Day 2

Bude to Cheddar

Distance: 106.77

Average: 14.6

Maximum: 47.0

Duration: 7:17:13

Cumulative: 204.10

Bude Backpackers Hostel

Up and off! My legs felt fine! No aching or anything! Should be a good day - and the sun was shining!

I left Bude on the A3072. After 5 or so miles I turned left towards Grimscott. Then first right after Grimscott and followed the signs for Bradworthy. After 5 or so miles I followed signs for Sutcombe and Milton Dameral. So far so good! Nice gentle, pleasant countryside! I then joined the A388 and followed that road to Stibb Cross, then took the B3227 to Great Torrington and continued on this road all the way to South Molton. Well this road can only be described as a big, no huge, dipper! There were some monstrous hills on it but the flipside was there were some great downhill stretches as well! I kept seeing signs – “14%”, etc, at the bottom of each hill. I hadn't a clue what they meant until this journey! Now I've got it sussed! They are the odds of getting to the top!

After day one’s somewhat fruitless attempt to find water, I went to a garage to see what type of refreshments they had on offer! After scrutinising the shelves for a minute or two I saw some milk! I’d read somewhere before I set off that milk would be beneficial on an escapade such as mine! It was cheaper than the lucozade I usually bought so I opted for 4 pints of semi-skimmed! I filled my bottles and drank the remaining half pint or so! Delicious!

I left South Molton and joined the A361, a busy uphill stretch, for a mile or so, thankfully leaving it for a return to the B3227 to Bampton. About 3 miles before Bampton I was pondering my route outside a garage when a nice old gent, presumably the owner of said garage, approached and advised me to go in the opposite direction to the one I had just decided upon! “No hills”, he said! "That'll do me!", I replied. Well I’d had my fair share of hills that day so I was most grateful for his advice. He told me there were a lot of “end to enders passing this way”! What a relief! At least I knew I was going in the right general direction! "Black Cat Garage", I think his garage was called!

The Somerset Border (I took pictures of my bike at every county border. Sad! For about 5 miles before the Somerset border I was gradually catching a fellow cyclist! If I ever come across a fellow cyclist in front of me I invariably have the quandary of either whizzing past with a cheery but I always feel superior "Hi", in which case I feel my progress thereafter has to be convincing and permanent, or dallying behind and potentially losing time! The appearance of this sign at just the right moment solved my quandary! I passed said cyclist a few miles further on mopping his brow at the top of a hill !)

I continued on to Wiveliscombe, turning left just after to go through Fitzhead, Halse, Ash Priors and Bishops Lydheard, where 4 more pints of milk were purchased! This was becoming the pattern of each day; initially filling my water bottles, with, well, water, and then topping them up on route with milk. This amounted to 10 pints of liquid just on the journey, let alone liquid consumption before I’d even mounted or dismounted!

Ideal rest stop near Fitzhead

Ash Common Nature Reserve

Anyway, the Quantocks were now in front of me! Well where would you expect them to be after a few hours in the saddle! More hills! Blimey! Hadn’t I seen enough of these today?Up through Cothelstone, Enmore and eventually in to Bridgewater. My first big town since setting off and boy was I pleased to get out of it! There seemed to be an abnormally large number of customised hot hatches whizzing about the place!

I continued up the A38 to Dunball, turned right on the A39 and then turned left on to B3141 passing Rich's Cider Farm, through Wedmore and finally Cheddar!

I was so impressed I bought the company!

Is there a low divorce rate here?

Cheddar Youth Hostel was very nice - once I found it! I met a young student from Bradford who'd come down to Bristol by train and was cycling around Somerset for a few days. It was his favourite part of the country and from what I'd seen of it I couldn't argue with him! I spent a nice relaxing evening chatting to a few fellow hostellers before gratefully retiring to my bunk.

So, day 2 over! I was really impressed with this part of the country and I was still feeling as fit as a fiddle! So far so good!

