Day –1 Bristol 1115am
Golf dies with clunking front suspension. Replacement car must have a tow bar to accept bike rack. Tony obliges with loan of his Peugeot 306 albeit with soggy tyre.
Temple Meads 2.15 pm
Ramboll riders, Sam and Pete, arrive with one chain broken and entwined in rear wheel of Lambrini due to incident in transit to Paddington.
Backwell 3.55pm
Efforts to repair chain have been frustrated; Halfords is closing in minutes, Lambrini must be repaired in Cornwall. Sam offers his Kona mountain bike for Pete’s use to start the ride.
A30 south of Hale 7.45pm
Receive details of Dave Cross address in Camborne too late, we are already past the turning, and too tired to call in.
Kellynack YHA 8.15pm
Settled in with stand by car, standby bike and first of many(?) pasta meals for the carbs.
Day 1 Lands End To Tintagell
I am late (first time but not last!) to join Sam and Pete at Lands End; delayed at the YHA after their departure. There is a queue for the sign post behind a group of 7 LEJOGEND2END, a 15 yo unicyclist and a couple of Scots so down to the Last House for photos including ..the MALTLOAF.
Pete, Sam and Sam's Dad at Lands End
Maltloaf? Day 1
0945 am They are at the Start then off…pedalling along the coast road while I beetle along the A30 with Lambrini headed for The Cycle Shop, Penzance and repairs. The shop is efficient but squirreled away behind the Star Inn. Fortunately its reputation is such that every one in Penzance can give you directions! Pete and his Lambrini are reunited; for the Mountain bike, after just 15 miles, its John O’Groats dash is over.
Pete awaits Lambrini's new chain
1130 am Riders head for Redruth Railway Station and our next refuelling meeting. I think I have time to replace the Peugeot’s tyre but…the wheel security key is in the boot requiring removal of bike, rack and contents .. so I am late to Redruth by 10 minutes. At this stage the riders are still able to eat energy bars.
1.30 pm Agree next meeting will be at Quintrell Downs. I think I have time to return to Camborne to collect Dave and Beccie’s homemade energy bars and donation to the ride. Wrong. A traffic jam around a broken down crane and underestimate of the Ramboll riders’ progress mean I miss the rendezvous and we agree a new place 5 miles on. Could we succeed without mobile phones?
3.30pm The last refuelling stop is to be Trewen. I go there straight away; well with brief shopping stop in Bodmin to buy Robinson’s cordials and the evening meal to be eaten in Tintagell.
(A brief diversion is required to explain this act. You will recall I am driving a borrowed car. My faith in Backwell Motors is such that I expected them to replace the failed wheel bearings (my diagnosis) during the day allowing me to return to Backwell overnight to swop cars. Therefore I was travelling with food for one night (Sunday) and no change of clothes. I had forgotten that Sam and Pete would need to eat on Monday night. A phone call to Backwell revealed that the bearings were fine and that work on the suspension would be undertaken on Tuesday. Instantly I join the Monday night eaters club and must buy the makings for chosen by the cooks of the night Sam and Pete. Note they are still eating pasta.)
Sam and Pete arrive complaining about the small wiggly roads which avoid the A roads by criss crossing the contours and plunging down and up in thin valleys along roads covered in running water and gravel. Poor surfaces and too steep down or up to keep a good rhythm.
1700 leave Trewin following the Ramboll route as far as Treburgett where a hand painted sign advising sat nav drivers not to go that way to Tintagell. I go round by A39. Sam and Pete plunge on regardless. Plunge is the operative word. The last coombe is double chevron down and double up. They beat me to the Youth Hostel. I had to call by the village for a clean shirt for the morrow.
Tintagell Youth Hostel is perched on a cliff, run by volunteers and does not do breakfast. A later trip to the village to buy the makings is required together with a pint or two. For the record Tintagell is full of private car parks with payment required at all times. There is a single yellow line in the middle for 4 cars. Not a lot know that.
The rider from Lands End to Lands End also overnights and can offer some advice of late revisions to the route for Tuesday including, and especially to avoid the A3072. The guest book has an entry from the girls two days ahead of us – clearly still happy.
Day 2 Tintagell to Tiverton
With no side calls to make I follow the Ramboll route to the first meet at Whetstone. I find a comfortably level route along white roads and then realise I have left the Ramboll route. Just to be on the safe side I back track the intended route to find it’s wiggly, criss crossing contours, wet and gravely. I park up at junction to send them the better way.
At a later late morning stop in a garage forecourt the riders request future stops in cafes with hot drinks and seats. See what can be done..tomorrow.
