Cycling England
1993-1995
Week-end Getaways : we typically took trains out of London and rode circuits
My first English riding experience was on the South Coast of Cornwall
Cornish ferry
Foot passenger ferries provided interesting transport across numerous bays in Cornwall
I had hoped for riding like this along the South coast.
Cornish countryside looks interesting, you can see the tree & hedge lined roads (but few views)
There are many such climbs (20% grade)
And much of it was in green tunnels without views of the countryside
We sometimes incorporated castles into our week-end rides
Leeds is not in Leeds but in Kent near Maidstone
Warwick Castle
It didn't look like uninvited guests would be welcome here
Warwick Castle is a major tourist attraction
They put on quite a spectacle for week-end visitors
Our first foray into Scotland (not actually an England Bike ride)
We went up to Oban, to visit Glenn's family
Caber toss at Oban Highland Games
The view from our room
We took our bikes on the train and we found the open country to be excellent riding.
A day trip to the island of Mull convinced us to return for a bike trip. That led to our NW Scotland Tour
Stone Circles were interesting destinations
Avebury standing stones make fine bicycle stands
Avebury sheep
South-west of London
We rode a number of times with Andy who lived in Oxford. Here, we have met at a train platform and we are reviewing route possibilities on Ordinance Survey maps.
Sometimes, it was difficult to escape industrial blight; dinner outside a hostel south of Southampton on the Solent.
Making friends on the edge of New Forest
Stray donkey in Beaulieu, which in England is pronounced "Byoo-lee".
We visited the Isle of Wight (via ferry across the Solent)
We visited the Isle of Wight once, and really enjoyed it
We took a liking to the English seaside sene
Brighton was only an hour away by train, or just on the other side of the South Downs
Palace Pier, Brighton
With friends on Brighton Beach
Clacton by the sea
Margate
So much to do and so little time...
We rode not once, but twice to Southend and the longest pier in the world.
Arcades were a feature of English seaside towns
Chairs, umbrellas and wind breaks for rent
Quiet lanes, countryside and history everywhere
Cotswalds
English countryside
Freehouse stop
A stone masonry along the way
English road signs
Culture wherever you looked
Cambridge was close to the Fens (flatlands)
Stratford-upon-Avon
Terror in Oxford
Windmill in the Fens
Tudor buildings in the country
Cobblestone riding
Guildford
Lincoln
Bath
Medieval festival
More Tudor
Endless country roads
Riding past an old farmhouse
We didn't buy a car while living in London