Day 7. Runcorn to Garstang

Miles cycled - 65
Total ascent - 3300ft
Terrain - hilly in the middle but flat morning and late afternoon
Weather - beautiful
Best bit - the afternoon brew stop
Worst bit - choosing a black T-shirt on such a sunny day!

www.justgiving.com/JanesBigTrip

Today wasn't quite as picturesque as we've become used to! The morning was largely on main roads and through busy urban areas so we split into small groups to make navigation easier. I teamed up with my usual partners in crime, Phil and John and the Welsh boys, and we picked our way through the towns together. You have to concentrate a lot more when you're in traffic and navigating through unfamiliar towns, so the miles fly by without you realising. Just before lunch we climbed up onto the moors which was gorgeous, before dropping down to skirt round Bolton and Blackburn and on to Garstang.

Up on the moors

It's been really hot today, and stupidly I chose to wear a black T-shirt. The stretch between lunch and the afternoon break was long and hot, and the brew van was a very welcome sight!

'Team Heat Absorption'

Poor Jenn had her gears seize just after lunch, and the tour guide, Niv, almost managed to sort it at the roadside. As they were less than a mile from a bike shop, it was safer to have the job finished there.

The team trying to repair Jenn's gears at the roadside

Lexi is still performing well!

Seven days done, seven to go!!