Pooja has had a very difficult start in life and is still only 6. My mum has known her since she was three and was begging on the streets she is just beautiful. We thought she had been taken away for good by her grandmother who wanted her to beg so she could make money but after about 10 months she turned up - thank goodness - what happened to her whilst she was away doesn't bare thinking about however now she is growing big and strong and is safe once again.
Day 2 Bude - Cheddar 105 miles
This has to short and sweet as its coming from my phone...
Goodbye Cornwall hello Devon ... Flipping heck how many hills have We been up and down today ? None of which are huge but all of which were step my thighs are still burning .... We had our first stop at great Torrington at 25 miles both cyclists and support managed to meet in the same place wool hoo were making progress ... What a climb to the town centre I wish I could have taken a pic but it took all my effort to get to the top ..
We made our way on to Hampton up and down, up and down, up and down zero recovery then up again toug cycling but way better than yesterday at lest the descents were fun :-) we stopped at bampton for lunch and met speedys friend mike who had very kindly driven 60 miles to come and give us a wee cheer on.
From bampton we made our way to waybridge on to Taunton then through to cheddar.
Ok so what else to report ... Speedys lost a spoke dads found paradise and i've got a sore butt !! Apart from that all is well however I'm a little worried about speedys food consumption I'm thinking his daily intake would probably feed the whole of Kolkata for a day!! We might be losing 4000 ish calories a day but I'm sure he's eating double that .... Can you even imagine how much food that is ? Ok must dash need some zzzz's
Mileage. Cyclists 105 v support 115
2. - 0 to the cyclists
Legs are feeling strong, mind is feeling strong ...Day 3 let's rock .....
Apologies for the typos
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Day 1 - Dedicated to Kishan (male-) - 4 yrs old - Kolkata
Kishan has been living at Howrah Station, he has no dad and his mum is a drug addict and can not look after him properly. He is a gorgeous little boy who now because he is at the children home has a future to look forward to......
DAY 1 ........ Lands End to Bude 105 Miles
6.30am Richard and I were both up and itching to get away, but there was no way Graham was letting us leave before we had porridge Cornish style with clotted cream and strawberries. Crickey i'm going to have to go on a diet when i get back.
Just after 8 ish we left St Just and made our way through some beautiful Cornish Villages, i've never been to Cornwall before and i have to say i'm most impressed, so its definitely on my places to come back to list.
We arranged with the support team (dad) to meet in Stithians for our first stop which we both managed to navigate to although it took me a while to get used to cycling the Cornish Lanes ...10ft hedges either side and only wide enough for one car. I did start to worry about dad and what he would do if he met any oncoming traffic, after all he's only just mastered driving the van forward never mind reversing it ;-) Psychologically the lanes were quite weird to cope with ....its like being in a maze, you cant see anything left or right or even that far ahead so you never feel like you're getting anywhere, it was nice to experience but not a way i would like to spend too many cycle rides. Next we arranged a rendezvous for lunch....but it didn't really work ...Dad was in St Austell and we were nearly in Newquay, lets just call it teething problems.
We eventually met up with dad he was full of stories of this person he'd met and that person he'd met and he'd been to get his hair cut and he went for a wee shop and and and and and and .....i'm thinking i'm going to change the name of the blog to Big Al's UK road trip.... he's seem to be having far more fun than us cyclist !!
Anyway, after lunch we decided to join the A road to Bude and try and make up some time after a slowish hilly morning, and that we did, even if there was the odd vehicle slowing us down...
Regardless it was much easier cycling than being in the lanes and not even that busy. We arrived at Bude another lovely Cornish town and were meet with by yet more amazing hosts Howard and Coral and their two lovely daughters.
Highlight of the day ...probably just getting to see so many pretty villages, low point ...losing my cadence sensor. Ii know i shouldn't grumble but i'm such a stat geek and i'm a bit gutted i wont be able to record all my totals for the journey. Anyway the two things it is recording are mileage and time which i guess are most important...so on that note
Mileage today cyclists 105 v support 117
1-0 to the cyclist..........
All in all a good first day, beautiful sunshine but not too hot, lovely scenery and great hosts. I'm ready for day 2, a new ride and a new challenge.... next stop Cheddar ...bring it on ....
