tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30777504913487479442024-03-18T20:22:13.705-07:00Cycling Land's End to John O'Groats (LEJOG)...to benefit the Simon Sharp Eagle FundCycling Land's End to John O'Groats in the U.K. to benefit The Simon Sharp Eagle Fund - May/June 2013
1,000 miles in 14 days
Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-8253022073163157152013-06-12T18:47:00.001-07:002013-07-04T10:10:21.351-07:00Post LEJOG ActivitiesAfter our celebratory dinner at the Seaview Hotel, I returned by taxi to the Castle Arms Inn for the evening. I woke early, had porridge and a full Scottish Breakfast with Black Pudding and Haggis and decided to cycle to Dunnet Head, the most northern most point of the U.K. Even though John O'Groats is considered the ending point for LEJOG, some cyclists believe you have not really completed the End to End until you have cycled to Dunnet Head. There was a brisk wind from the Northeast and it was overcast. After taking some photos, I then proceeded to Thurso to catch my train to Inverness. With it being Sunday, everything was closed in Thurso except a coffee shop by the river. I caught the 12:22 pm to Inverness and arrived early at 4:05 pm. Europecar was waiting for me and quickly loaded my bike. I rented a small commercial van, so I did not have to break down my bike. (it was also considerably less expensive than a car with hatchback). Then I headed south on the A9 to Bridge of Cally where I stayed for the evening. Had a nice steak dinner and woke at 5:00 a.m. to head to St. Andrews. It was overcast and a cool, windy morning. I arrived at St. Andrews at 6:30 a.m. and was the 10th to sign up for golf. The first 8 were able to play in the morning, but I was able to play in the afternoon. I spent the morning doing some sightseeing, buying souvenirs and having breakfast and lunch. I hit balls before my tee time at 2:30 p.m.<br />
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This really was the icing on the cake to my trip. The sun came out, the wind was up and St. Andrews was everything I hoped it would be. I hired a trainee caddie, David from the Lake District ( who was three weeks on the job). I was paired with three other gentlemen, one from San Diego, one from Australia and one from Bermuda. We all had a similar game which made it fun. The highlight was when one of them hit their drive on the 17th tee on top of the slate roof of the St. Andrews hotel and it came bobbling down like "mousetrap". We all had a great laugh. I was really proud of myself that I parred the 1st, 17th and 18th holes. I shot a 92. I of course had my photo taken on the bridge of the 18th fairway. After a pint in the Clubhouse, I said goodbye to St. Andrews at 7:50 p.m. and drove down to Edinburgh. I dropped the van off at Waverly station and took the Caledonian Clipper overnight train to London Euston that arrived at 7:15 a.m. I then cycled to the Park Grand Paddington where I had stayed on my arrival to England. I dropped my bags and then cycled my bike to the Bicycle Workshop for them to disassemble and pack up in my cycle travel case. I went back to the hotel, showered and then went souvenir/gift shopping until the late afternoon when I picked up my bike. The folks at the shop were very generous to donate $100 to the SS Eagle Fund. </div>
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That evening I went to Leicester Square, had my last meal in the UK at an Italian Trattoria and called it a night. This morning I rose, packed and headed to Heathrow via Paddington Station to catch my 11:00 a.m. flight on Virgin Atlantic to Chicago. Then I take Southwest home to Jackson late this afternoon.</div>
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Once again, an incredible journey, meeting some wonderful people, experiencing all that the U.K. has to offer and having a great sense of achievement and contentment. </div>
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Now back to reality and all that awaits.</div>
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I do plan to highlight the things I recommend and things I might have done differently in the near future to help those still contemplating the experience. Stay tuned.......</div>
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To all those reading, let's try and get that $20K goal met...almost there....please encourage friends to participate however small the contribution.</div>
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Again many thanks to all that have contributed to the charities in Simon's honor. Cheers for now.......</div>
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Birds that can be seen around Dunnet Head</div>
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The look back over the cliffs to the mainland from Dunnet Head</div>
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The view north overlooking the Orkney Islands from Dunnet Head</div>
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Dunnet Head Lighthouse in the background</div>
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Map showing the positioning of Dunnet Head</div>
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Entering St. Andrews</div>
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The 18th green at St. Andrews</div>
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The historic St. Andrews Cathedral</div>
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Downtown Alley</div>
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The Clubhouse</div>
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The view from the clubhouse to the city of St. Andrews..big University town</div>
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Yours truly teeing it up on the 1st tee</div>
