GPS track of route and Blog Stats

 

Click on the map for a plot of my journey on Google Maps. If you zoom right in it pinpoints down to road level There are a few points missing. I could only load a maximum of 500 gps points, which means where there are gaps, either the gps wasn’t working or I was going so slowly, (Devon) I’ve taken out more points than I should!

Here are the number of views from all over the world which have registered on the blog. Some very random countries in this list!

Click on picture for larger image

France was one of my sisters on holiday, Spai is where another of my sisters lives.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks….

In sort of, but not rigorous chronological order:

My heartfelt and endless thanks to:

Mark and Keith at E-Motion in Swindon, for helping me choose my Batribike Dash, on which I did many miles training, and who lent me spare chargers and batteries for my long training rides.

Everyone at Ecotricity who’ve encouraged, helped, and listened for the past few months.

Jacob at e-cycle uk in Stroud for having the discussions with A2B about them lending me a bike, for being so helpful and patient in putting up with my single mindedness, for giving the bike a pre trip service and for just being  ace!

David Yates for lots of advice, encouragement and help, right from the start, and during the trip, solving my WordPress issues out as I was cycling! Also to him and his family for having me to stay during the trip.

Rosie and Sean Pointer for having me to stay en route, but most importantly for the flapjacks! They lasted me well into the second week, and were perfect . ❤

I can’t thank A2B enough, especially Chris, not just for letting me use the Obree, but for unstinting help getting it ready for me, and giving me everything I asked for such as extra batteries and chargers, and sorting out panniers when they didn’t really exist at first, and to James for being so nice at John O’Groats, making it even more special.

To all of you out there who’ve followed my journey on-line, I never felt alone 🙂 Your comments and encouragement were so lovely.

And finally, and most importantly, to Steve, my husband, who was just there to help all the time and who put up with me deserting him for two weeks to follow a dream, thanks lovey, missed your cooking!

 

Day Fourteen – Helmsdale to John O’ Groats

55 miles, four hours 45 minutes, total miles 1006!

The dormitory at Helmsdale, it was very pleasant.

Even when the fog cleared for a moment the top right side of Scotland is just empty, get some turbines up there!!!

so finally, I got there, Whoo hoo!

And now I have a lovely room in a B&B overlooking Wick harbour.

 

Can’t tell you much about the scenery up the coast, it was very foggy and damp, so I couldn’t see a thing! But that did mean I didn’t stop much, so made very good time up to John O’ Groats, arriving about 1.15pm.

it was the most amazing feeling riding up the drive up toward the cross, with James from A2B taking photos, along with the official photographer from the PR company who were handling stuff for A2B. All the people who were standing around started applauding, and I had to tell my story to endless people! All I wanted to do was ring Steve! Eventually I just told them all to wait and rang him!

After all that, which included Prossecco being sprayed all over me (what a waste! )me and my bike and stuff were loaded onto the van, and James kindly drove me down to the B&B in Wick.

I said goodbye to my lovely bike, and although I didn’t cry at that moment I have since. I’ve fallen in love with that wee beastie. I understand that it might be on display at the Cycle Show, as the first electric bike ever to do LEJOG, solo and unsupported, and they may want me to go up and talk to people about the ride. Just hoping beyond hope really that I’ll get it back one day.  Got to admit I will be heartbroken if I don’t, but I’ve no right to expect it.

The B&B looked really rough on the outside when we arrived, but inside it’s a gem.  Nothing is too much trouble, and the room is perfect.

One slight technical issue, in all the fuss at the end, I completely forgot to get my form stamped. It’s been stamped at every place I stayed along the route so far,  so I was devastated when I realised. Rang a couple of taxis, but they were silly money, then checked buses but none could get me to and from JOG in time to get my train south.  I explained my dilemma to the lady who runs the B&B and she immediately arranged for her husband to take me up there tomorrow morning to sort it out.

If it’s one thing that’s been constant and wonderful along this journey, is the very real kindness of strangers. There are some lovely people out there.

I’m going to do a thank you blog next, but I must just say thanks  to everyone who’s been following my journey. Your comments and support have been so special to me, and added so much to the journey.

Xx

 

Day Thirteen – Inverness to Helmsdale

71 miles, seven and a half hours, 951 miles in total so far.

The first sign post I saw with John O’ Groats on it.

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Just one of the many wonderful views I enjoyed today.

The starting out picture for this morning with me In it!

 

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside, and yes, I was singing it!

