Day 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9! There are not many internet cafes onroute.
Day 5 Ross to Little Wenlock Wednesday 14/6/6
A ride through familiar country - Leominster, Ludlow to finish at the top of the Wrekin. We met up with our Dutch friends (Rinus and Dick) again and rode with them for 15 miles or so. Dick was raising money for a local hospice in Gloucester whilst Rinus who is a retired fisherman was riding for fun.
The countryside is rolling hills and posh houses. There has been a lot of money here for some time. Richard booked us into the Best Western at Ironbridge another 2 rosette hotel. Can our luck hold? It was probably the best food so far.
Our luck did not hold out, the next morning we had a major problem with the bill. After an hour the manager turned up and agreed to the figure we thought we had already agreed to. A lesson learnt.
341 miles gone.
Day 6 To Hoghton near Blackburn Thursday 15/6/6
100 miles in one day!!! My first century.
The ride from the Wrekin through Cheshire and Manchester was as flat as you could hope for. The average speed was 14mph. It was the day of England's 2nd match so we guessed the roads around Manchester would be quieter. What we had not realised was that possibly we could have done with a police escort through North Manchester, it was very rough.
We finished at 10:30mpm the light virtually gone and in fits of laughter. I had got faster over the last 15 miles, despite the first signs of hills, just so we could beat the light and make the 100.
We stayed at the Best Western at Camelot! A major theme park. The rate was not quite as good but the bed was well appreciated.
441 miles gone
Day 7 to High Bentham Friday 16/6/6
We took it easier today, visiting Paul Hewitt's bike shop in Leyland to get a few adjustments to my bike. Here we were chatting to Gethin who works with Paul. He me
ntioned that he had done the End to End trip in 2001. We asked how long it had taken him - 1 day 20 hours 4 minutes - he is the current record holder! Paul told us that Gethin on arriving at John O'Groats then turned round and carried on cycling to claim the UK 1000 mile record. Really nice people.
This was a hard day after the previous days efforts. We only did 40 miles that afternoon. The Pennines hit us with a vengeance. We stayed at a great B&B with Jill and Glen. Glen is a keen cyclist and took Richard's bike out for a ride.
481 miles gone.
Day 8 to High Bankhill near Penrith Saturday 17/6/6
Another shattering day. The mountains are beautiful but my legs are shot.
A near death experience coming down the A685 towards the Tebay M6 junction. I am flying down a hill at 35+mph and a Morrisons lorry decides to come towards me on my side of the road . Unfortunately there is a stream of traffic following him so I have no option but to ride the rather small gap between two lorries coming towards me. I was bouncing along the cats eyes and just hung on. Oh and it was on a bend too.
Our luck with hotels completely left us tonight. We ended up in a B&B in Carlisle which probably took illegal immigrants normally. Carlisle was like St Mary's Street, Cardiff and Wind Street Swansea combined. Still the Italian restaurant was good. Richard was pleased that the B&B was the cheapest accommodation so far, I think they should have paid us.
542 mile gone - over half way.
Day 9 to Selkirk Scotland Sunday 18/6/6
To be honest I just wanted to come home at breakfast. I was fed up being tired We set off and for the first 3 miles I was riding at maybe 9mph. Then we met Barry who rode along with us for the next 10 miles to Brampton. He was great fun and turned out to be an ex world champion triathlete and at 53 was still competing in national championships. My average speed increased to 16mph over that section. The tiredness seemed to go. The highlight was beating Barry on a hill to his surprise - but to be fair he and Richard had slowed down for the railway crossing that I bounced over just prior to the hill starting.
As we crossed the border we met the group from www.specialride.co.uk. These people were amazing. They were doing the same trip as us in 13 days with some great guys with special needs riding at the back of a tandem. They had raised £65,000 so far for the trip and they deserved every penny. A fantastic experience for the likes of Laurence as well as a major boost to their charity.
Did I mention it rained all day. A change of route was called for so we stuck to the longer but thought easier and more sheltered A7. This time the B&B was brilliant, loads of space, clean, friendly and on the route, no traveling. So we had our first Indian on the trip and enjoyed the local pub
A much happier day.
612 miles gone and Edinburgh 40 miles away.
