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Slipstreamers 2003 Email : admin@slipstreamers.info |
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Sunday 25 May 2003
I'm drinking Glenmorangie and eating whisky cake, courtesty of Morgan & Veronica, Carolyn's parents. What a nice way to finish off this extravaganzar. We've done 510 miles altogether and its been a great experience. We had good weather for a change today. It rained briefly (as it has every other day!), but it was largely sunny. Rather carelessly we lost Gary at Galashiels. He seems to have been so keen to finish that he shot solo along the A7 to Edinburgh, whilst the rest of us had a leisurely lunch and took the scenic route. He then agreed to meet us at the hospital, but went to the wrong one. Navigation is not his strong point! It's great to see Carolyn again. She's looking much stronger and she seemed pleased to see us all. We regailed her with stories of the trip and I'm sure we'll continue with that again tomorrow. Morgan & Veronica turned up to welcome us at the hostel, hence the whisky and cake. I do like Scottish hospitality!
Sat 24 May 2003
"I'll take the high road and you take the low road" said Lockie as we approached Kielder Forest. Sure enough, he reached Scotland before me! Before that, we'd been to Hadrian's tea room..........sorry, Wall (but there was a tea room there of course.) Once again, it was impressive to see just "what the Romans have done for us". I then got carried away on the next climb of 900 feet, only to discover that the rest of the peloton had turned right half way up! That was my first costly mistake of the day. We stopped in Bellingham at 1pm for a sandwich lunch after only 18 miles approx.......... little did we realize that there were another 50 to go! Still it was a great afternoon and the scenery just got better and better. Kielder Water was beautiful, but the Scottish Border countryside was magnificent.
Fri 23 May 2003
What do you do when its pouring with rain & blowing a gale? why, climb up two 2000 feet passes of course. It was very spectacular and much enjoyed by masochists like me. I decided to use the brakes occasionally on the way down. Kev and Mark L didn't. Consequently they both hit 50 mph on the decent! We finally dropped down into Allenheads where we stayed before on the Coast to Coast. Then the ride to Hexham was all plain sailing.
Thurs 22 May 2003
It's my brother's 40th birthday today. Happy Birthday, Baz!
It's been nice cycling over the edge of the Dales today. The views have been more dramatic. Unfortunately, so have the climbs. The day started with a fairly major technical problem, in the shape of Richard's damaged wheel. Kev & I volunteered to carry some luggage to keep the weight to a minimum, while we aimed for the cycle shop in Richmond. That made the hills even more challenging. We stopped briefly at the Theakstons Brewery (very Peculiar that!) and then struggled on to Catterick. I had thought I'd take a photo of the Garrison to show Dad, who did part of his National Service there, but a khaki chap with a machine gun intimated that he'd rather I didn't. What was it he said..............ah, yes: "make my day!" Richmond was a picturesque town and we spent several hours there, partly to enable Rich to get his new wheel sorted. And then the puncture which he got straight afterwards! We're now in Barnard Castle finally sampling the Theakstons. It's going down rather well.
Weds 21 May 2003
Today I scored a goal at Stamford Bridge! Not the real Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea play, but the Yorkshire one where some Harold chap beat the Danes, before going on to lose in the final against the French down near Hastings. The girls got quite confused when Kev, Gary and I got out the tennis ball, made a makeshift goal on the green, and proceeded "to bend it like Beckham" into the corner of the goal. And I wonder why they think we're childish!
It was a long day today (nearly 70 miles) and tough work. It started with a delightful climb up the Yorkshire Wolds, giving a splendid view of the surrounding countryside. We dropped down to another excellent tea shop for lunch, before going on to "the Bridge", and then fairly sprinting into York after saying goodbye to Annie, who took the direct route to Ripon (thereby helpfully arriving in time to "case the joint" for us stragglers who eventually arrived tired and very hungry).
It was nice to be in York, despite some rain, but we were getting tired and with 20 odd miles to go things seemed a bit daunting. However, in gritty fashion we "knocked the miles off" and finally arrived to the chimes of the Minster - what a nice welcome!
Tues 20 May 2003
There aren't enough bridges on this trip! Going across the Humber was great fun. It's 3 miles across and with the side wind you have to cycle at 45% tilt. When you go around a stanchion you get an extra gust to speed you on your way. Hopefully the photos capture the scale.
"There'll be a shop at the next village for sure". That was the optimistic refrain which was repeated frequently this afternoon, without ever coming to fruition. Lincolnshire was a bit of a disappointment from that perspective. Nice flat countryside, but it's not so enjoyable when you're down to your last rolo (sorry, Bernie's rolos).
A couple of technical pfaffs today. Gary's puncture, speedily repaired and Kev's chain, also dislodged without too much deliberation. The hostel in Beverley is a former Priory. Quite atmospheric. No energy to explore the town. Shame, because it looks nice (I know this because we got lost and did a short tour on our way here.)
Mon 19 May 2003
Lincoln 2.45pm wasn't that quick! We started early in order to beat the threatened thunder storm. In the end it caught us 5 miles out. We all ended up in various refuges of differing success. Me & Mark L in a ditch, Kev under a bush, Julie wedged under a fir tree, Gary & Noelie followed Rich under a hedge, whilst Anna & Bernie ignored the deluge & continued steadfastly with hailstones and gale force winds hardly impeding their progess (they are well ard!). Today was really a tale of two coffee shops - the first in the picturesque village of Ruskington came just in time to avoid the first downpour. Our hostesses could not have been more welcoming, plying us with the requisite quantites of sustenance & even donating £5 to the Fund. Thank you ladies! The second at the top of the precipitous (that means steep!! Anna) hill was equally welcome particularly as it was officially closed!
