Lydbury North - Monmouth (73 miles)
After covering a healthy 30 miles this morning I decided a nice lunch break was in order and I stumbled across a place in Eardisley called 'The New Strand'. It turned out to be one of those wonderful little cafes come secondhand bookshop come pub come just about anything you want it to be. Every corridor was floor to ceiling with books and it was obviously the local meeting place. This was a fun place to have lunch and pick up some useful local info.
The afternoon took me into the 'Golden Valley' to monmouth via a very quaint toll bridge where I had to pay my 5p! I can only describe my progress through this part of the world as meandering although as you can see I managed to clock up an impressive 73 miles of meandering before wheeling across the Monnow bridge to my resting place for the night.
Believe or not, Monmouth is the most lively place I've been in days so I went for a wonder down the high street to sample the night life and an ale or two but it was all dead by 10.30. So to bed...
Tomorrow..... Bristol - 'Capital of the south west'
Friday, 8 June 2007
Wednesday, 6 June 2007
Day 12 - 6th June
Melverley - Lydbury North (31 miles)
I got up late and wandered round the tiny 15th Century church at Melverley made of timber, wattle and daub (see photo). It was wonderfully peaceful. In fact the whole of Melverley felt sleepy so I was surprised to see the sign announcing that Melverley has been awarded 'most motivated village of the year'. I can't imagine what that means or what they did to get it!
I took a leisurely (thanks to yesterday) ride through to Bishops Castle and Lydbury North stopping on the way for a wonderful break at 'The Sun Inn' in Marton. This family run restaurant gave me a lovely welcome and very kindly sponsored me. The food was Fantastic and the ale was a fine complement. And to top it all off they allowed me to use their computer to keep my blog up to date. You guys made my day. Thank you!
Bishops Castle is a pleasantly sleepy town like so many in this area and the riding is undulating but quite enjoyable amid this picturesque and peaceful landscape.
Day 11 - 5th June
Appley Bridge - Warrington - Ellesmere - Melverley (86 miles)
What a day!!
In our family we have a tradition of recalling 'highs' and 'lows' when we been on a big trip and so I thought I'd do the same for todays adventures.
Highs
Fine weather again.
A beautiful ride through the green bits of Warrington (yes they do exist). The 'Sanky Canal Trail'(see photo) takes you right through and links up with the 'Trans Pennine Trail' which helps you across the mersey through some meadows and scrub land. I really enjoyed this bit.
Good progress to Ellesmere.
Even hastier progress to Melverly before it got dark (see lows).
A warm and welcoming campsite in Melverley with the prime spot (under ye olde oak. See photo) all to myself.
Lows
The need to do some serious rubber burning in the midday sun (I knew I had alot of miles to cover).
Being chased down the road by a big black dog. Thankfully it gave up before I had to resort to squirting water at it (top tip from the guidebook).
Dodgy directions from a nice lady in Tarporley (see next point).
Trying to find Beeston! I'm still not convinced I actually found it.
A distinct lack of campsites in or around Ellesmere. The ones I had researched were no longer in existence!? Thankfully I had researched some 15 - 20 miles south although that wasn't very comforting as it was 7pm and I had already cycled 70 miles!
A complete lack of mobile phone reception around Ellesmere making the solving of the campsite problem a little tricky.
Cycling a third of tomorrows ride today! It will be a 'high' tomorrow.
So there you have it. The day that was. I think I'll have a lie-in tomorrow.
Day 10 - 4th June
Lancaster - Preston - Appley Bridge (47 miles)
Having received warnings from my guidebook about the challenges of cycling through Lancaster and Preston I was pleasantly surprised with the mornings riding. After joining other cyclists on Lancaster's lovely millennium bridge, I quickly found myself breezing along a wide easygoing cycle path in the sunshine with nice views over Morecombe bay. Preston was also fairly simple to get through and before I knew it I was into the Lancashire countryside again.
The country lanes south of Preston make for easy riding but this part of the world seems to be full of sprawling, uncharacterful villages that lack any obvious centre and appear to join up with each other (quite confusing when trying to decide where exactly you are).
My first day back in the saddle after the weekend off finished early and I felt optimistic (both emotionally and physically).
Tomorrow - Warrington and the Mersey with the Welsh borders beckoning!
Having received warnings from my guidebook about the challenges of cycling through Lancaster and Preston I was pleasantly surprised with the mornings riding. After joining other cyclists on Lancaster's lovely millennium bridge, I quickly found myself breezing along a wide easygoing cycle path in the sunshine with nice views over Morecombe bay. Preston was also fairly simple to get through and before I knew it I was into the Lancashire countryside again.
The country lanes south of Preston make for easy riding but this part of the world seems to be full of sprawling, uncharacterful villages that lack any obvious centre and appear to join up with each other (quite confusing when trying to decide where exactly you are).
My first day back in the saddle after the weekend off finished early and I felt optimistic (both emotionally and physically).
Tomorrow - Warrington and the Mersey with the Welsh borders beckoning!
Saturday, 2 June 2007
Day 9 - 1st June
Threlkeld - Lancaster (55 miles)
The deep blue sky and bright sunshine that woke me this morning was wonderful. A close second was the cup of tea and extra sponsorship from my neighbours on the campsite, Elizabeth and Ben. Thanks Guys!
