Alex Menarry's blog, "thoughts from a 89 year old athlete"

A long and varied day, 114 km and 850 metres of ascent. Weather started off very windy and wet – not so much rain as heavy drizzle. Waterproofs conditions, anyway and a relatively late start, 0930, for the journey from Wetheral to Abington.

We had collectively decided, after advice from our local companion rider yesterday (Derek), to take the Annan, B723/B725 to Dalton and then Lochmaben and Beattock. The rest of the route from there is in the gpx tracks – A74 all the way to Abington village and the M74 service station. And so, in windy and wet surroundings, we trundled to Gretna and crossed the border into Scotland (with suitable photo opportunities).

Then on Annan, past the Devil’s Porridge Museum, for morning tea and cake stop in Annan. Robyn, Robbie’s wife, and little Orran (5 months old, my lovely great-grandson) met us in the cafe. The route then turned north, with shelter from hedges and gradually improving weather. Lunch stop at Graham’s Bakery, Lochmaben, allowed the rain to go off and a hint of the sun to appear. From here things went well and progress was quite speedy, with the following wind. Robbie had the drone with him and did remarkably well to take several minutes of video, which we are all dying to see (edit: link to a rough cut of some of the drone footage added below). Lots of other photos, too, with the phone. I had a dib with the GoPro, both on the road and as we came into the motorway service station. A long traffic holdup at the entrance to the service station was explained by the news that a fight had broken out between two (male, of course) motorists. The police arrived soon after we had parked up. Robyn was here to meet Robbie and we said fond goobyes. A very enjoyable day and a very long one for Robbie. Well done, my grandson!!

Occupying all our thoughts tonight is the drastic weather forecast for tomorrow – very high SW winds and heavy rain. A dinner-time conference and discussion followed and Chris’s experience of these things led to a decision to set off as early as possible and “hole up” in the middle of the day, during the worst of the storm. My grandson Jamie and his partner Ruth are joining me for this section. My son Ali is supporting with his large vehicle, which can pick us up if necessary. So . . . .  give it a go tomorrow and decide what to do after experiencing the wind effects and whether it is safe to continue. If not, plans B, C, D may well be needed. I’m so pre-occupied with all this that other matters for the Blog will have to wait.     

 

We are deep in the Derbyshire Dales now and cycled from Bakewell to Outlane, near Huddersfield. This was a shortish ride, 75 km, but with lots of brutal climbs, particularly over The Strines Moor (total climb 1489 metres). This route was/is used for the Tour de France and the Tour de Yorkshire, so the surface is immaculate. Perfect, smooth tarmac and new white lines. Super. Why can’t all roads be like this? Notable sights – Monsal Head, with views of a deep dale with viaduct; Ladybower Reservoir, famously used for the Dam Busters Bouncing Bomb practice. Weather ok again, coolish and overcast to start with, then a short period of misty drizzle, blossoming into blue skies and sunshine. Called for morning coffee at a community pub and post office at Bamford. Then the big ups and downs of the moor, arriving at Bank View Cafe, painted with red dots, like the Tour de France King of the Mountains shirt. The ride from here was a delight, with expansive views and enjoyable climbs – yes, some are when you have them in the palm of your hand and don’t let them dominate you!  The final climb out of Huddersfield to Outlane went on a bit but was not unenjoyable, knowing the hotel was near. Arrived at the Old Golf House Hotel soon after 1500 hours.

Correction on the mechanical yesterday: – the crank had not broken, which sounds pretty impossible but maybe not on this trip, but the nut holding the chain wheels on. Still sounds a crazy type of failure. I have a photo of the broken nut to prove it.

Distance today 102.6 km and 1,529 metres of ascent. A day of two halves and two mechanicals. First the ride: A coolish morning but dry and clear. Great riding through flattish Shropshire rural countryside, just lovely. Made for Stone, where Chris had told us about the cafe in the Arcade. Nice mid-morning stop for snack (tea and two cakes £3.50!).

 Onward and upward, in fact very upward with some of the hardest climbs so far. Be prepared is the motto here, because the right gear is needed early, or things become breathless – literally.

We were making for Cauldron Low and the Cross pub for lunch. At about 1200, the rains came and boy, didn’t they come on. Very heavy and thundery with wind gusts. At the Cross Inn Chris consulted his magic rain radar app and pronounced that the heavy rain would pass through in an hour or so. So . . . . . . an extended lunch was indicated. The forecast was spot on and we resumed in lighter rain and a clearing sky, towards which we had to propel our cycles yet again at completely unreasonable angles to the horizontal. You know those which are pretty hard, then you turn a corner and the real climb appears? Several of those. Any road up, as they say around here, (d’y geddit?)  the rain gradually cleared and we were treated to a ride with sensational Derbyshire views. Wonderful! Into Bakewell and the Rutland Arms Hotel (I don’t think we go anywhere near Rutland). Arrived 1620-ish, however . . . . .  there is a however.

The mechanicals for the day. I am totally incredulous about the series of potential show stoppers, which Chris sorts out!! Rick broke a crank. Has anyone out there ever heard of such a thing? I hadn’t. Then John broke a toe clip. Both sorted by or intrepid leader.

