Another sunny day!
Set off late 11.30am having got Doron's spoke fixed and had a leisurely coffee in Northwich.We then traversed many lanes and the odd A road to Blackburn.
The cycle magazines discuss at length where and how to cross the River Mersey so we decided not to worry about getting lost in Runcorn or Widnes and took instead a northerly route down lots of lanes through Arley Hall, skirting Lymm to the east and on up to Leigh. I recall at some stage a long toll bridge crossing a canal (The Manchester Ship Canal ), but it looked just like any canal to me!
Apart from that sights were few and far between. The route was surprisingly hilly and therefore tougher than we had expected (need to sharpen up my map reading skills) . There were a few stunning views the there was Bolton and other not very pleasant towns.
We pressed on from Leigh north and west of Bolton, to Bury and on the B6214 through Hallingden (a big mountain !) through Accrington to our stop with friends at Great Harwood overlooking the Ribble Valley.
.
Tomorrow is our first scheduled day off so we are off to the pub to enjoy ourselves and forget the odd twinges in knees, shoulders and backs that have crept in...funny how legs don't ache!
Statistics
Miles today 55
Miles so far 464.3
Time in saddle 4 hours 30 mins
Average 12.2 mph
Max speed 30.1mph
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Kieran Day 5 Kiddiminster to Northwich
Fine start bit overcast but it brightened up to a nice sunny afternoon.
Had a late start today didn't leave till 10am and we got lost a few times in country lanes towrads te end of the day between Market Drayton and Northwich. On the whole a good day though we covered 88 miles through mostly pleasant country side with some interesting bits like the Iron Bridge at Telford and the pretty old town of Bridgenorth. We managed to avoid the Tour of Britain by staying west of Telford, didn't want any competition!
The land was hilly to begin and we had at least four long inclines early on but after that in the Weaver Valley it flattened out and our speed picked up. Doron's spoke snapped after Telford so we have to find a cycle shop before we start tomorrow . Not really sure of our route to Blackburn looks pretty urbanised all the way but we have a rest day planned when we get there.
Our route today took us northwest to Bridgenorth, north to Telford and then up to Market Drayton. We passed through the Potteries, Nantwich, Middlewich and arrived in Northwich to stay with Doron's friend at 6.30pm, where we have been right royally received , fed pasta and allowed to watch Match of the Day. What a life, eh?
Thanks to eveyone watching this blog for your support.
Statistics
Miles today 88
Miles so far 409.3
Time in the saddle 6hors 39 mins
Average speed 13.2mph
Max speed 33mph
Had a late start today didn't leave till 10am and we got lost a few times in country lanes towrads te end of the day between Market Drayton and Northwich. On the whole a good day though we covered 88 miles through mostly pleasant country side with some interesting bits like the Iron Bridge at Telford and the pretty old town of Bridgenorth. We managed to avoid the Tour of Britain by staying west of Telford, didn't want any competition!
The land was hilly to begin and we had at least four long inclines early on but after that in the Weaver Valley it flattened out and our speed picked up. Doron's spoke snapped after Telford so we have to find a cycle shop before we start tomorrow . Not really sure of our route to Blackburn looks pretty urbanised all the way but we have a rest day planned when we get there.
Our route today took us northwest to Bridgenorth, north to Telford and then up to Market Drayton. We passed through the Potteries, Nantwich, Middlewich and arrived in Northwich to stay with Doron's friend at 6.30pm, where we have been right royally received , fed pasta and allowed to watch Match of the Day. What a life, eh?
Thanks to eveyone watching this blog for your support.
Statistics
Miles today 88
Miles so far 409.3
Time in the saddle 6hors 39 mins
Average speed 13.2mph
Max speed 33mph
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Kieran Day 4 Bristol to Kiddiminster
The sun shines on, its glorious, perfect for cycling.
By and large its been an easy day, once dismounted you forget the painful bits and just look back over 77 miles with satisfaction. Seriously its been no where near as hard as the first two days , I feel we are hitting our stride.
The countryside has been pleasant but unremarkable. The route we decided on took us up the Vales of Berkeley and then Gloucester from Bristol on the unvarying A38, then northwest out of Gloucester on the A417.
Stopped for lunch in a little village with a PO cum shop and sat on the lawn outside taking in the rural scene. Haven't had much time to do that on the road , its all head down and press on.
On to the A4211 we travelled west of Tewkesbury , to Upton on Severn on the B4242 and on the A443 past Worcester deftly avoiding the Malvern Hills and on the B4196 to Stourport on Severn, nice this river valley cycling!