It proves to be a day of hills and flats. Tintagell to Whitstone was hilly. Whitstone to Hatherleigh flatter including a long, aerobar holding run past Brandis Corner. Then after Hatherleigh it was a big hill after every village to and including Eggsford. Six in all. The final leg to Tiverton was flattish with a big climb into the town to finish at the B&B.
Time for me to leave and return to Backwell to recover the Golf. Apparently the suspension was not worn;, it was falling off. The Welsh repair firm who handled Luke’s crash repair did not have their eye on the ball and had left the suspension fittings to the chassis loose. Half an hour with a spanner and Charlie’s crew have sorted it. Without my strategic stocks of pasta and sauce in the car Pete and Sam are free to go out and choose the protein option of steaks, big ones.
Day 3 Tiverton to Backwell
A rotten day for weather. It starts with very heavy rain all morning and only lets up after lunch. Fortunately it is a short one of only 63 miles.
No roadside refuelling today. I park up in Sainsbury’s in Taunton and then walk round to Costa’s with Sam and Pete on their arrival. It’s time for large hot drinks and cakes. Their journey had necessarily followed the A38. “Not a bad road” thought I as I drove it , fairly quiet running as it goes parallel to the M5. “Wrong” said the riders who had been offered no quarter by the trucks and had had two close shaves in the twenty miles and an emergency stop on a round about when cut up by a joining lorry.
The intention of waterproof riding shoes is to keep the water out. In Sam’s case the water has run down the legs and turned the shoes into two mobile water tanks .A Costa’s conference takes the decision to drop the intended further route along the A38 and default to a trip across the levels to Mark to follow the route Marie and I took on the tandem in 2006. Mark has two pubs. I arrived early and chose the warmer one. However the mobile coverage is poor and Sam and Pete have to play hunt the pub as well. We eventually meet up for a pint and bowl of soup..
Our wet Costa stop in Taunton
The rain is easing after lunch as Sam and Pete start the last leg to Backwell. The route includes a brief reunion with the A38 at the foot of the Mendips before a welcome diversion onto the Sustrans route to skirt the hills along a railway track and tunnel to Sandford. I am waiting with camera on the platform of Windford station as they come through. Pete does a very creditable impression of Thomas puffing along. From Sandford it is then a flat run round Churchill to Congresbury and home.
Day 4 Backwell to Leominster
It starts the same as yesterday. Heavy showers. Grabbing a gap between the heaviest rainfall Sam and Pete set off to Bristol. First stop is a photo call at the Penny Brohn centre, a 30 year old Bristol cancer support charity to whom Marie had turned for help in counselling, retreats, dietary advice and therapy courses to boost the mind and therefore the body’s natural defences. On the way to the next photo shoot at St Peter’s Hospice there is the opportunity to capture the Ramboll riders on the Suspension Bridge. This is more difficult than it would appear at first sight because the pedestrian footpath is lethally slippery and I have to walk very carefully to keep my balance. The photo shoot at St Peter’s is at the Bentry unit which is on our route. Marie went to the Knowle Hospice in the south of Bristol for much needed respite care two months before she died. Again Pete and Sam are made most welcome and sent on their way after drinks and cakes. They head north. I head south to return to Backwell for forgotten sleeping bags required for the stopover in the Wirral.
Our slippery crossing of the suspension bridge
Stopping in at Penny Brohn
With my need to criss cross Bristol the Ramboll riders beat me to Monmouth and I am invited to join them at the Conservative Club for lunch. They were full of the joys of life when we met; the rain had stopped and the ride up the Wye valley had been great. Panini, potato wedges and coffee filled the gap. The Gents was a complicated route from the restaurant however a helpful old Tory propping up the bar called out the final directions to any stranger passing through. How thoughtful of the Club to provide such a service.
The climb out of Monmouth was long but not too taxing although I was closely buzzed by a car trying to get a hill climbing photo. Thereafter the A466 ran across the top of hills with clear views of the countryside around. At Hereford I arranged a refuelling stop at the Asda café but they were keen to press on to the Youth Hostel after a brief drink and bite of bar. They head north. I divert into the Tesco car park to do some shopping. The riders beat me to the youth hostel and, like air traffic controllers, talk me down through successively narrow and unmarked lanes to the car park. The Leominster YHA is a rare thing; a hostel in the middle of the town. It can be highly recommended for this.
The evening is an opportunity to have time apart; Sam and I head across the A44 (great sweeping flowing bends) to Worcester for dinner with Dave and Clare while Pete samples the baked potatoes of Leominster. He draws the short straw; our pub grub goes down without incident.
Day 5 Leominster to Wirral 110 miles.
