LEJOG

August - September 2022

A long-held dream, a long-distance trip Read more

List of countries

Scotland
England

Categories

Bicycle, Solo travel

1.2kmiles traveled

Means of transport

Flight-kilometers
Walking-kilometers
Hiking-kilometers
Bicycle-kilometers
Motorbike-kilometers
Tuk Tuk-kilometers
Car-kilometers
Train-kilometers
Bus-kilometers
Camper-kilometers
Caravan-kilometers
4x4-kilometers
Swimming-kilometers
Paddling/Rowing-kilometers
Motorboat-kilometers
Sailing-kilometers
Houseboat-kilometers
Ferry-kilometers
Cruise ship-kilometers
Horse-kilometers
Skiing-kilometers
Hitchhiking-kilometers
Cable car-kilometers
Helicopter-kilometers
Barefoot-kilometers

Newest first

Footprints
Photos

Traveler LEJOG
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- Day 7
- Monday, September 5, 2022 at 12:58 PM
- 🌧 22 °C
- Altitude: 125 ft
- England Warmley 51.463754, -2.47945451°27’50” N 2°28’46” W
Warmley with friend
September 5, 2022 in England ⋅ 🌧 22 °C
Three Amigos to accompany me for the first 20 miles of my trip today then treat me to beans on toast at Warmley Cafe. Thanks friends.
Travelerit was a pleasure, rain stopped after two tunnels and sun came out!
9/5/22Reply
TravelerBeans on toast - we know how to treat our friends 😅
9/5/22Reply
Glad to be of help on your way - you'll have to find your own beans today. 😊 [Paul Gilson]
9/6/22Reply
Travelerah that's so nice!!
9/14/22Reply
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Traveler LEJOG
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- Day 7
- Monday, September 5, 2022 at 6:15 PM
- ☁️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 125 ft
- England Stonehouse 51.748923, -2.28386651°44’56” N 2°17’2” W
Old friend
September 5, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Stopped in on Ed and Sue in Cambridge. Old friends from Canoeing days. V brief visit but couldn't miss them out!

Just after I left a rainbow appeared. First one of the trip.
TravelerThought you were going to Stonehouse?
9/5/22Reply
TravelerI made a diversion specially
9/5/22Reply
TravelerThese 2 taught us and our 4 children how to kayake and canoe
9/5/22Reply
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Traveler LEJOG
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- Day 7
- Monday, September 5, 2022 at 8:11 PM
- 🌧 18 °C
- Altitude: 125 ft
- England Stonehouse 51.748912, -2.28391551°44’56” N 2°17’2” W
Happy day. Sad ending.
September 5, 2022 in England ⋅ 🌧 18 °C
The lads left Clevedon Rd at 1000ish. Had a merry ride to Warmley Cafe for lunch, waited for the rain to stop and parted company. The three wended their way back. I wended my way on. Cyclepath to Yate takes you past the old coal mine at Brandy Bottom Pit. Two halves of a winding wheel and a nice info board. I just can't pass one without reading it!

Rain, nice patriotic flag, River Severn, Oldbury Nuclear Power Station, rainbows, past Slimbridge, through Cambridge and on to Stonehouse. Nice chips and cheese for tea.

Sadly Manda heard that our friends Penny and Ken (Manda has known Penny since school) started JoGLE this week but Ken was involved in an horrific accident and is in intensive care in Aberdeen. Manda and I are praying for them and invite you to join us. A sad end to the day.Read more
TravelerPraying for them and for you, Steve. x
9/5/22Reply
Travelerlate to the post I am sorry for your news and praying now
9/14/22Reply
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Traveler LEJOG
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- Day 8
- Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 9:09 AM
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 56 ft
- England Whitminster 51.763926, -2.3173151°45’50” N 2°19’2” W
Its the M5 again!
September 6, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Crossed the M5 numerous times yesterday and here it is to greet me just after breakfast (with oat milk on my cereals)

Noisy, smelly beast that it is
TravelerHope the day doesn't get too wet. x
9/6/22Reply
TravelerBet your oat milk came down that horrid road. Days gone by you could have bought milk freshly squeezed from the oats by the trusty oatmilkmaid.
9/14/22Reply
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Traveler LEJOG
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- Day 8
- Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 8:30 PM
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 154 ft
- England Stanklyn 52.371048, -2.23715852°22’16” N 2°14’14” W
River, canals and that M5!
September 6, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Dry day. Hooray.

Rode near the M5 for much of the journey today. But started the day with the River Severn. The ancient Britons called it The Severn Sea. It was more gentle today as I rode through the flood plain.

To the Sharpness Canal which was once the largest ship canal in the world. Followed it all the way into Gloucester city centre. Lovely green route through the city and past Telford's Bridge which sank 25cm in the centre after the scaffolding was taken down. You can see it as you look along it.

Where I met my new mate and fellow end to ender Martin. Rather loaded up! And like me he wasn't sure he'd make it out of Devon! We spend each other on til parting at lunchtime. Soreen courtesy of Theo.

After lunch another new mate to have a selfie with the through Worcester along another canal!

Travelling through the counties you can see the architecture changing. Loved the old crooked farmhouse with not a straight line in sight.