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On the course looking back towards city</div>
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On the famous bridge in the 18th fairway..look at that perfect sky. It gave me goosebumps just thinking of all the golf legends that took the same walk. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club is the building to the left of me in the background.</div>
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Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-35744766090593634842013-06-09T00:00:00.001-07:002013-06-09T00:00:18.742-07:00Day 14 Altnaharra to John O'Groats 76 miles...1,074 miles total
completed<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">What a Journey! YES, I did finish yesterday and it was not only an exhilarating day, but very emotional one for me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I started out at 8:15 a.m. in Altnaharra riding the Strathnaver Trail. The weather was cool and overcast, but the sun peeked out several times throughout the day and it warmed up to 68 degrees. My last leg of the trip took me through Bettyhill ( I prefer to call it bugger hill), Melvich, Dounreay, Thurso, Dunnet, Mey to John O'Groats. I really felt a burst of adrenaline as if Simon was pushing me this last leg. At the end I had so much energy, I felt like going back to Land's End the next day. (Don't laugh....a group of eight retirees were at the dinner table next to us and were doing exactly that starting tomorrow...JOGLE-John O'Groats to Land's End). It was a relatively easy ride from Altnaharra to Bettyhill, then a grueling climb up onto the road along the northern part of Scotland where you could see the North Sea along the entire route. I ran into the Pelaton at Bettyhill where I stopped for tea, but they were already pretty spread out. From Bettyhill the road was very up and down. Up to the dales and down not to the valleys where the towns were along the coastline. Stopped in Thurso for a late lunch and had a sausage roll and tea. Did a little shopping there and then onto the Castle Arms in Mey. The Queen Mother had her summer residence here at Mey Castle until she passed away. I waited at the Castle Arms for the rest of the group, met the owners and had a half pint. At 4:00 p.m., the group had not arrived, so I continued on the last 6 miles to John O'Groats. As you can see the photographer had to put extensions on the sign, just to fit Jackson, Mississippi. After congratulating the group and taking care of photos, I rode back six miles to the Castle Arms where I stayed for the evening. Had a nice celebratory dinner with the group at the Seaview Hotel and yes had one dram of Glenmorangae before calling it a night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I plan on blogging more and summarizing the highlights later. But let me just say a few thank you's.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thanks to Tamar for letting me make take this journey, and dealing with the day-to-day headaches of running the Inn while I've been gone. Thanks for the support and encouragement from my sister Penny, brother's Michael & David and Nick, David, Martin, David, Matt, Helen and from the tour group that I joined along the way. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My sincere gratitude from all the well wishes from friends and acquaintances, and words of encouragement along the way. And special thanks to everyone who donated (large and small) to benefit the two great causes in Simon's honor. It truly has been an incredible experience, one I will cherish forever!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Starting off my journey outside Altnaharra</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCKMlkWg0QtfS7HLhWw_gDtUM6eMRXN5Ep84CwOGfPunOQuQVnbLUduj66G32Q8nrdI7lg8OJ0aQxF1gxV-UVHE3QxpEdc27wEmVm_DUPLS_PmwxAmfGqVpWOJRS2NOojFD4zQlOAgx_A/s640/blogger-image--1288878607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCKMlkWg0QtfS7HLhWw_gDtUM6eMRXN5Ep84CwOGfPunOQuQVnbLUduj66G32Q8nrdI7lg8OJ0aQxF1gxV-UVHE3QxpEdc27wEmVm_DUPLS_PmwxAmfGqVpWOJRS2NOojFD4zQlOAgx_A/s640/blogger-image--1288878607.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Morning clouds over Ben Kilbreck<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCKMlkWg0QtfS7HLhWw_gDtUM6eMRXN5Ep84CwOGfPunOQuQVnbLUduj66G32Q8nrdI7lg8OJ0aQxF1gxV-UVHE3QxpEdc27wEmVm_DUPLS_PmwxAmfGqVpWOJRS2NOojFD4zQlOAgx_A/s640/blogger-image--1288878607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_Jm3NFZG08GHmvOSOIRABZR9UEQ7ZRCW49tpvJz0A1m4W7T9A0nhL2qQBDQa4aVG06hYAPKrYq5ZrBzuOu7V1DP1XaTJepiFgnf_lFRykLOUnG68gaijQVHPLYz4qBCwl63Dnv5-uf7g/s640/blogger-image-389517964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_Jm3NFZG08GHmvOSOIRABZR9UEQ7ZRCW49tpvJz0A1m4W7T9A0nhL2qQBDQa4aVG06hYAPKrYq5ZrBzuOu7V1DP1XaTJepiFgnf_lFRykLOUnG68gaijQVHPLYz4qBCwl63Dnv5-uf7g/s640/blogger-image-389517964.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The first sign I ran across denoting the mileage left to the finish line<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_Jm3NFZG08GHmvOSOIRABZR9UEQ7ZRCW49tpvJz0A1m4W7T9A0nhL2qQBDQa4aVG06hYAPKrYq5ZrBzuOu7V1DP1XaTJepiFgnf_lFRykLOUnG68gaijQVHPLYz4qBCwl63Dnv5-uf7g/s640/blogger-image-389517964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvr2x7Ox0xHjFIw3nRnON009WAYsjXd5abpzlOfonNdHB5gcOIYHx26-fdZd-Df1qwqnP_ikPl04cwNBo1ub533HB8I1EXSgv0lypHqeKRcVwLPRpY5DXU2GVeP-NwBhVZI5hq-pV5A9i/s640/blogger-image--116130045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvr2x7Ox0xHjFIw3nRnON009WAYsjXd5abpzlOfonNdHB5gcOIYHx26-fdZd-Df1qwqnP_ikPl04cwNBo1ub533HB8I1EXSgv0lypHqeKRcVwLPRpY5DXU2GVeP-NwBhVZI5hq-pV5A9i/s640/blogger-image--116130045.