Day Nine

 

Day Nine

Wednesday September 19th 2012

Carlisle to Sanquhar

Mileage today - 86

Total mileage so far - 636

Last night's b&b was the best yet, absolutely unbeatable! After a top breakfast, and a £10 donation from the owners, Joanna set off for home whilst I set off to do battle with the Carlisle traffic. I needn't have worried, it was an easy twenty minutes through the city and out the other side. Riding alongside the motorway for a few miles I was soon in Gretna, resisting the temptation to go to the tacky blacksmith shop. Once out of Gretna I was riding into a very strong headwind that was to stay with me for the rest of the day
all the way around the Solway coastline and up to Dumfries and beyond. I stopped for an hour in Dumfries to get a bite to eat. Whilst there I thought I should go and see Robbie Burns' grave, but after asking three locals and a scouser, I gave up - not one of them knew where it was! I had to make do with his statue instead. After a very brief spell on the A76, it was all beautiful, deserted country lanes for the thirty or so miles up to tonight's stop at Sanquhar. This part of Scotland is so quiet and scenic. It doesn't have the grandeur of the Highlands, but on a sunny day like today it is idyllic . I stumbled across the old smithy that was owned by Kirkpatrick McMillan, all cyclists will know who that is won't you?.... Of course you do....he invented the pedal cycle! A few miles further on at the village of Penpont, I stumbled on something even better, a cafe!  A good pot of tea and a generous slice of chocolate cake, for the princely sum of just £2-35! I like Scotland! Just been out in Sanquhar to see the sights - an ancient tollbooth and the oldest post office in the world. Trouble is the Post Office pulled out, it's no longer a post office! It' been a long day, more miles that planned but, apart from that headwind, it's been great! Time for some grub!

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Day Eight

 

Day Eight

Tuesday September 18th 2012

Patterdale to Carlisle

Mileage today - 54

Total mileage so far - 550

Those who know this part of the world will know that going from Patterdale to Carlisle doesn't constitute much progress northwards. It was planned this way though so that Joanna could join me at my Carlisle b&b before I head off into the land of the brave. I still got 54 miles of superb cycling in though in one of my favourite cycling areas. Leaving the Youth Hostel at 8-30 I rode along the shore of Ullswater to Pooley Bridge. It was a gloriously sunny morning, giving stunning views across the lake and into the mountains. By heck, it was cold though! So cold I texted Joanna to bring me some gloves! I may need them north of the border! Shortly after passing Dalemain House I headed northwards, crossing the busy A66 and into the perfect cycling country to the east and north of Blencathra. This is big sky country, with long views and deserted roads rolling across the countryside - absolutely beautiful on a cool, crisp sunny day like this. At Caldbeck, John Peel country, I pointed the bike eastwards and, with a good tailwind, I was on the outskirts of Carlisle just before two. A quick look at Carlisle racecourse (yes, another racecource), and a recce of the local pub for later (I had to have a quick pint to put the fluids back!), and I arrived at the B&B just after Joanna had got there.

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Please go to my Virgin Money Giving page to donate to the British Heart Foundation, and please Gift Aid if you can, it means an extra 25% from the taxman to the BHF at no extra cost to you! 

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Day Seven

 

Day Seven

Monday September 17th 2012

Garstang to Patterdale

Mileage today - 58

Total mileage so far - 496

After a lovely night at home (best b&b so far on this trip), I had a great send off from the Square in Garstang. The Mayor, Mayoress, Town Crier, friends and family, and fellow members of Garstang Cycling Club all gathered to cheer me on my way, very touching! It was good to have four of my clubmates join me for the first few miles up to Lancaster and on to Morecambe. We had a coffee stop then rode along the prom, stopping for a photo call with Eric, Morecambe's best known son.(statue of!). The lads left me at Hest Bank to head back to Garstang into a strong headwind. That same wind was in my favour as I 'sped' along up the A6 to Kendal. The rain had held off so far, but showers were forecast and it looked like the heavens were about to open. A good time for a lunch stop and wait it out in the centre of Kendal. It did rain a little but I was not in a hurry today so waited for it to clear before continuing on my way. I called at the home of a couple from our cycling club who live in Bowston, in the hope of a coffee, but there was nobody there - unless they were hiding behind the curtains! After a quick visit to Britain's biggest bike shop (so they claim) at Staveley, all that remained for me to do today was ride over Kirkstone Pass to the Youth Hostel at Patterdale. Thank goodness for 'granny gears', it's a long climb up there on a heavy touring bike! The rain was holding off but everything around was grey and misty. After passing the summit, the long, twisting descent to Brothers Water was a pleasure until reaching the valley bottom when the heavens opened. I wasn't bothered by that time, hot showers and a drying room were only a couple of miles away. I had intended self catering tonight but there is nowhere to buy provisions here, so I'm at the pub again! I forgot to bring the cable to transfer photos from my camera, so it will have to be double photos tomorrow. Carlisle tomorrow night, not far as the crow flies, and another night with Joanna so hoping to get there mid afternoon.

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Please go to my Virgin Money Giving page to donate to the British Heart Foundation, and please Gift Aid if you can, it means an extra 25% from the taxman to the BHF at no extra cost to you! 

