Day 13; morning of the final day

Wind is strong able to hear it howling. About to go for breakfast before prepping our bikes and selves.

Mind full of differing emotions. It has been hard at times especially mentally. Glad I took part but be glad to have finished.

Day 12; Evening

Well we cycled 68 miles from Oakhampton to a set of services on the A30 known as three borrows.

The road is the main trunk road from the M5 to Penzance etc. So it is a fast road along which for a majority of the length appears to have hedge rows planted along side obscuring the views.

But looking at the map any alternative route would add another day. The weather for the most part was dry though around lunch we had a spell of rain and drizzle as we did after four as we neared the end.

For me I had a total of 5 punters 3 in the first 24 miles. The first was a slash through the Kevlar tread and into the inner tube. Whilst we carry on us spare inner tubes we had to wait for a spare tyre to be delivered. The remaining four were all double punctures often referred to as a 'snake bite' due to the resemblance of a bite by the fangs of a snake. Not sure what caused them as these type of punctures are cause by hitting some thing. The different locations rules out a lose spoke or similar. Normally I would through them out but another team member also had a double puncture so spare new inner tubes are at a premium. Two out of three repairs appear to have worked.

So it was an emotional day for one reason or another, like the A30 full of ups and downs but we got there.

Hearing about the below performance of the two English squads didn't help either!

Currently in my room dealing with admin. No dongle reception so unable to upload any ride stats. I can hear the wind blowing outside and see rain on the window; hope it clears up for the remaining 30 miles. Riding a bike the last few days hasn't been as enjoyable as it normally is, several members have commented it has almost become a job....

Chat tomorrow

Adrian

Day11; Aftermoon

Well as we left the camp around 0815 the wind was blowing, sky overcast and cold. Ten minutes later I'm the town of Oakhampton the wind was much reduced. And soon we were on the way to Taunton. For once we had a tail wind!

We stuck to local roads initially and at times the hills were challenging to say the least. But the views were glorious and soon the clouds started to part revealing a blue sky and sun. But the wind was still brisk in places and chilly.

We stopped several times before reaching Taunton . Today's ride

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Currently stuck in rush hour traffic I'm Exeter, my coffee drying up on the floor :-(

Well we have ~100 miles left to cover between Oakhampton and Lands End. The plan is to push out 70 tomorrow on the A30 and the remaining 30 on Sunday.

Back later

Day 11; Morning

Well it has been a rather stormy night up here on the edge of Dartmoor. Blustery wind and a driving rain against the windows. Currently not raining though. But having heard the weather forecast of Scotland with 70mph winds and the first snow in the Glencorns of the season makes me realise we started by pure coincidence In the best window. The previous weeks weather inScotland was pretty wet.

During the night a fuse tripped in the room making a humming noise. After which the heaters ceased to work. So the room is slightly chilly. The fuse has been reset but still hums but hopefully the heaters will work this evening!

How lucky we were to cycle along Loch Ness in sunshine.

Today's ride will be the ~50 miles between Oakhampton and Taunton and then back up to the camp. Weather conditions will make it interesting.

The hole on my right shin kept leaking last night, every now and then it would just trickle some blood so now covered in a plaster(didn't want blood in sleeping bag!)

Time to get ready and then breakfast in the cookhouse.

Chat later

Adrian

Day 10; evening

Hi all

Currently on a hill top on the edge of Dartmoor close to Oakhampton. Orange is not offering 3G service in these parts nor is Virgin Media.

Consequently I am unable to upload any data files.

Adrian

Day 10; afternoon

Well what a ride. Showers, hail stones blustery head winds and cross winds!

Also got taken out by a colleague, he skidded along the kern to a carpark; and lost control. Mean while I could see what was happening but had a 'cleat' moment. Body and bike were as one as I hit the deck!

But a minor cut or two but bike seems okay. Will inspect for damage later.

So we covered ~63 miles to Taunton and now heading off to Oakhampton for our accommodation for the next two nights.

Lunch was soup and bread at a pub; Paul and I indulged in half a guinness with our food.

What a days ride. Three days left to cycle ~145 miles

Day 10; Morning

Good morning world. Day ten of our mammoth challenge and we are driving back to Chepstow.

Slept Reasonably well. Roomate crashed out after nine snoring like no tomorrow! I followed around ten but woke up cold despite the ro being warm - it does help being under the duvet!

Nosh in the TGIF wasn't bad at all now were the two pints of wife beater!!

Looking forward to food as stomach is rumbling again! Next week will need to watch what I eat!

Weather for today is mostly dry but blustery with 50mph gusts increasing to 60mph later. Hopeful wind appears to be a NW direction and we are going SW so more of a cross wind with a tail wind across the severn bridge! Time will tell . But with the winds will come a chill factor.

Plan is to complete 60-70miles of the remaining ~225 that we have to cover to Lands End and then head home Sunday afternoon evening.

Chat later

Adrian

Why are services so expensive? As always the emphasis is on more ; double this for £1.00 or add that for a £1.50: bottle of water for another quid yet won't offer you a substitute for beans. But the larger the meal (and less healthy) the better the value. And the government wonder why we a a nation of fat bar-stewards....

Rant over