DONE IT !!!!!!!!!!
Having got to Portreath after a long 55 miles ride last Wednesday, I really needed a day off on Thursday.
The issue then was to find a weather slot for three consecutive days to get the 110 miles up the north coast to Barnstaple completed.
Because of there being no rail links to get home, this would involve two nights b & b, one in the Padstow area (should that be rip-off Padstein, I ask myself), and one in the Bude area.
Anyway, it seemed that the best bet would be to set off again last Friday morning. It worked out fine with dry weather all the way and a mixture of cold cross winds with nice sunny bits.
I found the section from Padstow up to Bude on Friday really tough with a sore throat and headachey thing. That was the only time in the whole ride that I felt a bit sorry for myself. It started with a half mile push (bike and panniers/batteries probably weighing 35 kilos at least) across relatively firm sand from the closest place the Padstow - Rock ferry could set me down with the tide being very low.
Then a serious descent to Boscastle and climb back up the other side.
Finally, a real sting in the tail on the small coastal lane at Millook, with a 30% gradient down to and up from the cove in Widemouth Bay.
A lovely free stay in Bude, huge thanks to Glenn and Sarah at
Dylan's Guest House ( Trip Advisor No 1 rated out of 53 in Bude - and justifiably so)
Then a pleasant climb yesterday through the north Cornwall lanes past the Tamar Lakes, over the infant Tamar River, a tiny stream at this point, and in to Devon. On through Bradworthy and eventually Bideford and a blast down the Tarka Trail to Barnstaple station - and home on the train.
Cycling 8 days out of 11
26 hours pedalling
311 miles
20,823 feet of ascent
Average speed 11.5 mph
Max speed 42.7 mph
Guesstimate...........90,000 pedal revolutions ....... open to scrutiny that
Final photos and stats links:
https://plus.google.com/photos/103240125853875114895/albums/6149938801118829025
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/777488604
S0 - THAT'S IT - THE END
I'LL LEAVE THE JUSTGIVING PAGE OPEN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE DONATED TO PANCREATIC CANCER UK.
IF ANYBODY ELSE FEELS ABLE TO ADD TO THE ALREADY IMPRESSIVE TOTAL OF NEARLY £800 incl. gift aid
the link is:
www.justgiving.com/Tony-Archer/
Very many thanks again
Tony