Day 4 – Stibbs Cross, Devon to Wiveliscombe, Somerset

50 miles today! Halfway.

We started off the day with groans and moans and saddle sores. We were on the B3227 the whole day. I don’t like going downhill, especially steep hills. My sense of balance is faulty. It was the hardest day for me because of the relentless 25% hills.

3 months ago we could hardly get up the hills in the Cotswolds and now we are climbing successive steep hills. In fact we are almost forgetting what it’s like to ride on the flat. Edge Hill near home once seemed impossible to climb, but now seems easy (but I haven’t climbed it yet). Luckily the hills in the afternoon were much kinder.

You can see how the roads drop and climb in this pic.

Hugh and Graham brought their own high performance foods on the trip.

Hugh with sweet oat bars

Graham's grapefruit

Yeh Somerset!!

Steve’s legs are hurting him badly, so the ladies are giving him tender loving care – perhaps it’s all a ruse!

Steve & Graham on break

Tour de France here we come!

The gears on Liz’s expensive racing bike (which she only bought 2 months ago) shattered in the last mile before our destination. The back wheel seized up completely. Luckily Liz was climbing a hill so going relatively slowly. Brian brought a spare bike along which Liz will now use for the rest of the journey. Unlucky for Liz it’s a mountain bike, so she’ll be joining me and Graham with our mountain bikes.

Liz's broken bike

Day 3 - St Columb Major, Cornwall to Stibb Cross, Devon

The worst day yet - very difficult. We did 54 miles, up and down crazy hills and along the A39 three times with dangerous fast traffic. We started at 9 am and finished at 5:30 and we only took one half hour break for morning coffee.

I felt like giving up a couple of times, but I can't give up on the charity. My right hand (the stroke hand) ached at the end of the day (still hurts).

Brian & Liz were King and Queen of the mountains today! They were the only ones who got to the top of a long hill with a 16% incline. It was difficult to push the bikes up nevermind cycle up. The hill was 3 miles before the end of our day, so well done to both of them.

Us climbing the hill that Brian & Liz cycled

We are staying in Bude tonight and we finally have internet in our room. I writing this in bed - well I'm dictating and Vanessa's typing.

 

Devon village names.

Vanessa wants to include beach pics of Bude:

 

 

Day 2 – Goldsithney, Cornwall to St Columb (near Newquay) (Vanessa writing)

 45 miles – 25 uphill, 20 downhill. It seems there are no flat roads in Cornwall!

Mike, Hugh, Graham, Steve and Brian – all the men stopped every ½ mile to read the maps (and we still got lost!). Liz and I bit our tongues and led everyone up every hill.

Brian commented twice (with a touch of resentment) that the girls were at the front the whole day – damn right! Go grrrls!

More map reading

The weather was kind - mostly sunny, mostly warm and just enough wind to keep us humble. We saw beautiful villages off narrow country lanes sheltered by pine and poplar. Stunning!

Brian's coming home!

After 30 miles my body crashed from lack of food (or water) - either way I turned into a miserable soul and brought down the bon amie of the day for a couple of hours. An unhappy Vanessa is never pretty.

More map reading.

We were well and truly exhausted by the end of the day.

Loading the van at the end of the day.

We stayed in Newquay overlooking the sea which was wonderful. So far so good!!

 

Dinner

Me and Mine :)

Day 1 - Land's End to Goldsithney, Cornwall

Today we got up at 5:30 am! and got on a train at 7:02 to Penzance.

The Australia vs England rugby was on the radio and I tried to get reception for 3 people. We listened to half the match with bad interference, sharing little earphones  - desperate measures.

We arrived at Penzance early afternoon and were met by John, our support driver, who took us to Land’s End where we had our picture taken.

Then we started our cycle ride and it was excellent!! We did the prelude – Land’s End to Goldsithney (18 miles). Everyone had a great time - even Brian didn’t whinge too much. Speaking of Brian...

Caption competition:

1. At the end of the first day Brian was feeling totally drained.
2. The Goldsithney Parish Council called in Brian, the font of all sewage knowledge, to examine the drains.
3. BP resort to drastic measures to plug the leak.
4. Brian gave an demonstration of the burrowing techniques of his pet Jack Russell terrier.

In reality Liz dropped her mobile phone down the drain and Brian being very chivalrous (as Vanessa pointed out) dug deep to get it, but alas no success.

We stayed at the Cornwall Golf Club in St Just overlooking the sea - a fabulous way to end the day!

We Leave Tomorrow.....

.....so we had several down the pub tonight.

Two Days to Go

Steve & I did a 18 miles warm down cycle yesterday. Steve said he will get withdrawal symptoms not cycling in 3 days.

Last night we put all our bikes in the minibus with a tear in our eyes. The minibus left this morning but we will meet again in Penzance!

I have been cycling in excess of 1500 miles this year and 323 miles to go! Having a few falls on the way I feel on top form.

We have over £2,500 in pledges and on-line donations - not forgetting the minibus sponsors. Thank you one and all for your generosity!

If you haven't donate please do so!

Thank you.

Graham Returns

We all went cycling, except Hugh, on Saturday & Sunday for a total of 64 miles. Graham chose 2 routes: one leading to Chipping Campden and other Moreton-in-Marsh, both with medium hills both and truly spectacular scenery.

Liz & Graham

Graham is back in training with us now, since Thursday, after suffering for a week with a knee injury. He took took some magic potion and is back cycling - Cycletrix!

We don't want anymore injuries before the cycle ride!