 

When I get home I’ll re-order these pictures! As you can see, a perfect sunny day, easy cycling for the most part. The A9 out of Inverness is a bit mad, but it was soon onto national cycle route one, which is excellent.

Met the chap  I’d met at Glencoe  again as I was leaving, we need to apologise to him too David, he took my advice and went south of Loch Ness, apparently he checked afterwards, and going north it’s one of the hardest climbs on his route (so probably mine too).

Very kindly, given the circumstances, he took a photo of me with the bike. Not had many taken, but then I do feel it’s a bit like those adventure/survival films, when you know full well there’s a camera crew with them,  I really am doing this all by myself  – 🙂

Lots of people asked about the bike today, amazed at how I’d got this far on it. But it’s not put a foot wrong so far, just 55 more miles please!

When I was young, I was fascinated by Mount Everest (still am to be fair). Read all the stories about Mallory and Irving, and Ed and Tenzing. I knew I’d never climb it, not that brave, strong or skilled, I would still like to go and see it one day though. But this evening feels to me like the night before the big push up my personal Everest, I’m at the South Summit, ready for a summit attempt in the morning.

This hostel is ace, and I’m sharing it with a Ghanaian drumming group. Their food looked delicious, and I wanted to hand my bowl out and beg. The music was awesome too. But then they stopped to cook dinner, and it’s not started again, hopefully later they will, and I can  record some. Not what you expect to find in a tiny village on the top east coast of Scotland, which is the sort of thing that’s making this trip so special.

So may people waved or honked their horn at me today, felt great to be honest, it’s very obvious what you’re doing on this road, with a packed bike. Saw a few End to Enders coming the other way, and there was much waving with them too, and shouts of good luck. I didn’t shout “enjoy Devon” as that wouldn’t have been a nice thing to do, poor buggers – I feel for them.

i got very distracted at one point. How are you supposed to concentrate on cycling in a straight line and keep your eyes on the road ahead when they put up warning signs saying “Otters, one and a half miles” !!!!!! Honestly , I had to stop and watch out for a bit in the end it was getting dangerous! Didn’t see any though. That’s somewhere we must return to on our travels one day.

So then – tomorrow.  I’ll be at John O’ Groats by around 1.30pm tomorrow, should anyone want to watch me reach the end. It’ll be emotional!

xx

 

83 miles, 9 hours and 5 minutes, total miles so far 880.

Must check my adding up when I get back, I’m so tired at the end of the day, that the simplist of sums becomes a great challenge.

Woke up in the heart of Glencoe with the sun shining, and the moon setting over the mountains, if Carlsberg made mornings….

Lovely hostel is Glencoe, such a lot of friendly people, including Jane in reception, who fell in love with the bike and wants one!  She also sponsored me. Went to get my bike out of the shed, and another bloke was getting his at the same time. He said “did you leave Land’s End last Satruday? I saw you”.  It’s a small world, this end to end stuff. He’s here at Inverness Hostel somewhere too, but it’s so huge, we’ll probably never bump into each other again.

The journey today was slow because I stopped to take so many pictures, which I’ll upload as soon as I get them off my phone. Ben Nevis was looking spectacular, with his head well out of the clouds, and I walked the bike down  Fort William high street, memory lane trip yet again.

Continued up along the A82 where some men doing roadworks asked me if I have a death wish, cycling on that road, I can see their point, not a road for the feint hearted!

My heart strings gave a definite tug as I had to go past the turning to Skye and the Western Isles, I know I’m on a mission, but the far Cullins were definitely a-pulling this afternoon 😦

Then on to the route suggested by my dear friend David. After a climb of Devon nastiness, I got to the top for this spectacular view… It was a bit like Mordor, trees hacked down and just bogs everywhere, not the prettiest thing to see at the end of a long climb. I turned round to look back from where I’d come, and saw what David meant, looking that way, if you were travelling South (as David did on his End to End), the view was breathtaking, the best yet, the whole of the Cairngorms laid out below you. Trouble is, I was cycling with my back to it, grrrrrr.

I forgave you David, when I got down to the Loch side, cycling along the banks of Loch Ness, without all the tourist traps is special. No Nessie, but I did see an odd ripple…..

Downhill all the way into Inverness. The hostel is functional and very institutionalised, and I have a top bunk today. Glad none of my room mates have been here when I’ve climbed up into bed! I’m too old to be climbing into top bunks, sigh. Never mind, only one hostel to go at Helmsdale, then it’s the last day.