DAY 1 ........ Lands End to Bude 105 Miles
6.30am Richard and I were both up and itching to get away, but there was no way Graham was letting us leave before we had porridge Cornish style with clotted cream and strawberries. Crickey i'm going to have to go on a diet when i get back.
 |
| Speedy, Me and Graham before we left this morning |
Just after 8 ish we left St Just and made our way through some beautiful Cornish Villages, i've never been to Cornwall before and i have to say i'm most impressed, so its definitely on my places to come back to list.
We arranged with the support team (dad) to meet in Stithians for our first stop which we both managed to navigate to although it took me a while to get used to cycling the Cornish Lanes ...10ft hedges either side and only wide enough for one car. I did start to worry about dad and what he would do if he met any oncoming traffic, after all he's only just mastered driving the van forward never mind reversing it ;-) Psychologically the lanes were quite weird to cope with ....its like being in a maze, you cant see anything left or right or even that far ahead so you never feel like you're getting anywhere, it was nice to experience but not a way i would like to spend too many cycle rides. Next we arranged a rendezvous for lunch....but it didn't really work ...Dad was in St Austell and we were nearly in Newquay, lets just call it teething problems.
We eventually met up with dad he was full of stories of this person he'd met and that person he'd met and he'd been to get his hair cut and he went for a wee shop and and and and and and .....i'm thinking i'm going to change the name of the blog to Big Al's UK road trip.... he's seem to be having far more fun than us cyclist !!
Anyway, after lunch we decided to join the A road to Bude and try and make up some time after a slowish hilly morning, and that we did, even if there was the odd vehicle slowing us down...
Regardless it was much easier cycling than being in the lanes and not even that busy. We arrived at Bude another lovely Cornish town and were meet with by yet more amazing hosts Howard and Coral and their two lovely daughters.
Highlight of the day ...probably just getting to see so many pretty villages, low point ...losing my cadence sensor. Ii know i shouldn't grumble but i'm such a stat geek and i'm a bit gutted i wont be able to record all my totals for the journey. Anyway the two things it is recording are mileage and time which i guess are most important...so on that note
Mileage today cyclists 105 v support 117
1-0 to the cyclist..........
All in all a good first day, beautiful sunshine but not too hot, lovely scenery and great hosts. I'm ready for day 2, a new ride and a new challenge.... next stop Cheddar ...bring it on ....
The only way is up ......
Saturday Morning
Much to my dismay Blackpool pleasure beach was closed by the time we got there on Thursday night, however I did manage to get my hands on some fabulous new sunglasses ?!?!? and a wee stick of rock...pics to follow ....
Friday morning - Up dressed and ready to leave just before 8am for the rest of our journey to lands end. Thankyou Pat for your kind hospitality and for making us feel so welcome...
All aboard the brand new transit van and oooooppps it's dead !! Battery problems eeeek ... Anyway thanks to mike from the aa we are on our way again ... Cheers mike your a legend !
We arrived at lands end at 5pm ... We were met by Graham, a man who my dad put up over 20 years ago when he walked john o groats to lands end for Clic Seargant. Graham showed us around Lands End and we had the obligotary photos taken with beautiful bue skies above...
After so long on our bums we just had to go for a ride, so we rode from Lands End to St Just (where we stayed at Grahams house) a mere 5.5 miles, so we are starting from here this morning. St Just is a pretty little town with a couple of thousand residents, very quaint and charming. We went to the Commercial Hotel for dinner and of course a wee glass of cider ;-)
Its now 6.50am Saturday morning...most of you will be fast asleep and i am sitting here itching to get on my bike and start the ride properly.. Spirirts are high and we're both super excited, so time for a bowl of porridge and were off .... next stop Bude ;-)
Much to my dismay Blackpool pleasure beach was closed by the time we got there on Thursday night, however I did manage to get my hands on some fabulous new sunglasses ?!?!? and a wee stick of rock...pics to follow ....
Friday morning - Up dressed and ready to leave just before 8am for the rest of our journey to lands end. Thankyou Pat for your kind hospitality and for making us feel so welcome...
All aboard the brand new transit van and oooooppps it's dead !! Battery problems eeeek ... Anyway thanks to mike from the aa we are on our way again ... Cheers mike your a legend !
We arrived at lands end at 5pm ... We were met by Graham, a man who my dad put up over 20 years ago when he walked john o groats to lands end for Clic Seargant. Graham showed us around Lands End and we had the obligotary photos taken with beautiful bue skies above...
