Preparations
15 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Just had a pre-trip dinner with some of our keenest supporters. Starting to pack tomorrow after they are gone
Buy that cottage for me?
18 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Nice early ride to Bath, train to Penzance. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. St Michael's Mount disappeared in a cloud of rain blown in by a howling gale. We were brave. I (Steve) was resilient until we gotЧитать далее
ПутешественникAmandas comment of the day is about speciality eats ."Highly recommend Cornish potatoes in butter"
Hill County, England
19 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
A beautiful day in Hill County. Apparently that's the less well known name for Cornwall.
Back into Penzance for an emergency brake repair at Mount Cycle Services. Brilliant 10 minute fix. Have youЧитать далее
ПутешественникAmanda's comment of the day was about hydrangeas, which we have seen a lot of here in Cornwall. "There's a pure white one! Never seen that before. Some are scented and they grow in shade!"
What are gears for, children?
20 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
One question we always ask our Bikeability riders is 'What are gears for?' And we're very content when they reply 'For going up hills. ' BUT they never ask what happens when you run out of gears. InЧитать далее
ПутешественникAmanda's witty comment of the day (See pic of Cornish road congestion) "What's the problem you could get a bus through there"
Onwards and upwards
21 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
More hills. More slogging upwards. More delicious cake and arrival at Okehampton for a stay in the old train shed.
Saw highwaymen on the way.
Heavy rain forecast all day tomorrow. Ah well!
Rocket Ron
22 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
It was WET. But only for 35 of the 37 miles. 'Could have been worse' as they say in the Outer Hebrides.
We experienced the last of the ferocious hills....in fact, probably the worst of the ride. TheЧитать далее
ПутешественникGosh it certainly was wet, we were at the church camping weekend near Bruton and several tents were destroyed. Well done for persevering.
ПутешественникI can say the real life giver today was the YHA flapjack Buttery squidgy and rich Really got me up the hills plus the tail wind on some of them
Serendipity
23 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
A serendipitous adventure is what I enjoy. Today we found a vegan food fair in the centre of Taunton for lunch and free plums for supper. Delish.
Then sparrows lining up for food at the cafe on theЧитать далее
ПутешественникThe sparrows appeared in the hedgerows as we cycled up more hills too They reminded me of Beatrix Potters Peter Rabbit who was encouraged by the sparrows to exhert himself or else Mr McGreggor would have him for rabbit pie as he had Peter's father
M5 crossings
24 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
We crossed the M5 at least 10 times. Each time I told Amanda to hurry up but she insisted we were on holiday. Anyway, I can only apologise to any of you who were caught in the tailbacks as she madeЧитать далее
ПутешественникFrankie Howard lived in Cross when I was a child/teenager. It is a small village just off the A38 near Axbridge. My uncle lived in Cross for a while. Don't remember ever meeting Frankie, only watching him on TV.
Climbing the wall on Route 41
25 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Ever taken Route 41 out of Bristol? Part of the National Cycle Network in Britain's 'cycling city'! At least it was. We were a little surprised to find a gate blocking it but squeezed past in aЧитать далее
ПутешественникWe're staying just by The Pilot Inn, about 4 miles from Gloucester
ПутешественникTomorrow, on our rest day, we are meeting up with some of Steve's family. They are coming to cheer us along over lunch. 😊
All quiet on the LEJOGO front
26 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
A rest day and a chance to do some washing - there's only so many days you can wear the same undergarments and socks without people noticing you BEFORE you enter a room.
A friendly lunch with familyЧитать далее
ПутешественникPlease note only half the team wear the same undergarments and socks every day!
Annnnnd stretch
27 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
A cultural day was very edifying after all those chips and ice creams. Our Hungarian cyclist recommended Nature in Art at Twigworth so we diverted to it. Beautiful creations in mixed media, paintingЧитать далее
Путешественник
The first photo is a painting Starting in the centre the first flowers of the year appear, snowdrops, and as the painting radiates out so the flowers change to show the variety over a whole year
The play what Bill wrote
28 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Now, Ernie Wise always included the line 'The play what I wrote' in his sketches. But did you know this interesting fact? He stole that line from a certain Bill Shaggyspear who apparently wrote a fewЧитать далее
Путешественник
Balsall Common, what's this about?? We took this pic showing the latest construction of HS2, we recently cycled through another section with my eldest brother and family Mark Dina and Tristan xxx
Didn't see the Sheriff!
29 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
We came all this way into Robin Hood country and couldn't find the Sheriff of Nottingham when we needed him. Sharif from Airbnb had to do when we landed up at our DISGUSTING accommodation. I am sureЧитать далее
ПутешественникWe’ll done both of you for getting thus far. Different route this time? Rings the changes. I’ve used Travelodge with my bike. They get a bit funny if you clean your bike in the room, which I heard has been done, but not by me.
ПутешественникYep. We're crossing over the Midlands and heading up.the East Coast to Edinburgh. Oily carpets must be a pain to clean.
We nearly won
30 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
On leaving Nottingham we happened on the Outlaw triathlon at Holmes Pierrepont and decided to enter. Passing one of the feeding stations we were cheered to the rafters. Assuming we were in the lead weЧитать далее
ПутешественникThat's quite a turn of speed, you must have had the afterburn on. Did you leave scorch mark's on the road 🤣.