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Climbing up to Bettyhill<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvr2x7Ox0xHjFIw3nRnON009WAYsjXd5abpzlOfonNdHB5gcOIYHx26-fdZd-Df1qwqnP_ikPl04cwNBo1ub533HB8I1EXSgv0lypHqeKRcVwLPRpY5DXU2GVeP-NwBhVZI5hq-pV5A9i/s640/blogger-image--116130045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM946o3MuSVcya1x3EqNcvmxnsw_YTBxNbfvBFIR8vFyi1NLcpnBJ4NNHtsEHtZFjqV3RYNdgTnqe711NFZuKuvNud5BAjIfn8jtRhpmC7pp7lB3lUVwEcxX_Vr2maHKg4OufhvvBIWvZK/s640/blogger-image-1118191304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM946o3MuSVcya1x3EqNcvmxnsw_YTBxNbfvBFIR8vFyi1NLcpnBJ4NNHtsEHtZFjqV3RYNdgTnqe711NFZuKuvNud5BAjIfn8jtRhpmC7pp7lB3lUVwEcxX_Vr2maHKg4OufhvvBIWvZK/s640/blogger-image-1118191304.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In the town of Bettyhill, the Pentalon<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM946o3MuSVcya1x3EqNcvmxnsw_YTBxNbfvBFIR8vFyi1NLcpnBJ4NNHtsEHtZFjqV3RYNdgTnqe711NFZuKuvNud5BAjIfn8jtRhpmC7pp7lB3lUVwEcxX_Vr2maHKg4OufhvvBIWvZK/s640/blogger-image-1118191304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpRHSXlt2nmisFRXFG0PSjJwIjDNFKLlRCKTN1TySAGHR0fGxDCuGizkELcZpbpTV_p4-REHfNkayEzfLePay9fyjjwd4-FoZSBv8OgiPSpEDRSF3nXnq4v3-xzccAUbrRb7q2HTBCD63/s640/blogger-image-984594657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpRHSXlt2nmisFRXFG0PSjJwIjDNFKLlRCKTN1TySAGHR0fGxDCuGizkELcZpbpTV_p4-REHfNkayEzfLePay9fyjjwd4-FoZSBv8OgiPSpEDRSF3nXnq4v3-xzccAUbrRb7q2HTBCD63/s640/blogger-image-984594657.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The view entering Thurso with the Orkney Islands in the background</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJ-l-4lrjI00oENLYquJjrykUsuAnKft7vGeKrwqKn67jQZCdZJ3ypIKQmC1PR2SBM2U5ufOQHe_JC38Ft7rq3SR3CaGudCuJXaxZ1H0knTnzPu6dwVsNmvdReqEieg2GL196ce1xxk8o/s640/blogger-image-144454568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjrnuLRCKaOhJ4owTx6LLGxOkKd2O_M_6cuI6zhXEcbiMLgu30bTcOVad1RJtflCM3Ry-7JoPbmU7GG4P1aEqXWhh57BNDsSG9yizXYv-JzPsVR4jkyCj75sMbjJE60Vii1OiW-6Pztsk/s640/blogger-image-1442877964.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The view from John O'Groats with the Orkney and Shetland Islands<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjrnuLRCKaOhJ4owTx6LLGxOkKd2O_M_6cuI6zhXEcbiMLgu30bTcOVad1RJtflCM3Ry-7JoPbmU7GG4P1aEqXWhh57BNDsSG9yizXYv-JzPsVR4jkyCj75sMbjJE60Vii1OiW-6Pztsk/s640/blogger-image-1442877964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewj4Jd3DAleDuGcZfEHloZIMe4hApw59R_AYGqI-qW3GmYQznNDAizVCGEto7h9PHANjAjqPNbiYKfqOxKHPHRdyzUkDFvWpNjcMk5lcknMrf6hayBuu3Zc4FJduYSiHOsrlEd56iPixb/s640/blogger-image--1936646535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewj4Jd3DAleDuGcZfEHloZIMe4hApw59R_AYGqI-qW3GmYQznNDAizVCGEto7h9PHANjAjqPNbiYKfqOxKHPHRdyzUkDFvWpNjcMk5lcknMrf6hayBuu3Zc4FJduYSiHOsrlEd56iPixb/s640/blogger-image--1936646535.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Simon's second stone guitar pick I hid under the headstone<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewj4Jd3DAleDuGcZfEHloZIMe4hApw59R_AYGqI-qW3GmYQznNDAizVCGEto7h9PHANjAjqPNbiYKfqOxKHPHRdyzUkDFvWpNjcMk5lcknMrf6hayBuu3Zc4FJduYSiHOsrlEd56iPixb/s640/blogger-image--1936646535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVJHR_cEHJxkNmfWOe6v26zcdXvUxJ-3SBUTiaBzsrW3mxYQujmqtU3qTo4RtZ0D7oFwsb8vcAIk0-fCQE4G6AuNE_jWjFFG1OTMdpnVzNAVF-yrxT-zfTXCy_m9B1pzUdr56fGp6BVy2/s640/blogger-image-1126664953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVJHR_cEHJxkNmfWOe6v26zcdXvUxJ-3SBUTiaBzsrW3mxYQujmqtU3qTo4RtZ0D7oFwsb8vcAIk0-fCQE4G6AuNE_jWjFFG1OTMdpnVzNAVF-yrxT-zfTXCy_m9B1pzUdr56fGp6BVy2/s640/blogger-image-1126664953.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The finish line.....cycling back to Jackson is only four times the distance I traveled.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVJHR_cEHJxkNmfWOe6v26zcdXvUxJ-3SBUTiaBzsrW3mxYQujmqtU3qTo4RtZ0D7oFwsb8vcAIk0-fCQE4G6AuNE_jWjFFG1OTMdpnVzNAVF-yrxT-zfTXCy_m9B1pzUdr56fGp6BVy2/s640/blogger-image-1126664953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJd4_5sAH0c0zZWhKc8sYtgsZmh989WcFjDGUhL8itWr5mcArFNCjLir_iDaTpWLFSSCCWiHmpb3abOBrjgDHBH-VFQxmWUxY2YEhxTyAHm18dSE6Topjw4LfV0FDqncr3ZrmZF6Sos-EU/s640/blogger-image--1399246535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJd4_5sAH0c0zZWhKc8sYtgsZmh989WcFjDGUhL8itWr5mcArFNCjLir_iDaTpWLFSSCCWiHmpb3abOBrjgDHBH-VFQxmWUxY2YEhxTyAHm18dSE6Topjw4LfV0FDqncr3ZrmZF6Sos-EU/s640/blogger-image--1399246535.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Rode the 6 miles back to my accommodations for the night at the Castle Arms Hotel in Mey</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKbE_lgBuGc4bqGExzGWoq_N4b8NNqa9up5WQiAcBLjkE8MqWEXZsHtLfGuFOWqojM75vT5BfBHxWtW2G_x5xGEjjsIW2b3Oz-u0wrOMjusL4leHSmhstcoWiuLeTyLzgKypM_uEIyICj/s640/blogger-image--372697774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKbE_lgBuGc4bqGExzGWoq_N4b8NNqa9up5WQiAcBLjkE8MqWEXZsHtLfGuFOWqojM75vT5BfBHxWtW2G_x5xGEjjsIW2b3Oz-u0wrOMjusL4leHSmhstcoWiuLeTyLzgKypM_uEIyICj/s640/blogger-image--372697774.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The blog will stay open for a month. I'll share more thoughts about the journey in coming days...