Land's End!

The Wheel Inn, St Austell - Seemed apt!

A super early start today so I could aim to finish about lunchtime.  I had been persuaded on the camp to change my route from the A30 and take the A390 instead through St Austell to Truro before joining the A30 again above Redruth.  Whilst Truro was stunning, I had not taken into account the huge climbs on this route which, along with a time pressure, made it rather hard work!

Truro Cathedral

Once back on the A30 things seemed to settle. It's a fast  and fairly flat road so I was soon whizzing into Penzance having pretty much given it everything I had got. 

But again the hills would test me again - the last 10 or so miles seemed to be entirely uphill. 

With two miles to go my knee popped and I had to stop and give it serious TLC.  In a way it seemed frustrating that it had lasted all this way to possibly let me down at the last hurdle.  However, it was an apt reminder that I was not doing this in my own strength and this made me thankful and focussed my thoughts for the last couple of miles.

The very last stretch was downhill and Mum and Dad were there to cheer me over the finish line, along with a few tourists, which was a little embarrassing!

The End!



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My t-shirt on the ceiling!

Land's End itself is sadly rather commercialised and we even had to pay for the iconic photo finish.  We had a hearty meal at the First and Last Inn and they have added my t-shirt to the many others on the ceiling, making me part of a family of End to Enders!  I even chatted to a couple of guys who had also finished today and seemed a bit surprised that I had cycled it on my own.

I'm going to take a little while to reflect on the journey and will do one last post when it's all had time to sink in!





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Barnowls and Bleak but Beautiful Bodmin

It's been a really tough day today.  I knew that I faced the serious climbs over the top of Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor, however the weather today decided to make this even trickier for me.

A30

I headed over Dartmoor without too many problems but I soon realised that Bodmin was going to become my third swear word of the trip (after Shap and Dremochter).  The rain pelted down, to the point that it hurt and switched between heavy rain and burning sun - which doesn't help with chaffing!  It was almost as if I was cycling in and out of a power shower on full thottle.

From here I took to the A30 which I have seen a lot of today and will continue along tomorrow.

Another milestone - I've entered Cornwall just before hitting Launceston, one last push to Land's End!

Bleak but beautiful Bodmin Moor

Bodmin Moor itself was bleak but beautiful and I had some amazing views.  However the rain was back to thwart me again as I headed into the town of Bodmin itself.  It became so heavy that I was drenched to the skin within seconds so I must have looked quite a sight cycling into the town, yelling at the sky "Is that all you've got".  It certainly made one local chuckle from under the safety of his brolly!

In contrast however we were met with real hospitality at the campsite in Lostwithiel, who donated our fee to the charities, and to top it all off we could see Barn owls swooping into the barn one with a mouse dangling from its talons!

 I can't quite believe that I will complete the ride tomorrow.

Climbs to Crediton

Mary Magdalene Church, Taunton

Taunton

I started with a fairly smooth ride to Taunton from Burnham on Sea and really enjoyed the picturesque town including St Mary Magdalene Church.

I headed down the A38 and A361 to Tiverton and passed over the Devon border - another major milestone and another county closer to the finishing line!

Views back over Cadleigh

However Dad summed it up from this point "It's not fair is it?!".  Huge inclines - not great for the end of a day with tired legs - although it did allow stunning views from the top at least!

My finishing point tonight was Copplestone which I came to via Crediton.  I was glad to jump in the van at this point and head to Silverton where I'm staying the night with good friends Juliette, Anthony and little Emily.

Lost in Bristol

This morning Dad offered to cycle the next leg.  It lasted one lap of the park before he returned and normal service was resumed!

Another long leg today. A particularly beautiful route from Tewkesbury to Gloucester.  I spent some time in Gloucester admiring the beautiful buildings.

On the way out of Gloucester I suffered a puncture. sadly, for the inner tube, it proved terminal and really held me up!

Puncture!

