Forum Replies Created
-
Replies
-
Ok, today was, by far, the
Ok, today was, by far, the best cycling of the trip. From Langholm to Peebles, about 50 miles, the steep bits are very short, and the long climbs are not steep. Climbing at 6-8 MPH, seldom even needing my lowest gear, and long descents/false flats at 16-22 MPH.The weather was perfect, the scenery was great (other than the clear-cut bits of forest), there were about as many cyclists as cars for most of it, and the distance was easy. Really a great day.
The Crown Hotel in Langholm was supposed to have breakfast from 8-9, but it was all dark downstairs and I couldn’t find anyone, so I packed the bike and got on the road right at 9, my earliest start yet.
I aimed to stop at Eskdalemuir Community Hub & Old School Café, which was mentioned in the book. It’s about 15 miles / 90 minutes into the ride. When I got there, it looked closed, but they were just having telecoms issues and were cash only. Luckily I had some. I got coffee, a sausage sandwich, and a delicious lemon shortbread bar. I recommend this stop if they’re open.
After that, I rode straight to Peebles (except for an attempted pub stop that turned out to be a fancy restaurant). I got in a little after 2, and had a pint at The Bridge Inn.
Then I tried to go to the bike shop in town, Bspoke Cycles, but they were on holiday and closed for a couple of weeks. My rear shift cable has started fraying at the handlebar end, and one strand has been poking my fingers. I managed to buy one at Alpine Bikes Glentress, which is right by where I’m camping tonight. I’m just carrying it as a spare now; the shop lent me some diagonal cutters to cut off the poky strand.
I set up my tent, washed some clothes and put them in the convenient drying room, and am now enjoying a Tempest Brewing Long White Cloud with my massive venison burger at The Riders Retreat.
What a great day!
I’ve switched my next rest
I’ve switched my next rest day from Peebles to Perth, which looks like it has a lot more going on.
Today was another fine
Today was another fine weather day, just over 20 °C / 70 °F and sunny, but again that headwind was relentless.I had a chat in the morning with some fellow camping cyclists doing a local tour, and heading south so they’ll have a tailwind. Then I walked over a hill and pet some pigs and a friendly sheep.
I rode about 90 minutes then stopped at Kennedy’s Chocolate Factory in Orton for coffee and some food. There were only a couple of savory options, so I had tomato soup, bread, and butter.
Then I pressed on to Brampton where I bought some sunglasses at the pharmacy. I lost mine yesterday after stopping for a photo at the top of a hill. I realized within a mile, but there was no way I was backtracking up a hill for them.
I saw a sign for Long Meg and Her Daughters, an old druid stone circle, and as it was only a half mile off route, I went over to it. That was a nice stop. Some locals warned me not to count the stones, which hadn’t occurred to me until then.
I kept going to Langholm, and although I saw one sign saying I was near Hadrian’s Wall, I never actually noticed it. This stage was hilly again, and I might have walked up a bit of one.
I had a nice dinner at The Douglas Hotel, chosen because it was crowded, unlike my cheaper hotel where I didn’t see anyone eating. Then I had a pint back at my hotel, felt too full for another, and went to my room to write this.
I missed updating yesterday
I missed updating yesterday because I was camping for the first time on this trip, and although the campsite was lovely with real toilets and hot showers, there was nowhere to charge my devices so I was trying to conserve my batteries.So, Thursday I thought would be a short day at just over 50 miles. I should have read the book more closely. As I was staying downhill from Mellor, I started my day with about 500 feet (150 m) of climbing in the first mile and a half. This was an omen.
Those hills in the Forest of Bowland are no joke. Not nearly as steep as the hills that tried to defeat me in Devon and Cornwall, but they just keep going up, with multiple false summits to tease you, then more climbing.
After High Bentham, it was still hilly, but really eased off with manageable gradients and rolling hills.
When I stopped for a tasting at the Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery, I wanted to do a flight, but their flights were three, six, or ten HALF PINTS! In the US, flights usually consist of five ounce pours. Anyhow, I did try three and they were all good, but this was about an hour after lunch and I ended up uncomfortably full.
Still, I pressed on and made it to the campsite before dark, set up camp, showered, then walked into town and had a pizza (which I was really too full to eat.) Then on my way back to the tent I saw a lovely place called The Thirsty Rambler and decided I had room for one more pint. Barely.