And Grandad magnet fishing in the canal with his two boys. So excited with the old bullet and the other scrap they had pulled out.Read more
Travelerenjoying the commentary 😊
9/6/22Reply
TravelerLove the malt loaf pic. What, no butter? I guess the extra 5g and oily kit account worth it
9/14/22Reply
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Traveler LEJOG
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- Day 9
- Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at 9:46 AM
- ⛅ 17 °C
- Altitude: 72 ft
- England Bewdley 52.376053, -2.31360252°22’34” N 2°18’49” W
Bewdley for Breakfast
September 7, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
That River Severn is still a mighty river even this far north
TravelerGotta love a river
9/14/22Reply
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Traveler LEJOG
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- Day 9
- Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at 9:07 PM
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: 256 ft
- England Ternhill 52.886058, -2.54222352°53’10” N 2°32’32” W
1
Defeated. But not completely down.
September 7, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Some journey stats..
Number of bike hating dogs....2
Number of motorways visited....5
Number of frightening
Number of thunderstorms endured......1
Number of rivers crossed today....7
Number of hills on this journey ....18, 345
Number of hills ridden up....18, 344
Number of butterfly and moth species recorded in Wyre Forrst....1140
Number seen by me today.....0

So, the owner said 'She hates bikes'. So I said 'I hate your dog but I'm not barking at it', but only in my inner voice.

Oh that one hill was on a bridleway, steeply uphill and rough with plenty of mud. Traction lost. Ended up shoving the bike up. Defeated resignation. Now I know what Bozza must feel like. But, just like him I will carry on to the end.

Day started with an Italian made wooden bicycle, circa 1945. A thing of great beauty and only 6 in the world left.

Then Wyre Forest. Beautifully empty of butterflies. Full of Saxon signposts. And trees.

Severn Valley Railway at Arley where you can buy a 2 week family holiday on The Norfolk Broads for £45. And buy a holiday season ticket for your bicycle for 5s 3d. Bargains.

A lot of time alongside the Severn, squeezing through bike traps and noting the railway carriages in the front garden. Could I squeeze one in at 29? Or would if spill over to 27, 25, 23, 21 and 19? Must check our budget.Read more
TravelerVery witty comms tonight thanks 😊
9/7/22Reply
Travelerlaughed a lot at 'inner voice'. very good Steve. You are very entertaining and I love your photos
9/14/22Reply
Traveler 😂
9/14/22Reply
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Traveler LEJOG
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- Day 10
- Thursday, September 8, 2022 at 1:03 PM
- ☁️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 85 ft
- England Little Bollington 53.379431, -2.40832253°22’46” N 2°24’30” W
2
Lunch at The Swan With Two Nicks
September 8, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
50 miles by 1pm. Time for lunch. Look what I found whilst looking for a bench to sit on. A pub that's open!
Traveler how intriguing 🤔
9/8/22Reply
TravelerGod's provision I think.
9/8/22Reply
TravelerTwo Nick's refers to mark of ownership by cutting nicks in the beak
9/8/22Reply
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Traveler LEJOG
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- Day 10
- Thursday, September 8, 2022 at 9:15 PM
- 🌧 14 °C
- Altitude: 361 ft
- England Bury 53.602955, -2.31346853°36’11” N 2°18’48” W
Vehicle of choice
September 8, 2022 in England ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
Found this little vehicle whilst passing the Imperial War Museum North. Apparently they are very popular in parts of Moss Side. I remember driving through there once by accident and being terrified that the car would break down. Probably overthinking it!

Cheshire Plain is indeed plain apart from the rich houses. Plenty of canals of immense proportions today. The size of the locks makes me realise how diddy the ones in Bath are.

Came round a bend in the River Weaver I happened on Cheshire's Salt Mine. A million tons a year is extracted. Just huge amounts. It used to be transported on the river but all goes by road now. Wow.

Passed by Media City on Salford Quays and saw lots of Blue Peter badges!

I am amazed at how one minute you can be in a heavily urban area and the next gentle countryside again. Still a few chimneys left in Bury.Read more
TravelerYou should have popped in to see Hannah!
9/8/22Reply
TravelerIt would have been lovely but I find time is always short
9/9/22Reply
TravelerDoing well Stevie on day 10 already! Where will you be for the Queens funeral?
9/9/22Reply
TravelerBetween Dingwall and Tongue I reckon
9/9/22Reply
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Traveler LEJOG
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- Day 11
- Friday, September 9, 2022 at 10:02 PM
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 72 ft
- England Carnforth 54.128509, -2.76687854°7’43” N 2°46’1” W
2
Up into the hills
September 9, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Out through those dark mills and cobbled streets of Lancashire mill towns. How many millions of granite sets must have been shaped to pave those streets and alleys. Move just off the main roads and there they are under a shallow layer of tarmac.

More canal and old railway paths and then out into the countryside. The Forest of Bowland was a royal hunting forest in the Middle Ages. It also has some high passes one of which is called the Trough of Bowland. A long, long, long hill with a really steep bit at the top. Average gradient 6%. Same as hill up to Clandown from Radstock. But about 2 miles long. I made it without dying.

Reach the top and the whole of Morecambe Bay appears. You can see Barrow in Furness and Blackpool.

I've paddled a canoe and watched salmon leaping just upstream from the bridge on the River Lune where the rainbow appeared. And terrified myself paddling on the rapids at Halton by Lancaster Uni.

Then joy....Carnforth station is where the station scenes in Brief Encouter was filmed in 1945. Nice meal there.Read more
Traveler Was Billy Elliot filmed here??
9/10/22Reply
TravelerLooks similar but it was filmed in County Durham
9/10/22Reply
Travelerjust checked it was filmed in County Durham ! Great pics 👌
9/10/22Reply
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