Blog 1 

May 25 - a sunny start to the day, and it remained dry...

Today was sunny and cold and we were back to the 3 original starters.  After navigating the stairs in the hotel with bags and bikes, not an easy exercise, we headed off towards our bacon sarni stop in Lymm. 

We quickly passed through Aston Juxton Mondrum, possibly the coolest place name in England. 

The way to Lymm is over the Cheshire plain on many roads that were ridden pre Strava by Steve with the hospital cycling group back in the noughties.  Passing by the Bells of Peaover and through Tatton Park we arrived at Bernie's.  As well as ourselves John from next door, a keen cyclist joined us.  Bernie and Karen, Steve's wife plied us with sausage, bacon and egg butties, a real feast again.  Both Bernie and John made a donation, thank you. 

Underway again we were just outside Lymm when we bumped into Kevin who was also doing LEJoG with a friend, they were carrying everything themselves, no support.  They had started the same day as us and were planning to finish on the same day as well.  We were halfway though the ride when we met them.  Who knows whether or not we will meet again at JoG?   

Passing over the ship canal we pushed on to Chorley arriving in time for the FA cup final!!  However the lure of the ice cream shop up the road proved irresistible but we were back for the final whistle.    

476 miles / 760 K completed, 8 days down.

May 24 - a grand day all round.

Once again it was overcast and cold.  We were joined at the start by Graham, a classmate of Steve's from Adams Grammar school, last seen 50+ years ago!!  Leaving the house we wound our way around the Quarry on the river bank path.  It was a very peaceful start to the day.  Passing by the old Starlight Marine building brought a tear to Ian's eyes.  

Wending our way out of Shrewsbury we passed by Mark's old school, not too many tears there!!  Then the Albright Hussey, the site of many celebratory lunch/dinners with our parents.  Turnng right we passed the "Greens" old house and then the radio tower.  Yorton loomed next, The Railway holding memories for all of us.

Up the longest climb of the day, aka Clive high street, we passed the Francis's old digs, we called in on Ian Page and son Russell opposite the old village shop.  Stopping at the old petrol station we introduced ourselves to Mavis's daughter, Jeanna, Mavis also came out to say hi.  Next door we met Alywn, last seen fixing Ian's car 50 years ago.  At this stage we were overloaded with the past, so just for fun Mark knocked on the door of out childhood home, nobody in, probably just as well.  Chatted to the guy who had moved into the Fowles's house next door instead.  We had warned Graham that the day was going to be a trip down memory lane but we hadn't realised how deep we were going to go.        

We then moved on to the 4th brothers home for more bacon butties, a bike clean, a fix to the camera mount.  John and Kevin, more cycling buddies of Ian joined us to partake in the feast put on by Andrew, Bridget and Ellen.  Starting after such a welcome was again proving tricky so Andrew hopped on his mountain bike and led the way to Market Drayton.

After a very nice coffee in Market Drayton Andrew headed home and we headed off to Nantwich  led by Graham.  The hotel in Nantwich was built in 1585,  in some aspects it looks like that but it more than met our needs.  Off to the Royal, Oak for dinner with Neil, an old work colleague of Ian's and a beer token courtesy of JB!!  ha ha ha!

May 23 - a day of old friends and no rain.

The day dawned grey and cold but NO rain.  We were joined at the hotel by Simon, a friend of Mark.  Off we went, cold, north wind and the roads were quite busy to start with but we soon settled into it.  Just outside Leominster we were joined by Stan and Ant, cycling buddies of Ian.  

Whilst there was a fair amount of climbing it was not the  brutal environment of Devon and Cornwall.  We stopped in Brimfield at Fiona's as she had promised bacon butties for us all.  It was nearly 30 years since some of us had caught up with Fiona, many memories were swapped.  Her photo archive also revealed how we used to look...much laughter.  The food, company and venue were all top class, there was little incentive to leave.  Ant sorted us out by riding circles on his bike to drag us on.

Continuing, we travelled along a very minor road that ran parallel to Wenlock Edge.  It revealed a Wenlock Edge that we were not really aware of.  Usually we would have just gone straight up or down it and been on our way.  Today revealed the Edge in all its glory, magnificant country, stretching many kilometers/miles.  (there has been much discussion about the use of measuring units...).

We arrived in Shrewsbury in good time so we broke our usual rules and had a couple of pints on the way in.  Ant and Stan left us here, heading back to their car to drive back home.  Simon stuck with us to our AirBnB.   

Dinner that night was at the Crown with Dave and Margaret Francis, a connection that goes back to very early days in Clive, and Mike Andreae another of Ian's cycling/skiing/squash buddies.   

May 22 - the day the English weather made itself known.  Rain, rain and more rain.