Oh, the weather was great, I could see it raining in the distance at times but never on me. It was partly cloudy overhead. However, I had a moderate headwind all day. I didn’t even get my real reward for climbing the hills, as I had to pedal down some of them.
The wind battered the tent all night, but I put earplugs in and slept pretty well.
Actually, although the
Actually, although the temperature has been great, and I’ve barely been sprinkled on, it’s been a moderate headwind all day. Currently at the brewery, so not far to go..jpg)
brooksby wrote:
I’m not sure I envy you today, Andy – the summer finally seems to have petered out…
Just stopped in Bentham for lunch. The weather’s been great so far!
Well, up until today I
Well, up until today I thought I had adjusted well to the time change. Today I slept until 10 AM! I guess I’m setting an alarm from now on.Got on the road as quickly as I could, then stopped after a couple of hours at StrEat Middlewich for a coffee and breakfast bap.
I didn’t take as many photos as I was worried about the time. I think the highlight was Tatton Park, with lots of deer and very few cars.
The low was being stuck in a massive traffic queue in Hindley. I eventually just started filtering on the left, otherwise it was going to add another half hour at least.
Anglezarke Reservoir was pretty, with a pretty serious climb up away from it.
I got to my hotel at about 7, but they didn’t do food. So I showered, then walked to an Esso that he told me closed at 9. They closed at 8, so I was too late there. Then I walked to a nearby pub, The Bay Horse, but they had just stopped serving food. So, the dinner of champions was a Thwaites Original Bitter, a packet of peanuts, and two packets of crisps. I think I was the only customer.
A couple more pints back at the hotel, and I’m looking forward to breakfast. Tomorrow is a very short day, a bit over 50 miles to Sedbergh, so I’ll definitely be eating better and also stopping for a couple of hours at the brewery in Kirkby Lonsdale.
Goodnight all!
Another good day. I ended up
Another good day. I ended up doing 92.5 miles, which should be my longest day, due to the pictured diversion on the B4371 just southwest of Much Wenlock. I initially went through, hoping for the best, then changed my mind and doubled back to go around.I had a nice ploughman’s and a Joule’s Pale at the Rose & Crown in Ludlow. The town was very busy with tourists. Then through Ironbridge and on to Tern Hill, which is where I had lodging booked near Market Drayton. Currently having a beer in front of a fireplace you could fit a bed in (not recommended.)
Oh, and I also passed two touring cyclists going up a hill, and ended up meeting them at this B&B! We had a nice chat over dinner. Clive and Dave are brothers, around 60, who are also doing LEJoG on about the same schedule as me, so we’ll probably see each other again. We’re not doing exactly the same route.
A successful rest day. I
A successful rest day. I walked three or four miles, in flip-flops (thongs?), crossing the Wilton Bridge to have lunch at the White Lion. I washed everything, hoping it will dry by morning.I feel about 90%.
It was wet yesterday for
It was wet yesterday for about an hour each side of crossing the Severn!
Thanks. Are the strava.app…
Thanks. Are the strava.app… links working, then? It won’t always give me the other style.It’s pouring rain this morning in Ross-on-Wye.
Day 4 was much better, from
Day 4 was much better, from Street to Ross-on-Wye. I did get rained on from before Bristol to past Tintern Abbey. Descending into Tintern Abbey it was a really hard rain and a headwind, so I had to pedal to go 20 MPH downhill!I walked one short section, and stopped a few times on hills for a minute. I’m feeling much better now than I did last night though, but I still plan to do the rest day here. I need to figure out how to dry my shoes.
87 miles today in 7:42 for 11.3 MPH. Slightly less climbing at 5600 ft / 1700 m.
According to the plan, the only day longer than today is Tuesday, when I ride to Market Drayton.
mdavidford wrote:
Important details missing, though – what’s the brew, and how was it?
It was a Sharp’s Doom Bar and it was tasty. I stopped at the Stoke Inn in Chew Stoke. I ordered baked ham and two eggs, which came with chips and some salad and was way too much food. I didn’t even finish it, but my stomach was unhappy for an hour.
I’ve now done Cheddar Gorge,
I’ve now done Cheddar Gorge, having lunch in Chew Stoke and feeling pretty good.I didn’t have to walk any of Cheddar Gorge, but I did stop for one rest to get my heart rate down.
Feeling a bit better this
Feeling a bit better this morning. Just stopped in Glastonbury for a coffee and breakfast sandwich. I’m going to Ross-on-Wye today, which will be about 85 miles, then I’m going to do a rest day there.
