Travels Phase 1 now completed. Good shakedown tour for the bikes & equipement (& us!!!) Busy planning Phase 2 - into mainland Europe - expect we'll set out around 23rd Sept. Watch the blog!
2 Sept. Left Mansfield by cycle paths for short hop to Loughborough to stay in Jenny and Richards empty student let - we must be going soft! Used National Cycle Network (NCN) route through Newstead Abbey & were charged 50p each for the pleasure - first road toll in nearly 3000 miles!!!
3 Sept .69 miles in sunshine - long day as kept off roads, on canals through Nuneaton and Coventry.
4 Sept.Wonderful run through Cotswold villages. Saw some flood damage from earlier in the year. 48miles & 3000 miles so far!!!
5 Sept Again lovely villages and got on Avon and Kennet canal at Devizes, to just near Trowbridge - canal heaving with narrow boats. Camped in rural site near Westbury, with fine views of Westbury cement works ! Saw 3 White Horses today! 56miles.
6 Sept .Very misty start but sunshine soon burnt through. Lovely quiet back roads to Dorchester. Pint at the 'Fox Inn' at Ansty very welcome.
During our rest in Dorchester we have taken the bikes to the suppliers at Bridgewater for service & repairs, ready for next journey.
Saturday 15 September 2007
Saturday 1 September 2007
Borders & Blighty
Catch up from 20th Aug below. Setting off from Mansfield 2nd Sep heading S & W to Sue's Mum's in Dorchester & to see Chris (back from Oz soon). Will also get to see our friends Anne & Mike on the way.
23rd Aug - Canal path from Jane's into Edinburgh. Great weather. Walked thru the 'Fringe' events in the city. Picked up a cycle route at Portobello E of the city down to Innerleithen
24th Aug - Along the Tweed valley to Coldstream.
25th Aug - Great early morning ride over causeway to Holy Island & Lindisfarne before all the tourists arrived & the tide came in! Then down to Bamburgh (brill castle).
26th Aug - Quiet roads to Alnwick (another super castle), although busy in opp direction as people driving north to start the Great North Bike Ride (we gave that a miss!) Then to Bellingham to camp.
27th Aug - Bank hol Monday. Over desolate moors on Nat. Cycle Network route 68 to Hadrian's Wall - impressive. Good weather holding. Over Harstide Summit (1877ft - highest yet on bikes) & down hairpin bends to camp at Ousby - 'Sid' the campsite owner & pub landlord - great combination. Met 2 young lads on 1st touring cycle trip doing shakedown for planned N to S Africa trip in 18 months!
28th Aug - Carried on NCN route 68 with splendid views of ~Howgill Fells to Dent, campsite in fantastic scenery.
29th Aug - Stiff climb am adjacent to Whernside, met group of youngsters from Rutland cycling 80 miles/day to Berwick-on-Tweed. Looking for campsite N of Heptonstall, local gave us directions to 'Mays' in Slack, an old listed farmhouse with general mstore in a stone outbuilding. May made us very welcome including free camp & morning coffee. Spring water supply delicious! Earth Closet in cobbled farmyard the main facility!
30th Aug - set off thru quaint cobbled streets of Heptonstall, then tough day of several ardous climbs took us to Penistone (on Trans Pennine Trail - a national cycle path on an old railway).
31st Aug - Fine weather & tail wind. O TPT again to Mexborough, then to Worksop to pick up NCN 6 to Clipstone, Notts. Cycle path into Mansfield to Mike's sister's.
23rd Aug - Canal path from Jane's into Edinburgh. Great weather. Walked thru the 'Fringe' events in the city. Picked up a cycle route at Portobello E of the city down to Innerleithen
24th Aug - Along the Tweed valley to Coldstream.
25th Aug - Great early morning ride over causeway to Holy Island & Lindisfarne before all the tourists arrived & the tide came in! Then down to Bamburgh (brill castle).
26th Aug - Quiet roads to Alnwick (another super castle), although busy in opp direction as people driving north to start the Great North Bike Ride (we gave that a miss!) Then to Bellingham to camp.
27th Aug - Bank hol Monday. Over desolate moors on Nat. Cycle Network route 68 to Hadrian's Wall - impressive. Good weather holding. Over Harstide Summit (1877ft - highest yet on bikes) & down hairpin bends to camp at Ousby - 'Sid' the campsite owner & pub landlord - great combination. Met 2 young lads on 1st touring cycle trip doing shakedown for planned N to S Africa trip in 18 months!
28th Aug - Carried on NCN route 68 with splendid views of ~Howgill Fells to Dent, campsite in fantastic scenery.
29th Aug - Stiff climb am adjacent to Whernside, met group of youngsters from Rutland cycling 80 miles/day to Berwick-on-Tweed. Looking for campsite N of Heptonstall, local gave us directions to 'Mays' in Slack, an old listed farmhouse with general mstore in a stone outbuilding. May made us very welcome including free camp & morning coffee. Spring water supply delicious! Earth Closet in cobbled farmyard the main facility!
30th Aug - set off thru quaint cobbled streets of Heptonstall, then tough day of several ardous climbs took us to Penistone (on Trans Pennine Trail - a national cycle path on an old railway).
31st Aug - Fine weather & tail wind. O TPT again to Mexborough, then to Worksop to pick up NCN 6 to Clipstone, Notts. Cycle path into Mansfield to Mike's sister's.
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