Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Friday, 9 October 2009
Day 17 - 9th Oct - Lands End
THE END!!!
Lou and I arrived at the final destination at 11:30am, with Mum waiting for us. We successfully managed a proper full English breakfast (no being sensible today!) and even made the 39km to Lands End before the threatened rain arrived. (For the record, I didn't see Lou pushing up any hills, though I always seemed to have a little bit of time at the top!). And this End did have the famous sign post waiting for us. Unfortunately no cyclists starting today to wish good luck...
The total distance, 992 miles, 1,596 km over 17 days and managed to finish on time.
Its time for the cliches...there were highs, there were lows - some tough cycling days and some fabulous ones too. There was the inevitable point of not knowing whether I would make it (thank you Dumfries GP!). I really enjoyed the planning, the anticipation, the seeing new places and meeting new people, most of the journey (!) and the challenge itself. It was great having the family at either end and in the middle and that Duncan and Louis could join me for parts. Just not sure about the beard!
Thank you so much for those that sponsored me (www.justgiving.com/chrismichaelbrooks), the total stands at £2,800 which I am really pleased about. Street Child Africa will be very appreciative.
Lastly, but most importantly, a huge thank you to Claudia for supporting this 3 week trip away, as well as the planning and training time leading up to it.
It was great, but I'm looking forward to going home!
Lou and I arrived at the final destination at 11:30am, with Mum waiting for us. We successfully managed a proper full English breakfast (no being sensible today!) and even made the 39km to Lands End before the threatened rain arrived. (For the record, I didn't see Lou pushing up any hills, though I always seemed to have a little bit of time at the top!). And this End did have the famous sign post waiting for us. Unfortunately no cyclists starting today to wish good luck...
The total distance, 992 miles, 1,596 km over 17 days and managed to finish on time.
Its time for the cliches...there were highs, there were lows - some tough cycling days and some fabulous ones too. There was the inevitable point of not knowing whether I would make it (thank you Dumfries GP!). I really enjoyed the planning, the anticipation, the seeing new places and meeting new people, most of the journey (!) and the challenge itself. It was great having the family at either end and in the middle and that Duncan and Louis could join me for parts. Just not sure about the beard!
Thank you so much for those that sponsored me (www.justgiving.com/chrismichaelbrooks), the total stands at £2,800 which I am really pleased about. Street Child Africa will be very appreciative.
Lastly, but most importantly, a huge thank you to Claudia for supporting this 3 week trip away, as well as the planning and training time leading up to it.
It was great, but I'm looking forward to going home!
Day 16- 8th Oct
Cornwall fully redeemed itself today with my first clear blue skies. On the road at 7am with a magnificent sun rise behind me and I was even happy with the hills to warm me up (6C start!).
Made good progress and Lou joined me from Truro (and on to the last page of my map) and we had a very pleasant cycle across to Porthleven.
Tea and cake in front of our Harbour Inn in the afternoon sun completed the rather idylic destination (together with a good pub for dinner).
Feels rather strange not having to think about provisions and washing, and not so easy to justify the 4 large pieces of cake I had, with only 40km left to go tomorrow morning!
99km today, with Lou in good form for the 35km from Truro.
Made good progress and Lou joined me from Truro (and on to the last page of my map) and we had a very pleasant cycle across to Porthleven.
Tea and cake in front of our Harbour Inn in the afternoon sun completed the rather idylic destination (together with a good pub for dinner).
Feels rather strange not having to think about provisions and washing, and not so easy to justify the 4 large pieces of cake I had, with only 40km left to go tomorrow morning!
99km today, with Lou in good form for the 35km from Truro.
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Day 15 - 7th Oct
Started the day with a very pleasant cycle from Okehampton down to Tavistock across the edge of Dartmoor. Cornwall then gave me a not uncommon greeting - pouring rain and a nice steep hill (Gunnislake). But spirits cannot be dampened - I have crossed the last border! After a modest celebratory hot pasty at Callington the rain then turned torrential and I added a new experience to my list, cycling up and down rivers of water. Fortunately the day was not a long one (67km) and I knew tea, cake, a hot shower and drying facilities (and Mum with camera!) were guaranteed at Mum and Lou's.
It was good to be "home", and another milestone, although it didn't seem quite right yet - the mind is still focused on finishing the trip.
As well as seeing the country, it has been interesting hearing all the different accents as I've travelled through. The standard southern accent only more common after Shropshire and I didn't hear a eastern european accent until as far south as Stroud (the hotel)! (can you believe I had to explain what a post box was?!). It's been good to hear the west country accents.
Last big day tomorrow, cycling through most of Cornwall, so early start planned and Louis will join me from Truro to Porthleven.
