Stage 3 Bath to Irongbridge (The longest day)
9-16 am. First day with luggage, so of course it’s raining and an almost vertical downhill start on Bathwick hill. After surviving that an almost vertical climb up Lansdown hill. The first 2.85 miles took 30 minutes. Heavy rain and headwind after Gloucester, stopped in a bus shelter at about 3pm to put on tights (nice) and waterproof stops. Stopped for a beer at 4pm (cheap) set off and Simon has his first puncture, and we still have 60 miles to go. Decided to stop for evening meal at 6-15 at the Cape of Good Hope Pub. Fantastic food, cheap beer. Had to put the lights on the bikes for the last 15 miles, very dark lanes. Arrived at 8-45pm. Fantastic B & B, (Calcutts House) I got the 4 poster as I’m married. Straight to bed as we’d already eaten. 109.31 miles, 8hrs 44min
Stage 4
Ironbridge – Shrevington Moor
Depart 8-56am after breakfast of cereal and beans on toast as recommended by mine host “All the triathletes who stay here have a whole tin of beans on toast”. Long climb out of Telford past golf course (rather be doing that, another new hobby resulting from ankle). After 13 miles we hit on the brilliant idea of working as a team, 1 mile each. This worked fantastically until mile 20 when “twang”, one of my rear spokes had broken. I called mission control (Kath) on my mobile “ Southampton we have a problem” who then surfed the net for the nearest cycle shop, Nantwich Cycles and rang them to let them know we were coming. 20 gentle miles later we found the shop and while we had a large and cheap pub lunch they replaced the spoke and trued the wheel for the princely sum of £5. Thank you. This put us well behind schedule so plan B was implemented, rather than Slaidburn we chose a flatter route and stayed at B & B Simon had stayed in on his JOGLE. Bed and Breakfast, they drove us to and from the Pub for dinner all for £14.
Arrived 6-30 pm, total 92-88 miles, 7hr 17min on bike.
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Stage 5
Shrevington Moor – Carlisle
Depart 0915 am. Adopted team tactic straight away, made good time all day. Stopped for a beer after obligatory 50miles, turned into 2 as the Speckled Hen was very acceptable. Stopped to admire scenery just before Shap (bloody big hill). Uncleated right foot, forgot left and toppled gently into grass. No damage, totally relaxed. Young pup danced on the pedals as he “Pantanied” up Shap. Wiley veteran left him for dead on decent (bodyweight big advantage). Met Kathy, our hostess for the night with about 9 miles to go. She took us on a very scenic route to her house via footpaths, railway bridges and licensed premises. Very enjoyable dinner with Kathy and friend Kirsty. (any male with pulse in area beware). Quite a late night. Thanks for doing all our washing. Arrived 7-54 pm (via pub). 103.74 miles. 7hrs 22 min on bike.
Stage 6
Carlisle – Lesmanhagow (25 miles South of Glasgow)
“I was sick and tired of everything”
“As I called you last night from Glasgow” (ABBA, Super Trouper)
Simons theme tune today after 4 punctures, completely depleting our stock of inner tubes. Left at 9-16 am, Kathy led us for the first 7 miles. The first puncture was about 1 mile later on the hard shoulder of the A74 to Gretna. Finally arrived in Scotland, quite emotional, as my late father was Scottish, he’d have been proud of me cycling there. Usual pictures by the sign and phoned Kath to sing her Scottish songs and speak in strange accents. Simons next puncture at Lockerbie. The next 40 miles were fantastic, deserted road and cycle land all the way. Going great until 5-15 pm when I looked back and Simon wasn’t there. I was genuinely worried he’d had an accident, as we’d just come down a very steep rough hill. It turned out he’d punctured front and rear tyres and we only had one tube. He patched the other while I found a B & B and we stopped for the night about 20 miles short. Mission control then had to find bike shops again. Arrived 5-15 pm. 80.27 miles. 5hrs 53min on bike.
Extract from Simons diary. “****ing puncture proof tyres my ar**
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