Day 5. Monmouth to Clun

 Miles cycled - 58
Total ascent - 3300ft
Terrain - hilly
Weather - beautiful morning, cloudy afternoon
Best bit - lunch!
Worst bit - the muddy footpath at the end

 www.justgiving.com/JanesBigTrip

Challenge or holiday?

Today started with a monster of a hill out of Monmouth, then the route was described as 'undulating'. Not how I'd phrase it, as it felt a lot more hilly than that! Out of Monmouth, we passed through some amazing countryside, picturesque villages and rural views before passing through Hereford on a lovely cycle path.

Spaced out lunch

 From there it was lunch at an old fashioned tea room in Pembridge where we had the most delicious fresh sandwiches and salad, followed by homemade cakes in their garden - the best lunch so far! 

Nice curves  -  and the hedge...

 After lunch we sailed along enjoying the views until we got 4 miles from Clun, our destination.

ho hum

The road into Clun was closed, and we had been assured the workmen weren't letting bikes through. The options were a 40 mile detour, or a 3 mile track through some woods. Not really much of a choice.

We set off through the woods, but it was far too muddy and steep to pedal on road bikes, so we pushed for the first mile, which wasn't any fun at all. As the path dried out a little, we pedalled and pushed for the last stretch, but by now we were muddy and our bikes were worse. Poor John took a tumble, and hero Aled pushed his bike for a while, but by the end of the track, I was beginning to throw my toys out of the cot.


This was not Peak Tours fault, and unavoidable, but it was not what I had signed up for. As we reached Clun, I'm not sure why, my bottom lip started to go! I'd promised myself I wouldn't do a Davina and spend the trip blubbering about how hard things get, but for some reason, it happened!

Ugh!

Niv ( one of the tour guides) took me under his wing and cleaned my bike, arranged a cup of tea, and gave me a big hug - feeling much better now!

A rough end to what had been a lovely day.

Day 4. Glastonbury to Monmouth

Miles cycled - 64
Total ascent - 2900 ft
Weather - beautiful!
Terrain - a few big hills but mostly 'undulating'
Best bit - the last 10 miles along the Wye valley
Worst bit - the long slog to lunch

www.justgiving.com/JanesBigTrip 

We began the day with a nice cycle path and a few country lanes to beautiful Wells where we stopped to take pics. 

Beautiful Wells..

....and its cathedral

Clifton Suspension Bridge

We knew today's route took in a lot of tourist sights, and we wanted to take pics to prove it. Leaving Wells was a nasty, nasty hill which brought out my tourettes again, but then a lovely route through to Bristol. From there we went over the Clifton suspension bridge and on to the old Severn crossing. Another hilly section past Chepstow racecourse to Tintern Abbey and then a gorgeous road along the Wye valley to Monmouth. We became a group of 10 early on but poor Marj had something snap on her gears halfway up a hill and took a tumble. She and her bike had to be taken to be fixed, but she met us again at Bristol. The rest of us stopped off in stunning Wells to be tourists before tackling the enormous hill we'd been warned about. What they didn't mention was the false summit half way up, and as we began the second climb my legs started to really shake and my language plummeted!

The Severn

 A pint of dry white for the lady, please, bartender...

I took in some calories, but too little too late and my legs were tired for a long time. 

Lesson learned.                       

The lunch stop was late today, and made later for our group down to sightseeing and the odd puncture, and we were all completely drained by the time we stopped. Riding in a big group is fun but much slower - another lesson learned. It took me until the afternoon brew stop to feel human again, but I thoroughly enjoyed the last stretch to Monmouth. Despite it being a 'short' day, we finished later than any other day so far!

A tiring but really good day, passing some iconic landmarks. You can't blame us for taking pics! I've just treated myself to a large glass to celebrate getting this far!!

Day 3. Moretonhampstead to Glastonbury

Miles cycled - 72
Total ascent - 4000 ft
No of hills pushed - NONE!!!
Weather - a few heavy showers but mostly dry
Best bit - getting up the big hill
Worst bit  - having to pee behind a hedge at the brew stop

www.justgiving.com/JanesBigTrip

A great day today. It started with some long slow hills and gentle descents through beautiful countryside. Carpets of bluebells, thatched cottages, stunning views - I was too busy enjoying myself to stop and take pics! Then across Exeter and a long flat section before lunch. After lunch, there was a ferocious climb and then a long plateau before dropping onto the Somerset levels. 

Thankfully, they are!

The Brew Van  - always a welcome sight...

Jonathan's first puncture  -  of 5!

We all set off together but the first few big hills split the group in 2. We split further near Exeter when Johnathan had a problem with his bike. A few stopped to help but as I could only offer sympathy, I pressed on with a gang of around 6 others. I spent some time chatting and pedalling with Pat, and he confessed to being disappointed with getting off to push yesterday too. At the big climb after lunch, he stayed with me every inch of the way, with loads of encouragement and praise, even though he clearly found it easier going than I did. I may not have persevered without him, but I had a huge grin at the top! After the hill, the group split further, and I spent a really pleasant afternoon with Phil and John, who usually keep me company at the back at the end of the afternoons!

My late afternoon companions  -  John & Phil

Day 2. Fowey to Moretonhampstead

Miles cycled - 61
Total ascent - 4500ft (but it felt like more!)
Weather - everything. From warm sun through horizontal rain to hailstorms
Terrain - very hilly
High point - beautiful cycle path through Plymbridge Woods
Low point - getting off to push

www.justgiving.com/JanesBigTrip

Peak Tours describes today as " arguably the hardest day of the tour". I won' t argue. There have been some very tough climbs, and I have to confess to getting off to push - twice!! The first time was at Looe where we had been told to detour from the usual route, as the road was currently closed. The detour took us up 'Shutter Hill' which was an unnecessarily steep lane which turned into an even steeper footpath. It was gruesome, and I only know of one cyclist who made it all the way up. Up to then, the route had been very scenic but quite hard going.

