Leisurely LEJoG

[Adam]

Our last photo on dry land in Englandshire. I am thus poised, not because I am about to take off, but the wind was about to loft the camera
from its improvised tripod / fencepost.

Aha - I though someone had just vaporised your bike, or it had somehow been airbrushed out.

[Adam]

I am now tucked up in bed and in complete contrast to this morning I'm
actually really looking forwards to tomorrow. What a difference a day
makes. Bring it on

Well done. 

Not sure I could ever do all that, so really enjoying the ride reports.

[Pippa]

Day 8

Church Minshull to Eccleston, Chorley, via Crewe
63 miles

I was feeling really perky this morning. Although I am getting a little
sick of full English brekkies I managed to scoff another one

A friend from work, Inge, was coming out to meet me today. However she
called to say she'd had problems with the train and instead of being in
Winsford by 9 she'd instead be in Crewe. I looked at my not very detailed
map and decided I could get to Crewe. The headwind slowed me down a bit but
I knew this would be our friend for the day. I got to Crewe and there was
Inge waiting for me. Finding Crewe station was easy but getting back out
again was more tricky. We looked at maps and asked our garmins. A couple of
local cabbies gave us some advice and asked what on earth we were doing in
Crewe. They told us it was referred to as "the ar5ehole of Cheshire".

And off we set. I wasn't sure what today would bring. I had my doubts it
would be laney given we were skirting round Warrington and Wigan. How wrong
I was. We had some fantastic lanes. With brilliant weather. With the
flatness of cheshire coupled with the tailwind we were flying along we
saw a sign for ice cream but were too early

We went over a quirky toll bridge that charged 12p to cross (but we were
waved through) and stopped in Culcheth for a very long and leisurely lunch
where we nattered about this and that. A chap started chatting to us and
told us it was simply impossible for us to have cycled 40 miles from Crewe
in 3.5 hours. He reckoned it sometimes took him that long in a car
 

After Culcheth we headed towards Wigan. As we entered Lancs it started
getting slightly hillier but nothing bad. We got wolf whistled at by a
bunch of hoodies in a chav-mobile - I guess that's better than a lot of
other common things shouted at cyclists. As I passed through Appley Bridge
some kids chucked some pebbles at me (they missed) so I guess balance was
restored.

I arrived at my B&B which is more like a hotel. Keys were waiting on the
side for me but no-one to tell me where to put my bike. So it is now in my
room with me I went to the local Italian restaurant for dinner rather
than another pub which made a nice change.

Today felt very much like a social Saturday ride rather than the mid bit of
a LEJOG. It was fab.

I've noticed that after my socks getting wet in the rain the other day,
despite washing them (and everything else) all my clothes seem to smell of
feet (apologies to those cycling with me tomorrow)

[GillP]

 Sock smell forgiven, I'm off to bed soon so I'm bright and breezy for tomorrow 

[Feline]

Lovely reports, I'm so glad you hung on in through the tough times Pippa 
Am thinking of you as you ride ... good luck for the rest!

[toekneep]

I've noticed that after my socks getting wet in the rain the other day,
despite washing them (and everything else) all my clothes seem to smell of
feet (apologies to those cycling with me tomorrow)

That's OK, you'll be behind us. 

[jogler]

I've noticed that after my socks getting wet in the rain the other day,
despite washing them (and everything else) all my clothes seem to smell of
feet (apologies to those cycling with me tomorrow)

That's OK, you'll be behind us. me

which can be an "iffy" place to be

[TimO]

I can't say I've ever done more than go through Crewe on a train, it sounds possibly like that's the best approach!

I thought maybe you were near the half way point, but looking at the maps, it seems like that will be a few more days ride yet.  Keep on going, and continue with the ride reports.

[PaulR]

Thanks for these entertaining reports Pippa - they reinforce my view that LEJoG is a ride that has to be done at some point.  Good luck with the northern bits!

[GillP]

I'm happy to report that Pippa is in good spirits.   

Toekneep, RDaviesB and I rode to meet her at her B&B in Eccleston and rode with her along some lovely lanes to Garstang. A good cafe stop set her up for the second half of todays ride and when we left her on the outskirts of Garstang she had indeed just passed the halfway point. 

We had a great time, it was good to meet Pippa and ride with her   

[Adam]

I am now tucked up in bed and in complete contrast to this morning I'm
actually really looking forwards to tomorrow. What a difference a day
makes. Bring it on

Well done. 

Not sure I could ever do all that, so really enjoying the ride reports.

Scratch that.  A friend has just asked me to do a Cape Wrath to Dungeness ride with him next year for charity.   

[Jurek]

Scratch that.  A friend has just asked me to do a Cape Wrath to Dungeness ride with him next year for charity.   

Have you tried asking googlemaps for walking directions from Cape Wrath to Dungeness? 

[Adam]

Scratch that.  A friend has just asked me to do a Cape Wrath to Dungeness ride with him next year for charity.   

Have you tried asking googlemaps for walking directions from Cape Wrath to Dungeness? 

A charity bike ride via pedalo!!

[toekneep]

We did indeed have a splendid ride with her this morning. She now knows what a barmcake is as well. Thanks for the company Pippa, it was a real pleasure to show you some of our quieter lanes, and the ever present sunshine that Lancashire enjoys. 

[jogler]

It appears that the DLWG is firmly connected

[Pippa]

Day 9

Eccleston to Kendal
64 miles

Fantastic. Fantastic. Fantastic.