On the pain/injury front, for anyone who may be interested, everything is coping very well except about half way into the day, my wrists start to ache, my knees hurt if I push too hard, and my shoulder is pretty nasty. All in all, not too bad for an old bird 🙂

xx

 

65 miles, 7 hours, 5mins total so far, 797 miles

A few pictures from today and yesterday at Comrie Croft

This is the very beautiful sitting room at Comrie Croft, the best Youth Hostel so far by a mile!  (I’d be surprised if there was a better one anywhere)

http://www.comriecroft.com

The  hens that laid my eggs for tea

Rannoch Moor looking stunning in the sunlight

 

Ready to go at Comrie Croft

Dinner from those hens, I’d forgotten how good fresh eggs tasted

 

Getting to the highlands

Pictures a bit out of order, but It’s been another great day.

Cycling up to Crianlarich and then onto the A82 was a dream come true. Coming over the hill and seeing Rannoch Moor in front of you in a car is a special thing, when you’re on a bike, it’s spectacular, then it just got better and better as I came down to Glencoe, certainly not the Vale of Weeping today. Light wind, sunny spells, perfect cycling weather.

The bike is just getting better and better. Despite the knocks it’s taken over the journey, it still just keeps on pushing. The motor is so quiet, you can’t hear it over the noise of the tyres. So many people have commented what a good looking bike it is, and loads of people have said they’ll look into electric bikes, as they’d not really heard of them before, but think they sound ideal for their fitness level.

People’s initial reaction to doing the ride on an electric bike is that it’s cheating, until you explain why you have to do it like this, and that no other way would be possible. Hopefully it’ s opened people’s minds up a little to the huge benefits electric bikes have.

I’m in a room full of different nationalities tonight, none of us speak each other’s languages, but it’s very friendly. The hostel is a bit dated, but cosy enough, Lots of friendly climbers and walkers.

Those of you who were watching the tracker closely this morning, may have noticed I took a little detour first thing.  I could of course say that I went back down the road to get to a 3G signal, however, that would be fibbing. As usual, I just don’t know my left from my right, and went the wrong way! Doh!

Up to Inverness tomorrow,  via the southern shore of Loch Ness. Apparently it’s beautiful, so looking forward to that.

Xx

Day Ten – New Lanark to Comrie Croft

61 miles 6 hours 45 minutes, total miles so far 732

Today was just one of those days, pretty perfect in every way, even the slow puncture on the back tyre this time didn’t put me off. The sun was shining, I was feeling great, so off I went – to Halfords, where a lovely man filled my tyres with slime, and pumped them up for me. Happy days. The bike continues to perform quite effortlessly. Not sure if I,m getting stronger, the bike’s running itself in a bit more or a bit of both, but it’s just fantastic. Every time I push off and feel that surge of initial power that gets me off to a smooth and safe start, it fills me with joy!I I trundled on happily and eventually found myself in Dunblane. What a beautiful place it is. I just had to go and find Andy Murray’s gold post box, the locals smiled at me, you could almost hear them saying “here’s another one”.

From there onwards it just got wilder and wilder, and more beautiful. I started to see mountains in the distance, and the grin is now fixed permanently on my face. I have already started singing “the hills are alive, with the sound of music” at the top of my voice. The cows seem unimpressed.

I’ve just watched the weather forecast for the rest of the week!!!!!! Who ordered this for me? Sunny spells, 19 to 20 degrees with a light southerly wind? Thank you, to whoever it was.

For tea tonight I had scrambled eggs from the farm shop here at Comrie Croft Hostel. They were lush, and so yellow, wish we still had chooks. Comrie Croft is, without question, the best hostel so far, I’d be surprised if it gets better than this anywhere to be honest. I’m curled up on a snugly sofa, in a beautiful sitting room. The kitchen area is stunning, with painted wood cupboards, equipped with everything you could wish for. They’re also interested in having an electric car charging point installed… must discuss that with work when I get back. It would be a great place to put one, allowing people to get right up into the highlands!

So tomorrow is the day I’ve been waiting for since I started to plan this trip, something I’ve dreamed of doing all my life – cycling through Glencoe. I’ll be wearing my full wet weather gear, it’s not called “the Vale of Weeping” for nothing.

Not many more days left – can I carry on to Orkney and Shetland?

Xx

81 miles, eight hours 15 mins , total so far 671

Started out from Carlisle and after a few miles I was in Scotland, Yeay!!!!!!

The rest of the day was just a slow steady ride through the borders. Easy riding, fantastic cycle paths beside the road or marked clearly on the road almost the whole way, very impressive.