Day 1

Lands End to Bude

Distance: 97.33

Average: 14.0

Maximum: 40.4

Duration: 6:56:33

After an interesting journey down from Leeds the previous day I was all set for Day 1. I hadn't been on a train for ages and I wasn't too sure what to expect. Anyway after fastening my bike up - they just hang there, I went to my reserved seat. Lo and behold as I went to sit down two girls, who were sitting on each others knee, told me some old guy was sitting in my reserved seat - he'd just disappeared for a moment! Anyway he turned up just then! He was about 70 and could hardly speak English! Was I going to insist on sitting where he was? No way! Not in front of a packed train! I went and stood by the luggage and enjoyed the views out of the windows! Anyway did I really want to sit down for 8 hours? I might get that DVT thingy they get on planes! Besides which wasn't I about to embark on the ride of my life? Was I not at the peak of fitness? Seats? Who needs them?

At the next stop my seat became available and I dived in there like a dog out of a trap and guarded it jealously like that same dog would guard a bone until Penzance. All sorts of people came on and off the train but I was there until the bitter end! It looked at this point that I was really going to have to do this thing! The question that kept going through my mind was, "What am I doing this for?" I couldn't find an answer. From Bristol to Penzance took a couple of hours. I was going to cycle back to Bristol over the next couple of days! 2 hours by train 2 days by bike! Crazy!

I arrived at Penzance at 9:10 and had to cycle to the Youth Hostel in the dark. Most people apparently get there a bit earlier to enable them to get the initial mileage from Lands End to their first nights accomodation out of the way. However, I was fairly late booking my train and the 1 o'clock train from Leeds was the earliest available so that was not possible. Besides which I didn't have to change trains at all! A definite plus!

After checking in to what was an extremely busy and vibrant Youth Hostel, I cooked a basic meal and went in to my 2 bedded room! I wasn't overly enthusiastic about this youth hostel, sharing rooms business and the old fellow below me who snored intermittently during the night did nothing to alleviate my concerns. Still I awoke fresh and raring to go!

Lands End! What a disappointment! I'd heard it had been commercialised and so it has! Not the isolated end of the country it once had been, I'm sure! After weaving my way through the various commercialised buildings I eventually found what looked like signposts! Strange though, there were no signs on it! How was I going to know which way to go?? I reckon they take the signs in at night to stop them getting nicked only to put them back in the morning to charge people the earth to have their photograph taken by it! The building of the Lands End to John o' Groats Club was also there. However, I was too early for any of this stuff so I reset my computer and set off! Lands End to Penzance on the A30.

Library Picture End to End signpost (with signs!)

Well would you believe it! Within 5 miles of setting off a driver looked me in the eye and then pulled out of his driveway into my path (well road actually - I would never cycle on a path!!!!). As I whizzed passed him down the hill we exchanged pleasantries! We exchanged some more pleasantries as he came passed me about a mile later! What a great start! Here was I doing this charitable thing and I nearly get squashed! Charming! Anyway, after that there were no other (well hardly!) incidents on the journey!

From Penzance I continued on the A30 to Hayle. Well that was most certainly enough of the main roads so I opted for the B3301 to Gwitian, Portreath and minor roads to Porthtowan, St Agnes, Perranporth, Rose and joined the A3075 to Newquay. Through Newquay on B3276. Just after Treggarion I turn right and first left to St Mawgan. Lovely little place apart from it's at the bottom of a very steep hill which of course meant a severe climb out!

St Mawgan Church

I rejoined the A39 (not quite sure how I got there when retracing my route on the map!) through Wadebridge. I then turned left on minor road to Trelhill. Minor road to St Teath. B3276 to B3314 and on to Delabole. I turned left on to B3266 to Boscastle. The British Cycle Museum is at this junction. However, I didn't feel I had time to visit! Some other time perhaps!

British Cycling Museum

I then turned right on minor road to Davidstow and back on A39 to Bude. I decided that as it was a nice day I would keep on this road to Bude and not worry about the traffic. However I turned left at Coppathorne to get to Bude via the "scenic route" as advertised on a signpost - and it was!

