So near and yet so far!

Stats 61.65 miles 7.23.06hrs 8.3mph 37.0mph 989.8miles 107:51 02 hrs and so my friends you find me a mere 20 or so miles from my destination. After a good breakfast I have meandered my way down the north coast of Cornwall, amused myself by seeing how fast I could go fully laden merely by free wheeling, quite a scary speed to look back on 37mph. And sauntered up a number of testing climbs. I have encountered a few showers but mostly it has been overcast but dry. The scenery at times can be stunning that is if you can see over the field hedges! I spent a few moments this evening watching the sea whilst a busker played his harp for the throng and suddenly realised I was physically and mentally tired which probably means I have been exercising for too long! Forgot to mention yesterday my near death experience when a stray golf ball from Launceston golf club hit the road at some velocity a mere yard and a half in front of my wheels. Good job I didn’t need to react to get out of the way. Anyway it has been reported that the rest of my team has safely landed in Cornwall a mere 12 or so hours after they set off due to the horrors caused by all this flooding. Therefore as long as my bike my legs my brain etc all function we should all be reunited at lands end. Wish me luck!!

Hills and a glimpse of the sea

First things first happy 1st birthday Archie Sam daddy cant wait to see you on Sunday to have party tea! Anyway to the days events which saw me leaving Tiverton under cloudy skies and despite a fairly level start climbing rapidly, well the hill did I made rather slow laboured progress as befits a person close to the end of Jogle. It was a succession of steady climbs all the way to Okehampton where I decided enough was enough and dismounting in disgust went for an early lunch. The day was clearing slowly and a watery sun gradually made its mark. I did watch the rain fall on Dartmoor from a distance. After lunch I carried on again up a continuing succession of hills to Launceston where I finally crossed the border into Cornwall a mere 13 days after leaving John O Groats. Close to the end of a physically tiring day I was briefly refreshed by a glimpse in the distance of the sun shimmering off the sea. I also rode on a road through an old World War II airfield which was a little surreal. I struggled due to trying to be clever to find my B&B so my stats today are officially poor. My last full day of the Jogle begins tomorrow which is quite a strange feeling now that it has finally arrived. To end stats 73.35 miles, 8:30:43 hrs, 8.6mph, 31.0mph, 928miles, 100:27:56 total time.


ps it now looks like the way I have done it will exceed 1000miles so you good people who have sponsored me by the mile had better be getting the old copper jar out for the odd pence you will owe!
ld

Hills and fast roads.

Stats 72.87 miles 7.14.25hrs 10.0mph 33.0mph 854.6miles 91:57:13 hrs Today began with another sun filled morn and a difficult getting out of bed feeling. I was a little stiff in the knees but managed to roll down all those steps to breakfast and boy was I glad I did as I was to be enlightened as to how a real English breakfast should be. Having partaken of organic cereal I was asked whether I would like an egg? Ignoring the number of answers which actually came to mind I replied in the affirmative and was duly served a piece of toast upon which was carefully arranged a fried egg also upon my plate were a sliver of tomato and a rasher of bacon! Needless to say I was underwhelmed by this but in the interests of research ate it. Having said my goodbyes I began my day with a number of long uphill climbs with plateaus of fairly level road inbetween until shortly before Wells I emerged to a rapid descent and a view for miles across Wells, Glastonbury and beyond towards Taunton. At Wells I ventured to the cathedral to have a look see but baulked at the asking price of £5.50 and didnt venture inside. From here I passed through Glastonbury but despite searching couldnt find the arctic monkeys. I was going to take a photo of me by the towns name sign until I realised that it had a smaller sign underneath pointing to me with the word cemetery on it! I continued and passed the worlds end pub which kind of beats Lands End but seeing as I have a date for Sunday it seemed a waste to finish there! Anyway got to Tiverton in record pace overall to be greeted with the comment car crime is a big problem at the moment round here, so its to be hoped my bike is secure! Otherwise it may be shanks pony for me from here to the end.

Sunny days

stats to begin 75.48 miles 8.00.20hrs 9.4mph max 31.0mph total 781.7miles 84:42:48hrs. What began under a lightly clouded sky turned into a scorcher which for racing snakes is not necessarilly a good thing as hydration levels are difficult to maintain especially when travelling country lanes many a mile from shops and watering holes. Sun tans looking good though though a tad ridiculous due to half tanned hands arms and legs and sun glasses lines across my cheeks I'll leave the images to your imaginations! My first port of call was Ledbury and a pretty little town it was too, I then meandered my way to Gloucester passing through a lot of the area we visited on holiday a couple of years back. Having negotiated Gloucester (which with hindsight I should have had lunch at) I pressed on up a horror of a hill to Stroud which all in all was a bit of a nondescript town trying to be a bit arty but with too many unemployed kids hanging around. Having eaten I carried on up another steep hill out of Nailsworth by which time my legs were not thanking me for my choice of lunch. Anyway the sun kept beating down a light breeze keeping the sweat from my brow regular applications of sun cream were made, its a hard life mid jogle. Gradually I climbed over the Cotswolds and eventually wended my way to my accomodation to be greeted with a warm welcome of 56 steps and six flights of stairs to my room. Then I was knackered so I had a cup of tea and an eco friendly shower. Heres hoping the sun shone on you where ever you are. Till the morrow!