Facts and Figures

These facts are specially for Miss Fleming's class at East Linton Primary in Scotland.I know they are following the blog and would find them interesting. There is a museum at Lands End which tells you about all the various journeys from Lands End to John O Groats. A young boy not much older than P3s, once walked it in 40 days!

Richard joins us

The bike spent the night in a milking shed and we set off as early as the BandB breakfast would allow.Richard Broad caught atrain to Taunton and met Pat at Greenham which is 12 miles from Taunton. The Back-up was meant to meet them at lunch time with the provisions but got hopelessly lost in the wilds of Devon. I panicked a bit when I came to the canal track marked on the map and found it was only for cyclists and made a massive, unnecessary detour arriving with lunch at 2.30pm. Pat did 78 miles today and he and Richard have a long day tomorrow as they cross the Severn into Wales. I think they are not convinced that scenic routes are necessarily the best ones as today's schedule was punishing. Unfortunately Pat has a cold and is coughing a bit.

Another Hard Day

Pat had another hard and hilly day. From St Columb Major via Padstow (ferry to Rock) travelling parallel to the A39 north of Bodmin Moor through Launceston to Okehampton. He traversed a spider web of little roads ,one car width wide, meeting several tractors en route. Because of the many valleys and hills and the need to stop frequently to map-read, he was disappointed not to manage more than 63 miles today. We eventully met up at Fowley Roundabout outside Okehampton, loaded the bike and drove to the B and B in Bridestowe. Talking of B and Bs, I thoroughly recommend our first stop, Pentille Farm in Talskiddy. We met up with Lesley and Michael Flaxman tonight for a pub meal in Launceston and now need to get some sleep!

The Start

We got to Lands End at 9.30 and the rider sped away leaving me to have a wander and take photos before following in his wake. It was largely a coastal route throught St Just, St Ives, Porthtown,Perranporth and inland to ST Columb Major where we are staying at a farm B and B. Pat says there were some killer hills. I found them trying and I was driving. The very narrow lanes with high hedgerows can be a bit scary when a huge tractor comes the other way. Pat cycled 65 miles and seems in reasonable shape-has just had a long, hot bath while I have found the one window sill in the farmhouse where there is reception and my "dongal" works!! We both got lost in the late afternoon and yours truly was a wee bit stressed about being incommunicado and there being no way of giving Pat directions to a most hidden, inaccessible farmhouse. I eventually drove back to St Columb Major praying that I might find the lonely cyclist and there he was standing wearily at a crossroads! It's great to have the first day behind us and to have had some lovely sunshine in which to enjoy the splendid scenery.

Please know that any silence on my part is due to no reception as I so enjoy communicating with friends and sponsors. It's easier than cycling!

Getting ThereI

I did not blog yesterday as there was no reception where we were in Cornwall. The journey down took longer than expected and I drove the last hour or so with my progress punctuated by snores and comment such as "Change gear!" and "Mind my bike"(which was secured to the back of the car considerably increasing its width.) We had a lovely time in the Sloggett's cottage near Falmouth and Liz spoilt us with a superb Jamie Oliver dinner!The biker did not have too good a night- pre-ride nerves I think!

Great Encouragements

By way of encouragement one of our daughters gave Patrick this card today! It reads "Age is mind over matter- if you don't mind it doesn't matter." I guess there will be times on the journey when mind-power is as important as leg and lung power!

The great encouragement to us is that we have received at this stage £5000.00 in sponsorship. Thank you all so much. Take a moment to look at where much of the money will go: (www.epapfeeding.co.za )

A third encouragement is that Pat had a good training session on Saturday cycling 62 miles including the hill at Newlands Corner and was a little stiff, but is fine today. He went at a faster pace than he will be doing day by day on Le-Jog. The dining room table is awash with bits and pieces such Sudocrem and mapbooks and picnic stuff.Packing starts in earnest now as we leave on Wednesday for Lands End. You probably won't hear from me again until later in the week

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

Off to train again!

Pat is clocking up the miles while the money is pouring in from our wonderful supporters. We can't back out now! The Close Up maps of Britain have been highlighted from top to bottom and Pat has ordered some Sustrans maps as well. The first 4 B and Bs have been booked- with some difficulty as it is a Bank holiday week end. The Broads are kindly accompanying us for 2 or 3 days from Taunton into Wales and Shropshire, so Richard is also training. We have quite a few other preparations to make: more bookings, a new coolbag and thermos, acquiring a TOM TOM (Pat does not seem to have complete trust in the PEN PEN!)various phone calls, sending out the blog details to sponsors and friends etc etc. And we have the GRCT Trust meeting next Friday with some important business to do, so life is busy at the moment. Read about the GRCT on www.grct.org.uk so you know where your money is going.