Sea view from "Bude Scenic Route". Typical of much of the north Devon coast line


Arrived at Bude feeling pretty good! Bude Backpackers hostel was a very nice place - a grandish house in a very nice residential street. The owner was very friendly as well! It seemed like it was a bit of a surfers hostel. Well at least the snippets of conversation I overheard led me that conclusion! "Oh blimey", I thought! These fellows will be keeping me awake all night. Partying and the like. Not a bit of it however, they were mostly in bed before me and no snoring! I was a bit disappointed with them!

It had been a glorious day and I was feeling as fit as a fiddle! The route on the minor roads on the very north coast was extremely hilly. I suppose that's the pay off for avoiding the main roads. Still what's a bit more effort compared to playing with heavy traffic! Roll on day 2!

Links

British Heart Foundation - http://www.bhf.org.uk/

National Autistic Society - http://www.nas.org.uk/

Cancer Research UK - http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

Drakes Cycles, Leeds - 148 Harehills Lane, Leeds.

Chevin Cycles, Otley - http://www.chevincycles.com/

List of LEJoG Cycle Trips - http://www.users.waitrose.com/~ianclare/links.htm

Cyclist's Touring Club - http://www.ctc.org.uk/

Youth Hostel Association - http://www.yha.org.uk/

Scottish Youth Hostel Association - http://www.syha.org.uk/SYHA/web/site/home/home.asp

Donations

Please note that this was a self-financing trip! All accommodation, food, transport to the start and finish was paid for out of my own pocket so every penny donated went to the charities!

For on-line donations:-

British Heart Foundation - www.bhf.org.uk/sponsor/richardslejog

National Autistic Society - www.justgiving.com/richards_lejog

Cancer research UK - www.justgiving.com/richards_lejog_can

All closed now unfortunately!

Charities

British Heart Foundation

I suppose this charity is close to my, well heart, as my dad died of a massive heart attack in 1990.

Heart and circulatory disease is the UK's biggest killer. It kills 240,000 people every year - that's four in ten deaths. It can affect anyone at any time - baby or grandparent, postman or politician. Around 125,000 women die from heart and circulatory disease, compared to 76,000 from cancer.

Two million people have or have had angina and another 655,000 have heart failure. Thousands more are recovering from heart attacks or heart surgery.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is leading the battle against heart and circulatory disease. The Charity is a major funder and authority in cardiovascular research, education and care.

The BHF funds research which saves lives. It helps people understand heart disease and how they can help prevent it. They produce leaflets, videos and posters for patients, health professionals and the public.

The BHF provides vital life-saving equipment for hospitals and the community. They support heart patients through BHF Nurses, rehabilitation programmes and support groups. BHF promote training in the simple skills which can save lives.

You can help BHF save and improve lives. Without donations, their work in research, education and patient care cannot continue.

http://www.bhf.org.uk/

The National Autistic Society

This is a photograph of Thomas, my nephew, who is 14 years old. You can hardly tell from the photo that he has a severe disability. He is severely autistic and has learning difficulties. He does not use any speech although he can understand some things, which are said to him. He is very active and inquisitive which means he can be a danger to himself and others. He particularly likes to explore the taste of non food items such as leaves and has been known to swallow a drawing pin once. He is very affectionate and loving but is not able to make meaningful relationships with other people. He needs a lot of care and attention and can be quite exhausting at times. He will always need to be looked after even when he is an adult. The medical profession has not been able to find any reason for his disability.

People with autism are not physically disabled and 'look' just like anybody without the disability. Due to this invisible nature it can be much harder to create awareness and understanding of the condition, yet autistic spectrum disorders are estimated to touch the lives of over 500,000 families throughout the UK.

http://www.nas.org.uk/

Cancer Research UK

More than 5,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each week in the UK (not including non melanoma skin cancers). Doctors estimate that more than one in three of us will get some form of cancer at some point in our lives.

Why doesn't everyone get cancer. There are a number of different factors all working together. Cancers tend to occur by chance. This means that the main reason why one person gets cancer and another does not, is bad luck. But some things make it more likely that someone may be unlucky enough to get cancer. We inherit the 'blueprint' for our bodies in DNA. Some people have genes that make it more likely that they will get cancer. Some have genes that protect them. Things around us can also damage our genes and make a cell cancerous. This includes poisons in cigarette smoke and radiation. Age is also a factor. The older a person gets, the more likely it is that they will get cancer.