Day 5 Ross to Little Wenlock Wednesday 14/6/6
A ride through familiar country - Leominster, Ludlow to finish at the top of the Wrekin. We met up with our Dutch friends (Rinus and Dick) again and rode with them for 15 miles or so. Dick was raising money for a local hospice in Gloucester whilst Rinus who is a retired fisherman was riding for fun.
The countryside is rolling hills and posh houses. There has been a lot of money here for some time. Richard booked us into the Best Western at Ironbridge another 2 rosette hotel. Can our luck hold? It was probably the best food so far.
Our luck did not hold out, the next morning we had a major problem with the bill. After an hour the manager turned up and agreed to the figure we thought we had already agreed to. A lesson learnt.
341 miles gone.
Day 6 To Hoghton near Blackburn Thursday 15/6/6
100 miles in one day!!! My first century.
The ride from the Wrekin through Cheshire and Manchester was as flat as you could hope for. The average speed was 14mph. It was the day of England's 2nd match so we guessed the roads around Manchester would be quieter. What we had not realised was that possibly we could have done with a police escort through North Manchester, it was very rough.
We finished at 10:30mpm the light virtually gone and in fits of laughter. I had got faster over the last 15 miles, despite the first signs of hills, just so we could beat the light and make the 100.
We stayed at the Best Western at Camelot! A major theme park. The rate was not quite as good but the bed was well appreciated.
441 miles gone
Day 7 to High Bentham Friday 16/6/6
We took it easier today, visiting Paul Hewitt's bike shop in Leyland to get a few adjustments to my bike. Here we were chatting to Gethin who works with Paul. He me
ntioned that he had done the End to End trip in 2001. We asked how long it had taken him - 1 day 20 hours 4 minutes - he is the current record holder! Paul told us that Gethin on arriving at John O'Groats then turned round and carried on cycling to claim the UK 1000 mile record. Really nice people.
This was a hard day after the previous days efforts. We only did 40 miles that afternoon. The Pennines hit us with a vengeance. We stayed at a great B&B with Jill and Glen. Glen is a keen cyclist and took Richard's bike out for a ride.
481 miles gone.
Day 8 to High Bankhill near Penrith Saturday 17/6/6
Another shattering day. The mountains are beautiful but my legs are shot.
A near death experience coming down the A685 towards the Tebay M6 junction. I am flying down a hill at 35+mph and a Morrisons lorry decides to come towards me on my side of the road . Unfortunately there is a stream of traffic following him so I have no option but to ride the rather small gap between two lorries coming towards me. I was bouncing along the cats eyes and just hung on. Oh and it was on a bend too.
Our luck with hotels completely left us tonight. We ended up in a B&B in Carlisle which probably took illegal immigrants normally. Carlisle was like St Mary's Street, Cardiff and Wind Street Swansea combined. Still the Italian restaurant was good. Richard was pleased that the B&B was the cheapest accommodation so far, I think they should have paid us.
542 mile gone - over half way.
Day 9 to Selkirk Scotland Sunday 18/6/6
To be honest I just wanted to come home at breakfast. I was fed up being tired We set off and for the first 3 miles I was riding at maybe 9mph. Then we met Barry who rode along with us for the next 10 miles to Brampton. He was great fun and turned out to be an ex world champion triathlete and at 53 was still competing in national championships. My average speed increased to 16mph over that section. The tiredness seemed to go. The highlight was beating Barry on a hill to his surprise - but to be fair he and Richard had slowed down for the railway crossing that I bounced over just prior to the hill starting.
As we crossed the border we met the group from www.specialride.co.uk. These people were amazing. They were doing the same trip as us in 13 days with some great guys with special needs riding at the back of a tandem. They had raised £65,000 so far for the trip and they deserved every penny. A fantastic experience for the likes of Laurence as well as a major boost to their charity.
Did I mention it rained all day. A change of route was called for so we stuck to the longer but thought easier and more sheltered A7. This time the B&B was brilliant, loads of space, clean, friendly and on the route, no traveling. So we had our first Indian on the trip and enjoyed the local pub
A much happier day.
612 miles gone and Edinburgh 40 miles away.
posted by Ed, Richard & Ray at 4:23 AM
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