Here we are esconced in our B&B by 4.30 pm. Today we made more progress than we had planned and that achievment made the day, dare I say it ? enjoyable.
Statistics
Miles today 77
Miles so far 321.3
Saddle time 5 hous 39 mins
Average speed 13.7mph
Max speed 28.9mph
By and large its been an easy day, once dismounted you forget the painful bits and just look back over 77 miles with satisfaction. Seriously its been no where near as hard as the first two days , I feel we are hitting our stride.
The countryside has been pleasant but unremarkable. The route we decided on took us up the Vales of Berkeley and then Gloucester from Bristol on the unvarying A38, then northwest out of Gloucester on the A417.
Stopped for lunch in a little village with a PO cum shop and sat on the lawn outside taking in the rural scene. Haven't had much time to do that on the road , its all head down and press on.
On to the A4211 we travelled west of Tewkesbury , to Upton on Severn on the B4242 and on the A443 past Worcester deftly avoiding the Malvern Hills and on the B4196 to Stourport on Severn, nice this river valley cycling!
Here we are esconced in our B&B by 4.30 pm. Today we made more progress than we had planned and that achievment made the day, dare I say it ? enjoyable.
Statistics
Miles today 77
Miles so far 321.3
Saddle time 5 hous 39 mins
Average speed 13.7mph
Max speed 28.9mph
Monday, September 10, 2007
Kieran Day 3 Crediton to Bristol
The sun shone today, all day !
What a BIG day . Three Counties done today, feeling very proud of ourselves! Quite nervous this morning thinking about having to cover 80 plus miles to get to Bristol. Planning this trip we really based our mileage on A road distances but after the experience with the A30 on day 1 we have since used the quieter A roads and a few lanes. Although this has added to the mileage its been a lot more pleasant.
Tonight we are staying with a friend from Durham University days and looking forward to a big dish of pasta.
Our route today took us north east from Crediton on the A3072 over delightful but punishing hills and a fantastic long sweep of a ride down the Exe Valley at 34.5 mph. From Tiverton we turned east on the A373 through Sampford Peverell across the M5 and onto the A38, which runs parallel with the motorway. We passed through Willington to Taunton skirting the Black Down Hills and dropping onto the Vale of Taunton Downe (we are getting cannier about the hills). The route then turned north and we slipped past the bottom of the Quantock Hills through Bridgewater . At a little spot called Edithmead we stopped for lunch with 50 miles under our belts. Keeping to the right of the M5 on various lanes we joined and rejoined the A38 until we arrived in Bristol.
Generally not very interesting scenary today, we had a few fine views of the Black Down Hills this morning then its been head down over flat Somerset farmland.
Got to plot tomorrows route before pasta and bed, as yet we are undecided about how to get to Leominster.
Statistics
Miles today 86.5
Miles so far 244.3
Hours in the saddle 6hrs 35mins
Average mph 13.3
max speed 34.5 mph
What a BIG day . Three Counties done today, feeling very proud of ourselves! Quite nervous this morning thinking about having to cover 80 plus miles to get to Bristol. Planning this trip we really based our mileage on A road distances but after the experience with the A30 on day 1 we have since used the quieter A roads and a few lanes. Although this has added to the mileage its been a lot more pleasant.
Tonight we are staying with a friend from Durham University days and looking forward to a big dish of pasta.
Our route today took us north east from Crediton on the A3072 over delightful but punishing hills and a fantastic long sweep of a ride down the Exe Valley at 34.5 mph. From Tiverton we turned east on the A373 through Sampford Peverell across the M5 and onto the A38, which runs parallel with the motorway. We passed through Willington to Taunton skirting the Black Down Hills and dropping onto the Vale of Taunton Downe (we are getting cannier about the hills). The route then turned north and we slipped past the bottom of the Quantock Hills through Bridgewater . At a little spot called Edithmead we stopped for lunch with 50 miles under our belts. Keeping to the right of the M5 on various lanes we joined and rejoined the A38 until we arrived in Bristol.
Generally not very interesting scenary today, we had a few fine views of the Black Down Hills this morning then its been head down over flat Somerset farmland.
Got to plot tomorrows route before pasta and bed, as yet we are undecided about how to get to Leominster.
Statistics
Miles today 86.5
Miles so far 244.3
Hours in the saddle 6hrs 35mins
Average mph 13.3
max speed 34.5 mph
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