DAY 9: Ludlow campsite to Bristol (125k of lots of rain and hills)

Firstly, I have to mention Sam's epic splat yesterday; he bounced back up very quickly but left a massive dent in his helmet! All ok today - just another one of us soldiering on. 

Some slept well in the rainy tents next to the mooing cows, some less so. The rest came back fresh from the Travelodge and we all got packed up and ready to go with great send offs from Ruth and Mike, Eric and Marl, and Nick. We very sadly had to say goodbye to Kate after 9 days of absolute selfless support, love, cooking, driving, massages and laughs. We are so pleased you have been such a big part of our journey Kate - thank you from all of us!

 

We rolled out of Ludlow and through lovely green lanes of flatness through Kidderminster and on to breakfast in Leominster. After much needed coffee, porridge and stories from GH, we set off for a long 55k stint before lunch. 

                            

This little stretch was absolutely beautiful but as the hills started to rise the rain started to fall. It poured. Jacket on. Jacket off. Jacket on again. We got drenched and the legs were really working to get us up some of the biggest hills yet. 

Meanwhile GH got another flat and only pictures can tell that story... 

  

Back on the route, we were cranking up the gears, weaving left and right, deep breathing and puffing out our lungs, to eventually conquer over 4k of an endless last hill which made eyes water and bodies bleed - apart from the Dans and Sams of the world. But even Damien and the pink ladies made it (via a few nettle bushes and grease fights). 

Everyone sucked it up through Hereford, into the Wye Valley and on to lunch in pretty Colford. When we arrived we were soaked to the skin and pretty exhausted but were welcomed and looked after by the girls in Scoff's Coffee House who managed an order of over 14 paninis and sausage rolls plus coffees and teas.    

                        

The afternoon was supposed to be easy with only 37k to battle but it was still a challenge rolling over the contours of the West Country and South Wales. The views made up for the pain though and it felt quite momentous to cross Chepstow Bridge and then the Severn bridge! GH is happy now we're on the same latitude as London. Apparently everything else is north! 

                        

Eventually we peddled in to our hotel car park to sweaty hugs from all, plus Sophia who's come to take over support crew duties (welcome and thank you!) and also Josh Witts - surprise guest for the evening!

Meanwhile in Stamford, Tom's 87yr old Nana, Peggy, has been busy spreading the word and fundraising where she lives by making her own sponsorship form and pinning it to the noticeboard. She's collected £180 so far and prints out the blog everyday to show everyone! Mr Windsor would be proud of all this community spirit. 

Right. Signing off for tonight as there's a very serious discussion about what route we're taking tomorrow, the number of hills we need to prepare for and the various breakfast / food schedules. 

Tomorrow looks good for hitting out £30k target! Let's do it folks. 

Day 9 done. 3/4 of the UK and 750miles out of 1000 done!

 Day 8: Warrington to Craven Arms, Ludlow - 129k and great progress today

What a refreshing change of a day to the dual carriage ways of yesterday. Yey!

We headed off in search of breakfast after a much needed luxury sleep in comfy beds and clean sheets. GH had two punctures along the way and ended up in the bike shop, but all came good after the bike man took the thorn out of his wheel! We then met these wonderful supporters waiting for us on the pavement...!

Ben and Jake Downie from SJB and their lovely Nana were waiting from 8 o'clock this morning with specially made banners to wave us through. What a boost! We couldn't believe it. What a gorgeous surprise. Thank you so much boys! 

Then we raced round country lanes enjoying the freedom away from the traffic gaining distance south. We were flying! It felt good to have the quiet roads to ourselves and see the rolling hills of the midlands unfold around us. Green hedges and open space allowed us to form the cycle train and tuck in behind each other to gain speed, momentum and effective drafting to lunch stop 55k in.

The girls headed off to fix Sam's bike and tackle the stinking laundry pile - thank you so much for washing our pants, sweat kit, lycra and more!

 

Lunch was a welcome break from the rain and wonderful to see Dan Newman reuniting with his family. The Newmans gave us a real boost and friendly smiles, then Dan's twin girls cycled with us the rest of the way today (30miles up hill and down dale). Great to have you with us girls! They beat us on mountain bikes without cleats!!! That's youth and fresh legs for you.

 

We all navigated and managed through the lanes - apart from Damien who went awol and added an extra 5k for himself. Others are just nursing bruises...

 

Elsich Barn campsite was a very welcome sight (though it was an uphill entrance - error!). And a welcome party: Becky's fiancé, Nick; Emily's dad and stepmum; Tom's friend Emily, and Ruth and Mike Egan (our chair of Governors). So great to see friendly faces. Ev, Kate and Faith were handing round home made sausage rolls from Marlene Shelton and chocolate from Michele Harrison for all.

