Post by Jim "Convertedeagle" Stewart on Jun 18, 2009 17:33:28 GMT
Greetings all, it's great to be back in world of modern technology (I don't think Devon & Cornwall have heard of 3G!).
Anyway, it's now 3 days in and i'm sure that you are all dying to hear how it has gone.
Well day 1 Lands End to St Columb Major. 54.9 miles and a total ascent of 3812 FT.
I arrivedat Lands End just\after 10am to get the paperwork completed before the short half day cycle (which combined with the last make 1full day). It was shut! the famous sign was just a post with nothing on top. after about 1/2 hour they finally opened up and put the sign together, andi was able to register and get the all importnt paperwork completed. Now about the sign (picture to follow), you can pay an exorbitant fee for a photo next to it, or as i did, whilst someone else in enqiring simply ask someone to take your photo and jump over the barrier. well 55 miles of hell later i arrived on site for a relaxing beer only to find out that my internet connection didn't work. i say hell as it has become apparent to me that the word flat in not in the cornish alphabet asit was hill after hill after hill,followed by another hill for good measure! This was to become a recurring pattern over the next 2 days. i should also add that i started in brilliant sunshine, 10 miles later a massive storm, just as i had dried off another storm and the sunshine all the way.
Day 2 St columb Major - Exmoor 106.7 miles total ascent 4913 ft.
Another dayof hills, I followed the Atlantic Highway today,and the views were fantastic. Unfortunately the roads are so small that you are unable to stop to take a photo. theclimb ontoexmoor was a killer at the end of very long day.if you want to get away from it all then Exmoor is the place - no mobile reception what so ever!
Day 3 Exmoor - Monmouth.113.7 miles total ascent 3812ft
Well today has been a nightmare. 15 miles into todays ride i got sideswiped bya caravan and ended up crashing not too gracefully into the hedgerow. A badly gashed leg and a few other bumps and bruises for me, but for the bike a bent back wheel and a broken chain. All repairable easily enough with a bit of help. One problem, NO MOBILE RECEPTION meant that I couldn't contact my parents who are my support team. So i tended my leg,and then set about repairing the bike. 2 hours later and all was well, apart from a very sore leg. Fortnately after getting off Exmoor, another big climb, there was some nice downhill parts, so the miles were clocked up quickly and my leg rested for a while. Due to the delay, i arrived on site at 8pm, wet (it rained again),tired and sore ( the leg, everything else is holding up well). a short day tomorrow, only 60miles, do internet connection and accident permitting i should have some time to post abit more detail and add a couple of pictures.
Daniel
Anyway, it's now 3 days in and i'm sure that you are all dying to hear how it has gone.
Well day 1 Lands End to St Columb Major. 54.9 miles and a total ascent of 3812 FT.
I arrivedat Lands End just\after 10am to get the paperwork completed before the short half day cycle (which combined with the last make 1full day). It was shut! the famous sign was just a post with nothing on top. after about 1/2 hour they finally opened up and put the sign together, andi was able to register and get the all importnt paperwork completed. Now about the sign (picture to follow), you can pay an exorbitant fee for a photo next to it, or as i did, whilst someone else in enqiring simply ask someone to take your photo and jump over the barrier. well 55 miles of hell later i arrived on site for a relaxing beer only to find out that my internet connection didn't work. i say hell as it has become apparent to me that the word flat in not in the cornish alphabet asit was hill after hill after hill,followed by another hill for good measure! This was to become a recurring pattern over the next 2 days. i should also add that i started in brilliant sunshine, 10 miles later a massive storm, just as i had dried off another storm and the sunshine all the way.
Day 2 St columb Major - Exmoor 106.7 miles total ascent 4913 ft.
Another dayof hills, I followed the Atlantic Highway today,and the views were fantastic. Unfortunately the roads are so small that you are unable to stop to take a photo. theclimb ontoexmoor was a killer at the end of very long day.if you want to get away from it all then Exmoor is the place - no mobile reception what so ever!
Day 3 Exmoor - Monmouth.113.7 miles total ascent 3812ft
Well today has been a nightmare. 15 miles into todays ride i got sideswiped bya caravan and ended up crashing not too gracefully into the hedgerow. A badly gashed leg and a few other bumps and bruises for me, but for the bike a bent back wheel and a broken chain. All repairable easily enough with a bit of help. One problem, NO MOBILE RECEPTION meant that I couldn't contact my parents who are my support team. So i tended my leg,and then set about repairing the bike. 2 hours later and all was well, apart from a very sore leg. Fortnately after getting off Exmoor, another big climb, there was some nice downhill parts, so the miles were clocked up quickly and my leg rested for a while. Due to the delay, i arrived on site at 8pm, wet (it rained again),tired and sore ( the leg, everything else is holding up well). a short day tomorrow, only 60miles, do internet connection and accident permitting i should have some time to post abit more detail and add a couple of pictures.
Daniel