Lands End to John o'Groats

-wich town are we in now? Middlewich, Leftwich, Nantwich or Northwich? Apparently the -wich suffix indicates a place with extensive trading activity, usually on a coast and often where salt is mined.

And we did pass the Winsford Rock Salt Mine, unknowingly cycling over a massive underground space (size of 700 football fields) where the disused sections are now a significant storage facility for the National Archives and other companies.

Today's route featured a portion of the Shropshire Union Canal - only suitable for traditional narrow boats and also a lovely shared path that wound through extensive parkland alongside the River Weaver.

The day was going well until I had to suddenly break to avoid a pedestrian. Unfortunately I was on a very slippery wooden bridge skidded & came off the bike. Luckily I escaped with a only a couple of bruises and a splinter.

The morning clouds turned to light drizzle and then set in for the rest of the day. My new cycling poncho worked very well - it may look odd but it has good coverage and lots of airflow so you don't heat up like a sauna.

However the persistent rain was demoralizing and we were pretty tired & wet - and wanting to get to the accommodation. A moments loss of concentration saw me take another slow tumble - again on a slippery wooden bridge. So now I have huge bruises on both legs. It was pure inattentiveness on my part!

Distance: 65km. 355 AscentRead more