A dry sunny day in prospect; Sam and Pete head north towards Ludlow while I say goodbye to Adrienne, a 75 year old New Zealander who faces a 6 linked local bus trip south on her next UK tour. I delay to buy food for the day which offers an exciting tour of the delicatessens in the town to choose some tasty food including a quiche for lunch.
Pedal on the metal to make the first rest stop I take a quick look at the map and wellie along the B road. I over take Pete and Sam but not on the same road; their yellow road was a subtle left turn off my one. Thank goodness for mobile phones. We meet up in a field entrance further on for drinks and bars. Before they head off replacement cleats are requested for Pete and knee support for Sam. We will meet in Wem for lunch.
I use my mobile phone so visit Yell on the net to find cycles shops in Shrewsbury. The screen is too small to show the ‘hits’ map so I choose a shop that has the cleats in stock. I overshoot the shop in heavy traffic and oscillate in queues until parked. Cleats bought (how many degrees of freedom does Pete want? Select 9o for ease on the knees.) A local pharmacy is undergoing shop refitting, the supermarket does not have knee supports. Where is Wem? I have to go back out the far side of town past more convenient shops. I am late. Ramboll riders beat me to Wem and find a café after Sam pops into a chemist for his support. As I enter the town I see a cycle shop that looks old enough to have cleats too. Next time I will shop on arrival. The café is OK; in fact we never had a poor one on my part of the trip. 65 miles down, 45 to go, Sam and Pete are on a roll on this flattish stage. Wem has a special deal on, probably a coincidence but there is a God, the supermarket has MALTLOAF at two for a pound. I buy four. Should have been more.
The next stage stop is at Malpas which is chosen by me for sentimental reasons. The word / term featured as part of my previous career. It proves to be a quiet town with a kerbside space for refuelling. One more stopover before the Wirral; we choose a village, Mollington, north of Chester.
Great news, Mollington is nothing special but, hey, 2 miles up the road is a Little Chef. They are always warm and reliable. Tea for me, hot chocolate for them.
Last leg to Irby and my sat nav battery is dying (it’s off a motorbike and does not work well in cars). I drive for twenty minutes and switch on for 1 minute and then iterate until I arrive at Sam’s college friend Pete’s house. The Ramboll riders are fit and happy after 110 miles. Tonight is curry. I organise the car and pack the quiche in a safe place.
Day 6 Irby to Troutbeck 103 miles
A cold and wet start to the day. The weather forecast is good for the later day and the meeting up with the rest of Ramboll. Sam and Pete have to catch the ferry across the Mersey at 09.10am so they set off in good time at 08.00am. We meet at the nearest terminal at 0845 but no ferry is scheduled. That is because we are at the wrong terminal. A short dash downriver to Seacombe and they are aboard and afloat on time.
I am hardly out of the tunnel and Sam is on the phone requesting an immediate café stop for loo and breakfast. Fazakerley has a café (but no loo); across the road Somerfield has no public loo so the key words ‘Land’s End to John O’Groats’ are passed and access to the staff facilities are opened up. Many thanks. By the time the full English has been eaten the good news is the rain has stopped; the bad that we are now behind schedule for the Preston meet with the Ramboll Peleton.
The programme slips seriously behind schedule when I am delayed shopping in Skelmersdale and miss Pete and Sam at the next refuelling stop. After an extended set of mobile phone calls we meet up at a Farmers’ Market deep in the white roads behind Bispham Green and 1 ½ miles off route and twenty minute delay.
At Preston the two become eight Ramboll Riders and at 1.00 pm the posse heads North. Our first meet at Scorton, randomly chosen between the M6 and A6 on distance from Preston, proves to be a cyclists’ haven with CTC lounge in the local pub. The village even has a Spar from where I bought extra stocks of bananas. In the ensuing melee of arriving and refuelling riders I note that someone has bought 10 litres of water and put it on the nearside of the car. We agree to meet at Ramboll Bridge in Carnforth ( a dramatic modern construction for pedestrians to cross the ) and then onto the next refuelling at Warton.
Team Ramboll unite in Preston
Team Ramboll on a Ramboll bridge
I am heading to Carnforth and realise that I have not packed the 10 litres of water in the car. If I turn back I will miss the bridge and it is not worth the petrol . However on the run into Carnforth there is another Spar and I can buy another 20 litres. I cannot park near the bridge so miss the bridge party anyway but a passing pedestrian does the business and gets them all in a line along the bridge. Warton is closed for gas repairs but is accessible to cyclists. Sam and Peter, with 80 miles covered are desperate for carbohydrate and request the quiche. I search the car but cannot find it in the back among the other provisions.