Tents went up for the hardy campers while others ducked out to the Travelodge. A clean bed and space to stretch is a priority right now.

We're currently settled in for pub grub and savouring the rest before tomorrow. Catching pub wifi to write the blog before heading back to the tent. 

                                

Thank you everyone for all your support and followings. We are so close to our target! 29k and counting..... 

Day 8 done. 4 more to go! 

 

 Day 7: Ambleside to Warrington.
Longest day of over 100 miles (150k, 1203m elevation)

Quick out of our bunk house where Kate, Ev and Faith supplied us with porridge, cake and tea over looking the misty hills of Cumbria.

Thank you to Becky Shepherd's dad coming to wave us off!

We, very sadly, had to say goodbye to this man. Mark Bannon - you have brought spirit, fun, dancing and muscles when we needed it this week. Thank you. See you at the end!

                

We rolled out of the Lake District in style scrambling up the steepest hill of the ride so far in the first 10 minutes.  This was after a pretty hairy fall from Hacker who skidded on some damp moss path and ended up with GH's bike riding over his. Both bounced back fine and soldiered on. I think we all have bumps and bruises on parts of our bodies we've never experienced before. 

   

Rolling countryside showed us the way to the first snack stop and bike shop for Hacker's malfunction post fall.

This wasn't the first bike shop of the day though. Beck's super sonic tyres were no match for a huge shard of glass which even Dan couldn't sort out. He did ride with the wheel round his neck to the nearest bike shop though and returned 15 mins later with it all fixed (new tyre and inner tube for Becks). 

 

Then the A roads started. The speedy group tackled the canal path while others stuck to the roads which were filled with traffic. Sam had an unfortunate chain and front gear problem but carried on anyway.

Becky Shepherd's shoes finally died and we went in search of bike shop no 3. 

Meanwhile our support crew girls got stuck in 4-6 hours of standstill traffic with the SJB minibuses. Ev resorted to flashing and bargaining Harbo sweets for donations to JOGLE out of her bus window!

Low points definitely included ASDA in Wigan for Lewis and Sam and Go Outdoors car park for Emily and Becks, plus many bumps and bruises for everyone else.

Highpoints were that we could all enjoy a much needed night of luxury in a hotel spa this evening - a swim, sauna and warm down felt exceptional even at 9:30pm. Also Vicky got to see her sister and family; the support from outside our bike group bubble means a lot!

We made it. We're all still riding. We're all still together. And, we're all getting up and doing it again tomorrow.

                                     

Day 6: Lockerbie (Scotland) to Ambleside (England) 120k over the border into the Lake District

In the words of Bon Jovie, 'WHOA, we're (over) half way there!' and Queen, 'Nothing's gonna stop us now...'

After 20 miles of driving rain at the beginning of the day we all enjoyed breakfast baps at Grenta Green and a bit of drying off time before crossing the border to England. 

   

 

Vicky Sears, who has been solid throughout, exclaimed the rain was, 'not enough to make me miserable'. Everyone else was pretty soaked and soldiered on. 

                                        

Compared to yesterday we felt like we were eating up the miles with longer, straighter roads after a good night's rest at motorway services (never has a WHSmiths, Days Inn and M&S been more welcoming). As we continued, many of us discussed our new appreciation for the type, smoothness, width and feel of road tarmac! Matt Walker went so far as to claim it's the biggest factor contributing to his well-being at the moment. 

Suddenly, the motorway slipped away, we left the border counties and started rolling into the beginning of the Lake District. 'This is what it's all about' - smooth, narrow, quiet country lanes leading us to the hills of Cumbria. And they were some hills (a first taste of what's to come in Cornwall apparently!).

   

Great lunch at wee stone walled cafe 

And then the fun started: 

Skirting Thirlmere reservoir, we broke into a 'do not enter' territory which housed hundreds of storm battered trees all over our path... there was bike limbo; rock climbing in cleats, commando rolling under fences, throwing bikes over fences, more rain and a very welcome end point in Ambleside. 

 

Oh and Damien had a flat and tried to fix it without a pump for 15k. 

Sheltz, Dan and Lewis all stacked it but survived. 

GH ripped a hole in his shorts.

                                 

Sam bike raced about a pub garden.

And, Tom rescued a dog who wanted to join our peloton!

Thank you to the people who saw our banner in the services car park and sponsored us, to tonight's bunkhouse which allowed us use of the washing machines for free and to Mark Bannon who has added so much in such little time - we will massively miss you tomorrow and for the rest of the trip.

As always, Ev, Kate and Faith did all the running around, buying and cooking superb spaghetti bolognaise, sorting accommodation, picking us up, doing our laundry and generally being wonderful support crew!

WHOOP. DAY 6 done, 6 more to go!

And we are 91% towards our £30k target - thank you everyone! :)