LeJoG Catch-up day

Today's ride took us to just short of Taunton, to catch up to where we should have been last night.  It started with 8 miles alongside the Grand Western Canal, which was beautiful and very peaceful.  We had lunch by a bridge, in the company of lots of ducks, who had to do without sharing our lunch, but had theirs provided by a local lady who came along to feed them.

After we reached the end of the canal, we meandered through the lanes, and ended the ride with a drink at the pub where Steve met us with the car.  It meant a much shorter trip back to YHA Minehead, and a much more relaxed evening!

We're trying to sort out a plan which will get us out of our accommodation by 9.00 am each morning.  Please pray that we'll succeed, because we do need to the extra time to cover all those miles.  Pray too for our safety - thank the Lord that the only accident so far was Nathan's on Thursday.  Also for good nights sleep - and that we manage to pick up all our belongings each morning as we leave our accommodation!

As I've been pedalling, these words have come to my mind these last few days:

The Road goes ever on and on

Out from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

Let others follow it who can!

Let them a journey new begin,

But I at last with weary feet

Will turn towards the lighted inn,

My evening-rest and sleep to meet.

(JRR Tolkien, The Return of the King, Book VI, Chapter 6)

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

(Traditional Gaelic blessing)

So far, God has blessed us with fair weather - may he continue to do so.

Bridge over the canal by our lunch spot

Lunch! (1)

Lunch! (2)

The ducks got waitress service!

LeJoG Day 4 - More hills!!!

It was far too late to think about blogging last night, by the time we'd got ourselves into the hostel and eaten.  Minehead YHA is about 25 miles across Exmoor from where we finished our ride yesterday, so it all took time.  And when we got here, we found that we had to unload the car from just down the road and carry everything up here, so it all took even longer!  But we're staying here for two nights, so it was worth the effort.

We cycled through some more beautiful countryside yesterday, but still with lots and lots of hills!  The last few miles, though, were along a disused railway and then a canal towpath, so they were nice and flat.  By the time we finished, we were 19 miles short of where we had planned to end the route, so we've got some catching up to do today.  Nathan was struggling because he was so tired - his leg is healing well, but either that or the muggy heat was taking it out of him.  We've been very lucky with the weather, but yesterday there was next to no breeze so it felt very close.

After tomorrow (Monday) our planned routes become longer, which means we really do need to become more efficient in getting out in the mornings, and sorting ourselves out in the evenings - not a natural Errington trait!

A view of Devon countryside, complete with sheep!

This art installation, seemingly in the middle of nowhere,
is called 'Equinox Bell' (see photo plaque below)

Information plaque attached to art installation above

We enjoyed this view as we ate our lunch

Nathan and I both stopped to take a photo of this sign -
Joel walked halfway back down the hill to take his!

Sustrans put up about 1,000 Millenium Mileposts -
I thought this one looked good painted blue

At the end of the day's ride!

LeJoG Day 3 - Farewell to Cornwall

Our route today took us over the border into Devon.  Thank you for your prayers - we've had a much better day, starting out from where we finished yesterday at Wadebridge, and taking a route through north Cornwall and eventually over the border into Devon near Bridgerule.  There were no accidents or injuries, and once again we've had very pleasant weather - not quite so sunny or hot as Wednesday and Thursday, but being cooler meant that it was much more comfortable.

After three nights in youth hostels - Lands End, Perranporth and Tintagel, all in stunning locations on the Cornish coast - tonight we're staying at the same B&B as Monday night.   We've had a meal out with our good friend Alwyn, and we're ready for a good night's sleep in slightly more luxury than we've enjoyed the last few days!

A traditional old signpost in the back lanes

We've left Cornwall and entered Devon!

The verges are full of these pretty flowers

Ready to go again after a 'pit stop'

LeJoG Day 2 It's even more difficult than we thought!

Today has been a struggle.  We didn't quite complete our planned route yesterday, so we had a few extra miles to catch up.  Getting out and ready to cycle took just as long as yesterday, and tempers were getting frayed as we watched the day ticking by.  We decided that if necessary we would reduce the number of miles and hills by taking an A-road for a few miles . . .

Once we did get going, we were doing well for 10 miles or so.  But then Nathan fell off his bike and gave himself a nasty graze on his leg, as well as a shock!  We ended up having an extended lunch break as we tried to clean him up.  The A-road short cut became a necessity if we weren't going to fall a long way short of our intended stopping-point.

So, as you'll see from Strava, we only cycled about 25 miles today, finishing at Wadebridge.  We'll return there in the morning, ready to continue.

Those of you reading this who pray, please pray that we'll start sleeping better - even a day's cycling yesterday didn't do the trick last night.  Pray for Nathan, that he'll be able to continue cycling tomorrow.  Pray for Joel, who had to exert mind over matter in a big way to get out of bed this morning.  And pray that we'll get more efficient in getting ourselves out and ready to go in the mornings, and sorted out in the evenings.

With everything else, we didn't manage many photos today.  But maybe this one sums up the boys' feelings!

When the going gets tough . . .
the Tough lie down on the job!

LeJoG Day 1 - We're off!

The time has finally arrived, and our adventure has begun.  We all slept badly, all feeling daunted by the challenge in front of us, questioning whether we can really do it, worried about all the things which could go wrong.  But we made it to Lands End, and set off in glorious sunshine - it's been beautiful weather all day, although slightly too hot for comfort on a bike.  They were even ringing the bells for us as we came through Penzance - anyone who knows my mobile phone ringtone will realise that the sound caused some confusion for a moment or two!  If you want to know our exact route, the Strava file will show you where we've been today.

Unloading the bikes from the car

By the famous sign (although you can't get closer without paying for the privilege!)

On the start line (or finish line if you've come from John O'Groats)

From this angle you can see the post which says 'start'!

We went past St Michael's Mount this morning

Joel spotted this old lifeboat moored in Hayle

The view from Perranporth YHA, where we're staying tonight

Nearly ready to start!

As you can see from the photo, we've made it to Lands End Youth Hostel (if you look at the photo carefully, you'll see our bikes still loaded on top of the car behind us).  Actually, Lands End Youth Hostel isn't at Lands End - its at St Just, a few miles up the road.  So in the morning, we'll be driving down to Lands End itself and finally unloading the bikes ready to cycle.

And we're away!

In the true Errington tradition, we were very late leaving, but we did it - we got away!  The car was packed, the bikes were loaded . . . We had a good journey down to Devon, and eventually found our way through the lanes in the dark to our B&B (http://www.theoaks-bed-breakfast.co.uk/) where we were made very welcome despite being so late.  Today we travel on to Lands End . . .