Sun 25th July : Birkenhead - Belfast

Having got the train from Wrexham to Birkenhead I then boarded the ferry.

At the check-in I was ambushed by the other cyclist. He could bore for Britain; and did. He just talked at me endlessly, even though it was clear I wanted nothing to do with him. Every story was acted out with dramatic flair. I heard all about his prior trips, previous cycling buddies, 2 of whom cycled off a cliff, the other into the path of a speeding train (or maybe I just imagined them doing that) - oh, and hey, no smart comments here about me - you dont have to read this if you dont want to. And I noticed him surreptitiously cable-tying his bike to mine, which meant the following morning I had to spend ages undoing it in Belfast whilst he rattled off volumes 14 through 27 of his life story.

On the ship he was everywhere I looked. I locked my cabin door. Dinner was free. My cabin was fantastic. At Midnight the family in the cabin next door arrived. Bang, bang, crash 'I baggsie this bunk' 'Shut up shut up' Bang, crash 'What does this do' Bang, wollop 'Oh Mum, tell Jerry to shut up' Bang, crash. Did they think they were alone in a field or something? Why are people so stupid?

Irrespective of the neighbours, I do absolutely LOVE sleeping on ships. Its something about the cosiness, the gentle rocking motion, the hum of the AC, the purr of the engines. Sort of caresses you into slumber.

Up at 5am for the free breakfast and left the ship about 6.30.

Sun 25th July : Shrewsbury - Wrexham

Felt my travelling companion, Boris, wasn't getting enough pictorial attention, so here's one just for you Boris.

Today, I stuck to pretty much to just the one road, as part of my cunning plan. I had seen on Google maps that there was an apron about the width of a bicycle along the A5 which I figured would actually make for safer cycling despite the heavy traffic. I was right.

Ride took me over some pretty high bridges. The pedals were
squeeking something rotten. Was my first major disaster looming?

Got to Wrexham train station 3.5hrs before the train I had planned to get. There was a train waiting at the platform when I got there but I figured rather than rush I could just get the next one. The next one WAS the 3.5hr later one. So I fired up my newly aquired digital radio and listened to rubbish. Also read some bible out of curiousity.

When the train finally came, it just sat at the station for ages. Then the driver told us we were waiting for an engineer to come out and inspect some bridge that had been hit by a lorry. How long would that take on a Sunday. The engineer was over 50 miles away. Despite having been 3.5hrs early for my train, I was still going to miss my ferry!

The driver was an absolute star. He printed out an alternative route for me, platforms and all. A drunk guy from Birkenhead then helped me with my bike all the way through the train changes on and off platforms etc. Wasn't that nice.

Distance = 39.6 miles
Time cycling = 2hrs 41mins
Aver. speed = 12.2 mph (flying!)
Total so far = 269 miles

Sat 24th July : Ludlow - Shrewsbury

Much easier cycle than I was expecting. I thought Shrewsbury might be very high up. I think I was still traumatised by the whole 'Goggin' 'Dontstay monstay' experience.

Decided to stick mostly to main roads today because 1) they get you there in a straighter line 2) better signposted 3) tend to be less hilly 4) experienced enough bumpy lanes now.

Passed a school on top of a hill that looked like Thunderbird 3.

Saw the biggest caravan site ever. There werent any caravans there but it was all laid out for, I reckon, several thousand. A caravan jamboree.

Because of my new plan, I didnt follow the route I had planned, and was nowhere near the campsite I was booked in to. So I just stopped at the first Inn I came across in Shrewsbury (such had worked well for me in Ludlow). It was pretty crappy but very cheap.

Had a few drinks in Shrewsbury to experience Saturday night there. Hmm..quite rough.

Learnt today:
1) Progress before pretty. Get the majority of the way using main roads, then indulge the last few miles along country lanes if needs be. Much smarter.
2) I just eat because I think I should
3) I am no longer attractive and have developed perfect Gaydar deflection.

Dist = 39.6miles
Time = 3hrs 16mins
Speed = 12.1 mph
Total = 229 miles

Thrs 22nd July : Worcester - Ludlow

What a horrible day.

Cycle was quite arduous up until lunchtime. (Incredibly hard after). I stopped at a pub just before the heavens opened, so saved myself from a soaking.

Had breaded AfricanWhite Faced Owl for starters, followed by pan fried Harris Eagle.

I was aiming for a campsite called Monstay Farm, which looked so good on the website that I decided to make it a 2 day stop. To get to Monstay I had to go through 'The Goggin' which I found was the mother of all hill climbs. I managed it though. Knackered.