Today was the lake district at its best. I drifted my way alongside Thirlmere (pictured here) and Grasmere and then through Ambleside, Windernere and Kendal with the sun on my back the whole way. In fact, it was a wee bit (sorry, forgot I'm now back in England) too warm at times, especially on the climbs.
What interests me about the Lake district is that the cafes and roads are full but the fells seem pretty empty apart from the odd mountain biker or weary looking school party. Maybe I'm just biased because I was trying to negotiate the narrow roads and busy towns. However, I did feel that I had earned my scone with jam and cream unlike some people who looked like they really needed to walk theirs off!
And now its time for 2 much needed rest days before I venture down through the northwest and on into Wales.
The deep blue sky and bright sunshine that woke me this morning was wonderful. A close second was the cup of tea and extra sponsorship from my neighbours on the campsite, Elizabeth and Ben. Thanks Guys!
Today was the lake district at its best. I drifted my way alongside Thirlmere (pictured here) and Grasmere and then through Ambleside, Windernere and Kendal with the sun on my back the whole way. In fact, it was a wee bit (sorry, forgot I'm now back in England) too warm at times, especially on the climbs.
What interests me about the Lake district is that the cafes and roads are full but the fells seem pretty empty apart from the odd mountain biker or weary looking school party. Maybe I'm just biased because I was trying to negotiate the narrow roads and busy towns. However, I did feel that I had earned my scone with jam and cream unlike some people who looked like they really needed to walk theirs off!
And now its time for 2 much needed rest days before I venture down through the northwest and on into Wales.
Day 8 - 31st May
Longtown - Threlkeld (41 miles)
A lovely sunny day that took me high into the lake district with its tiny lanes that cling to the mountain sides.
After a new back wheel in Carlisle (Yes, I managed to wear the rims of my old ones a bit thin!) I took an 'interesting' riverside cycle path out of town. This path has to be the only cycle route with barriers that are impossible to get your bike through (even minus paniers), unsignposted detours through terraced backstreets and most frustrating of all, STEPS! ah well....all adds to the adventure.
A beautiful bowl of homemade soup (the kind my mum makes!) with cheese and chutney sandwiuches at a tiny cafe in the tiny village of Heskett Newmarket set me up for a fabulous ride to the not so tiny (bu
t nice all the same) campsite near Threlkeld. The campsite, like the rest of the area, lies deep in the shadow of Blencathra which towers above you as a constant prescence (see picture). Even the local community newsletter is called 'Below Blencathra'.
The knees were sore today but some rest is only a day away!
A lovely sunny day that took me high into the lake district with its tiny lanes that cling to the mountain sides.
After a new back wheel in Carlisle (Yes, I managed to wear the rims of my old ones a bit thin!) I took an 'interesting' riverside cycle path out of town. This path has to be the only cycle route with barriers that are impossible to get your bike through (even minus paniers), unsignposted detours through terraced backstreets and most frustrating of all, STEPS! ah well....all adds to the adventure.
A beautiful bowl of homemade soup (the kind my mum makes!) with cheese and chutney sandwiuches at a tiny cafe in the tiny village of Heskett Newmarket set me up for a fabulous ride to the not so tiny (bu
t nice all the same) campsite near Threlkeld. The campsite, like the rest of the area, lies deep in the shadow of Blencathra which towers above you as a constant prescence (see picture). Even the local community newsletter is called 'Below Blencathra'.The knees were sore today but some rest is only a day away!
Day 7 - 30th May
Galashiels - Longtown (68 miles)
Today was a long but fabulous day although it had a rather grim start. Despite the promise of sunshine, the first few hours of the day were wet and I really struggled to leave the comfort of the house (I had stayed with a friend Ruth).
Then came the sun and better still, the Esk valley. This is a beautiful and peaceful place with the quietest roads imaginable. Glenmorangie lays claim to the term 'Glen of tranquility' but having been there on this trip I can tell you that its not a touch on this place.
Maybe unsurprisingly, the upper valley is home to the 'Samye Ling Tibetan Centre' which is the largest Buddhist monastry in the western world (pictured here). I popped in for some tea and cake and a rest in the very softly furnished cafe.
I should mention that towards the end of today I passed back into England with a momentous sense of anticlimax. The 'Welcome to England' sign was almost lost in the bushes and looked very shabby. I was sad to have left Scotland but happy to have cycled nearly half my trip within its borders!
Today was a long but fabulous day although it had a rather grim start. Despite the promise of sunshine, the first few hours of the day were wet and I really struggled to leave the comfort of the house (I had stayed with a friend Ruth).
Then came the sun and better still, the Esk valley. This is a beautiful and peaceful place with the quietest roads imaginable. Glenmorangie lays claim to the term 'Glen of tranquility' but having been there on this trip I can tell you that its not a touch on this place.
Maybe unsurprisingly, the upper valley is home to the 'Samye Ling Tibetan Centre' which is the largest Buddhist monastry in the western world (pictured here). I popped in for some tea and cake and a rest in the very softly furnished cafe.
I should mention that towards the end of today I passed back into England with a momentous sense of anticlimax. The 'Welcome to England' sign was almost lost in the bushes and looked very shabby. I was sad to have left Scotland but happy to have cycled nearly half my trip within its borders!
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