The early arrivals had to wait a bit for the bags to arrive and have a shower but I’m sure Susan, Martin and Phillip didn’t mind – I didn’t anyway. I had an electronic of my own making – pressed the left-hand button and stopped the Garmin. Ah, but, I am now so technically savvie that a restart and course reload was nae bother. So the Garmin records for today are in two halves – roughly mirroring the weather.

Now drying out nicely courtesy of the hot water radiator system and a hair dryer for the shoes.

Yet an other superb day, travelling 117 km and 1299 metres of climbing. Weather totally perfect, with blue skies, super views and temperatures just right. Left the Premier Inn near Ross-on-Wye at 0845 making for Leominster as first cafe stop. Tea and pannini outside overlooking the square. Pressed on to Ludlow, another ancient middle England market town. More nosh and liquids (Jen emailed Chris to make sure I kept drinking enough, Can’t get away from it all, even here!! Thanks for thinking of me, Jen.) Ride continued in enjoyable fashion to Wenlock, of Wenlock Edge and A. E. Houseman fame and on through Shropshire. Hotel in Shifnall reached at 1645 ish. Another rambling old baronial hall, where we left our bikes in the Banqueting Hall.

Counties crossed so far, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire.

Confession and truth serum time. I fell off today. Very slow tractor on thorn spreading duty. Very twisty and not very wide lane. Pillip and Peter manage to overtake the tractor before a hurtling car approaches rapidly. Alex tries to slow down and get behind the tractor. Tractor moving too slowly, left shoulder contacts tractor, Alex pushed to right – not my usual unclipping side. Alex’s body meets road. uttering unprintables. Luckily, at zero speed, no damage to bike or body. A bit of blood arround but no hurting bits. Ride completed in total comfort. And now, at 2058 hrs, still no aches and pains. Stock of plasters slightly depleted but plenty left. Goodnight to all my readers, if any.

Today’s route – Weston Super Mare to Ross-on-Wye, via the Severn Suspension Bridge. After a tour of a housing estate in north WsM, we set off on busy roads to start with, gradually out into lovely countryside. The big objective was the Bridge. To get there, we had to sample the tourist delights of Portishead and Avonmouth plus undergraduate level Garmin navigation problems. The cycle path over the Avon motorway bridge was noisy and long. Stopped halfway over for photos and video. Onward to the next bridge, the original Severn Suspension Bridge, which I watched being built in the early 1960’s from my office at Oldbury Power Station. Memories flooded back on reaching the middle of the bridge and seeing the Station in the distance. A few photos and stuff before pressing on to Chepstow for sustainance. It had been a long morning and a rest was welcome. The afternoon “half” of the ride was lovely – weather improving, pleasant countryside, blue skies, windproof discarded. Another great ride to the Premier Inn just past Ross-on-Wye. 108km covered and 1,181 metres climbed.

Yet another potentially show-stopping mechanical today. Phillip’s replacement bike had somehow lost a nut from the rear wheel securing bolt. Not an ordinary skewer, as on my bike, but a bolt through the wheel and two holes in the frame. Very similar to the method on my daughter Jen’s Ribble Sportiva. Amazingly Chris and he were able to find a bike shop with one in stock! (Normal delivery quoted – October!!). So Phillip was back on the road at the Severn Bridge having lost only a few hours of biking.

What a day! Perfect weather again. They just get better and better (so far!). A very enjoyable 100+ km ride, leaving the hotel at 0845 making for Minions, Tavistock for lunch, over Dartmoor to Mortonhampstead for a bucket of tea. Then wonderful switchbacks (one of 16%, one with a short 25% start) on B 3212, through woodland with views to Exeter. A final flourish through horrendous city traffic to the Juries Inn was exciting. Arrived by 1630, before Chris arrived with the Van. The hotel is ultra-posh and I have a room to myself! 

News of the crash yesterday: Ray was kept in for an operation, which involved pinning a very bad break in the upper arm. His partner is coming to collect him and take him home. The bike is in the van, being taken to John o’ Groats to be shipped home by the planned courier. Will add more news as it becomes available.

Electronic grief – the Strava didn’t record anything today. Maybe my incompetence; it seemed to be recording normally at the start but  . . . . .  I was suspicious when the battery wasn’t running down quickly but was too thick to realise what was going on. Will know next time.  Luckily, I have a backup with the Garmin, so there is a numerical record for today. Garmin records are downloaded to their cloud and Robbie has access to that account. (You see, I’m getting all the fancy jargon now). Post Script – I’ve found the phone Strava has updated from the Garmin site!!

I was going to have a rant about busy roads and minority driver behaviour but I have decided the best policy is not to let it spoil a good ride and just ignore it all. That’s the way it is, so just get on with it.   

Doing quite well with the Witness Book. People I ask are so helpful and it leads to interesting conversations with locals. Must go into a Police Station sometime to see what happens (see the Rules). I’m chatting up the Hotels and cafes so far, keeping the guys on the Tour as reserve. The Log Book isn’t too much of a drag but it’s not very legible, my writing is atrocious.