Land’s End to Liverpool
LEJOG – Preparation
LEJOG – Getting to Penzance
LEJOG Part 2 – Liverpool to Edinburgh
LEJOG Part 3 – Edinburgh to John O’Groats
LEJOG – Video Clips
A trip to The Orkneys
We woke to a damp and misty morning and after breakfast got ready for our first day’s riding – out to Land’s End and back. We had booked the room in our Penzance B&B for a couple of nights as we’d be coming back this way and it meant we could leave the bulk of our stuff in the room.
Strava for Day 1 – 5th June 2012
Strava for Day 2 – 6th June 2012
From Penzance we headed for another two night stay at Gweek. This allowed us to ride out to the Lizzard and again leave most of our luggage at the B&B. It may not have been wet, but boy was it windy! It was hard and slow going to get out to the Lizzard. Karon had a job standing by the sign and had to hang on to the bike to stop that toppling. The upside was a lightning ride back to Gweek with cruising speeds of over 20mph.
Strava for Day 3 – 7th June 2012
Strava for Day 4 – 8th June 2012
From Gweek we headed for Truro then cut across Cornwall towards the north coast, stopping overnight at St. Newlyn East. Spent the evening in the Pheasant Pub which had a great atmosphere. Onwards for the Camel Trail, through Wadebridge and to a B&B near Blisland. I had picked this place as I wanted to sample at least a couple of the 14 ales on tap at the Blisland Inn. The place was packed but we managed to squeeze in and get a table for some food along with the beer.
Strava for Day 5 – 9th June 2012
Strava for Day 6 – 10th June 2012
The climb up onto Bodmin moor was hard but once up there, it wasn’t too bad and though damp, the rain held off. By the time we had crossed the moor we were both desperate for some lunch and just when we needed it, a pub came into view.
That night was spent at Forda Farm B&B near Holsworthy. Being on a farm, out in the sticks, there were no nearby food outlets – the farmer’s wife offered to give us a lift into Holsworthy, but we had some sandwiches that we hadn’t eaten at lunchtime and there was a bottle of bubbly in our rooms, so we were fine.
From Ford Farm we headed for the Tarka Trail, deviating to stop for lunch in a pub – converted stables – in the village of Merton. Once back on the Tarka Trail it was easy riding all the way to Yelland and our next overnight stop. At breakfast we got chatting to another guest – a Rabbi who was also riding LEJOG as part of relay team of eight. Retrieving the bike from inside a barn I discovered a hole in the seat pocket where I had left some uneaten cake. Despite being wrapped a mouse had obviously decided to make it an overnight snack.
Strava for Day 7 – 11th June 2012
From Yelland we were briefly back on the Tarka Trail into Barnstable then headed for Exebridge.
Strava for Day 8 – 12th June 2012
By jove Devon was lumpy! After a night at Exebridge in the Anchor Inn, the first hill away from our pub B&B was a killer!
Strava for Day 9 – 13th June 2012
On then, to a nice farmhouse at Creech St. Michael near Taunton, after which we hit the Somerset levels.
Strava for Day 10 – 14th June 2012
With the hills of Cornwall and Devon firmly behind us things got a little easier across the Somerset levels as we made our way northwards. Making use of canal towpaths for the first time presented a new problem – gates! Often the wider gate was locked and a kissing gate was the only access. It meant taking the bags off and upending the bike to squeeze through. Not ideal.
Near Weston Super Mare we were met by a couple of Tandem Club members who had offered a room for the night.
Strava for Day 11 – 15th June 2012
Our friends guided us out of Weston Supermare and we parted company when we rejoined the Strawberry Line. Around lunchtime we crossed the Avonmouth Bridge, found a pub for lunch in Avonmouth then carried on, stopping overnight near Thornbury.
Strava for Day 12 – 16th June 2012
At Gloucester we had to take refuge in a fast-food place as the heavens opened and dumped a huge amount of water in a pretty short time.
With all the rain, the Severn was pretty high as we followed it along quiet country lanes to its east as far as Tewksbury where we stopped overnight.
Strava for Day 13 – 17th June 2012
On again, heading for Stourport-on-Severn where we picked up the Worcester and Stour Canal as fas as Kidderminster and our next stop. The hotel restaurant being closed we took a walk into the town (further than we thought it would be) but found a great Balti place to eat and celebrate my birthday.
Strava for Day 14 – 18th June 2012
Our route from Kidderminster to Ironbridge took us through Bridgnorth – perfect for a coffee stop, but the climb from the river up to the High Street had us pushing. Once up there, the Pino came in for a lot of attention and resulting questions.
At Ironbridge we had time and it was dry enough to sketch, but just to keep up what was fast becoming the norm, it did rain in the evening. Next morning was ok again and Karon found a lovely pie shop so we bought a packed lunch for later.
Strava for Day 15 – 19th June 2012
Our route out of Ironbridge took us between Telford and Shrewsbury then on through Wem. At Moreton Corbet the ruins of the castle provided the perfect backdrop for a picnic of pies.
Strava for Day 16 – 20th June 2012
After a night in Whitchurch we passed through Chester alongside the canal then a cyclepath along a disused rail line took us to the base of the Wirral. On the Wirral we detoured to take in a coffee stop at the Eureka Café, a bit of a Mecca for cyclists but sadly no longer in business. Typically, our hotel was on the highest point of the whole spit of land.
Strava for Day 17 – 21st June 2012
In Liverpool we had booked a couple of nights as I planned a day off to take ‘The magical Mystery Tour’. Shirley, our B&B landlady obviously took pity on the drowned rats that came knocking on her door, for she took all our soggy cycling gear (all that we had), and said she’d wash and iron it all!
22nd June – The tour the following day was great fun. The MC on the coach knew his stuff and was very funny as he recounted stories about the fab four. We took in the houses of George, Paul and John, the gates at Strawberry Fields and eventually ended up at the (relocated) Cavern for a drink. After the tour we headed for the port area, took a ride in a big wheel and found the Apple shop where I bought a new phone, downloaded the back-up onto it then sold the old one in a second-hand shop.
