Caj's LEJOG 2022

  Day 7 and things are starting to look up again. Weather at least 10 degrees cooler, but we've dodged the rain so far... Slow start to the day as we cycled around Frodsham and Runcorn, trying to get bike repair help. My back wheel still wasn't going around v well and was very hard work. Thought I might have to have a new wheel, but lovely Phil in D&M cycles in Warrington sorted me out just by tightening something up. I hadn't been looking forward to cycling through the industrial northwest, but actually, the cycling infrastructure is so much better here. Nearly all day spent on nice cycle paths, canal paths and even offroady bits - it wasn't fast but it was good! And because I was able to cycle through the whole day, we managed to arrive at campsite at a reasonable time (around 7.30). Campsite is great, with beautiful views and a fantastic restaurant, so we are all happy again. We even have wifi, so I can update my blog! +4 3 Maria Da Graça Vasques, Clare Wilso...

From Facebook post: Day 6 not exactly going according to plan either. The extreme heat is wreaking havoc with my hydraulic brakes, which keep clamping on spontaneously. So we are currently at second visit of the day to the bike shop in Shrewsbury. Going nowhere fast... Still, nice place to be and have had a lovely visit to Alison's friends Dave & Louise whilst sitting out the hottest part of the day. At best, it's going to be very late (again) by the time we get to Ludlow (after setting off at 6.45 am). Ho hum.... Update: even after 2 visits to the bike shop in shrewsbury, I still had issues during the evening ride, with the bike being harder to push than normal, intermittently really hard! We finally gave up at 1030pm, 10 miles short of the campsite, and Alison picked us up. All absolutely frazzled and stressed after a very long, very hot and frustrating day.

 Sorry I haven't updated the blog in a few days. This LEJOG malarkey has been absolutely FULL ON and I haven't had either the chance or in some cases the wi-fi connection to do it.  So today is actually Day 7, but here's a brief recap... First really tough day.  Lovely send-off from Ranny & co.  Unfortunately, Duncs & Alison had to drive halfway back to M&D's to meet Dad and pick up some forgotten kit (my fault!).  I had a gorgeous ride in the sunshine up the beautiful Wye Valley to Monmouth for first meet-up.  So far so good. Had a lovely coffee and stacks of pastries in Monmouth, but stayed too long in the sun, and I got a bit overheated.  Then disaster - took wrong turn out of Monmouth and ended up on A30 dual carriageway.  Couldn't get off, so had to keep going and it was even scarier than the motorway bridges the day before! Got off after a couple of miles, but had real colleywobbles. Went across country on tiny lanes after that, ...

 Well...  I knew it was going to be hilly leaving Okehampton and getting to Tiverton, but I didn't realise it was going to be another day of relentless hills all day long!!!  71 miles - mostly of tiny country lanes - and another 5,200 of climbing!  That's almost as much as the day before, and far more than I'd ever done in a day before.   And it was hot!  And the biggest, meanest climb of the day came quite near the end, up and over the Quantock hills at West Bagborough, when we were tired and had had enough... But, despite all that, it was another wonderful day!  The scenery was still absolutely beautiful, the route was interesting and quite fun and took us through places you'd never ever go to otherwise.  One absolute highlight of the day was our first meeting point at Lapford, half-way between Okehampton and Tiverton.  Met the lovely ladies volunteering at the ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) drop-in cafe and food bank. They welcomed us ...

 Morning All! Yesterday was massive!!  73 miles and 6,400 ft of climbing.  The day was all about climbing - up over beautiful Bodmin Moor, and then and up (and around) Launceston, before climbing up into Devon and over the edge of Dartmoor. The scenery was absolutely stunning!  And great paths and roads for the most part. Particularly the old A roads that are now hardly used because everyone uses the new A30.  But best of all was the stunning Granite Way - a beautiful tarmac path along the old railway line - and the bridge across the gorge was spectacular!  Stopped in a remote part of Bodmin moor for lunch, and had tea and apple pie in The Red Chair Cafe in Launceston.  And a delicious dinner, made by sis, in the van.   At one point, the Queen came out to show me the way (she'd heard about my Garmin troubles teh day before!).   All in all, a wonderful day.  Today will be slightly less hilly (not a lot!), and we'll finish up in ...

 Day 1 - Land's End to St Stephen Wow!! Day 1 was suitably epic, spectacular and wonderful. Beautiful route, stunning scenery and it felt so good to be in the saddle and turning those pedals. Took a slight detour from Garmin instructions, to go down into Mousehole, which is so pretty (the small harbour photo), and tried to stick to the coast all the way to Marazion, to get views of St Michael's Mount. First stop in Hayle was a bit later than planned, due to late start and my toursiting. Met sister for a traditional cornish pasty at Philps in Hayle - famous pasty shop that does the BEST pasties! That and a lump of Mum's barra brith fruit cake fuelled my next leg up to Redruth, mostly following the NCN3. Very pretty and didn't mind the climbing at all. Redruth was a struggle - very hill and garmin got scrambled, so couldn't find my way out. But I did spy a little yellow van as Alison had called in to visit a friend. I stopped for a welcome drink, and to get dir...

Today was all about Daisy the van. We picked her up this morning, got acquainted, packed her to the gunnels and then drove Miss Daisy all the way down to Cornwall. Beautiful drive - my sister Alison quickly got used to the driving and enjoyed bombing down the motorway, sitting high up and enjoying the lovely views! Arrived at the campsite in St Stephen just before 7 and were grateful for an easy-to-prepare hot meal, a cold beer and a lovely view of the rolling hills (oh dear - lots of hills!). Had a nice little walk after dinner, as both feeling v stiff from all the driving. And now I need a good night's sleep - big day tomorrow, as the pedalling begins!! Night all! C