We set off with an additional rider that day, Angus, who had already done the LEJoG and provided much local knowledge on the way to Bristol.  The route started with a climb (there is an emerging trend here, start the day with a climb!) up the Cheddar Gorge.  The rainy weather meant the place was almost deserted.  It is a beautiful spot even on a rainy day.

The first stop that day was in the Observatory cafe next to the Clifton Suspension bridge.  An exceptional sight especially when it's age is taken into account.

Shortly after the stop Angus had a flat and decided to return home once fixed.  We carried on, it was certainly a day of bridges as the next stop was the Severn Bridge, the weather was not conducive to lingering on the bridge itself.  

It was more rain on the way to Tintern Abbey, we pulled in just as the heavens really opened.  Excellent timing (lucky really).   After a cup of tea and a cake we pushed on to Ross-on-Wye.  We were treated to an amazing dinner in Ross by an Uncle of Karen's and partner.  

The weather apps were saying tomorrow will be a dry day so we hit the sack with our fingers crossed.    

May 21 - yet another beautiful day weather wise.

Dulverton is almost too nice to leave and you are encvouraged not to by the climb that starts the way to Somerset over the edge of Exmoor.  Nearly half of the days climbing was in the first 20 kilometers.  The descent down to the Somerset levels is also steep, you could smell the brake blocks burning on the way down.

A lunch stop was arranged at the garden centre just outside Taunton, called Monkton Elm.  The consenous was that it could be the largest garden centre ever.  For once the arrangements worked well.  

Leaving the garden centre we traversed the Somerset Levels heading for Westbury-sub-Mendip.  We skirted around the Glastonbury Tor.  

The days destination was Uncle Chris's house.  Uncle Chris had recently passed away and there was an afternoon tea in his memory, hosted by our cousins Rachael and Liz,  being held for the people of the village.  They were all very welcoming and there were many memories shared of Chris and Elaine.  The attendees very generously donated to Parkinsons.  Thankyou.  We also met two people who had completed the LEJoG and they shared experiences with us. 

And for now no more video as the bracket failed under the assult from the poor road surfaces, metal fatigue. 

May 20 - more blue skies all day.

In summary it was the longest day and the biggest day of climbing so far.  A tough one.  The first half of the route was undulating hills and very enjoyable, we were lulled into a false sense of security.  Being a Monday there was little open, we stopped at the Co-Op in Hatherleigh and congratulated ourselves on progress to date.  The coffee was acceptable too.

It all changed after that, Chulmleigh, had a 20% leadup to it that went for ever and we have to admit that there was some walking there.  At the top we find the house of the man who built the first 4 wheel vehicle in the UK, he was either born around 1870 or he built the vehicle then we are not sure. 

South Molton was the standout highlight.  The lunch at Rachael's coffee shop was sublime, gourmet provisions for sure.  Heading out, the next climb to the top of Exmoor is best described as brutal.  But riding over the top of the moor the views were unsurpassed.

Decsending from the moor we arrived at the next stop Dulverton.  As the man in the hotel said it is like being in a movie... 

Wifi was inoperable in the hotel so no images at this time.       

May 19 - blue skies greeted us in the morning and lasted all day.  

Not a long day but the first stop at Wadebridge was very special.  The cinamon cakes from the "One Day" cafe are awesome.  Once again the shirts worked, a donation from the guy outside the coffee shop, thankyou very much. 

Mark was also spotted posing as The Old Man...    After leaving Wadebridge we managed to miss the Tour Director at the Lazy Snail cafe, no fault of his, we were just too obsessed with pushing on up endless hills past endless churches and endless lanes.... On one of the endless lanes we ran into an Ipswich supporter and partner who have also donation, thankyou.

After numerous climbs, including a climb over Bodmin moor, we made it to the hotel.  The hotel was full of cyclists, the same group of Falkland Veterans we had met in Penzance, everybody is doing the LEJoG!

User issues with the go pro were overcome today, we now have video's as well as stills. 

Video

May 18 - the start.  The day was overcast, misty and cold, but off we went.  At the signpost we met some young ladies and there was a mutual assistance to get photos.  After photos off we went into the mist along the coast.  St Ives was the first stop, cornish pasties, coffee and a sea view at The Slip.     

Whilst admiring the view the shirts came into action action again.  We were approached by an elderly gentlemen who insisted on giving a cash donation to the cause....  

Then on to Perranporth for a cornish cream tea.  Very nice it was too.  It was accompanied by a sound track from a Tunes in the Dunes festival being held on the beach, mostly Queen covers. 

And finally to the hotel in Newquay.  Apart from terrible network connectivity (hence no blog update yesterday) it met our needs but we had to visit 3 pubs to get food.  

May 17 - on our way.  The shirts have had an impact, we met a gentleman suffering from Parkinson's in the lunch stop and had a long chat with him.  Arriving at the hotel we met a group of 21 cyclists, yup, they were doing LEJoG as well, and believe it or not one of the charities they were supporting was Parkinsons.