ПутешественникNo. It was a sugar beet processing factory but we didn't see any in the fields
Its a long, long way to Tipperary
31 июля 2023 г., Англия ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
And to John O'Groats!
First rain since Devon a week ago.
This trip is so much more enjoyable than last year's one. The route is more pleasant and riding in company with Amanda is infinitely betterЧитать далее
ПутешественникNow reached 99% on Justgiving. Everyone's support whether in messages, donation and greetings really help. So as they say in America thanks you'all xx
ПутешественникUnbelievable about 1st rain since a week ago. I’ve been praying for you ‘in the rain’!
Losing track of time
1 августа 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
I couldn't even remember what day it was today. It's just a routine of breakfast, cycle, arrive, shower, eat, sleep and do it again.
Free cherries today Mandy!
We made Dutch friends with Ria andЧитать далее
ПутешественникHope you're enjoying every single day off your ride heading up and hope the cream tea's was worth it in the end 😋 Great pictures Steve 👍 What planet are you off to next, Pluto or Neptune? A bit strange having a sign post called Neptune and Pluto
Yesterday
3 августа 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Yesterday was rest-a-day. So we spent the day feeling smug whilst watching the rain cascading down through the window.
Our friends Nick and Gemma travelled all the way to North Yorkshire to haveЧитать далее
The North wind doth blow
3 августа 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
But still no snow. It was pretty chilly in North Yorks this morning though.
Another day of a cold North wind, seeing showers all around but staying dry. No rain on us since Tiverton nearly two weeksЧитать далее
ПутешественникYou must of been lucky to stay dry throughout the 2 weeks. It's been raining quite a bit, down Norton Steve. Hope you had a good breakfast outside enjoying the sun
At rest in Cholera City
4 августа 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
One of the lesser known facts about Sunderland is that it is the port where cholera first entered Britain. We are wsshing our hands very frequently! And only drinking gin.
First greeting was from aЧитать далее
ПутешественникVery excited to see the sea again Not in the west most southerly part of the UK though
A challenging day
5 августа 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Oop Nawth it was raining and cold with a fresh northerly wind. No pics from Sunderland 'cos it was too wet to bother. I'm sure it's a fascinating place but we were glad to leave.
First stop was theЧитать далее
ПутешественникBamburgh is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been too
The whistling gatepost
6 августа 2023 г., Англия ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Whistling gate posts are a thing in these parts apparently. Stopped for a wild wee (comfort break / call of nature if you prefer) and heard someone playing the flute. On investigation it was the gateЧитать далее
Путешественник
Some pictures are taken through shepherds hut window where we are sleeping tonight. Although it's getting late the farmers are still combine harvesting and racing their tractors up and back with loaded trailers of grain. Nice to be close to food being gathered in
Путешественник
Remember this view from our holy island visit last year - pleased the weather is looking up again
ПутешественникWe didn't visit Lindisfarne this time but did ride over the causeway a couple of years ago when we did the Coast and Castles route.
Evading the border patrols
7 августа 2023 г., Шотландия ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
We made it. A dash across the Union Bridge and we were in Scotland. A quick flash of the passports to immigration (see photo's of the officials looking a bit brassed off) and we were welcomed in.
InЧитать далее
Путешественник
Well done both of you! 👏 Hope the weather has been kind to you as you dodge the drops!
Rev. Diana
8 августа 2023 г., Шотландия ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
How often does one meet a tattooed Reverend called Diana?
We set off from our glorious hostel at Dunbar with its retro 1960s style including a record player and LPs in the bedrooms. Dunbar,Читать далее
ПутешественникI love Edinburgh. Spent many weeks there soaking up the Scottish culture. I have had the privilege of performing in the Edinburgh Tattoo on two occasions which was a great time to discover Edinburgh as well. Enjoy your time there.
ПутешественникThanks Micheal didn't know you played in the Tattoo, the things you discover on findpenguins x
ПутешественникIt's been great following your progress. Hope you've not got too wet along the way.
Delicious canoli
9 августа 2023 г., Шотландия ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
A rest day. Bit of repair at the local bike shop, lots of reading, planning our cafe stops for the next few days and lovely food.
The canolo latte was divine; the garlicky yogurt with poached eggsЧитать далее
ПутешественникIt's rare that I am delighted by food but this was exquisite!
For all those on a family journey
10 августа 2023 г., Шотландия ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
The Scottish Highways Agency has got a very clear message for children on long car journeys. We saw it today. BELT UP IN THE BACK. Got it. Loud and clear.
Apart from the normal.Edinburgh potholesЧитать далее
ПутешественникAnd I shall always remember your gallantry xx Still laughing about the travel sign too!
ПутешественникLove the travel sign. Rowan and Andy drove to Scotland with the 2 little girls earlier this week. They were singing their 'Are we nearly there yet' song half an hour into the journey. 🤣
ПутешественникI bet she does, it's a long journey. Sending love to you both xx
ПутешественникLooking forward to following your progress x