It was good to be "home", and another milestone, although it didn't seem quite right yet - the mind is still focused on finishing the trip.
As well as seeing the country, it has been interesting hearing all the different accents as I've travelled through. The standard southern accent only more common after Shropshire and I didn't hear a eastern european accent until as far south as Stroud (the hotel)! (can you believe I had to explain what a post box was?!). It's been good to hear the west country accents.
Last big day tomorrow, cycling through most of Cornwall, so early start planned and Louis will join me from Truro to Porthleven.
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Day 14 - 6th Oct - news extra!
I can now talk about my other news during this trip. As some of you know, I took advantage of my knee "rest day" in Dumfries to fly down to Heathrow to meet Cable & Wireless. My appointment as Corporate Affairs Director, Worldwide (the division) was announced in the company this afternoon. I was going to take the rest of the year off, but it was too good an opportunity to miss. It's an exciting move and I start later in October. Suffice to say Claudia is being extremely understanding!
Day 14 - 6th Oct
Hills, the hills! LEJOGers do say that Cornwall and Devon are the toughest counties and I can see why. The morning from Taunton to Tiverton, Crediton along A and B roads (avoiding the dual carriageways) was a real slog. Well at least I'm not moaning about my knee! (which is behaving, meaning I can cycle pretty normally now).
The Scottish weather seems to be following me - or is that Cornish mist? Although a shower every now and again is quite refreshing.
Stopping at Okehampton tonight, 96km for the day, and well into Devon.
Last night on my own! I've been looking forward to going home and spending my evenings with Claud again, and seeing the kids, for quite some time as you can imagine. Fortunately each day has been much busier than I expected - the cycling each day is a series of missions and then each evening means check in, sort out the bike, unpack, washing, buying supplies, phone calls, dinner and route planning (the fun bit), blog, bed etc etc, (so no papers or TV at all, which is a bonus). You just get on with it.
Looking forward to a bit of Dartmoor tomorrow before entering the final county. Not far now.
The Scottish weather seems to be following me - or is that Cornish mist? Although a shower every now and again is quite refreshing.
Stopping at Okehampton tonight, 96km for the day, and well into Devon.
Last night on my own! I've been looking forward to going home and spending my evenings with Claud again, and seeing the kids, for quite some time as you can imagine. Fortunately each day has been much busier than I expected - the cycling each day is a series of missions and then each evening means check in, sort out the bike, unpack, washing, buying supplies, phone calls, dinner and route planning (the fun bit), blog, bed etc etc, (so no papers or TV at all, which is a bonus). You just get on with it.
Looking forward to a bit of Dartmoor tomorrow before entering the final county. Not far now.
Day 13 -5th Oct
Really satisfying day on two counts. Firstly have now caught up with the original plan - Taunton Monday night!
Secondly I visited old childhood haunts around Peasdown St. John and Carlingcott, just outside of Bath. I had lunch with no.4 Splott Villas (our old house), lunch with former no.3 (Rick and Janet) and a chat with Eric "I'm an Octogenerian" at no. 2. I hadn't seen these places or most of the people for 26 years since we left for Cornwall. Of course everything was smaller than the memories, but things were in the right place and it was suprising to see many of them still there...
People keep getting mixed up between me and Dad, and Jess I do think "you could be brothers" is a little harsh. The beard has got to go!
I paid the price of my route through Bath and Radstock and on to Wells, far more hills than I remember.
My destination of Taunton wasn't entirely intentional - I was going to find accommodation once I got past Street/Glastonbury, but there wasn't any until I hit Taunton, 22 miles later, in the dark!
So a useful 139km over 12 hours including stops means I can start to relax, well, just a little. Mum's for Wednesday night, Lands End Friday lunchtime is the plan.
Secondly I visited old childhood haunts around Peasdown St. John and Carlingcott, just outside of Bath. I had lunch with no.4 Splott Villas (our old house), lunch with former no.3 (Rick and Janet) and a chat with Eric "I'm an Octogenerian" at no. 2. I hadn't seen these places or most of the people for 26 years since we left for Cornwall. Of course everything was smaller than the memories, but things were in the right place and it was suprising to see many of them still there...
People keep getting mixed up between me and Dad, and Jess I do think "you could be brothers" is a little harsh. The beard has got to go!
I paid the price of my route through Bath and Radstock and on to Wells, far more hills than I remember.
My destination of Taunton wasn't entirely intentional - I was going to find accommodation once I got past Street/Glastonbury, but there wasn't any until I hit Taunton, 22 miles later, in the dark!
So a useful 139km over 12 hours including stops means I can start to relax, well, just a little. Mum's for Wednesday night, Lands End Friday lunchtime is the plan.
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