</div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-31603777184668408432013-06-07T14:48:00.001-07:002013-06-07T14:48:16.684-07:00Day 13 Inverness to Altnaharra 80 miles....998 miles to date<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today's ride took us from Inverness at sea level, through Dingwall, Evanton, Cadha Moor, Bonar Bridge, Lairg into Altnaharra, 800 ft above sea level. It was a little cooler reaching 64 degrees and overcast throughout the day. As you will notice in the photos, there was a big contrast between the green farmland of the lower valleys near Inverness, and the desolate moorland surrounding Altnaharra. After crossing the Kessock bridge, I climbed up to Dingwall and stopped for tea and a scone. Then further climbing of the Struhie gave spectacular views of the Cromarty Firth. The ride downhill to Bonar Bridge from the high point at Cadha Moor was also exhilarating. After a picnic lunch with the group at Bonar Bridge, we began the slow, long climb through Lairg past the high point at the Crask Inn before descending into Altnaharra. Enjoyed an evening with the group for dinner at the Crask Inn with a Grilled Avocado and Stilton starter and Salmon with family style vegetables and potatoes and then Whiskey Raisin Cake with ice-cream Yummy! We are over 50 miles from any town in the middle of the moors. Tomorrow marks the completion of the End to End (LEJOG). It will be a long ride, but not too strenuous or hilly. We have learned there is a pelaton of 700 cyclists beginning a ride from John O'Groats tomorrow. We should run into them about midday. Should be interesting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt37T0uPPSWNmIV7XHsjKut8BU_5uG4yh2xtV1Puo9ON2BvVf3EeOMInJ2pLaKu4Yg0EdXLS9tiS6UClSRkYcE_NyuMiRya5mdHWntNSTL_cyDQrsQXTmYeMXPf6_FD5FZugivZsdPprT7/s640/blogger-image-1831683482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kessock Bridge leading out of Inverness </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYKJBLsumE_P77ZjNzuuN6QtMUc7_y955mluGoRIF0ZaLnMAiqEKd1JGmHmpO0_ZqCF4GRPunT9v3wUaAyWLuhapOtyhbNz56iM2aOlAEdxwFrXYqdGDy0Ik2i0IJN6rru4rAcJllNisQ/s640/blogger-image-1835116811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYKJBLsumE_P77ZjNzuuN6QtMUc7_y955mluGoRIF0ZaLnMAiqEKd1JGmHmpO0_ZqCF4GRPunT9v3wUaAyWLuhapOtyhbNz56iM2aOlAEdxwFrXYqdGDy0Ik2i0IJN6rru4rAcJllNisQ/s640/blogger-image-1835116811.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Overlooking the Cromerty Firth. Notice the reflection of the clouds in the water!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEp7ld3r1PzvgmfO1iiLDIbKWY2SRG-l5SoQwCQg4ugKBIEmkWhyvtzFylrPmLaVYfVlWSaAiJ6xcWDsU94GBuaUjn6K4xIoZ9avL-gAH4pr5vToQmnYmOEocGJ_RLI3vab8PAOh8xaXYT/s640/blogger-image--1544462115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEp7ld3r1PzvgmfO1iiLDIbKWY2SRG-l5SoQwCQg4ugKBIEmkWhyvtzFylrPmLaVYfVlWSaAiJ6xcWDsU94GBuaUjn6K4xIoZ9avL-gAH4pr5vToQmnYmOEocGJ_RLI3vab8PAOh8xaXYT/s640/blogger-image--1544462115.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Looking out toward the North Sea in the distance</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitI8KYXnwTcwRbAjI4GyA9n3dDk2rIzgX_xWaFsD2qCdwdNO-kMWr8qOiwzHy_df-iyEAIityNQErgegxqxXMltPC-tcmuMfiRc95VNmbmyawuWYFt-ggR2xl-2f94i4myxJwimOExAq1E/s640/blogger-image--1447992403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitI8KYXnwTcwRbAjI4GyA9n3dDk2rIzgX_xWaFsD2qCdwdNO-kMWr8qOiwzHy_df-iyEAIityNQErgegxqxXMltPC-tcmuMfiRc95VNmbmyawuWYFt-ggR2xl-2f94i4myxJwimOExAq1E/s640/blogger-image--1447992403.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Before my descent into Bonar Bridge. Notice how svelte my body has become!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClzIDcHAIH-amBE2m-sEVUQzOy4jv9yNCUO24nsSt_67f4-YtnrIOj-QkB9K7Uw4WMWLiPn1DLTl-ivXqNGH36OfPC4Q8NUWKo1eBwuwS7PP-Qsvf2Z7dl1I_DvwgMANp-s6Nj9741IdT/s640/blogger-image-737327725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClzIDcHAIH-amBE2m-sEVUQzOy4jv9yNCUO24nsSt_67f4-YtnrIOj-QkB9K7Uw4WMWLiPn1DLTl-ivXqNGH36OfPC4Q8NUWKo1eBwuwS7PP-Qsvf2Z7dl1I_DvwgMANp-s6Nj9741IdT/s640/blogger-image-737327725.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Looking Northwest near Lairg</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffv1F9U5Xr9670eG6mlN43ec5EmpWUTOrXjP_6Tr_ht-OWyfVYQNKiHz4mRXSSOvnoXP_CUreoraxQGckXZjG08rJCyfeEOVkihPilXhxrGBbRJ0KhmiJEIFVDN5SjRX0WAgkpaQiM0FD/s640/blogger-image--474913721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffv1F9U5Xr9670eG6mlN43ec5EmpWUTOrXjP_6Tr_ht-OWyfVYQNKiHz4mRXSSOvnoXP_CUreoraxQGckXZjG08rJCyfeEOVkihPilXhxrGBbRJ0KhmiJEIFVDN5SjRX0WAgkpaQiM0FD/s640/blogger-image--474913721.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On the moors before the Crask Inn</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZtv8NNVgU-E4kxipipOAb8xE26d7SXXl0spyCktTnyFrDiBthAgC-nJ9q_9VEzMnYYEiz4EQfwjWWhwkJ_Z3w30HS0zdgmbJXFfJINzqB9uMh8du4CnnBSp_Lzo5VTk8VjO9NfMBawuH/s640/blogger-image-1362832732.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZtv8NNVgU-E4kxipipOAb8xE26d7SXXl0spyCktTnyFrDiBthAgC-nJ9q_9VEzMnYYEiz4EQfwjWWhwkJ_Z3w30HS0zdgmbJXFfJINzqB9uMh8du4CnnBSp_Lzo5VTk8VjO9NfMBawuH/s640/blogger-image-1362832732.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Altnaharra Hotel where I'm staying tonight<br><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZtv8NNVgU-E4kxipipOAb8xE26d7SXXl0spyCktTnyFrDiBthAgC-nJ9q_9VEzMnYYEiz4EQfwjWWhwkJ_Z3w30HS0zdgmbJXFfJINzqB9uMh8du4CnnBSp_Lzo5VTk8VjO9NfMBawuH/s640/blogger-image-1362832732.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZtv8NNVgU-E4kxipipOAb8xE26d7SXXl0spyCktTnyFrDiBthAgC-nJ9q_9VEzMnYYEiz4EQfwjWWhwkJ_Z3w30HS0zdgmbJXFfJINzqB9uMh8du4CnnBSp_Lzo5VTk8VjO9NfMBawuH/s640/blogger-image-1362832732.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBK56r0XTNALElLhzO3EWB76ifZUvm15B0Gb2xOMOo31Bs7FQVV6M3cIhPRjhVItKgTDcI6QZRAeA0qBO_z1sI5lo9pkZl9Yi26mg6XSPbFPIQL60Q46r7C4Z9xqJOZsTnACWDkQXMgFn/s640/blogger-image--1928691448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBK56r0XTNALElLhzO3EWB76ifZUvm15B0Gb2xOMOo31Bs7FQVV6M3cIhPRjhVItKgTDcI6QZRAeA0qBO_z1sI5lo9pkZl9Yi26mg6XSPbFPIQL60Q46r7C4Z9xqJOZsTnACWDkQXMgFn/s640/blogger-image--1928691448.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Deer in the back yard of the Altnaharra Hotel</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFI387ZN7z82t4psy_ww9ft5OYc3Haz3hI6r0CK8p0N5L3JWm81QEBCEbd2QDsJXMfoG0wG5013YNmveil2U6UHqOGqkV2yOZpX8MAf2zBECYFFMNn_OE-pypyNDu1GoQaV8poYvYF9C3/s640/blogger-image--1220059982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFI387ZN7z82t4psy_ww9ft5OYc3Haz3hI6r0CK8p0N5L3JWm81QEBCEbd2QDsJXMfoG0wG5013YNmveil2U6UHqOGqkV2yOZpX8MAf2zBECYFFMNn_OE-pypyNDu1GoQaV8poYvYF9C3/s640/blogger-image--1220059982.