Day 5

Before we left Monmouth we dropped into the local chemist for various body maintenance essentials. The assistant asked were we were riding to. Ludlow said Steve. "Where is that?" asked the assistant....  Clearly,  must have missed school the day they did geography.

Today is our "shortest" day with just 51 miles covered.  With this in mind, rather than head out of Monmouth A466 we headed along the lane following the River Monnow.
Crossing a small stone bridge after 5 miles the setting was perfect but we were soon to pay the price with a series of steep hills and valleys.

Lanes north of Monmouth

We made up time to Hereford on the A49 which wasn't particularly nice but delivered us in time for morning coffee plus a quick running repair to the Holdsworth. 

Hereford was heaving with the entire High Street taking up by Fair Ground rides so we were pleased to leave picking up the A4110 out of town, so avoiding further use of the A49.  This road was a delight with rolling hills and light traffic that did not present too much of a challenge.

Before long we arrived in Leominster.  With only 10 miles to be covered to Ludlow we  allowed ourselves to get a little too comfortable over lunch so by the time we left legs had stiffened a little as we picked up the B4361, again avoiding the busy A49.

Ludlow is a delight.  Its story dates back to the 11th Century when the Castle was built and the town centre had some wonderful old buildings including the Bull Hotel and The Feathers Hotel which we took a look around before settling in a smaller local for our evening meal.

Weather wise things are about to change with some unsettled weather scheduled so tomorrow it is wet weather gear at the ready.

Accomodation;   Travelodge  off Ludlow ring road

Day 4

I have been looking forward to this days cycling as the route picks its way first across the River Avon and
then the Severn into Wales.

We had stopped overnight at my house in Axbridge and left home in clean clothes and on clean bikes following the cycle path to Clevedon. Much of this route is constructed on the old Strawberry Railway line, so called as it collected all the strawberry crops grown on the Mendip hills before everyone started buying them from the local supermarkets. As a cycle route it delivered a very relaxed start to the day.

Cycle path on the Avon Bridge

After Clevedon a lane is taken to Pill on the bank of the Avon. I tried to convince Steve that Pill was worth a visit but he only had eyes for the dramatic Avon bridge crossing and it did not disappoint.

The cycle path runs alongside the motorway the full span of the bridge,  affording great views along the Avon.

Lunch stop Northwick, just south ofChepstow bridge

The route from the Avon to the old Severn Bridge is accomplished almost entirely by cycle paths, visiting some pretty obscure locations.  The route is inevitably a little convoluted but we found a fine hostelry for lunch before making our way to  the Severn crossing which rewarded us with our second dramatic crossing.     Built in 1966 the car toll was only supposed to be charged until the bridge was paid for but the last time I drove across it the price was a hefty £6.20. Free for bikes though. ..

Monmouth

The ride up the Wye Valley was everything expected. A stop for a pot of tea at the ruins of Tintern Abbey before  the final 10 miles to Monmouth.  At the top of the valley we cross a bridge markef "Weak crossing"  but it wasn't too clear what one was supposed to do with this information.  Breath in?

Arrived in Monmouth with plenty of time for a look around. An attractive town centre but not at it liveliest late on a Bank holiday Monday...

Miles covered 62
Accomodation;  The Kings Head (wetherspoons) Monmouth centre

Day 3

Tonight's stop is home in Axbridge and Barbara at the Hornhill Farmhouse saw us off with a wonderful
breakfast and homemade bread. Just as well the start was downhill. 

For a significant part of today's ride we followed Sustrans South West Way route, although we saved time by using the Wellington by pass. The Sustran route to the West of the town is very pretty but would have taken up too much time today.

Cake stop  Taunton

Initially we followed the cycle route alongside the canal for around ten miles and joined the A36 past Wellington to Taunton for morning coffee and cakes. (this blog is beginning to sound like a series of cake stops, interspersed with some cycling.)

Bridgewater canal path

Contrary to the map above, we actually took the canal path from Taunton to Bridgewater as we had plenty of time and it was an opportunity to enjoy the glorious weather make the most of surrounding countryside.

A final quick refreshing drink at the Canal Arms before the final push across the levels to Axbridge.

Spending a night at home is a welcome opportunity for small repairs to the bikes which have stood up well to the battering that the Devon potholed roads have dished out,  but more importantly us an opportunity to load fresh clothes.   Plus, Jane has prepared a roast  dinner washed down with an exceptional bottled of Saint-Emilion. All in all, a fine end to another great day on the bikes.

Steve and I are enjoying the trip immensely, with not too many aches and pains and hoping the "kind" weather continues.

Miles covered 62

Day 2

Anyone who has cycled in Devon will have noticed its really, really hilly. I mean, really hilly.  You may have even noticed if you have driven there....  So this day, by common agreement by everyone who has ridden LEJOG is one of the toughest.

It didn't disappoint but the day was made easier (its a relative term) by a helpful Southwesterly wind, and another great days weather.

Marvelous Devonshire countryside

Of course, the fantastic countryside offers plenty of diversion.  We made good time reaching Holsworthy (25 miles) for morning tea and excellent cake and Winkleigh for lunch at The Kings Arms. (45 miles )

We followed the Chawleigh road to Tiverton,  arriving a little after 5. As it was a little early to check in to the B&B an early dinner and pint seemed a good call.

Lunch stop

Checked at the Hornhill Farmhouse which I highly recommend, apart from the incredibly steep hill up to it, but then, if you are driving that is going to be a whole lot easier...