That has got to one of my all time perfect cycling days. To me it was
exactly what cycling should be about - fab lanes, company, scenery and
weather.
Not only that but apparently the place I stayed last night was 5 doors down
from where Bradley Wiggins lives - I should have gone knocking and asked to
borrow his track pump

Toekneep, GillP and RdavisB very kindly cycled out to meet me and took me
on some fantastic lanes. They were all great company and I realised how
much I had missed the social aspect of cycling this last week.

It turns out there was a cycle race going on so we pulled over to watch. It
looked very intense! There were a couple of racers in Dulwich Paragon kit.
I'm sure we all looked like that but with big smiles on our faces

All too quickly we had arrived in Garsteng and we stopped to eat Barmcakes.
Nomnomnom. The travelling trio then pointed me in the direction of
Lancaster. We said our goodbyes and off I set.

My original route was supposed to put me on the A6 through the centre of
Lancaster but on the advice or Tony and Richard I pulled off and followed
NCN 6 all the way to, through and out the other side. It was very easy and
I can heartily recommend it.

Once through Lancaster I briefly rejoined the A6 but then pulled off onto
more lanes. Whilst around me was flat, in the distance I could see the
hills of the lakes sprouting out of the ground. The blue sky was bluer than
a blue thing with little fluffy clouds dotted about. The views were fab and
everything was well with the world.

I cycled past a pub with a few cyclists in the garden and as I was only 10
miles from my destination I opted to stop and have a beer. I sat out in the
sun and enjoyed my surroundings. Lovely. I then very gently pootled my way
to Kendal enjoying more lanes.

I got to my B&B where Sheila offered to do my laundry. Hurrah. Apparently
she gets quite a few end to enders in and, as she said, they half wash
their clothes, put them on the towel rail and turn it on and it stinks out
the house. So she'd rather wash them.

I am now about to enjoy the biggest pizza with a nice large glass of red.
Adamski is cycling over to Kendal to meet me in the morning and will be
joining me for the next couple of days

If I haven't already said it today was a fantastic day. There can't be a
better way to see and enjoy the country than by bike.

[GillP]

Glad you enjoyed it Pippa and had a good afternoon. Let's hope the weather stays sunny, enjoy the rest of your trip. We had a good time too 

[peliroja]

We were thinking of you today, Pippa, as we rode northwards. What a great day's cycling. Looking forward to your report tomorrow. 

[rdaviesb]

Yay! That's a great day. Enjoy! 

[toekneep]

Sorry folks, the photos are pretty rubbish but here goes anyway:




Pippa, RDaviesB and GillP and a big tree.



The Coffee Pot in Garstang, great cycling food. (Sorry it all disappeared before I could get the camera out).



While we waited for Pippa outside her B&B these lovelies appeared in the gardens. They were completely wild and an absolute delight to watch.

[jogler]

That FCG jersey looks 
Mind you,GillP would make a potatoe sack look haute couture

[Wowbagger]

Brilliant stuff! Keep up the good work, Pippa. Scotland is the best bit - but watch out for Helmsdale.

[jogler]

Don't go via Helmsdale.
Travel upto the Crask Inn & then up the Strathnaver valley to Bettyhill.The best part of my JoGle

[border-rider]

Travel upto the Crask Inn & then up the Strathnaver valley to Bettyhill.

+1

We did that, and it was lovely

[Pippa]

Day 10
Kendal to Cotehill
56 miles

It rained. Nearly all day

Adamski was meeting me today and he set off from home at 4.30am to cycle
the 50 miles over to Kendal. He was there by 8am

He had some brekkie with me and then we set off towards Shap although
instead of the A6 we went on smaller roads via Tebay. It was drizzling a
bit but nothing too bad. Frankly it was quite nice as we had a bit of
climbing to do.....

We got to Shap without too many problems but I got a bit cold on the way
down so we thought we'd go and have a cup of tea in Shap. It turns out
nothing seems to be open in Cumbria on a Monday. We tried one pub and
Adamski got shouted at from indoors for even trying. Charming!!!

So instead we pushed on and joined the fab concrete lanes to the west of
the M6 and eventually found a small shop in bampton where we had tea and
Eccles cakes. Nomnomnom.

When leaving the shop I decided to put on my rainlegs and full fingered
gloves. Adamski found my rainlegs most amusing I still maintain that
despite the comedy value they work.

We got to Penrith and stopped for some amazing lunch. There were a couple
of other LEJOGers in the cafe who were intrigued by my rainlegs. And also
my Sealskin socks which were also needed.  When we left it had stopped
raining but as soon as I turned a pedal it started. Properly. Relentless
rain. For the next 20 miles to cotehill. The water was gushing down the
road we were following through the Eden Valley. For anyone that did the
november FNRttC it was worse than that. But thankfully without the cold
However even in the dismal weather it was obvious this was a beautiful part
of the country that remains relatively unknown. Well worth another visit.

The road was undulating so I made quite slow progress and even though
Adamski could have shot off and been done in half the time, he stuck by my
side. Top bloke. Knowing it was only 20 miles made it bearable. We both got
very wet. Sodden. But with company it was made that much easier.

We got to the B&B who couldn't have done more. They've washed and are
drying all our clothes and have generally gone that extra mile to be
helpful typically as soon as we turned up today it stopped.

Looks like more of the same tomorrow but maybe it will clear overnight -
fingers crossed. Adamski's cycling with me to Hawick and then back to home
and making it into a DIY 300km!!!! The nutter.