeks old, when we were out cycling Thursday evening. Brian deduced that the owl fell out of the tree when it tried to fly. He said that its mother would call him/her when it was dark.

Near the owl we saw a wing and scattered feathers. Brian, a font of all farming knowledge, said it was a duck killed by a fox, because there were feathers stuck with the spittle on the grass.

When we went out for a cycle yesterday (36 miles) the tawny owl was not there. Either the mother had rescued it or the wiley fox has killed it. Vanessa was sad to leave it the first time, so I told her the mother probably got to it first.

Torturous Hills

6 of us cycled to Stratford on Sunday over 40 miles of flattish ground. The day was warm and the ride was fairly easy.

But Graham had an evil idea on Bank Holiday Monday! He took us over torturous hills covering 42 miles. (Graham is our excellent coach & sage.) We started with a full 7 man crew, but Steve left us after 21 miles. His excuse was 'I got a rendezvous', but maybe he just couldn't hack it?! (Sorry Steve.)

Liz's chain came off going up those steep hills. Brian was a hero succeeding where 3 other male cyclists failed and got her chain on. (There's a joke there somewhere.) Liz cycled past me at the start of a steep hill saying 'girl power', but I was gracious when I cycled passed her walking at the top of the same hill!

Hugh, Liz, Vanessa, Brian & Graham

We were joined at The Norman Knight & brewery by Sarah & Rosemary. We had a delicious hot soup & warm bread to warm us up. The day was cold & difficult.