By my very accurate and scientific calculations (signs seen in windows or posters/stickers stuck in odd places), the Yes vote has it by about 50-1.

It was a vastness of nothing though and I was getting a bit peckish! Eventually I came to a village. Not a lot there until I came across a chap waiting outside a closed trucker stop. They didn’t open for an hour, so as there were now two starving End to Enders waiting on their doorstep, he decided to know on the door to see if they’d open early for us, and they DID!!! Lovely girl, two dogs, a chicken that stood at the glass door looking in, wood burner glowing in the corner, cheese sarnie and a cup of coffee. A little oasis of peace and friendliness. The other End to Ender was walking south. He’d been on the road for 21 days, rather him than me!

When I arrived at New Lanark, I was gobsmacked! It’s a world heritage site, amazing place, a restored mill village. The SYHA is in one of the buildings. No one is allowed to drive/cycle down here unless they’re staying or they live here. Great little community. Look it up, New Lanark World Heritage Site.

The answer to the question of Paul is a spider, Incy Wincy Spider – Paul Ince, great player in his time. Managed Swindon at one point. Well done to my sister Alison for getting it right (well she would, as she’s a Swindon fan) and to my sister Sue, who was very close.

Paul appears to have left me, although I thought that earlier and he suddenly appeared waving his front legs at me.

Woke up this morning to another slow puncture, back tyre this time. So I’m now outside Halfords in Lanark waiting for a nice man to put slime in both tyres, I knew I should have had them done before I set off, sigh.

On to Comrie Croft today, so I’ll be leaving civilisation behind, and up into the highlands soon, how exciting!

Xx

Day Eight – Arnside to Carlisle

68 miles, six hours and 15 minutes,  total miles so far 590.

I ‘d like to dedicate today’s blog to my Great Niece Victoria, who, completely out of the blue, gave me £1.50 in sponsorships this morning. You are just a star Victoria, thanks! Mother and Great Aunty both had a little tear in our eyes.

Wonderful cafe to have breakast in, bread baked on the premises, and the company of my lovely niece Joanne, her husband Mark and their daughter Victoria. All this and a view of the tide coming in, no bore today, but still a great place to be. Thanks for the recommendation Mark’s Mum, and thanks for treating me to breakfast guys!

I started today with a grin on my face, which never really left it to be quite honest. I CYCLED UP SHAP!  This is where the A2B Obree comes into it’s own, a long slow drag ( in this case a climb from sea level to 1,400 feet), was fun! Truly, it was the best fun. Effortless. The views were spectacular, weather just right,  and all of it on the old A6, which was very quiet.

It brought back so many happy memories of our  parents and our childhood, do you remember chugging up to Shap in VDD2 Sue, Rosemary, and Alison?

I do worry a little about my mental state though as I stopped to have a chat with some very pretty cows. They didn’t chat back much, just the odd huff, and one was very brave and sniffed right in my face. What lovely eyes they have.

Oh, and I have a stowaway, he’s called Paul. A prize (well not really)  for anyone who can guess what Paul is, and why he’s called Paul. Answers on the blog comments or on Facebook.

I’m now happily ensconced in my room at Carlisle YHA.  It’s the student halls of residence so I do have a room to myself, which makes a nice change. Bit basic, and not pretty, but it’ll do.

Then tomorrow it’s off to the SYHA at New Lanark in Scotland. Cant’ wait 🙂

xx

 

 

Day Seven – Liverpool to Arnside

86 miles ten and a half hours( whimper) total miles so far – 522, over half way!

Me me writing me blog last night

The  Shankley Gates next to the Hillsborough Memorial

The view from my room this evening – Morecambe Bay, stunning  !!

My lovely bike outside Armside Youth Hostel.

A very hard day today,

 

… And that’s where I stopped writing and fell asleep last night 🙂

The day started with me having to change a tyre, the slow puncture was still being a pain, so I thought it best. All done when someone walked past and knocked into me which made me stumble and knock into the bike, which fell over. Sigh…. After much insulating tape off I went to a special place 🙂

I don’t do praying, so at the Hillsborough Memorial, I thought about injustice, about the fight of the families to get the truth heard, about corruption and evil of the Establishment.  YNWA

So a little later than usual, I set out. This was an easy days cycling in reality, just that Google kept trying to send me down canal paths which weren’t really safe to walk down, let alone cycle on! I missed a few turns, so had to re- route lots. Also I put my hat down at one point and then realised a bit later I didn’t have it on. Detour to a cycling shop where the owner sold me the hat for half price, then gave me a free roll of  insulating tape, and topped up my water bottle. He was very impressed with the bike, took a note of the name and was going to look them up.