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

Blimey! Scary stuff! There but for the grace of God go I ... so far!

Equipment

This is a list of equipment I took with me:-

Bike Stuff:-

Cat Eye cordless computer
Saddle post bracket
Saddle post bracket bag
Elasticated straps to secure bag
2 spare inner tubes
2 spoons (tyre levers!)
Drinks bottles * 2
pump
punture repair kit

Clothing:-

Mountain bike clipless shoes (better for walking about in than proper cycling shoes!)
pair of bib shorts
roll away rain/windproof top
cycling shirt * 2
helmet
sunglasses
Underwear * 4 (these were exchanged at the end of day 5)
Track suit bottoms (for night time wear)
T-shirt (for night time wear)
1 large piece sponge (14" * 7" * 2") to ensure comfortable ride. The single most important piece of equipment on the whole journey!


Hygene Stuff:-

Towel
Toothbrush/toothpaste
soap
razor

Equipment:-

digital camera
mobile phone plus charger
24 relevant sections cut from old map
notepad and pen
Wallet with cash, debit card, YHA card
Lip salve
watch
accomodation maps
list of bike shops en route
rail ticket
a couple of CTC YHA LEJoG sections (if you can work that abbreviation out, very well done!)

Emergency Rations:-

oats
coffee (decaf)

Training

Blimey! Training's over! Looks like I might have to do this thing!

30th July 2006, 56 miles - Leeds, Eccup, Pool, Otley, Asquith, Ilkley, Nesfiled, Beamsley, Bolton Abbey, Barden, Bolton, Abbey, Beamsley, Nesfield, Ilkley, Asquith, Otley, Pool, Eccup, Leeds.

29th July 2006, 37 miles - Leeds, Eccup, Dunkeswick, Weeton, Huby, Almscliff Crag, Stainburn, Linley, Fewston, Otley, Carlton, Horsforth, Bramhope, Eccup, Leeds.

26th July, 37 miles - Leeds, Scarcroft, East Rigton, Bramham, Clifford, Boston Spa, Wetherby, Sicklinghall, Netherby, Weeton, Castley, Pool, Arthington, Eccup, Leeds.

23rd July 2006, 93 miles - Leeds, East Keswick, Collingham, Linton, Wetherby, Spofforth, Follifoot, Spacey Houses, Beckwithshaw, Fewston, Blubberhouses, Greenhow Hill, Grassington, Conistone, Kettlewell, Cracoe, Embsay, Bolton Abbey, Langbar, Ilkley, Cow and Calf, Menston, Bramhope, Eccup, Leeds.

15th July 2006, 123 miles - Leeds, Eccup, Pool, Otley, Asquith, Ilkley, Beamsley, Bolton Abbey, Burnsall, Grassington, Buckden, Hawes, Ribblehead, Horton, Stainforth, (It was getting very tough here!) Malham, Airton, Winterburn, Cracoe, Skipton, Ilkley, Otley, Pool, Eccup, Leeds. (Absolutely done in! Who's idea was this?)

8th July 2006, 83 miles - East Keswick, Linton, Wetherby, Kirk Deighton, Ripley, Brimham Rocks, Pateley Bridge, Lofthouse, up to Scar House and Angram resevoirs, back to Pately Bridge, Padside, Blubberhouses, Otley Pool, Eccup reservoir home.

1st July 2006, 77 miles - Arthington, Pool, Otley, Asquith, Ilkley, Nesfield, Bolton Abbey, Burnsall, Grassington, Conistone, Kettlewell, Starbottom, Buckden and back again.

24th June 2006, 100 miles, Ron Kitchen Memorial Ride - this ride should have been 94 miles or so! I got lost! It doesn't bode well!