So far the route has been flat but that is about to change. The flat A6 is abandoned in favour of the Sustrans route through the three Yealants and the riders indulge in steep climbs up and up and up and then a big swoop down to Beetham. A flattish bit to the A5074 and then the entry to the Lake Distinct with climbs and drops all the way to Windermere.
Due to a confusion of Youth Hostels the Peleton are at YHA Ambleside and the core Riders at YHA Troutbeck. When booking the riders were unaware that theirs’ was on the climb to Kirkston; when they turned off the main road, after 101 miles, they found out, as the gradients steepened up the road and then steepened more in the YHA drive, the truth. When I unload the car there is the quiche on the passenger seat. Pete and Sam, 103 miles done, each take half and top up the carbs closely followed by the milk shakes (25% protein, 75% carbohydrate to eaten within 20 minutes of finishing exercise).
Great was the celebration and barbeque that night at Ambleside – a big pasta for all and then hot dogs cooked on the shores of the Lake. After much discussion those in Ambleside decided to climb the Pass from Ambleside and those in Troutbeck from the YHA. Meet at the pub at the top at 10.30 for ale and prayers.
Day 7 Windermere to Gretna 70 miles
A simple day’s ride – a 500m height gain in 5 km then a long down swoop to Penrith, Carlisle and Gretna. However, not for everyone, well not immediately.
(A side note: with hind site the support driver realised that, had he practised and was fit, then Kirkstone Pass was an opportunity for him to cycle to the top, sup at the pub and then return to the car at the YHA. Sadly for him he had publicly wimped out before cruel fate snatched the opportunity away from him anyway.)
Lambrini was the first casualty when Pete sheared his (her?) saddle clamp bolts. This proved to be good news (see below). The bike was loaded onto the support car and he and Bob headed for Windermere. Hardly had they reached the town when the mobile recalled the support car as Buffy had stripped its transmission. Abandoning Pete to find the cycle shop Jude and bike were collected from YHA and delivered to the cycle shop. The Windermere cycle shop had no queue for the mechanic nor, sadly, the right cassette. Car and bike head to Ambleside closely followed by Pete on his repaired Lambrini . Memo to support cars, please carry selection of small screws. The Ambleside cycle shop had the cassette, chain and rings and a queue. Jude was 4th in line. Batting the eyelids and muttering the magic mantra ‘Lands End to John O’Groats’ she expected priority treatment. Wrong. 66.6% of the queue in front of her also claimed LEJOG privileges. Eventually she would be repaired and on the road by two o’clock with, due to Pete’s lack of reconciliation of small screws with low torque, a support rider to share the trip to Gretna. Actually he was fortunate in having Jude as a guide having missed the Kirkstone Pass turning on his first circuit of Ambleside.
All the above seems a simple to’ing from YHA to Ambleside via Windermere for the support car. In practice nearly three hours of continuous support car driving was involved with other, unmentioned to’ing and fro’ing. The actual journeys covered were Y, A (peleton bags),Y, W (Lambrini), Y, W (Buffy), A (Buffy), Y (YHA cards), A. All this was interspersed with mobile calls – ‘hey we’ve made it to the top, wow what a ride’,’ this is a great pub, eta for repairs?’,’ we’re moving on’, ’Pooley Bridge is great , lunch great’.
At 1.15 pm I am clear of Ambleside climbing, by car, the Kirkstone Pass. It is a bugger. Turn right off the Lakeside road and climb a wall immediately…and so on and so on but then after 3 km throw away a big chunk of the height gain and start again. However I have no time to dawdle as it is now time to hot foot to Pooley Bridge to collect La Lampe Rouge who needs a lift to Carlisle to catch a mid afternoon train while the rest of Team Ramboll cycle the route.
At last I stop driving and settle into a Carlisle pavement chair outside a pub for a half in the sunshine until the riders arrive. Since there are traffic lights just before the station Carlisle is spared the thigh pumping, elbow throwing, bike wobbling sprint finish. I swop pubs to have a drink with the team. Jenni has a G &T. “Do you want a double?” asks the barmaid “It’s only 9p more.” Offer declined.
Hugs and thanks to the supporting riders getting on the train and then Sam and Jenni cycle north. We meet at their hotel – yes hotel not hostel. A few tips, book on line at £60 and avoid the foyer price quoted of £140, arrive on a Sunday and get the two meals for price of one deal, do not tell management that your bikes are so precious that they are going in the room with you, they will find a stable for them where none had been available before.
Time for me to offer hugs and good luck, off load all the surplus pasta and milk shakes still in the car and my track pump but not the 20 litres of water. Pete and Jude pass me on the hotel drive as I leave.