Distance covered. 72 miles



Accomodation;   Hornhill Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast

www.hornhill-farmhouse.co.uk

Day 1

Well,  the first day went a lot better than we dare hoped for,  with decent weather and a following wind.  We followed Stephanie and Arthur's advice  not to get too fancy in the morning and focus on getting some miles in, so by 10.30 we were having a coffee in Portreath having covered 29 miles.

Lunch in Indian Queens. Since the extension of the motorway its already difficult to imagine all the holiday traffic making its way through its narrow streets.


Getting out of Cornwall avoiding the busy A30 is a challenge but our route worked well. From Hayle we followed the coastal road to Portreath, skirting to the north of Redruth. We worked our way to Three Burrows and from there were able to shadow the A30 by a mixture of lanes and the "old" A30, now a cycle/walkway. We had to use the A30 very briefly (about 1 mile) but apart from that it worked very well. The lanes were quiet and cycle friendly and I would certainly follow the same route again.

The final stage via Bodmin to our overnight stop at Camelford. I think it fair to say we were definitely fading over the last 4 miles. Pints down at the Local revived us along with an  excellent meal. I be amazed if either of us is still awake by 9.30

Miles covered  75
Accomodation;   Countryman Hotel

www.thecountrymanhotel.co.uk

Setting off

Jane's mother, Armorel, lives in Helston,  Cornwall, which is really handy if you need an overnight stop prior to riding LEJOG. We picked up Steve at Weston Super Mare, replenish in his bright orange safety jacket.  I'll need to keep my sunglasses on for the  next two weeks.

Arrived in Helston in time for tea (thank you Armorel, delicious)  and the final of Masterchef, which makes Jane and Steve happy.  Weather is fantastic.  Can it last? 

Final run out

SUNDAY and a final run out before packing the bike ready for the ride. Down to Weston early in the morning.  The tide is in (nice) but so is the sun (not so nice) so a bit of a chill and a nagging north easterly wind which I sincerely hope has eased off by next week.  Nothing worse than riding into a wind.

Getting fit

Both Steve and I are what I would term irregular regular cyclists. Cycling is mostly a weekend activity with occasional longer trips so both of us have been trying to cram in some extra miles to ensure at least a level of fitness that will see us through the first few days. (Stephanie ensures me that we will ride ourselves fit. Nice concept but.......)

Mine, nice road surface.....

Steve's, looks a lot smoother..

Dramatic contrast between Steve's training environment in the foothills of southern Spain and mine in the Mendip Hills. .

finally the route

Essential Tea and cakes stops-Cornwall 2011

Time constraints meant that we needed to map a fairly direct route. It was agreed that an average of 75 miles a day was about right for us, allowing sufficient time each day for a decent lunch stop and essential (for me) tea and cake breaks.

I used earlier experience of the South West Way ride to plot a route over the first 3 days that, hopefully, avoids most of the main roads and the worst of the Devon hills, arriving home in Axbridge, Somerset for our third night. From Axbridge its over to Chepstow and a couple of leasurely 50 mile days north through Welsh Border country arriving in Tarporley, Cheshire for night 6.  Then the tricky bit picking our way through the urban areas of Widnes and Warrington to Garstang and then Shap for night 8. Then its Moffat, Inverlochy to Fort William for night 12. Finally Dingwall, Helmsdale and finally JOG on day 15.

We have booked Easyjet flights home and the bikes will follow by courier which I think is a bargain deal at £35 per bike. It would cost that much as Easyjet baggage and then would they have to survive the tender attentions of airport baggage handlers.   

and the bike

For the ride I have decided to use my late fathers 1938 Holdsworth.  The bicycle was actually in a very sorry state, but following Dad’s passing in 2009 I decided that it would be fun to rebuild the cycle to its original specification. I only had, as a guide, a photograph taken around 1939 and a memory of Dad saying that when new it had been finished in dark green.

The internet allowed me to track down many of the parts that I needed and, after sending the frame to Dave Yates Cycles for repairs and a repaint, (Dave made a lovely job of it http://www.daveyatescycles.co.uk  )  the rebuild was completed. (actually, it took rather a long time, but that's another story..) The only departure from the original specification was the fitting of a 3 speed Sturmey Archer hub gear to compliment the 1930's 3 speed derailleur gear. This delivers a much wider range of gears to deal with hills that have clearly got a lot steeper since I was young!!  and I reasoned that the change was very much a period modification. Finally, I replaced the 26 X 1¼ wheels with 26 X 1 3/8 as tyres for this size rim are more readily available, and as I intended to use the Holdsworth regularly this was an important consideration. The results look bang on and my only regret is not having carried out the work while Dad was still with us.  I hope he would have approved.

and in the far corner

My fellow traveler for the LEJOG Steve. Steve and I go back to 1967 when, as two 16 year olds fresh from school we met as newly recruited apprentices in the RAF, posted to Cosford near Wolverhampton for our training. So started a lifetime friendship encompassing  many adventures and mis adventures   Steve now lives in southern Spain so he has had considerably better weather to get practice miles in than I have had in the UK during an appalling winter.  If he is much fitter than me he can carry my bags...

Decision made

It has been my ambition to ride LEJOG for many years, but when, in 2011 my daughter, Stephanie and her soon to be husband, Arthur, completed the ride in stunningly good weather in early May I decided that my effort could be delayed no longer. Plus, now in my 60's, (OK,  I know, its the new 50's) I could not continue to take for granted that the ride was something I could put off until another year.  So, I bit the bullet, announced to all and sundry that I would do the ride (no going back after that) and started studying the maps.  

Taking the lead from Stephanie and Arthur I too decided to complete the ride in early May 2013, which is now just a couple of week away, so the decision to start this blog is a little late in the day, but the plan is to load updates daily from my smartphone, so providing family and friends news on progress, straight from the saddle, so to speak.