The rain again had threatened to dampen our spirits when the cafe was kindly opened out of pity for us. Once again the delightful array of treats met with our universal approval (food great is what he's trying to say - Anna!) & another generous donation was forthcoming. Good luck to Marie the owner in her new business (what he is trying to say is all the blokes found Marie very attractive!! - Anna). Col cooked an excellent Thai curry - none of us can move following a day of pigging! - Anna. The group took Kevin to the Cathedral to see if the historical precedent might repeat itself ie the tradition states that an imp was turned to stone for being particularly pesky in the cathedral. Fortunately for Kev, despite his impish crudentials[sic], a similar fate did not befall him despite some concentrated effort & continued peskiness!
ps Kev & Mark L achieved a racing 13.1 (don't forget the .1!!)mph for the day. That's nearly Powell pace!!!
Sunday May 18
Waterproofs on, waterproofs off, on, off, on , off. That was the day really. If it hadn't been for that we'd have arrived 2 hours earlier. Anna here :rubbish! Col again: Still we managed 69miles..Lovely scenery again. As flat as a pancake (without even the filling!). Once again,the wind was behind us for most of the day and we often got up to 20 mph. Sadly, we had to turn west occasionally and then it was a different story. We worked together against the headwind really well. Mark Lock was a star, taking the lions share of the front work. Points also go to Annie for the caramel squares and the coconut pyramids, and to Gen for the fruit cake. Both very welcome after 50 odd miles. It was nice to be joined by Kev's mate Karl for a few miles. He also supplied a crate of soft drinks to the flagging group. Thanks, mate! Had a scare at lunch though. One of the cakes nearly ended up in the rubbish bag (a travesty unknown in the annals of slipstreamer history). Fortunately, Bernie came to the rescue. She's now elevated to heroine status!
Just finished an excellent Chinese dinner. We decided to try limericks. Here's mine:
There was a slipstreamer called Rich,Sat May 17
As the level crossing closed for the second time we were still eating Rosie's banana & chocolate cake. No one had considered going across...............it was that good. We did well on food today. Breakfast at Terry's, pastie after ten miles, two lunches for me (thanks Jen) and wonderful oatcakes made by Ann. Cycling was a breeze - a southerly breeze to be precise. It virtually blew us all the way to Cambridge, via some delightful countryside. A few of us stopped at a pub to watch the Cup Final. Nice atmosphere, shame about the result! We've just finished off with a lovely Italian meal, and some highly intelligent conversation - well, we are in Cambridge.
Dover to London (or Dover to Cape Wrath Part 1)
Do you mean to tell me that we've gone ten miles and we're five miles further south and we've lost 400 feet in height? That was my question to Kev as we reached the seaside at Hythe. Of course, I knew the route which Kev had planned, based on the CTC advice, and I'm glad we took it. Although still quite hilly, it was far less so than a more direct route and it proved to be very picturesque. The team had set off in fine spirits (though damp weather). Not quite the Tour de France, but still the excitement of a long journey. Some time next year we'll end up cycling at the North West Coast of Scotland. What a climax that should be. For now we plan to "enjoy the journey".
One of the concerns with a group of 10 cyclists is the potential for technical "pfaffs" (Oxford English Dictionary 2004 - Slipstreamer delay caused by poor planning, maintenance, or incompetence!). Little did I realise that I would be the culprit on the first day - twice! The first, a routine puncture after only a few miles, just as the rain started, of course. Thanks to Gary, Kev, and the shelter on the porch of a kind manager of a caravan site, that was soon rectified. More troublesome was the bent front axle, which occured later. Fortunately, the lunch stop was reachable and the excellent bike shop in Tenterden fixed it, whilst again Kev, Gary and I made a pigs ear out of trying to fix Gary's gear cable! We succeeded eventually, and then sped "a toute vitesse" to catch up the advanced party for coffee break. On arrival in Kemsing we'd done an exhausing 71 miles, but we still managed to do an unnessary mile and a half lap of the village (in the rain) just for good measure (YHA map out of date). What a team! All in safe and sound on the longest day of the entire journey...........at least that's what we hope?! Thanks go to Rosie and Terry for lining up the pub meal in the evening.
We even all made 7.30 breakfast the next day and got straight on with the ascent of the North Downs (I hate 1 in 4 hills straight after 6 slices of toast!). The other side was a great reward though with a beautiful valley road, wind assisted, which took us a long way towards the Dartford Crossing. That was fun too. Our bikes were impounded by the police and driven under the Tunnel to the other side. Fortunately, we were driven there too. I'd have loved to have cycled over the Bridge (Barry's Bridge, as its known in the family, as my brother was one of the engineers responsible for the awesome structure - he's come a long way since the day's of meccano sets in the attic!), but police escort was a nice way to do it too. I thought Essex was flat! Not the bit between the Crossing and Buckhust Hill. The final miles were hard work, but excellent navigation by Julie saw us there, to be greeted by the generous hospitality of Terry.
03 May 2003
So, once again I get to cycle the length of the country with my great friends! It was such a great experience last year that something similar had to be done. I'm hoping to raise some sponsorship again for the Surrey Association for Visual Impairment. I was extremely grateful for all the pledges last year, and I don't want to be a pest, but if anyone is feeling very generous, the Association would be very pleased to receive your assistance.
Training seems to be going quite well so far. We've been out for a couple of 40 milers so far and survived that. From my experience on Land's End to John O'Groats last year, I know the secret of a successful trip.............4 packets of Hobnob Biscuits and 3 pasties a day!
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Slipstreamers 2003 Email : admin@slipstreamers.info |
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