After a very long and  frustrating day I finally arrived at Arnside and it was worth the struggle to get up here, stunning place, they were going to close it, but I’m so glad they didn’t.

The bike behaved brilliantly again, despite the knocks, poor thing. It’s getting a very thorough road test.

Pizza and a bottle of Corona for tea, then I just fell asleep.

I’m meeting my niece Joanne with her husband Mark and daughter Victoria, for breakfast this morning , then it’s  off to Carlisle, up the A6.

Nearly in Scotland !!!!

xx

 

 

 

 

68 miles, eight and a quarter hours (but an hour of that was the ferry) total so far 436 miles.

So the first puncture of the trip, a slow one. Rosie took some “action” shots, and Toffee “helped” . Not a major problem, and it was back on and pumped up quite quickly and off I went, having been plied with Flapjacks and sandwiches by the adorable Rosie.  Thanks to you and Sven for having me!

Bit foggy to start with, but a nice easy ride up to Chester. Having finally navigated Chester, this is the letter I composed in my head during the whole nightmare experience…

Dear Chester Council,

You have a wonderful city, with beautifully marked cycle routes, and some fascinating architecture. However, closing one of the major cycle tracks out of the town, (which is also the canal towpath) without any notification meaning a long drive back to get off it again is not clever.

Also, signposting the alternative route I finally managed to find across a main dual carriageway, where you’d also sealed  up the barrier so no one could get across to the path on the other side of the road, is frankly just being a tiny bit naughty.

Now I know it must have been done with the best intentions (not sure what they are however), but I nearly slipped down the steps and into your lovely canal to get back on the main route again.

Sort it out maties…

…..and relax

After that debacle, I finally got to the best bit of the day… The Ferry Cross The Mersey, and into the city which is home to one of the loves of my life. I was too knackered by the Chester nonsense to go up to Anfield this evening,  so I’m going tomorrow morning on the way out.

I’m in a lovely room of people this evening, one of them is an Indian lady who is at a dental conference, we’ve had a great conversation about the legacy of the Raj and the British Empire, another is from the Philipines and is visiting family here and Veronica is travelling the UK and is from Rio. Much giggling is happening !

And I had my dinner in the self catering kitchen with a travelling street magician, just fascinating.

I can recommend this journey to anyone, people are actually rather wonderful.

Of to see the best football ground on the whole planet in the morning, then on up towards the lakes. Scotland is getting closer and closer!

xxxx

 

 

 

81 miles, eight and a half hours. 368 miles in total so far.

After a lovely bowl of porridge, I hit the road, only to realise after about half a mile that. I wasn’t wearing my hat, so about turn, collect hat, and hit the road again.  Doh!

What a beautiful route up through Worcestershire, a bit of Herefordshire and then Shropshire, a hidden gem of England.

Passed through Ludlow, what a beautiful town, and Tenbury, which I really loved.

However, I also discovered that kissing gates and heavily loaded bikes don’t mix well. Fell on it’s side on the way in, and did a wheeley right over onto it’s back on the way out!  Have to say the bike was terrific, completely unscathed, really tough and resilient.

BUT, my bottom now looks like a Dalmatian, and is covered in small bruises! Have no idea how they got there and they don’t hurt, just look very funny!

Came up towards Rosie’s, and appeared to be zigging and zagging in and out of Wales, but I finally got to Welshpool, and then to Rosie’s at about half past four.

A lovely days ride, apart from the gate and the bottom, well fed and entertained by the lovely Rosie and her Au Pair – Sven ( that’s a joke by the way, she doesn’t have an au pair, she has a husband called Sean – long story) Amazed to be greeted by yards and yards of bunting, which I thought was very sweet, until I found out it was for a Party they’d had at the weekend, still Rosie had left it out for me too 🙂

Had a tour of Rosie’s small holding – they have a fire pit, and I’m jealous! They also have geese, various chickens, a dog called Toffee, and two cats.

They also randomly have a small pub in the garden (a shed converted really, but it has a bar and everything!)

Tired now, and off to bed.

Night all, my favourite  city in the whole world tomorrow, and a pilgrimage to Anfield.