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Nick Mitchell outside the Crask Inn where we had dinner this evening<br><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFI387ZN7z82t4psy_ww9ft5OYc3Haz3hI6r0CK8p0N5L3JWm81QEBCEbd2QDsJXMfoG0wG5013YNmveil2U6UHqOGqkV2yOZpX8MAf2zBECYFFMNn_OE-pypyNDu1GoQaV8poYvYF9C3/s640/blogger-image--1220059982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGo1FObJdP-gF3bIU7kIGmfukCdd4PV4tO-dfHFLB-bGO5KVevToLkgLflp8YSonNAXll2AjnKEwsRBeXGqPp8uBeJur4F5sLpQg3hlbg7rpj12q19pbcHf83v7t8zVUq8TzkKmhQQQRn/s640/blogger-image--1963697150.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; ">Dinner with the group including Dave White from Wellington, New Zealand who has spent 44 days touring the UK on a bike. Sorry to Matt and Dave for chopping off their faces. The gang call me Mississippi Pete. Have not sampled a Scottish Single Malt to date, tomorrow night may be a different story!!!</div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKbfVP_ghLJ6wkfggrBjjhxKc1ps3kCYZilo68YonNCeQ2bAJeRq11JSlOsS3SwXfmPGhpFanpbnC5rIMPm0XZ9qzrRm7pJLKlBfg7iw2y0vcbHGwO1oMvu2TNzqL0woyPCRtAPmuCWoY/s640/blogger-image-717252362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKbfVP_ghLJ6wkfggrBjjhxKc1ps3kCYZilo68YonNCeQ2bAJeRq11JSlOsS3SwXfmPGhpFanpbnC5rIMPm0XZ9qzrRm7pJLKlBfg7iw2y0vcbHGwO1oMvu2TNzqL0woyPCRtAPmuCWoY/s640/blogger-image-717252362.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><br></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZtv8NNVgU-E4kxipipOAb8xE26d7SXXl0spyCktTnyFrDiBthAgC-nJ9q_9VEzMnYYEiz4EQfwjWWhwkJ_Z3w30HS0zdgmbJXFfJINzqB9uMh8du4CnnBSp_Lzo5VTk8VjO9NfMBawuH/s640/blogger-image-1362832732.jpg" imageanchor="1"><br></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZtv8NNVgU-E4kxipipOAb8xE26d7SXXl0spyCktTnyFrDiBthAgC-nJ9q_9VEzMnYYEiz4EQfwjWWhwkJ_Z3w30HS0zdgmbJXFfJINzqB9uMh8du4CnnBSp_Lzo5VTk8VjO9NfMBawuH/s640/blogger-image-1362832732.jpg" imageanchor="1"><br></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#ff0000"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#ff0000"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-11635810371683534892013-06-06T14:35:00.001-07:002013-06-06T15:56:15.317-07:00Day 12 Glencoe to Inverness 92 miles...918 miles to date<div>Today I had an adventure beyond the journey that was already planned. My route today began in Glencoe through Fort William, Achnacarry, Laggan Locks, Fort Augustus, Loch Tarff, Dorres and Inverness. What should have been an 83 mile route ended up being 92 miles. The weather again was beautiful reaching a high of 82 F. From Glencoe I left at 8:45am and crossed Loch Leven north to Fort William and then followed the Caledonian Canal. At Achnacarry I took a wrong turn and went high up on a lumber road overlooking Loch Lochy instead of taking the road along the side of the Loch. I ended up going five miles before hitting a dead end and having to retrace my steps. I did see my first deer (for this trip) on the trail. After getting back on track, I stopped for lunch in Fort Augustus being serenaded by bagpipes. Then I climbed 51/4 miles to Loch Tarff -100 ft to 1,300 ft. I had to walk towards the top. As I got back on my bike my gears locked and I fell on my left side on the road. Luckily there was no traffic behind. I gashed my left arm, but no other injuries. I had wet wipes in bag, cleaned up and headed on my way. This was mile 50 and I still had 40 miles to get to Inverness. The rest of the ride was uneventful, mostly downhill along the General George Wade road into Inverness. I arrived in Inverness at 6:15pm. I had originally booked at the Loch Ness Inn, but changed plans today after realizing it was too far out of Inverness. Enjoyed an excellent dinner at the Riverhouse Restaurant, and the company of the bike group, helping David (with the group) celebrate his birthday.</div><div><br></div><div>On the way out of Glencoe looking over Loch Leven</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnmluE56LkY2WVt_MZx82OE5ICeTL8PEWp_XhdEg76STC1Nj53r1gvAoRvsn8QW53JmXvKWOdOFBKBreXKJRdKRDgEOE2j4X81GZMSURqDcV9P74yH2I69jr3QW9viOy0s1lmhiIUr1Gc/s640/blogger-image-1239007474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnmluE56LkY2WVt_MZx82OE5ICeTL8PEWp_XhdEg76STC1Nj53r1gvAoRvsn8QW53JmXvKWOdOFBKBreXKJRdKRDgEOE2j4X81GZMSURqDcV9P74yH2I69jr3QW9viOy0s1lmhiIUr1Gc/s640/blogger-image-1239007474.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Same photo looking North over Loch Leven<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnmluE56LkY2WVt_MZx82OE5ICeTL8PEWp_XhdEg76STC1Nj53r1gvAoRvsn8QW53JmXvKWOdOFBKBreXKJRdKRDgEOE2j4X81GZMSURqDcV9P74yH2I69jr3QW9viOy0s1lmhiIUr1Gc/s640/blogger-image-1239007474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWz52TIeiTIrkfwHUyBSDeRa_U9cycfCxjCBUp9WSgL5uVBcJ7-NVIFrHn-K1Er3rgAh78EvsV8zhcdgYsZht0-B39uWQZxikWV2KNaL4ryvLyA33BU9NDFZj6rAqn1IPj1bCoUvdSsCy/s640/blogger-image--846648221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWz52TIeiTIrkfwHUyBSDeRa_U9cycfCxjCBUp9WSgL5uVBcJ7-NVIFrHn-K1Er3rgAh78EvsV8zhcdgYsZht0-B39uWQZxikWV2KNaL4ryvLyA33BU9NDFZj6rAqn1IPj1bCoUvdSsCy/s640/blogger-image--846648221.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Crossing a bridge looking back to Glencoe</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWz52TIeiTIrkfwHUyBSDeRa_U9cycfCxjCBUp9WSgL5uVBcJ7-NVIFrHn-K1Er3rgAh78EvsV8zhcdgYsZht0-B39uWQZxikWV2KNaL4ryvLyA33BU9NDFZj6rAqn1IPj1bCoUvdSsCy/s640/blogger-image--846648221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcR6k6FhmVY24As7sh0RV5oEuPy-j0VVTKg_cu81eF4tAe_QnrWuZJr6MzQpLdLTn4DBlnWUJ5VylCnvlcrZkjETx1a1Xk_fGsO_djO9wqw9ugaTm5hadoXQnqdtvzRFsUUa8zhgaOxzs/s640/blogger-image--1506216684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcR6k6FhmVY24As7sh0RV5oEuPy-j0VVTKg_cu81eF4tAe_QnrWuZJr6MzQpLdLTn4DBlnWUJ5VylCnvlcrZkjETx1a1Xk_fGsO_djO9wqw9ugaTm5hadoXQnqdtvzRFsUUa8zhgaOxzs/s640/blogger-image--1506216684.