Then took me about 2 f'ing blumin' hours in the p'sing rain to find the campsite, which I can tell you now is NOT in Burrington as they claim. Nor is it in neighbouring Elton or Pipe Aston. After more hills and a half mile rocky farm track (again, up hill) I found the..err...field. Nobody had answered my phone calls to them I'd been making for the previous 2 hrs trying to find the place, and nobody was around when I got there. So I took off, thoroughly hacked off and exhausted.

Monstay Farm = Dontstay Farm (that pun almost makes the disappointment worthwhile)

Luckily, Ludlow was only a few miles away and all down hill. Fantastic view (click on pic).

I found a great hotel - the Charlton Arms, which was so nice I stayed there for 2 days. Luxury.

Well...if truth be told, I tried to find cheaper accommodation for the 2nd night but everywhere was booked out or even more expensive. I even walked back up the hill to find a campsite. I had to do this before 10am checkout. After a while I got tired trudging around town. Wasnt really the relaxing day off I had planned. So I stayed put in the hotel - to heck with the expense. They ended up undercharging me £30 for the 2nd day. Result.

In the hotel bar was a rather grungy looking young woman. She ordered, for herself, "A cup of tea, oh..and a gin & tonic. And you better get me an ambulance as well". I saw her the next day in town accosting some tourists; "I love jews. I think I may be a bit Jewish myself. Im certainly French"

Learnt today:
1) When a sign says 'Village Only' its lying
2) Dont be fooled by young boys making fancy websites
3) I really like 'Midsomer Murders'. How sad is that!? Never managed to stay awake through a whole episode yet (thats even sadder) but have sussed that its always the most amicable non-suspect who dunnit (and its usually a woman).

Dist = 45.6
Time = 4hrs 55mins
Av. speed = 9.2mph
Total = 189

Weds 21st July : Stratford - Worcester

Another ride through pretty countryside

Struggled to find the campsite which was just outside Worcester. I've sort of already talked about this day in an earlier entry so wont repeat myself.

Set up camp on a site between the dual carriageway and a river. There were loads of permanent caravans there, as in, they were peoples pride and joy getaways. But who would want to set up house under a dual carriageway, and by a really grotty river full of shopping trolleys and a squillian midges? There was a nice rainbow though.

Guy in the tent next to me (the only one) was there because he was doing work experience and it made for a shorter commute. So I guess he was about 16. He was working at some recycling information centre or something (kinda phazed out when he started talking hippy...lol). He described himself as 'pretty hardcore' deciding to camp for the week. He was only messing, of course, and I did think at the time 'its hardly a polar expedition mate!', but you know what, he was there in a field all by himself boiling his pasta each morning as part of his packed lunch, and sleeping alone in a tent in a swampy field under a blumin' expressway and for 16, that is pretty 'hardcore'. Go to the top of the class young man.

Learnt today:
1) My tent has a window. Cool. Zip zip zip.
2) I dont like bananas
3) Horses are now on the list. Their heads are way too big and their eyes are freaky.
4) Its really only me that gets wound up by my wind-up radio. Wind wind wind wind wind....5 seconds of radio...wind wind wind wind wind...2 secs of radio. Repeat all night.

Distance = 41.0 miles
Time cycling = 4hrs 54mins
Aver. speed = 10.5mph
Other = 10.5 miles
Total today = 52 miles
Overall = 143 miles

Tues 20th July : Buckingham - Stratford Upon Avon

Survived my first night camping; but the mattress isn't much.

Another hot day but again cycling through beautiful villages. Can't get the theme for Midsomer Murders out of my head.

Took a bum turn which added about 8 horrible A road miles to my route. Wasn't happy then when a local directed me down a dead-end. Not so much a boy with bad acne as a pussey zit with a mild touch of boy.

Then, my chain came off whilst I was going up a hill. In trying to free it (it got wedged between cogs and the bike frame) I managed to screw up the gears, leaving me with 1st gear only. I managed, however, to repair it in the rain, so rather pleased with myself.

Farmer whose field I stayed in gave me a lift to town and was very hospitable. Saw cows being milked and a field being combine harvested. Also, a roof with no house.

Learnt today:
1) Dont just pee out the tent - the smell doesn't go away and it leaves a very obvious, incriminating stain
2) Cockerals get up really early. I mean really. 3.30am! I know they herald the dawn but 3.30 - it was still the middle of the night. Do they seriously think they are going to get some love action at 3.30? And an hour and a half of it. Come on. Grrr
3) Dont take directions from village idiots.