 

Day Four – Bristol to Naunton (David’s House)

67 miles, around five and a half hours, allowing for stops. Total so far 287 miles

So I left the hostel, quite fed up, not a particularly good nights sleep, room too hot, and all a bit noisy. Went to the kitchen to make my porridge, and the milk was off…. sigh, so I set off up the road with no cup of tea and no breakfast. But it was a stunning morning, and within a hundred yards of the YHA was this beautiful sight, selling coffee and croissant. Perfect in every way, sunshine, double expresso and a pain chocolat, suddenly life was good, and a very happy Penny set off for Stroud for a meet up with some special people.

The most special moment was seeing my dear husband Steve, sat on the wall by the Subscription Rooms. It’s his birthday, so Happy Birthday beloved, thanks for putting  up with me wandering off like this  xxx

The other moments were the Stroud and Cotswold Green Party meeting me with a banner to launch my campaign as candidate for the  Cotswold Constituency, and then all the lovely people from work coming out to see me, with hugs and banners! Love you all!

Now fed at watered at David and Carolyn’s, lovely to catch up with them and their children, Elliot and Caitlin.

The bike was superb today, really getting to know it and it’s little ways. It does take a while to bond with a bike, and we’ve bonded. Can’t really fault it so far. Treated it to a clean with David’s  Muc Off and a hose, so all shiny ready for the off tomorrow.

Oh and thanks to Caitlin for the improvised stamp on my record sheet, and to Elliot for showing me his signed  Stoke City shirt. Most impressive.

 

 

 

 

69 miles  –  6 hours 30 minutes, Total so far 220 miles

 

 

Off and and ready to go again, was a bit disappointed with Exford, after how beautiful Tintagel was, but apparently it’s closing down soon, :such a shame.

But after one short hill out of Exford it was weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! down the hills off Exmoor towards the sea. That was just amazing after the day before, then it started to rain. And it rained and it rained…… I was a bit soggy which is such a shame as it was a nice route, just impossible to enjoy when you’re drinking the rain falling off your face, and having to constantly wipe your glasses.

Travelled the Primrose Line for a while, which is a great track. Went through another of those horrible dark old railway tunnels. The nice people had put cats eyes up the middle, but it was still very dark and scary. Just put my head down and followed the lights, I figured if I could see the lights, then there was nothing to run over.

Because the terrain was so much better, I made amazing speed, and covered the distance really quickly.

Bristol YHA is odd.  It’s like a hotel really,  but one that has a bike shed in the basement, and a self catering kitchen. I’m on the 4th floor in a room of four other women, a Young German Ornithologist called Meggie visiting friends in Bristol, an older Canadian called Erica, who’s travelling. England on her own, and having a great time, and a poor lady who’s daughter has been taken very ill whilst visiting friends here, so shes’s travelled down to be near her. A motley but happy crew, for the most part.

Not entirely sure what I’ll do with all my wet stuff, but if it doesn’t dry by tomorrow, I’ll just have to go damp!

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Stroud tomorrow, and then going on up the the Yate’s residence. (I think there are a couple of matches we may need to discuss, David and Elliot)

xxxx

 

 

Day Two – Tintagel to Exford

81 miles, 8 hours 45 mins, total miles so far 159

What a wonderful way to start the day, eating porridge looking out at the superb view. Very few aches and pains, so feeling good, I set off again on my trusty steed

 

What can I say about Devon? My dear friend David told me well done for getting through Cornwall, as it was “one of the worst days”. I checked with him after I’d finished, and he did confess that the actual worst day is Devon. Not that it isn’t beautiful, with lovely lanes opening onto vistas that are perfect images of the English countryside, trouble is all the damn hills – they’re endless! Just when you think you’ve got to the top, another bit appears.

But I know one thing for sure, I would never ever have managed 80 miles of that without my lovely Obree. Some of the hills were just impossible, and I doubt I’ve have been able to walk up them, in fact I know I wouldn’t. But we got up them. I’m carrying a lot of weight for a small person with the extra batteries, but we made it, and I’m very pleased with the bike.

Not entirely enthused with Exmoor though, it may have been  the hills, but I think I’m just totally spoilt by Scotland. Nothing I’ve seen anywhere compares to the Highlands.

Still, another day done,  I had a meal at the hostel to celebrate, and a lovely bloke donated  me £20, how good people are.

Shared my room with a fascinating old lady who travels the country staying in hostels near horsey friends. As far as I could tell,  she had no fixed abode, just travelled around the country by bus. Smelled a bit horsey, I have to say, but she was a character.

Next stop, Bristol

xxx