Hi ppl.
I have just completed my 1st major tour for charity. I went from Leigh,Lanc's to Cromer,Norfolk and back. It was 3 days there and then 3 back but as my sister lives in Cromer I stayed for about 12 days before undertaking the return journey. It was a solo effort and I had about 25kg of kit on the bike(clothes,tent,spare everything,etc). On day 1 i had to get to Chesterfield as i have a friend there who had a hearty meal,bath and warm bed waiting for me....
I wasn't sure how the trip would be on my legs since i had never undertaken such a challenge before? So call it Bravado,stupidity or just plain mental i decided to get to Chesterfield via 'The Snake Pass!'. For those of you that dont know it.... Its an unforgiving road that will push you and your bike to the limit... and beyond! At the top is a pub called the Cat and Fiddle (2nd highest pub in England) and I could not wait to taste a nice cold pint and top my water up!!!! It was closed?
Upon talking to some bikers they had decided not to open on monday's anymore!!! Thanx guys; I was out of water but I met some American tourists who gave me 2 bottles of Buxton water. Very kind of them indeed. The views up there are magnificent. So then it was downhill towards Buxton... wow that was fast and amazing,got a computer on bike and it got me at 34.9mph! I had some brakes on too! The weight on the bike was dragging me down it and was a tad scary...
So got into Buxton and found a pub(that was open!) Enjoyed a pint,topped water up and got a quick wash. Then headed onto Bakewell and then Chesterfield. The weather turned for about an hour around Bakewell,light and then heavy rain; I was in good spirits though and slogged on; Got to my friends and enjoyed a big meal,bath and bed. BRILL. Next day i was treated to a big breakfast which was nice but think i overdid it coz was 'belching' till dinner!
So the plan today was to make a campsite just west of Boston,Lincolnshire. Trying to get onto the A617 was a nightmare though,diversions and all sorts. I had to go down loads of little country lanes and consult my map every half an hour! Soon i was on the A617 and flying towards Newark. I decided to stop there for half an hour, a very pretty town and i would love to visit again with more time... Back on the bike and onto Sleaford,went straight past there and now im on the A17! What a road!!!! Sometimes you have a cycle lane and then you don't? although i must point out its a sort-of hard shoulder; Not a cycle lane.....The weather was good though and i made good progress. I had to leave the A17 and head towards Boston for the campsite; My legs were getting a tad tired now and couldn't wait to get there. There's a level crossing near campsite and a train had just gone through so traffic was mega... I missed the campsite sign because of the cars(i always blame them!) and carried on down a road for another 3 miles before saying to myself 'DOH!' I was still heading towards Norfolk so i decided not to go back on myself and carry on because there are lots of sites nearby. Then the sky went BLACK! Then lightening and thunder came and i am in the middle of nowhere!!!
I saw a little lane with some out-buildings so flew down there and took refuge in an open barn... 30 seconds later the heavens opened!!! 2nd of August and it was like a monsoon!!!! After about an hour it eased off and i went to find the farmer; I did and he gave permission for me to make the barn my camsite for the night. Whats mad is that i packed a summer tent because of the weight and its August... If i had found that campsite everything would have got drenched!!!! so this was a blessing in the end. It's not a hay barn though,rocks,dust and hard ground.. but i really did not care as i was sooooo tired
Note the cheap ropey tent....
Next day was a case of getting back to the A17 and onto Kings Lynn... No probs and i flew through Norfolk easily apart from when i got to holt(10 miles from Cromer) I had to stop for a beer and 3/4hr rest... my legs were on empty! They didn't hurt but they felt like lead! The rest did me good and i made it to Cromer no probs. Result...
. You may notice a lack of bags on bike? This pic was taken a day after arrival. lol.
Met lots of great ppl while i was in Cromer and caught up with some friends (i lived there for a few years). It was mad that i was doing my ride for the North West Air Ambulance and then who do I bump into? The North Norfolk Air Ambulance... And my nickname is Badger and one of them guys had same nickname!!!!! And i used to work with one of the lifeguards too!
So i went and had a good time before the trip home; oh the Badger is my mascot. Plus my nickname but very handy if nobody about to take a pic... so i take the pic with him on bike.
.
Time to head back to not-so-sunny-Lancashire; Damn. The forcast was not good either but i had a chance to beat the rain before it hit Norfolk... Although i opted to go by the coastal route back to kings lynn; its a further distance but the views of the sea and windmills and pretty villages made it worthwhile. Plus i saw a tank at weyborne
Just as i got past kings lynn it pissed it down! the wind was against me and the wagons flying by at 60+mph soaked me from the back too!!!
Only 1 thing for it? I went back to that barn again...
I had got the guy a present anyway so was gonna call over; He was great and said 'yep u can stay again' nice man... never did get his name tho. Went sleep no probs and got up bit later than i hoped but flew through to my mates at chesterfield next day with no probs apart from a scaffold flat-bed truck that nearly hit me!!! scary as hell. Another fab supper,bath and bed.
The Final leg of my journey.... was i ready? Damn rite i was; I had told the GF i should be home by 5.30pm. I had 8 mates coming round at 7pm to welcome me home with a big piss-up! I aint missing this for all the tea in China!!! Got to get out of Chessterfield 1st and it don't matter which way you go.... It's uphill!
No way was i doing 'Snake Pass' again. I went north and headed for Chapel-en-le-Frith. That's uphill too! but hey i thought to myself 'what goes up,gotta come down' How right i was... I hit the A6 that takes you straight through Stockport onto Manchester and that road was either level or downhill.....
had a rest before the East Lanc's road and got back to a startled GF at 3.30pm... 2hrs early...
.
Thanx's for reading and i hope you enjoyed it. Oh a few extra points... I smoke. My bike is a cheap Halfords Mountain-bike. I had 25-30kg's of weight on it and i did 470 miles without a puncture!!!! Am still amazed by that!