London Monday
The Longest Day – day 7
Sunday. Newbury to Hyde Park. 112km via Greenham Peace Garden, Reading Consumer Temple, Windsor (ma’am, your government is shite) and a very bumpy and long towpath.
Featuring a moment of deep serenity in the morning and flying blind all afternoon. Continue reading “The Longest Day – day 7”
Bumpy or Hilly – day 6
Saturday. Frome to Newbury featuring a coffee stop in Trowbridge then a bumpy canal path to Devizes and lunch followed by a smoother but hillier passage to Newbury. And a pause at the A34.
Well a good group joined us to leave Frome in good heart for the ride to Newbury. I think we were well over 20 riders as we pedalled away through town. Including the three strong Bristol contingent.
At Last the Flatlands – day 5
Friday. Taunton to Frome, with stops at Glastonbury and Bruton.
The morning saw us assemble outside the Brewhouse Theatre – over a dozen of us setting off for Glastonbury.
As one of the locals pointed out half way to Glastonbury I had managed to pick a route that included almost all the possible hills in the Levels. But basically it was flat.
Man down, hills up – day 4
Thursday. Barnstaple to Taunton with lunch at the crossing of the Exe.
There were five of us this morning, there are only four this evening, but we must go on. A longish day with quite a lot of hills, a lovely pub lunch in the sunshine, beautiful scenery with views of Exmoor across the valley to the north and a wonderful reception and evening in Taunton. Continue reading “Man down, hills up – day 4”
Up to the top of Devon – day 3
Wednesday. Launceston to Barnstaple with a late lunch at the Puffing Billy. 70km.
An excellent day both in the saddle and socially. We assembled at No8 cafe in Launceston for a cup of coffee and away by 09:30. Sweeping down to recross the Tamar, leaving Cornwall behind the climb up to Lifton Down was about the hardest of the day.
Where the Hills Are – day 2
Tuesday. Liskeard or Pengover Green via the inspirational Pentiddy, the closed Gunnislake bridge, a cyclists lunch in Tavistock and back up and over the Tamar to Launceston. Only 54 km.
Well it may have been shorter in miles horizontally, but not vertically. And my legs were certainly tireder. But in many ways an excellent day. The weather continued kind and there were some stonking descents to enjoy. And socially it was wonderful.
A Good Start – day 1
Monday. Falmouth to St.Mawes by ferry, thence St.Austell and Liskeard with quite a lot of climbing.
Wow, we are really on our way. Down to The Moor at Falmouth for 8:30 where a small party gathered to see us off. Once again the adventure starts with a crossing of the waters – this time the Fal Estuary/Carrick Roads. Continue reading “A Good Start – day 1”
Ready for the Start
The bike is checked, the panniers packed (and unpacked and things discarded and repacked), the flags are made.
Continue reading “Ready for the Start”
Introducing the SW Riders
These are the SW Riders who are coming the whole way to London. Some of them will be contributing to this blog and will introduce themselves – see links below.