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Looking North over Loch Leven<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcR6k6FhmVY24As7sh0RV5oEuPy-j0VVTKg_cu81eF4tAe_QnrWuZJr6MzQpLdLTn4DBlnWUJ5VylCnvlcrZkjETx1a1Xk_fGsO_djO9wqw9ugaTm5hadoXQnqdtvzRFsUUa8zhgaOxzs/s640/blogger-image--1506216684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw7ll2mYskgVYIZC1baKdCWSMiHGF16CfkLoNADJMNCvgtyewN_rDQEubtOwUkVXaX2ew9OITcKd20JTWQ9A2lkWYbkezRx_JvXP3aDezkLWGH1HY9NICIkIiAg-y5B2c6JeTtIxpE05E/s640/blogger-image-1299672310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw7ll2mYskgVYIZC1baKdCWSMiHGF16CfkLoNADJMNCvgtyewN_rDQEubtOwUkVXaX2ew9OITcKd20JTWQ9A2lkWYbkezRx_JvXP3aDezkLWGH1HY9NICIkIiAg-y5B2c6JeTtIxpE05E/s640/blogger-image-1299672310.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Another beautiful garden along the route<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3db-JgS8mdo7gdAyyMEIIeOpiJUt2qg1uyj7C0wOkRe1WuIE0hcWnOYFnSxNFhNwPUrYSYe2PABkpyR5dgkKwfiaxSt_6ejfFi3XMXklCsoESuJrgCee0S-ZrqG4cFOoHIrdhsEwQEwh/s640/blogger-image-209966035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3db-JgS8mdo7gdAyyMEIIeOpiJUt2qg1uyj7C0wOkRe1WuIE0hcWnOYFnSxNFhNwPUrYSYe2PABkpyR5dgkKwfiaxSt_6ejfFi3XMXklCsoESuJrgCee0S-ZrqG4cFOoHIrdhsEwQEwh/s640/blogger-image-209966035.jpg"></a></span><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; ">Arriving in Fort William...how's your Gaelic</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-91IQcQPbG8ZLFs4l1et2n1d5TGN_RdUh-mSefC7S_xWJb9a1r5R1NmmQJuaG0SnXnTS43SIMgoT6HgXnY_9E3ahQY8IVuMNLz5rhlXG7xlN4bseYpD7FJu5IZ6qHZ1faCXorcVBsBV5S/s640/blogger-image--1989963053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-91IQcQPbG8ZLFs4l1et2n1d5TGN_RdUh-mSefC7S_xWJb9a1r5R1NmmQJuaG0SnXnTS43SIMgoT6HgXnY_9E3ahQY8IVuMNLz5rhlXG7xlN4bseYpD7FJu5IZ6qHZ1faCXorcVBsBV5S/s640/blogger-image--1989963053.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Canal lock<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-91IQcQPbG8ZLFs4l1et2n1d5TGN_RdUh-mSefC7S_xWJb9a1r5R1NmmQJuaG0SnXnTS43SIMgoT6HgXnY_9E3ahQY8IVuMNLz5rhlXG7xlN4bseYpD7FJu5IZ6qHZ1faCXorcVBsBV5S/s640/blogger-image--1989963053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1-cUWW-mflJWXQUlXvf1DGEfqSUSLcZ2QFzO0NqFwPjiJJgfagQsi1lFqk4vWf8t20SJ6mlILiKmuzN3SKKS1quOUZRBXPBujdLU_1mb7oLnB6A5St-jxd2oXcaFILGlaXRX3Rj04rIY/s640/blogger-image--1021401531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1-cUWW-mflJWXQUlXvf1DGEfqSUSLcZ2QFzO0NqFwPjiJJgfagQsi1lFqk4vWf8t20SJ6mlILiKmuzN3SKKS1quOUZRBXPBujdLU_1mb7oLnB6A5St-jxd2oXcaFILGlaXRX3Rj04rIY/s640/blogger-image--1021401531.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ben Nevis..the tallest mountain in the U.K.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIw5LOZskUCoTFNhhCjsXX0pxXJeIpiM8hcNEMNdVqlLth2PzXjsFE2Mvx7h79HPmuseXVWy-mf226iHy1o8mT4KDBx6gqhL62wANO8tlNgVkudPkmMZ0OES2vrYXx8VCZsh6jOE07tDp/s640/blogger-image-257008550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIw5LOZskUCoTFNhhCjsXX0pxXJeIpiM8hcNEMNdVqlLth2PzXjsFE2Mvx7h79HPmuseXVWy-mf226iHy1o8mT4KDBx6gqhL62wANO8tlNgVkudPkmMZ0OES2vrYXx8VCZsh6jOE07tDp/s640/blogger-image-257008550.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Loch Lochy<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIw5LOZskUCoTFNhhCjsXX0pxXJeIpiM8hcNEMNdVqlLth2PzXjsFE2Mvx7h79HPmuseXVWy-mf226iHy1o8mT4KDBx6gqhL62wANO8tlNgVkudPkmMZ0OES2vrYXx8VCZsh6jOE07tDp/s640/blogger-image-257008550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBzU2hmIEe3W8uwP-SNQ4wRrkcnICk89wkmdhHUljktmDRrFnnSdfb4oViYJpp07RjkcvGlHBP6C3kn5K5pUhhj4ZAVlIDljBRis6EWhi6QCD3Yy_GN5a5r46MA4hhADI0jQ83jMdyStp/s640/blogger-image-888165681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBzU2hmIEe3W8uwP-SNQ4wRrkcnICk89wkmdhHUljktmDRrFnnSdfb4oViYJpp07RjkcvGlHBP6C3kn5K5pUhhj4ZAVlIDljBRis6EWhi6QCD3Yy_GN5a5r46MA4hhADI0jQ83jMdyStp/s640/blogger-image-888165681.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The path I took before realizing I went the wrong way<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBzU2hmIEe3W8uwP-SNQ4wRrkcnICk89wkmdhHUljktmDRrFnnSdfb4oViYJpp07RjkcvGlHBP6C3kn5K5pUhhj4ZAVlIDljBRis6EWhi6QCD3Yy_GN5a5r46MA4hhADI0jQ83jMdyStp/s640/blogger-image-888165681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfDNH3OtgiTFeKwn-LBNgaKcWc9PkqNvKs7_ya7-kS9F44ur55NHSQL68jG8uAP9_8AneQo6yAiGXjaU6DmKhlDbjvFAsIo_GtCTTqJ8AlRkhQuBJJJsXAMxOM_gJVfOdWJOr5lYy4ZTJ/s640/blogger-image-1199233420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfDNH3OtgiTFeKwn-LBNgaKcWc9PkqNvKs7_ya7-kS9F44ur55NHSQL68jG8uAP9_8AneQo6yAiGXjaU6DmKhlDbjvFAsIo_GtCTTqJ8AlRkhQuBJJJsXAMxOM_gJVfOdWJOr5lYy4ZTJ/s640/blogger-image-1199233420.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Barge at Fort Augustus<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfDNH3OtgiTFeKwn-LBNgaKcWc9PkqNvKs7_ya7-kS9F44ur55NHSQL68jG8uAP9_8AneQo6yAiGXjaU6DmKhlDbjvFAsIo_GtCTTqJ8AlRkhQuBJJJsXAMxOM_gJVfOdWJOr5lYy4ZTJ/s640/blogger-image-1199233420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCdBncIUsXHlFlGw4aocnjYq1ZmAKK3ECQLJkP87ORrYgJhjE0x93KAhNXdMIqXySM10awfsXHsajswCsTp8Swynq0UeDi1RyBgeOdwBImGj2NBmflpFfohxtDtC1hGnVWQubs68m7LXC/s640/blogger-image-1658131387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCdBncIUsXHlFlGw4aocnjYq1ZmAKK3ECQLJkP87ORrYgJhjE0x93KAhNXdMIqXySM10awfsXHsajswCsTp8Swynq0UeDi1RyBgeOdwBImGj2NBmflpFfohxtDtC1hGnVWQubs68m7LXC/s640/blogger-image-1658131387.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Bagpiper performing at Fort Augustus. Too hot to wear his bearskin headwear.