After so long on our bums we just had to go for a ride, so we rode from Lands End to St Just (where we stayed at Grahams house) a mere 5.5 miles, so we are starting from here this morning. St Just is a pretty little town with a couple of thousand residents, very quaint and charming. We went to the Commercial Hotel for dinner and of course a wee glass of cider ;-)
Its now 6.50am Saturday morning...most of you will be fast asleep and i am sitting here itching to get on my bike and start the ride properly.. Spirirts are high and we're both super excited, so time for a bowl of porridge and were off .... next stop Bude ;-)
Thursday, 28 July 2011
We're on our way .... Woo hoo
Thank you all for your messages of good luck this morning,especially Mr George Stone who txt us this wee poem....
A young mum from Avoch called Louisa
Has got keen on cycling and she's-a
Gone off to Land's End
Our good wishes we send
For her legs and her lungs and her knees-a
Next stop Blackpool pleasure beach for a go on
'the big one' ..
A young mum from Avoch called Louisa
Has got keen on cycling and she's-a
Gone off to Land's End
Our good wishes we send
For her legs and her lungs and her knees-a
Next stop Blackpool pleasure beach for a go on
'the big one' ..
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Comon Speedy ...,LETS ROCK .....
I couldnt help myself - one last wee ride round the black isle yesterday...... 30 miles.
Dum Dum de Dum is it time to go yet ?????
All packed and ready for the off ......Well the time is almost here and with over 2900 training miles under my belt i can safely say i'm as ready as i'll ever be. I have a top riding partner to keep me motivated and psyched up and of course my dad who will keep me fed and watered and generally looked after...so really i have everything i should need. I would just like to thank everyone who has sponsored, motivated and inspired me..it would have been impossible to even get to this point without the support and encouragement from great friends and family and a very understanding Heidi who currently thinks her mummy cycles for a living. Not only that but as a result of her being part of so many training rides she now shouts at the top of her voice 'Come on you can do it ' to every cyclist she sees !! I'm hoping in time this will pass !?!?!?
Cant wait to see you on day 7 baby... Missing you will be the hardest bit of all .....probably best i try not to think about that too much right now..........;-(
I will of course keep you posted on how its all going..So there is nothing left to say but .............
Comon SPEEDY its time to ROCK ..Lets go cycle 1100 miles for the Kids of Kolkata
Dum Dum de Dum is it time to go yet ?????
All packed and ready for the off ......Well the time is almost here and with over 2900 training miles under my belt i can safely say i'm as ready as i'll ever be. I have a top riding partner to keep me motivated and psyched up and of course my dad who will keep me fed and watered and generally looked after...so really i have everything i should need. I would just like to thank everyone who has sponsored, motivated and inspired me..it would have been impossible to even get to this point without the support and encouragement from great friends and family and a very understanding Heidi who currently thinks her mummy cycles for a living. Not only that but as a result of her being part of so many training rides she now shouts at the top of her voice 'Come on you can do it ' to every cyclist she sees !! I'm hoping in time this will pass !?!?!?
Cant wait to see you on day 7 baby... Missing you will be the hardest bit of all .....probably best i try not to think about that too much right now..........;-(
I will of course keep you posted on how its all going..So there is nothing left to say but .............
Comon SPEEDY its time to ROCK ..Lets go cycle 1100 miles for the Kids of Kolkata
Monday, 25 July 2011
Training ................. Done !!
Yesterday marked my last training ride before we leave for Lands End .... After a lovely family lunch we went out for a 35 mile spin in team colours round to Cannich then into Beauly ....
So, six months on, 70 Training Rides and 2880 miles later, i think i'm ready .......or as ready as i'll ever be...
Back in January i clocked up a mere 109 miles compared to 652 in July.....the hard work is all done, all i need to do now is hope for reasonable weather and not too many idiot drivers ....
So the next time i write i will probably be on route ... Whilst i'm away if you are trying to get your hands on ceilidh tickets for the 12th of August just drop me a line and i'll make sure we get some to you.
 |
Richard giving the signpost a hug awwwww |
Back in January i clocked up a mere 109 miles compared to 652 in July.....the hard work is all done, all i need to do now is hope for reasonable weather and not too many idiot drivers ....
So the next time i write i will probably be on route ... Whilst i'm away if you are trying to get your hands on ceilidh tickets for the 12th of August just drop me a line and i'll make sure we get some to you.
Friday, 22 July 2011
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