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 http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MichaelColeran

 

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Day Six

 

Day Six

 Sunday September 16th 2012

 Heswall to Garstang

Mileage today -78

Total mileage so far - 434

I got soaked with rain today, and guess what? It was back home in Lancashire! I left my sister's house near Heswall and rode back down to the Wirral Way, a cycle/walkers route along the Dee estuary avoiding roads all the way to Hoylake. it then follows quiet roads around the coast passing through New Brighton and to the ferry terminal at Seacombe. I arrived just as the 0930 ferry was leaving! The next one was not for another hour so I rode on to Birkenhead ferry terminal and had a coffee whilst waiting. I also had a quick peek at a couple of German U-Boats...in the museum next door. It's only ten minutes or so across the river to Liverpool Pierhead so I stayed up on deck taking in the views. Just as we were arriving at the other side a lady gave me £2 for the BHF, quickly followed by another old lady giving me £2, then another....same thing. So, another six quid in the bag! Being a Sunday, Liverpool was quiet so I had no problem navigating out of the city. I noticed in the streets behind the Liver Buildings there were a lot of men in yellow reflective jackets on street corners. Curiosity got the better of me and I asked one of them what was going on. It turns out they were closing all the streets around there for a film crew to come in. They were going to remove the street signs and put up Russian ones, it was a film set in Moscow!  My route took me along the Leeds to Liverpool canal for quite a few miles before joining the Trans Pennine Trail to Southport, a good 25 mile off road route. I didn't linger in Southport but stopped for a sandwich a few miles on, where the rain began. Gently at first, but it soon turned into steady, heavy rain which, despite my waterproofs, found its way in. A night at home though and a marvelous wife who had everything in the wash and a bath run for me in no time at all!  I had trouble uploading my blog last night in deepest Wirral, maybe I will have more trouble further up the country, but don't worry, you will here from me! Not many photos tonight I'm afraid - combination of familiar scenes and poor weather. I'm sure there will be many photos towards the end of my trip!

 

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Please go to my Virgin Money Giving page to donate to the British Heart Foundation, and please Gift Aid if you can, it means an extra 25% from the taxman to the BHF at no extra cost to you! 

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Day Five

Saturday September 15th 2012

Shrewsbury to Heswall

Mileage today - 84

Total mileage so far - 356

Last night Joanna and I were picked up by our friend Wendy who kindly took us down into Shrewsbury for a lovely meal, thank you Wendy! I said goodbye for now to Joanna at 8-30 this morning and headed off the seven or so miles to Shrewsbury in cool but sunny conditions. It had warmed up by the time I passed thought the town centre, but I took the wrong road and ended up having to divert across country to get back on track - an extra ten miles or so! Heading north all the way to Chester it was through pleasant, flat country. With high hedges lining the lanes there was not much to see, so I plodded on to Chester where I ended up spending more time than anticipated. The city centre was too crowded so I headed down to the river where I enjoyed a tray of chips followed by an ice cream whilst watching the boats in the sunshine. I then headed up the road and ended up watching the horse racing Chester racecourse of free! Outside the course of course. I wasn't sure how to get out of the city towards the Wirral without going on very busy main roads so I asked a couple of cyclists who were also watching the racing. What a stroke of luck! They were from the Wirral and were just about to head home. We hardly touched a road as they led me along canal towpaths and well surfaced tracks all the way to my destination. Steve and Linda were interesting company too! Thank you both. My sister Valerie was on her driveway to meet me and after showering and changing, Valerie, Syd and I went off for a very good meal at a local restaurant, joining up with other friends there. Although a day of mostly flat cycling, with 84 miles done, I was ready for my bed. Many thanks to my lovely big sis and brother-in-law for great hospitality.

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Please go to my Virgin Money Giving page to donate to the British Heart Foundation, and please Gift Aid if you can, it means an extra 25% from the taxman to the BHF at no extra cost to you! 

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Day Four

 

Day Four

Friday September 14th 2012

Ledbury to Shrewsbury

Mileage today - 72

Total mileage so far - 278

I got off to a nice early start this morning, 7.30am, into quite a cool brisk headwind. Herefordshire has some lovely countryside and I was passing apple orchards, soon to be followed by fields of hops. The countryside smelled like a brewery! The sun came out and it warmed up a bit, but the wind was picking up stronger all the time. It was either in front of me or to the side - never behind me! At first the roads were genty rolling with good views of the Malvern Hills on my right. A brief foray back into Gloucestershire was soon followed by a brief foray into Worcestershire, before reaching Shropshire and the hills. My first real stop was at Ledbury, which was very busy being market day there. A wander around the town, before an early lunch at 11-30. Then it was off into the Shropshire Hills. Not big hills compared to the Lakes or Dales, but lots of short steep ascents which slow the pace down considerably. It was beautiful countryside though and well worth the effort - much better than main roads! A final stop at Church Stretton to take on some liquid.....and chocolate, before the last ten miles or so to my farmhouse b&b. A great welcome awaited me there by a beautiful blonde lady with a smile to die for who flung her arms around me and gave me a kiss! Lovely to have My darling wife, Joanna, join me for a night!

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Please go to my Virgin Money Giving page to donate to the British Heart Foundation, and please Gift Aid if you can, it means an extra 25% from the taxman to the BHF at no extra cost to you! 

My Virgin Money Giving page is at:

 http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MichaelColeran

 

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