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LEJOGO

July - August 2023
2 travellers enjoying a 'lazy' 1100 mile ride from the Southern end of Britain to the Northern end and then over to The Orkneys. Raising money for SWALLOW
Search justgiving.com for Amanda Bachrach Read more
  • 35footprints
  • 2countries
  • 41days
  • 257photos
  • 2videos
  • 1.3kmiles
  • 333miles
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  • LEJOGO
    2
    1
    Day 13

    Annnnnd stretch

    July 27, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 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, painting and photography, all around nature. Well worth the 2 hours.

    On to Tewkesbury Abbey for more culture. What a glorious set of stained glass windows including a modern one where the more you looked the more figures appeared.

    Route 41 beame more interesting as it passed along bridle paths with owls and sparrowhawk.

    Arrive and stretch.

    Nothing funny happened today. It was much too cultured for that    Read more

  • LEJOGO
    12
    Day 14

    The play what Bill wrote

    July 28, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 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 few lines in the late 16th century. He's the bloke that William Shakespeare modelled himself on. It's all in Wikipedia.

    Anyway, having left Worcs behind we moved into Warwickshire, Shakespeare country and immediately encountered The Tempest restaurant. Would you believe, the manager was called Storm! You couldn't make it up.

    We found a mobile Post Office. Brilliant. And fields of purple flowers. Brilliant. And passed through the historic heart of England. Busy day!

    Several farm shops and National Trust properties later we arrive at The Old Rectory c.1394 owned by Dot, 91, who drives a Porsche. The 50 mile ride was well worth it.    Read more

  • LEJOGO
    1
    Day 15

    Didn't see the Sheriff!

    July 29, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 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 sure there will be more to tell later!

    Dorothy, our 91yr old Porsche driving host, gave us sandwiches for lunch. Bargain. The weather was decent. Great. We rode through Sheepy Magna and happened on signs to a tea shop. A mile up a muddy lane we found the Battlefield Line at Shacklestone. What a museum of railway memorabilia, including a collection of Acme Thunderers (picture included).

    Batman got in on the act, though he was a bit stony faced; we passed a gibbet-post (last used in 1807); Heather welcomed us if we cycled carefully; snoozy cygnets blocked our towpath and we passed a dead coal-fired power station.

    Travelodge are happy for you to keep your bikes in your room. Well done them!    Read more

  • LEJOGO
    Day 16

    We nearly won

    July 30, 2023 in England ⋅ 🌧 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 we acknowledged the applause and sprinted on, only to be stopped by a split inner tube. We so nearly won!

    British Sugar (home grown) was a surprise but not as much of a surprise as our increasing speed. Bearing in mind that we are averaging about 9 miles per hour we passed a sign to Retford 5 1/2 miles. 30 seconds later we passed another Retford 4 miles. Roughly calculated that is 1 1/2 miles, so 3 miles per minute. 180 mph by my reckoning. Faster than an Intercity train in fact. Not bad for two oldies.

    We also noticed the Germans are getting in on the act, Sabrina. There was a tractor that told us 'Germans farm' but did not expand on what and then a Fisher German for sale sign. I hope that German Fisher has passed his fishing exam.    Read more

  • LEJOGO
    Day 17

    Its a long, long way to Tipperary

    July 31, 2023 in England ⋅ 🌧 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 better than riding solo. Very different style of riding and more time to enjoy the ride.

    We had one ruler straight road across the equivalent of the Somerset Levels for 6 miles today. It just disappeared into the distance.

    Everything is closed on a Monday. The trolleybus museum I would have loved. The Wesley museum that would have been interesting and the cafe in Snaith. Disappointing!

    But Drax power station was operating at full tilt generating 6% of the UKs power from imported biomass, requiring the timber from a 4500 square mile area of American/Canadian forest to keep it going. That's a lot of tree.

    Amanda has reached 84% of her fundraising target which is great news    Read more

  • LEJOGO
    111
    Day 18

    Losing track of time

    August 1, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 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 and Johannes on their way to walk the Offa s Dyke. Johannes on a Moulton made in Bradford on Avon.

    Highlight of the day was tea at Betty's in York. So worth the 30 minute queue.

    Cows munching in the river and walking to be milked, Terry's chocolate factory in York, rain obscuring the hills which missed us and The Solar System Way between Selby and York. Interesting day finished off by 2 miles on an overgrown bridleway to avoid a busy road.    Read more

  • LEJOGO
    Day 20

    Yesterday

    August 3, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 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 have lunch with us.....that's real commitment folks!

    And watched endless episodes of MASH on TV!    Read more

  • LEJOGO
    Day 20

    The North wind doth blow

    August 3, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 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 weeks ago!

    We didn't realise it was Yorkshire Day when we were in York but have seen a few flags since.

    Breakfast out in the sun...fried egg roll...huge horse mushrooms....moody skies.....curd tart with pork and apple pie for lunch.

    Thirsk, of racecourse fame, had lots of knitted decorations in the market square which was fun.

    Manda was in her element with bus shelter book swaps neatly organised in alphabetical order by author.

    Only one funny story. I was walking back down a hill to ride Manda's bike up at the point from where she was pushing and a bloke in full lycra overtook us. He was puffing a bit so I hopped on her fully laden bike and set off after him. When I caught up I started a conversation which was a bit one-sided. I spoke in full sentences but received only grunts in return. I burst out laughing, felt a little embarrassed and let him get away without overtaking him. One up for the tourer!    Read more

  • LEJOGO
    Day 21

    At rest in Cholera City

    August 4, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 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 a friendly seagull.

    Stopping outside our hotel a man walked past. 'I wouldn't leave those there' he said, looking at our bikes. Imaginations ran riot. Calmed by the delicious Italian food we were served.

    We have reached the East coast and are now going to work our way up to Edinburgh.

    On the way we met Deryl from West Viginia on his recumbent doing LEJOG then the Velodysee to Santander. And saw more mushrooms than you could shake a frying pan at.

    So 30 odd miles of trail riding is complete. Harder work than anticipated!    Read more

  • LEJOGO
    Day 22

    A challenging day

    August 5, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 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 the South Shields ferry to North Shields across the Weare.The ferry is part of The National Cycle Network and has it's own NCN 1 sign!

    Think heavy marine industry for miles and then BREAKFAST. No veggies here. Chips with bolognese and mozzarella or Italian BLT with lashings of tea and hot choc and a chance to dry a little and thaw.

    Transferred to Holland where we spotted a windmill, cycled alongside a hideous road for miles and then back to the coast for castles, long sandy beaches and the most beautiful selections of wild flowers.

    It's difficult to think of this area as coal mining but the last pits closed less than 20 yrs ago. There's very little sign apart from mine water treatment works and a few decorative coal putts. Once upon a time those beaches would have been black with mine waste. Now pristine.

    670 miles done. Only 450 to go!    Read more

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