Have arrived Cork this morning in sunshine !150 miles since Rosslare.Thursday rained from taking down tent @7.30 until 1.30 then force 8 gusting 9 headwinds -Oh Joy. N25 road from from hell including roadworks and blocked exit to field campsite. Highlights -Irish breakfasts at Dungarven and outskirts of Cork,beautiful coastal views. Japanese knotweed along roads and canals. Mike growing beard. To camp at Blarney tonight then on to Kinsale and West to Dingle.
Are taking photos but can't attach presently.
Friday, 6 July 2007
Saturday, 30 June 2007
South West Wales
In summary, Castles 4, punctures 0, bottle of Moet 1Japanese cyclists 1, Japanese Knotweed trillions, weekly miles 180, miles so far 391.
Friday 29/06/07 - short ride (12 miles) to Pembroke Dock via Pembroke & Castle. All day breakfast waiting for ferry to Rosslare (Eire). Smooth crossing, coachload of Japanese tourists on ferry, 7.00pm arrival at Maureen & Sean's, fabulous fish pie, invited to stay til Monday. Forecast very wet.
Thursday 28/06/07 - Wonderful Pembokeshire coastline. Weather glorious am. Picnic lunch pretty village St Florence. Camped on exposed farm site above Freshwater Bay. 26 miles.
Wednesday 2706/07 - 30 miles. Camarthen Castle. Met Japanese cyclist. Acres of Japanese Knotweed. Beatiful Laugharne village & castle. Dylan Thomas's home. Another sunny evening. Fab modern campsite.
Tuesday 26/06/07 - 24 miles. Estuary cyclin. Sunny. Chris rang from Oz, working 40 miles up dirt track for Co prospecting for tungsten. Lovely evening on beach watching RAF Fighter practise bombing run.
Monday 25/06/07 - 39 miles. Sue's 50th!
Mike splashed out, treating Sue to an all-day breakfast at Jerry's Transport Cafe in Tarmac's South Cornelly Quarry. Jerry says there is a severe weather warning for Wales today! Soggy campsite by Kenfig nature reserve. Champagne, smoked salmon, scrambled eggs & stuffed olives cooked in tent out of rain. Brilliant.
Sunday 24/06/07 - 48 miles around Caerphilly Castle & Taff Trail. Hill route Pontpridd to Tonyrefail. Very exciting in heavy rain & floods. Water half way up panniers! Mike's waterproof cycling jacket isn't, so ditched - using spare 'kag-in-a-bag' .
Friday 29/06/07 - short ride (12 miles) to Pembroke Dock via Pembroke & Castle. All day breakfast waiting for ferry to Rosslare (Eire). Smooth crossing, coachload of Japanese tourists on ferry, 7.00pm arrival at Maureen & Sean's, fabulous fish pie, invited to stay til Monday. Forecast very wet.
Thursday 28/06/07 - Wonderful Pembokeshire coastline. Weather glorious am. Picnic lunch pretty village St Florence. Camped on exposed farm site above Freshwater Bay. 26 miles.
Wednesday 2706/07 - 30 miles. Camarthen Castle. Met Japanese cyclist. Acres of Japanese Knotweed. Beatiful Laugharne village & castle. Dylan Thomas's home. Another sunny evening. Fab modern campsite.
Tuesday 26/06/07 - 24 miles. Estuary cyclin. Sunny. Chris rang from Oz, working 40 miles up dirt track for Co prospecting for tungsten. Lovely evening on beach watching RAF Fighter practise bombing run.
Monday 25/06/07 - 39 miles. Sue's 50th!
Mike splashed out, treating Sue to an all-day breakfast at Jerry's Transport Cafe in Tarmac's South Cornelly Quarry. Jerry says there is a severe weather warning for Wales today! Soggy campsite by Kenfig nature reserve. Champagne, smoked salmon, scrambled eggs & stuffed olives cooked in tent out of rain. Brilliant.
Sunday 24/06/07 - 48 miles around Caerphilly Castle & Taff Trail. Hill route Pontpridd to Tonyrefail. Very exciting in heavy rain & floods. Water half way up panniers! Mike's waterproof cycling jacket isn't, so ditched - using spare 'kag-in-a-bag' .
Saturday 23/06/07 - 56 miles.
A day of bridges. Avon, Severn, & famous Newport Transporter Bridge.
Friday, 22 June 2007
Setting out - Devon & Somerset
A selection of our first few pictures
Not marathon stuff, but 155 miles so far!!! To summarise, 1 cycle helmet, 1 puncture & a bottle of Champagne to date.