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCdBncIUsXHlFlGw4aocnjYq1ZmAKK3ECQLJkP87ORrYgJhjE0x93KAhNXdMIqXySM10awfsXHsajswCsTp8Swynq0UeDi1RyBgeOdwBImGj2NBmflpFfohxtDtC1hGnVWQubs68m7LXC/s640/blogger-image-1658131387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnO3dHb9iDHkUznlUSNTx5JwQiSYlWMyLclADFqOGYL-ZPmTHAHT_GDkgptuosoayi9Ek44d1oopDxP8DBa-UA38gN1Ov84B5e4f-PysWDPpo10zwuooZlLF4zNgQ-34nkvAkq2bM8kWN/s640/blogger-image--293639417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnO3dHb9iDHkUznlUSNTx5JwQiSYlWMyLclADFqOGYL-ZPmTHAHT_GDkgptuosoayi9Ek44d1oopDxP8DBa-UA38gN1Ov84B5e4f-PysWDPpo10zwuooZlLF4zNgQ-34nkvAkq2bM8kWN/s640/blogger-image--293639417.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Loch Ness.... Who can see the monster?<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnO3dHb9iDHkUznlUSNTx5JwQiSYlWMyLclADFqOGYL-ZPmTHAHT_GDkgptuosoayi9Ek44d1oopDxP8DBa-UA38gN1Ov84B5e4f-PysWDPpo10zwuooZlLF4zNgQ-34nkvAkq2bM8kWN/s640/blogger-image--293639417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1X-yYBhJXvI9w5FgQl0e4s1LhSwvssY-ObZpzvLHuzIBncyFIDsD6w0Gxg47QlhxE9mQ0UlODMpN38JSqvpnW88hNaE71hUPixlHjzlsSfMZXm201SVEnboHTpx6b8PA6stq6D6gm5xr/s640/blogger-image-1683543685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1X-yYBhJXvI9w5FgQl0e4s1LhSwvssY-ObZpzvLHuzIBncyFIDsD6w0Gxg47QlhxE9mQ0UlODMpN38JSqvpnW88hNaE71hUPixlHjzlsSfMZXm201SVEnboHTpx6b8PA6stq6D6gm5xr/s640/blogger-image-1683543685.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Heading downhill towards Inverness going 34mph<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1X-yYBhJXvI9w5FgQl0e4s1LhSwvssY-ObZpzvLHuzIBncyFIDsD6w0Gxg47QlhxE9mQ0UlODMpN38JSqvpnW88hNaE71hUPixlHjzlsSfMZXm201SVEnboHTpx6b8PA6stq6D6gm5xr/s640/blogger-image-1683543685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDn1Z3pWRDalYXa3ZzyeGTA7vLXR53Ig3uZ6MdYcqJV0TKXfYUnQtX1cVaZp-xQla4XlJ0wqB8aCacIWMbpYXp_UIs2ZafvtoW9cayz4UdiLAjBEykEq3nLWruzEA157r4K2I8g3vhr-sv/s640/blogger-image-1835021224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDn1Z3pWRDalYXa3ZzyeGTA7vLXR53Ig3uZ6MdYcqJV0TKXfYUnQtX1cVaZp-xQla4XlJ0wqB8aCacIWMbpYXp_UIs2ZafvtoW9cayz4UdiLAjBEykEq3nLWruzEA157r4K2I8g3vhr-sv/s640/blogger-image-1835021224.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Inverness Castle across from my hotel<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDn1Z3pWRDalYXa3ZzyeGTA7vLXR53Ig3uZ6MdYcqJV0TKXfYUnQtX1cVaZp-xQla4XlJ0wqB8aCacIWMbpYXp_UIs2ZafvtoW9cayz4UdiLAjBEykEq3nLWruzEA157r4K2I8g3vhr-sv/s640/blogger-image-1835021224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJ_mX5grv1hZwgpJOvY6n1j9n_ZaGOWmcxY8bWWk1_qpaXBNlF_EbXqC7t9A_sBkF3hqKRMiwAp82dA-oiaeoHaqbL3bQ32tSEWuMajDL6d7os3go54jGZ5OdGiQiURR0bj98eBibtiG4/s640/blogger-image--1567267248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJ_mX5grv1hZwgpJOvY6n1j9n_ZaGOWmcxY8bWWk1_qpaXBNlF_EbXqC7t9A_sBkF3hqKRMiwAp82dA-oiaeoHaqbL3bQ32tSEWuMajDL6d7os3go54jGZ5OdGiQiURR0bj98eBibtiG4/s640/blogger-image--1567267248.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Staying at the Place Hotel in Inverness tonight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJ_mX5grv1hZwgpJOvY6n1j9n_ZaGOWmcxY8bWWk1_qpaXBNlF_EbXqC7t9A_sBkF3hqKRMiwAp82dA-oiaeoHaqbL3bQ32tSEWuMajDL6d7os3go54jGZ5OdGiQiURR0bj98eBibtiG4/s640/blogger-image--1567267248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSyQwiS8kB0UDqd-d6Tb70rDWWJmJEbtnK_sX1xHPfmA-Nh8NOVVqkVXY5YEHAEwXgbTmKV4ifWfguNzBgWG9dxpEXaJyFg1HvH7NgCRDAmx5uUjlDxUOyM_V9pvr4284SPxlyMtzDMxW/s640/blogger-image--2031927850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSyQwiS8kB0UDqd-d6Tb70rDWWJmJEbtnK_sX1xHPfmA-Nh8NOVVqkVXY5YEHAEwXgbTmKV4ifWfguNzBgWG9dxpEXaJyFg1HvH7NgCRDAmx5uUjlDxUOyM_V9pvr4284SPxlyMtzDMxW/s640/blogger-image--2031927850.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Two more days to go! Tomorrow off to Altnaharra.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-57720948889589427562013-06-05T13:56:00.001-07:002013-06-05T13:56:28.762-07:00Day 11 Loch Lomond to Glencoe.....59 miles....826 miles to date<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> Today was by far the most spectacular scenery I've seen to date. My journey started on Loch Lomond </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">and went to Ardlui, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Loch Tulla into Glencoe. After a great nights sleep, and a hearty vegetarian breakfast( yes, there is such a thing), I took off at 9:15 am and rode up the left side of Loch Lomond on a bike bath. It's 27 miles the entire length of the loch and the views are spectacular. I could not believe how clear the water in the loch is.The sun was out and the loch calm....picture postcard perfect. From Loch Lomond, I climbed up into the Western Highlands where the mountains are still snow covered. The clouds came in and I was fortunate to have stopped at a lunch spot in Tyndrum when it started raining. It was a brief shower and didn't rain the remainder of the day. However the wind did pick up, and made the latter climb before descending into Glencoe very tiring. Dave joined me for an ale at Clachaig Inn when I arrived around 4:15pm. Later we had dinner overlooking the loch in Glencoe at the Glencoe Hotel. Climbed 2,959 ft and burned 2,600 calories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Loch Lomond</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_19iwwfUuf2YUyFqDyd4xRNmxUi3KCtgyRxFUl_SRmKCNjN2a96YwxewmvB1pMzfRvWiGGuxvfNEYCxyIET1XDWBpjdlEHDhGF6lPzy-oIW2fMWNJk5-lSmPLcdERcfndIzbMCG9GZIJ/s640/blogger-image--1496018457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_19iwwfUuf2YUyFqDyd4xRNmxUi3KCtgyRxFUl_SRmKCNjN2a96YwxewmvB1pMzfRvWiGGuxvfNEYCxyIET1XDWBpjdlEHDhGF6lPzy-oIW2fMWNJk5-lSmPLcdERcfndIzbMCG9GZIJ/s640/blogger-image--1496018457.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Looking back down Loch Lomond from the hydro-electric plant.