End to End Build AND Ride

[jackosbournesnr]

Yesterday was another glorious day, although I myself wasnt feeling 100%... theres definitely something working on me.

Left the room on the river and headed for coffee in Ross-on-Wye. Sadly, I didnt find anywhere in one full circuit so I headed off caffeineless.

Next stop was Hereford for a pair of shorts with a different pad to the ones Ive been using... a slight change in saddle angle was enough for some thicker stitching to start sawing its way into tender bits.

The countryside through Herefordshire and Shropshire is really lovely. Nothing spectacular, just consistently lovely.


From enormous fields of oilseed rape to gigantic cider apple orchards...


Eventually rolled up at the destination for the day and checked into my B&B... suite!

 

[jackosbournesnr]

Next up...country pile to Little Leigh.

Another glorious day with lots of lovely scenery through Powys, Shropshire and Cheshire. Didnt take too many pics as pretty fields, trees, sunshine and blue sky might get tedious for you lot.



Ive used Ride with GPS for routing, which has not been without issues. Today, it got sacked. Its preference for NCN routes is sometimes useful, but when NCN routes take you up long steep and potholed routes rather than a quiet B road along a valley floor, swearing may happen. Too many trips into the red zone because of this have taken their toll. I'll stick to using my etrex as a map and ignore the route.




Pulled up at the Holly Bush near Little Leigh. Its a place Ive used a few times on work visits to Runcorn and is great for traditional food and huge portions!

 

[The History Man]

There’s no such thing as too many pictures. Looks great. Keep going. How far so far?

 

[Jamiedyer]

yep, never too many pictures

Looks great and looking forward to meeting up next weekend

Jamie

 

[jackosbournesnr]

83 miles today.

All in, including the sightseeing miles around Penzance, I'm on 605 miles/ 974 km since last Sunday. 10,466 metres/34,337 ft of climbing.

Sprinkling of pics from today coming later.

 

[jackosbournesnr]

Another lovely day weather-wise passing through Warrington, around Newton ld Willows and St Helens then through Billinge, Upholland and Leyland. After Leyland it was Preston, and then the A6 special via Garstang, Lancaster and the finish at Burton in Kendal.

Warrington very kindly showed off the Manchester ship canal in action.


And a quick wait at another set of gates...


...gave me a couple of great pics of Morecambe Bay...

 

[jackosbournesnr]

Re:

Todays leg was again bathed in sunshine, although yours truly was decidedly groggy due to a bit less sleep than required. There was a birds nest in the attic above me with Mr & Mrs Bird and kids up eating and chatting until late and then awake again at literally the crack of dawn!


Picked up a certain Mr Bling of these parts at Kendal and headed off up the A6. It was absolutely boiling in the sun and Id maybe had a touch too much booze last night (meaning that every pore was like a mountain spring. Heading up Shap was torture - not because my legs couldnt cope with hauling 30kg of bike and kit, but because there was so much sweat in my eyes I had to stop 3 times to be able to see!



After a quick stop for lunch at Chez Co-Op in Shap, we pressed on to Penrith where I topped up on brake pads, hydration tabs and most importantly, chamois cream.

Clive very kindly escorted me all the way to the North side of Carlisle, making that an unusually stress free section of the trip as I have got in a fankle in Carlisle in the past!

A few minutes after saying farewell to my wingman, I was out in the countryside again... and nearly roadkill under a skip lorry who(either negligently or deliberately) passed closer than Ive ever been to a skip lorry. The woman in the car behind was probably more shocked than me and pulled up alongside to offer support... and a witness statement if I wanted one. I just wanted to keep riding, so simply thanked her.

The last few miles passed uneventfully, including making it through a level crossing without having to stop!

 

[MatBH5]

Re:

Brilliant progress and great photos. Well done to Mr Bling on the Retrobike outrider service too!

 

[xxnick1975]

Re:

Very inspiring. Well done

 

[kingbling]

Re: Re:

Brilliant progress and great photos. Well done to Mr Bling on the Retrobike outrider service too!

Thanks it was the least I could do to escort the rouge Scotsman out of Cumbria well most of the way anyhow. Whilst in Shap stopped at the Co-op I picked up Ken's bike well I say picked it up I just about got the rear wheel off the ground ! It's mightly impressive how the man can drag it over the hills. A few pic's of the day sorry about the quality.















Good ride today mate may the weather stay with you all the best hope to catch up soon.