Friday 22/06/07 – Dry start to break camp. Lovely ride over Somerset levels, saw deer, herons & egrets. Sheltered from heavy storm in Morrisons Weston-Super-Mare (all day breakfast!) Found Strawberry Line Cycle Path to Yatton Station. Stayed the night with Mike & Alison Kacher in Clevedon – fabulous dinner cooked by Alison.
Thursday 21/06/07 – Wet packing up camp & until lunchtime. Canal path from Taunton to Bridgwater (Mike 1st puncture). Campsite at Bawdrip on the Polden Hills – lots of bunnies.
Wednesday 20/06/07 – Set off 7.30. Tiverton canal path, then north into the Brendon Hills. Wonderful campsite at Waterrow.
Tuesday 19/06/07 – Recovering at Janet & Ian’s. Replanned route to reduce daily mileage.
Monday 18/06/07 – Back roads via Totnes to Ashburton. Unfortunately 5 minutes from Ashburton we met a car on a narrow muddy back road & Sue’s emergency stop ended with her head –butting the tarmac. Thanks to all at Glendinning’s who helped to get us sorted. Replacement helmet purchased! Happy Anniversary!
Sunday 17/06/07 – Left 1 Durham Avenue Plymouth to Barbara & Mike’s at Loddiswell via wonderful lunch courtesy of the Paul & Hannah at the Miners Arms Hemerdon.
Friday 22/06/07 – Dry start to break camp. Lovely ride over Somerset levels, saw deer, herons & egrets. Sheltered from heavy storm in Morrisons Weston-Super-Mare (all day breakfast!) Found Strawberry Line Cycle Path to Yatton Station. Stayed the night with Mike & Alison Kacher in Clevedon – fabulous dinner cooked by Alison.
Thursday 21/06/07 – Wet packing up camp & until lunchtime. Canal path from Taunton to Bridgwater (Mike 1st puncture). Campsite at Bawdrip on the Polden Hills – lots of bunnies.
Wednesday 20/06/07 – Set off 7.30. Tiverton canal path, then north into the Brendon Hills. Wonderful campsite at Waterrow.
Tuesday 19/06/07 – Recovering at Janet & Ian’s. Replanned route to reduce daily mileage.
Monday 18/06/07 – Back roads via Totnes to Ashburton. Unfortunately 5 minutes from Ashburton we met a car on a narrow muddy back road & Sue’s emergency stop ended with her head –butting the tarmac. Thanks to all at Glendinning’s who helped to get us sorted. Replacement helmet purchased! Happy Anniversary!
Sunday 17/06/07 – Left 1 Durham Avenue Plymouth to Barbara & Mike’s at Loddiswell via wonderful lunch courtesy of the Paul & Hannah at the Miners Arms Hemerdon.
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Final countdown
We are now trying to remember to do all the things we said we must do before we go! Made our last visit to the tip yesterday evening & will do our last trip to the furniture storage unit this evening, as Sue's car goes tomorrow.
What's left at the rented house tonight will have to go on the bikes with us (or in the dustbin)!
What's left at the rented house tonight will have to go on the bikes with us (or in the dustbin)!
Thursday, 31 May 2007
Training continues!
Sue had a day off work last week so we managed two trips onto Dartmoor (Thurs & Sat). Tough climbing up to Princetown, but wonderful views & easy riding back down. Sue managed 40mph on the second trip (but my extra weight got me to 44!).
Plans still progressing well for the start on 17/06/07.
Monday, 21 May 2007
Progress update
As Sue will finish work on Friday 15th June 2007, we are planning to set out Sunday 17th. The currrent plan is to cycle from Plymouth to Pembroke Dock in South Wales, then ferry to Rosslare in Ireland.
The itinery will be touring Ireland in July, followed by Scotland in August to mid-September. We will then cycle down through England to meet Chris in Oxford in early October.
After that it will be back to Plymouth to catch the Plymouth-Santander ferry to northern Spain, & head south for the winter!
The itinery will be touring Ireland in July, followed by Scotland in August to mid-September. We will then cycle down through England to meet Chris in Oxford in early October.
After that it will be back to Plymouth to catch the Plymouth-Santander ferry to northern Spain, & head south for the winter!
Tuesday, 27 March 2007
Bridgwater bikes
Progress being made. Sue picked up her new bike from SJS Cycles in Bridgewater last Saturday. I took my old Thorn Ventura & we went for a ride to Taunton & back down the canal towpath - the new bike went well. Now we both have Thorn ExpR's with Rohloffs (for the techies). As the weather improves we will be able to get more miles in the legs ready for D(eparture) day.
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