Day 11 Arran - Oban

A rare blog entry.

Sat in Kebabish in Oban awaiting our evening meal. Sounds dodgy I know but we have scoured Oban for a potential Globe but to no avail.
The weather today has been spectacular which has really added to what has been one of the tour highlights so far.

The day started with a quailty breaker in the barn B and B in Brodick which helped set us up for the 90 miles cycling we had planned. The owner was origionally a rochdalian so we had played up our pseudo-Lancashire connections to have our soggy clothes from the previous wet day washed and dried. She loved the fact I worked at Hopwood Hall as her best friend worked there.

After a short cycle into the town centre to buy midgy cream (smidge) and a few bike spares ( inner tubes/brake blocks/gear cable) off a bloke who looked like Wilf off Jigsaw. We got off to quite a latish start 10.30am to our cycle.

(food has just arrived so will attempt to complete blog later or tomorrow reception permitting)

Bear Hill on the way to glastonbury

Apologies for my lack of updates.

Reasons as follows.

1. Poor phone reception
2. Late arrival times
3. Being completely mentally knackered.

Day 2

Lands end - Treyanon Bay (padstow)

60 tough miles up the beatiful cornish coast. Lovely weather. This was supposed to be any easy day. After yesterdays late finish it was anything but. After a hefty breakfast in the b & b it was down to lands end for the obligatory photos and Is this it remarks we were off on our quest. Lands end is neither the most southerly point in Britain or the westerly point in Britain but it is the most south westerly point in Britain. Which therefor qualifies it as our official starting point on our end to end challnge.

What I thought was going to be an easy day bimbling around the ports and coves of Cornwall instead turned into the toughest single days cycling I have ever done (on the road) and it put into perspective how easy Manchester-Blackpool was the previous week. With the 55 miles in my legs from the night before and more mechanical issues with broken driveside spokes ( the ones on the side with the rings on the back wheel) and repeated climbs the equivalent of interval training up monks road about 40 times. I was getting a taste of what I had let myself in for.

There were plenty of good moments. Nice cycle repair people at the coast to coast trail hire shop where you could imbibe cool cider as you waited for you bike to be fixed and arriving at the beatiful treyanon bay youth hostel around 7.45pm. In what could only be described as the most beatiful location in the world.

In reality though I suffered quite a bit today and it's back to the well worn maxim of one day at a time from now onwards me thinks

good night

Don't spoke to soon

Day 1 completed!
And we have not even reached lands end yet (we are only 2 miles away in a b&b in Sennen).
I am far too tired to write much but I have got a smile on my face as I listen to the pouring rain battering against the window. We only arrived about 30 minutes ago after both Dan and I had issues with buckled wheels due to damaged drive side spokes.

Todays highlights have been

1. Dipping bike tyre in the sea at Lizard Point ( the geographical southern most point)
2. A bottle of Tribute ( cornish bottled beer) in Lizard with still over 30 miles of cycling until the end of the day.
3. The view of St Michaels Mount from the costal road near Marazion
4. Getting the chance to cycle through Breage.
5. Bedtime

night night!

The Night Before

It is Friday Night 8.30pm and I am all packed up and raring to go. The summer holidays have now begun.

A plan hatched like all the best ones, over a pint or seven in the Globe is finally about to come to fruition.

In 18 days i should arrive elated, somewhat tireder and possibly a tad lighter in John O Groats. My last training ride on the Manchester-Blackpool ride (with panniers)on Sunday was very enjoyable and gave my confidence of riding the LeJog or end to end a timely boost.

Although I have no idea how my body is going to hold up to the daily rigours of cycling for approximately 70miles+ a day there is only one way to find out.

It has been very inspiring watching my heroes this week participate in my favourite sporting event Le Tour de France. Some great racing across the pavé of Northern France and the Hills of the Ardennes region (real classic cycling country) has really fired my appetite for the challenge ahead. Watching the bravery of the riders in the peleton overcome many spectacular crashes and the Emotion of Cavendish finally getting a win on stage 5 after a torrid year really gets the blood going. It feels quite apt that as they will be hitting the difficulties of the Alps and the Pyrenees I will be facing my own personal battles just to get to the end of each stage.

A few thank yous are required before I start.

Dan - for being the driving force behind organising and planning the challenge

Hannah - for allowing me to tag along on your holiday

Harry - for your fantastic bike maintenance skills

Mum - For helping me trial various options of packing items into very small spaces

Dad - For making me Odds On not to finish. Which must mean I must be odds against to finish. In that case could I take place a £500 pound bet on myself to finish please dad.

And finally to everyone else who has passed on their best wishes. Thank you they are much appreciated.

There may be time for a quick pint in the star before it all begins.

Please feel free to add comments to my blog as they may help when times get tough.

The Pimped up Bike

After a few ciders in the legendary Globe with Dan et al to celebrate his 1 3/4 score years birthday. I got the phone call I was waiting from today from the bike shop to say my machine was ready for collection and over a tenner under the price they had quoted me (very impressive).

Very happy with the work they have done and bought a few spare items for my trip and sped back home for tea and a wee. Fell asleep watching Glastonbury on the i-player before Bling came round for a serious lesson in how to properly clean and maintain my machine. Cheers Si! To quote the ginger plasterer "it only takes a bit of pride to look after things". So I have been told.

Had a quick spin round to Harry's to pump up the tyres and for a chick chinwag about the benefits of barefoot running and cycle rage.

Starting to get very excited about the trip! Manchester to Blackpool/St Annes on Sunday.

Bring it On

Its Almost Time

Aaaaaarrrgggh!

I will be setting off on my End to End adventure (Lands End to John O' Groats) cycle ride on Saturday July 10th. I will be completing this adventure with Dan and Hannah. Glossops very own answer to Bear Grylls and Helen Skelton.

My trusty Trek Hybrid (7300 FX) is currently being pimped up by the helpful guys at the bike factory in Whaley Bridge. This will hopefully help disguise my relative (to Dan and Hannah) lack of training.

I am as new to blogging as I am to long distance cycle touring. So I will take this opportunity to apologise in advance for the (lack of) quality of my blogging and cycling.

If nothing else i imagine my lovely mum and dad (Linda and Nev) will be reading my meanderings on a daily basis.

Good morning, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening and good night!