Distance = 46.0 miles
Time cycling = 4hrs 16mins
Aver. speed = 10.7mph
Other = 3 miles
Total today = 49 miles
Overall = 91 miles

Mon 19th July : Luton - Buckingham

12.15pm

All loaded up, final photo taken, and Im off. Thanks for waving me off Paul :0)

(after a few miles I ditched the traffic bollard).

Took a previously unknown route out of Dunstable. OMG, it was like the North face of the Eiger. 3 miles into my journey and I thought I was done for.

Got a bit lost a few times and accidentally missed Leighton Buzzard cos I was too scared to make a right turn at a busy roundabout. To be fair, it was on a hill and there were lorries coming.


Only day1 but already my trip has taken me past the habitats of penguins and wallabies (I think they are wallabies) and some scary (especially if you are a crow) residents of Whipsnade village.



It was very hot. Drank loads of coke. Pitched my tent in a farmers field and went to dine at Tea at Esco's..no wait, it was Tescos.

Learnt today:
1) Remember to eat breakfast
2) Google maps dont indicate gradients
3) New use for my mirror - to ensure I dont scare young children as the white greasy-faced suncream monster.


Distance = 33.6miles
Time = 3hrs 4mins
Av. speed = 10.9mph
Other = 8miles
Total today = 42 miles
Overall = 42 miles

Internet At Last

Well, here I am in Worcester. Famous for...not having any internet cafes! Very nice lady at the Worcestershire History Centre has let me use theirs.

Actually, Im not going to say much today because I didnt plan this very well. I came into town from the campsite about 4 miles away without my notes of all the Fascinating sights and adventures encountered on route. Poor planning, I know, but after 52 miles cycling in the blazing heat over moor and mountain (do they have a winter skiing season in Warwickshire because it seems to be all hills - and all of them up) carrying about 50kilos my brain was a bit addled. I just made a dash to the bus stop to get into town.

I waited at the bus stop for 40mins after the due time and then figured that, because of the roadworks al along the route, maybe it wasnt running. So I started to walk and...yes, the bus whoshed past me so I had to walk all the way. Joy.

So, Im still alive and well, and on schedule. Slightly sore knee (from the hills), botty (of course) and oddly, hands. I guess its all the gripping for dear life as I drag myself up hills.

Proper update when I get to Ludlow and my day off (Friday). For now I will just do something new on the Equipment Page.

Time to go

To quote Murray Walker, 'Its GO GO GO !'

Im scared.

But also excited. Ive nowhere to stay in Ireland. Campsites seem to be very few and far between, which surprises me because I would have thought touring Ireland was very popular.

Maybe I will find more sites in the popular West coast areas. Until then, I am relying on people recommending places to me as I ride along. I plan to ask people if they know anywhere I can pitch my tent; a site, a field, a back garden, whatever.

For now, its a final tidy of the house, make sure everything is secure and theres nothing lurking that could go off and stink the place out whilst I am away.

Plan to set off at Midday.

See you laters.

Dress Rehersal

I now know why those guys you see pooteling along at 3 mph by the side of the road, wearing anglers sun hats and with fully laden bikes, complete with aerials and flags and witty 'This Way Up' and GB stickers always look so knackered - because they are!

My bike now weighs an absolute ton!

Took it, and myself, for a fully kitted out trial run. Just round the village.
So what did I learn?

1. My mirror gives an excellent view of the inside of my upper right wrist
2. Steering takes more effort than I expected
3. Trying to go up steps is a no no
4. Nobody takes any notice of a bike bell

On the positive side, just read that Monday is going to be sunny and Tuesday could be the hottest day of the year. Hoorah!

Trial Run

Bought a load of equipment yesterday for my travels (maps, guides etc). Fitted the following to my bike:

Rear light, Bell, Mirror, Trip Computer, home made info screen (pure genius!)

I had arranged to go for a cycle with a friend starting from the Vauxhall Recreation Club at 6.30pm. We figured that the searing heat of the day may have abated by then. It had. Good call.

I had planned to test my bike fully loaded with camping equipment and full panniers, but fitting the new bits & pieces took so long I ran out of time. Never mind.

Here's where I went:


It was a really good cycle. Quite a few hills, mixture of exposed roads through vast fields and cycling along shady country lanes.

Heres the nerdy stuff as captured by the newly fitted trip computer:

Distance - 21.8m
Time moving - 2hrs 2mins
Total time - 3hrs
Aver. speed - 10.7mph
Top speed - 22.6mph