I then took the A38.  I climbed some big hills on the way to Bristol, although this was made easier by the stunning views over the Avon estuary.

Gloucester Cathedral

Dad and I almost raced each other into Bristol which was rather hilarious... until we both got lost.  Dad found his way out really quickly, but for me it was like they'd hidden the A38 completely.  This added a few miles to the journey!!

Having finally found my way out, we met up with Auntie Sue and Uncle Richard in a layby just beyond Bristol Airport.  Then I flew down to Burnham on Sea home of my good friends Charlotte and Jake and their daughters Naomi and Harriet.  We had a lovely evening with them, and enjoyed a quick walk to the wooden lighthouse which is simply stunning.

Gloucester

I feel absolutely shattered now, so I'm off to my tent in the garden!!

Stunning Burnham on Sea

On the road again...

Mum and Dad organised a brilliant fundraising event come birthday party for me in Stafford. Introduced by the town crier and involving line dancing, a country and western band and a very large cake, the evening was great fun and a pivotal point in the whole trip. Time with my family and time to rest.

Stafford Town Crier

I decided to head back on the road a day early so set off this morning for Tewkesbury.  My brother and his children came to wave me off as I headed South once again.

Making friends

I took the A449, skirting Wolverhampton, and went as far as Kidderminster. Life on the road gets lonely at times, so I was pleased to make a new friend.  Her conversation was a bit wooden however, so I left her and the squirrels and carried on.

Bike and Worcester Cathedral

I then carried on all the way to Worcester, I had to do a few chores such as banking but also took the time to admire the cathedral.



Passing the Avon through Tewkesbury

From here, it was a short ride to Worcester to Tewkesbury - quite possibly the most beautiful stretch of road I have ever cycled on. The views were fantastic - particularly the Ketch viewpoint, just short of Worcester.


Tewkesbury Town Centre is stunning and the Campsite had great views of the Abbey.  I went to Evensong with Mum and Dad - a wonderful way to end the day.




View from my tent: Tewkesbury Abbey

Home to Stafford!

Denzell Gardens

Not one to complain about the weather... but now it's too hot to cycle!

To be honest this was a greta way to travel.  The heat meant that I had to take frequent stops where I could watch the world go by and wait for the weather to cool a little.

Christ Church, Alsager

The first was Denzell Gardens near Nutsford where I stopped for Half Past Tensies.  The lake was tranquil and I watched Dragonflies dart about. Bliss.

From here I cycled to Alsager where I had studied.  The small village had barely changed and I popped into my University Church - Christ Church.  It was here that I held my first Youth work job.  Sadly the college site where I had studied is ina  terrible state.  It is closed and overgrown. However, it was nice to go back and remember the happy days I had studying here.

George and the Dragon Pub

Later on I stopped in the George and the Dragon Pub for Half Past Twosies, waiting for the day to cool a little.

And then finally through Stone (where I was born) to Stafford where I grew up, where I received a phenomenal reception from my nephew and niece!

STAFFORD!

I'll be stopping here for a few days to let the legs recover before pushing on to Lands End.

Here is the last Jelly Baby of the Northern Leg - a little graphic, but one for all the Boxhall Cycling Babytarians out there!

Blood, Sweat and (almost) Tears

Still no sun, although the horizon was always tantalizingly bright.

Morecombe Bay

I started the day by heading to Morecombe Bay and cycled from there.

I faced the ineviteable puncture, followed almost immediately by a second.  This eventually ended in lots of literal blood, sweat and almost tears (well, lots of drizzle anyway!)

As I came towards Manchester it was great to cycle along the canal of the A6.  The views were lovely.

This leg has been a little more like what I expected, where I have had the chance to chat to a lot of people.  There weren't too many people to talk to in the remote Scottish highlands in the driving rain!  We're staying tonight with friends of the family Wendy and Dennis.  So lovely to be invited into someone's home and to have a little more luxury than a campsite for a change.

I only have one more leg until I reach my home town of Stafford and have a much needed break for a few days.