17th June 2006, 128 miles, Great Yorkshire Bike Ride and return - Wetherby, Walton, Alne, Easingwold, Malton, Settrington, Wold Newton, Filey, Wold Newton, Duggleby, Birdsall, Buttercrambe, York, Wetherby.

Pre 17th June 2006, 40-80 miles - various rides in the countryside North of Leeds.

As well as the above I usually cycle to work 2 or 3 times per week. A round trip of 20 miles a day.

The Route

Well as this challenge is called the Lands End to John O'Groats obviously I’m starting in Lands End. There are two reasons for that. I’ve heard that the wind might be blowing up the country and that might give me a bit of a hand and also I fancied a week in Scotland once it’s all over.

I’m trying to do this on the cheap hence I'm staying in Hostels.

As with most things I do I like to keep my options open as much as possible. However, after many times using a 25 inch long piece of string to measure a days worth of cycling, the route looks something like this:-Day 1 - Lands End up the north Cornish coast to Bude.

Day 2 - Bude to Torrington, South Molton, Taunton and up to Cheddar.

Day 3 - From Cheddar up Cheddar Gorge, Bristol, across the Severn, the road west of main Monmouth road, up the Golden Valley to west of Hereford. Up through Kington, Knighton, to Clun Mills. I used to drive to Knighton twice weekly for about 8 years in a former life!

Day 4 - West of Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Whittington (I like the little castle there), Ellesmere (like the mere), up to Chester, through all the Manchester bits somehow and end up at Slaidburn. This is going to be the longest day!

Day 5 - From Slaidburn, to Ingleton, Dent, (haven’t been here for a while. Old fellow’s memorial picnic bench is, well at least was, here), Kendal, Bassenthwaite. My kids, well at least one of them, is staying here – reluctantly accompanying my ex on a sailing week (Bass week).

Day 6 - Bassenthwite to Carlisle, Dumfries and across to Ayr. I was originally going to go parallel with the M74 to Glasgow and Loch Lomond but I read about someone who went across to Ardrossan and then took a ferry on and off Arran and up the west coast to Oban. Well my idea of cycling heaven is rural not urban so if I can avoid Glasgow that’s sounds like a good idea to me!

Day 7 - Ayr to Oban via Arran.

Day 8 - Oban, Fort William and finish at Loch Ness. I'm sure there'll be a lot of monster sightings that day!

Day 9 - Loch Ness up to Dingwall, Lairg and Tongue.

Day 10 - From Tongue along the north coast of Scotland to John O'Groats and finish! (If I make it!)

The Bike

I’ve had a number of bikes over the years but in 2005 I treated myself to a new bike - a Trek 1400. This was bought from Chevin Cycles in Otley. It was a 2004 model hence I got it for £200.00 off the list price. I’d been messing around trying to find better gearing for my Raleigh R200 but decided the only way to go was to buy a bike with, dare I say it, a triple chainset! This bike, I reckon, is a bit of a beast! Now that I have this extra little cog at the front, it doesn't get a lot of use! Well OK, maybe up the most severe hills!

TREK SPEK

Frame:- Alpha SL Aluminium Super Light aluminium. Double butted, seamless drawn smooth welded round tubing. Custom butted 1-1.8" head tube with integrated headset. Stiff, powerful elliptical chainstays. Cold forged replaceable derailleur hanger. Trek Pro geometry.

Fork:- Carbon straight blade w/alloy steerer

Wheels:- Bontrager Select

Tires:- Bontrager Select 700x23c

Saddle:- Trek Race

Seatpost:-Bontrager Sport

Handlebars:- Bontrager Sport

Stem:- Alloy AHS, 10°

Headset:- Alloy integrated 1-1/8" cartridge, sealed

Shifters:- Shimano 105 STI

Front derailleur:- Shimano 105

Rear derailleur:- Shimano 105

Crankset:- Shimano 105 53/39/30

Cassette:- Shimano HG-50 12-25, 9spd

Brakeset:- Shimano 105 w/Shimano 105 STI levers



Other Bikes:-

Raleigh R200 (used for 20 mile round trip commute)

A very old and tatty Saracen Ruff Trax mountain bike (for messing around on)