The tunnel before Heartbreak Hill

After lunch, we picked our way through Plymouth and onto a lovely cyclepath along an old railway line through Plymbridge Woods. We stopped briefly to look at the nesting Peregrine falcons, and then headed through a long tunnel and up 'heartbreak hill'! There was about 13 of us cycling in a group, and a few headed on up while I dropped into crawler gear at the back. One by one, they started getting off to push, and whilst I've done steeper hills in my time, my legs were just really tired, so I wimped out. 

After all that, we then had to climb onto Dartmoor. The group spread out, as this was something we all needed to do at our own pace. Stunning scenery, including the prison, but long slow hills and horizontal rain. I was glad to get to the B&B at 6.15pm - a long day, but rewarding, and I'm not quite as tired tonight.

The prison at Dartmoor

 

Day 1. Lands End to Fowey

Miles cycled - 64
Total ascent - 4500ft
Weather - windy (but a tail wind) sunny spells with 3 short showers
Terrain - lots of short hills with some longer ones at the end
High point - the scenery
Worst bit - the last half hours hills

www.justgiving.com/JanesBigTrip

 It's been a great first day. We set off to Lands End in ferocious cold wind but it looked sunny for the photo's! Then we were off! I stayed towards the back of the pack, so I could get used to the satnav I've hired. There's a tour guide cycles at the back as safety, and I wanted to be near him till I was happy navigating. However, I suspect I would have soon ended up at the back anyway, and I was very happy there!

I spent much of the day cycling with a Scot called Jennifer, Steve from Plymouth, and a few others who drifted to the back as the day went on.

See  -  I'm not making this up...

The scenery is stunning, and I have kept my head up to take in the view! The hills after lunch were pretty hard, the last one especially, but overall I don't think it was as tough as I was expecting. Having said that, I'm tired, and will keep my promise to myself not to drink until the Cornish hills are over!

Tonights room in a pub is palatial compared to last nights youth hostel.....

I had said I wanted to try to complete this without getting off to push. Failed in the first 10 miles! In my defence, it was on a cycle path by the Penzance prom and it was 6 inches deep in sand and no-one could cycle through it!

St Michael's Mount

The King Harry ferry over the river Fal  -  50p well spent!

I'm Off!!

So here it is........

12 months in the planning
4 months of training
1664 miles cycled since New Year
1 new saddle
2 tubs of nappy cream

......... and I'm about to set off on my epic adventure!  I've dropped off my bike with Peak Tours for transporting to Land's End, and I'm due to jump on a train on Saturday to follow it.  I should arrive with just enough time to sort out my kit before a briefing from the support crew, and dinner with the other cyclists at 8pm.  Bring it on!

I'm not a bit nervous (yet), just really excited - I feel like a little kid on Christmas Eve!  My aim was to be fit enough to enjoy my challenge, as I would like to be able to ride with my head up and take in the scenery.  I guess I'll find out soon enough whether I've managed that, but I'm secretly quite proud of myself!  I've been very lucky to have such fantastic support and encouragement from family and friends, and I'm eternally grateful to all those who've cycled with me recently - they've made the training seem so much easier.  I'm also amazed at the generous sponsorship I've received (as I write, I've raised £1700!), and I know that this will make a huge difference to the Watchtree Wheelers, so thanks to all those who've donated.

And thanks, Bob.  Without you I wouldn't have got this far.

2 more sleeps!!!

 www.justgiving.com/JanesBigTrip

Bye bye Lexi  -  see you in Cornwall

Punctures

Target rides - 1 x 30, 1 x 70, 1 x 80, 1 x 40

Actual rides - 1 x 24 (very hilly - the dreaded Orthwaite road!)
                         1 x 70 (with David)
                         1 x 78 - a real slog on my own!
                         1 x 44 (with the gang)

This was my last week of training before I packed up my bike for transporting to Land's End. It was bank holiday weekend too, so I thought other folk would be busy and I'd be riding solo again. However, I had a lovely flat (ish) ride with David in the sunshine on Friday, where we discussed saddles, shorts and bum cream for far too long. On Sunday I pushed myself hard and did a 78 mile ride (didn't quite make it to 80, but I was pretty fed up by the end!) but with 5400ft of ascent, and it wasn't a lot of fun on my own.  Then, on the bank holiday Monday, a gang of the friends I did the coast-to-coast with teamed up for a gentle but great fun ride, exactly one year to the day since we finished our ride last year.  It was a very fitting end to my training programme to be with Debbie and this lot, but I'm tired and very glad the training is all over!

There'll be a support vehicle with us on the ride, and the crew are competent at fixing most mechanical problems. However, we are told we MUST be able to fix our own punctures at the roadside. I was planning to cross this bridge when it happened, but I've never had a puncture! Not entirely luck - kevlar-lined tyres. But up to now, my puncture repair kit has consisted of a mobile phone to call Bob! But I knew I couldn't put it off any longer and this weekend, I put brand new tyres on all by myself (well, almost!). Discovered that the mini pump I've been carrying all this time is broken, and still very much hoping that there'll be a knight in shining armour close by if I do get a puncture, but a bit more confident I could 'have a go'.

A very fitting end to a long & successful training programme.

One week to go!!

 www.justgiving.com/JanesBigTrip

Cycle training stops - drinking training begins!

Front wheel recognition test  -  passed!