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_19iwwfUuf2YUyFqDyd4xRNmxUi3KCtgyRxFUl_SRmKCNjN2a96YwxewmvB1pMzfRvWiGGuxvfNEYCxyIET1XDWBpjdlEHDhGF6lPzy-oIW2fMWNJk5-lSmPLcdERcfndIzbMCG9GZIJ/s640/blogger-image--1496018457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidttDGOZstefZfCWR8gE3m1T3PeSSpOSokBDkoFI_iVTJ8Lyc1JWYp7oNteSV3Sg-8ZU-QZY4MI_-e9XyYQeirc8JE9IJGttQb499jIVs1-M4PHP2I-rD6R0M4dEPraC7OCeuYwqiMkAxi/s640/blogger-image-1856687395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidttDGOZstefZfCWR8gE3m1T3PeSSpOSokBDkoFI_iVTJ8Lyc1JWYp7oNteSV3Sg-8ZU-QZY4MI_-e9XyYQeirc8JE9IJGttQb499jIVs1-M4PHP2I-rD6R0M4dEPraC7OCeuYwqiMkAxi/s640/blogger-image-1856687395.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ascending the Highlands as the weather turned.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidttDGOZstefZfCWR8gE3m1T3PeSSpOSokBDkoFI_iVTJ8Lyc1JWYp7oNteSV3Sg-8ZU-QZY4MI_-e9XyYQeirc8JE9IJGttQb499jIVs1-M4PHP2I-rD6R0M4dEPraC7OCeuYwqiMkAxi/s640/blogger-image-1856687395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYBVh3qCoqoYytS_tzYW-P11yYwUT_am9kCTaS_hMibu5GmLIXm5jFgBKnlWDU3U6FKdAZcZvXa4ZmTwjR6R-vpgB1rZa8uZUlxfP3dtfY9lTXUa3wsVmCbtvKv4IwzprIvB9FwLGoyAx/s640/blogger-image--361464427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYBVh3qCoqoYytS_tzYW-P11yYwUT_am9kCTaS_hMibu5GmLIXm5jFgBKnlWDU3U6FKdAZcZvXa4ZmTwjR6R-vpgB1rZa8uZUlxfP3dtfY9lTXUa3wsVmCbtvKv4IwzprIvB9FwLGoyAx/s640/blogger-image--361464427.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYBVh3qCoqoYytS_tzYW-P11yYwUT_am9kCTaS_hMibu5GmLIXm5jFgBKnlWDU3U6FKdAZcZvXa4ZmTwjR6R-vpgB1rZa8uZUlxfP3dtfY9lTXUa3wsVmCbtvKv4IwzprIvB9FwLGoyAx/s640/blogger-image--361464427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa1xhbBtb8eR56EChLIQg9Zc7Szhc7UAs3zuEAlIq7b14mImJMbNmjLymtdYhuovY13gB8CBePMG_QrUcNW0DK8_DQ34rIyo1r0Y9wLejLrG8qaDvinyxsSvvk0Lcq_TDXMvSf9xwbtp9/s640/blogger-image--1690502870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa1xhbBtb8eR56EChLIQg9Zc7Szhc7UAs3zuEAlIq7b14mImJMbNmjLymtdYhuovY13gB8CBePMG_QrUcNW0DK8_DQ34rIyo1r0Y9wLejLrG8qaDvinyxsSvvk0Lcq_TDXMvSf9xwbtp9/s640/blogger-image--1690502870.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa1xhbBtb8eR56EChLIQg9Zc7Szhc7UAs3zuEAlIq7b14mImJMbNmjLymtdYhuovY13gB8CBePMG_QrUcNW0DK8_DQ34rIyo1r0Y9wLejLrG8qaDvinyxsSvvk0Lcq_TDXMvSf9xwbtp9/s640/blogger-image--1690502870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MKrrl8TLxWKRkvk6uF-d2n9MAJcmUpXmydbD2JGYmtQDX5npxBmwqdXMzmW7t8P61exzh-9BL0J_U_9IdO4a0xh4yB2oSpIwPtMGqZCp_DxDbsi9Jc0Db1DGmDQAsn9xMJVlesclgX7x/s640/blogger-image--674812241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMrUB2b2coBNePfejyDiHBaOdf27I5HTDbTRixrd8_8qrS5moFjsyg-JXmSWRBUVe2mPsQejdZq4g9-x91BkDEKp3Q9QodV7-FPNHGT8ccltraoFCJlKmVT-ZQZtkwkHpYzUCnrc23e8u/s640/blogger-image-1140637998.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t_O4AHtzAG3DKcjgdg4__ea7I6XgHqDBJAzhz1C3M4TY9HKCXR7bn0fmHY-WrkJyMczK_PwH3u1E0nSs_tvI_OTDHdBmD1Pba-WHeZJjbz3Ck3n4z6BBssRiIutVTswnniHhPeQL9wF2/s640/blogger-image--869813374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t_O4AHtzAG3DKcjgdg4__ea7I6XgHqDBJAzhz1C3M4TY9HKCXR7bn0fmHY-WrkJyMczK_PwH3u1E0nSs_tvI_OTDHdBmD1Pba-WHeZJjbz3Ck3n4z6BBssRiIutVTswnniHhPeQL9wF2/s640/blogger-image--869813374.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Stopped to listen to the bagpipe player. He was in the pub a couple of hours later after collecting his tips. Have video but couldn't figure out how to upload.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t_O4AHtzAG3DKcjgdg4__ea7I6XgHqDBJAzhz1C3M4TY9HKCXR7bn0fmHY-WrkJyMczK_PwH3u1E0nSs_tvI_OTDHdBmD1Pba-WHeZJjbz3Ck3n4z6BBssRiIutVTswnniHhPeQL9wF2/s640/blogger-image--869813374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmXMWcsiomAbFOqiDDu3Zomzcdi9LMWGBI6slj5_V9oTS57VU3A3xQ8daLZO39lLonfyb5rHXOR5xZqihaijsZid6q1tgClEJ1C3tiVGIaXNGBzTY8Ns6XEg-2b5w7A7qy_SZolJp9H2u/s640/blogger-image-1641936437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmXMWcsiomAbFOqiDDu3Zomzcdi9LMWGBI6slj5_V9oTS57VU3A3xQ8daLZO39lLonfyb5rHXOR5xZqihaijsZid6q1tgClEJ1C3tiVGIaXNGBzTY8Ns6XEg-2b5w7A7qy_SZolJp9H2u/s640/blogger-image-1641936437.jpg"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Clachaig Inn where I'm staying tonight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmXMWcsiomAbFOqiDDu3Zomzcdi9LMWGBI6slj5_V9oTS57VU3A3xQ8daLZO39lLonfyb5rHXOR5xZqihaijsZid6q1tgClEJ1C3tiVGIaXNGBzTY8Ns6XEg-2b5w7A7qy_SZolJp9H2u/s640/blogger-image-1641936437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgu2424mqySDleVnlTe9VEw_cgUK9qszTCZCAx4Vk4PQsIBpQdF1cg7AEIvwuY58Y6L23Mc9dq84nVF45yizEwOTw12OXTrgtUHLUdOP_a30Wn1D9IqX9Cfpp3qEjqOLUzC80SG90UVDa/s640/blogger-image-508788275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgu2424mqySDleVnlTe9VEw_cgUK9qszTCZCAx4Vk4PQsIBpQdF1cg7AEIvwuY58Y6L23Mc9dq84nVF45yizEwOTw12OXTrgtUHLUdOP_a30Wn1D9IqX9Cfpp3qEjqOLUzC80SG90UVDa/s640/blogger-image-508788275.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The view from my window.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmuz8IDF_HVbcDJ5bIMayHnKHk53NrvypDB7NimL68C5Tuta6BocIe2_QpkYvd4CPGMzrnOIdXhrjOUFQy2yTOdosSVwwj5Hwjz8RGfifxxxvDb8PAZUYB-l8ObY342aeZXWijQlUuhgP/s640/blogger-image--1323819628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmuz8IDF_HVbcDJ5bIMayHnKHk53NrvypDB7NimL68C5Tuta6BocIe2_QpkYvd4CPGMzrnOIdXhrjOUFQy2yTOdosSVwwj5Hwjz8RGfifxxxvDb8PAZUYB-l8ObY342aeZXWijQlUuhgP/s640/blogger-image--1323819628.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This photo I took at 9:45pm Sun sets at 10:15pm tonight. Tomorrow long day on to Inverness.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-41602237843001543242013-06-04T13:58:00.001-07:002013-06-14T18:10:26.249-07:00Day 10 Moffat to Luss, Loch Lomond...93 miles....767 miles to date<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today's journey took us out of beautiful, peaceful Moffat through Abington, Blackwood, Chatelherault Country Park, Glasgow, into Loch Lomond. I am staying just north of Balloch in a small village called Luss overlooking Loch Lomond ( Loch = lake). After a rough night (up at 1 am with my head in the toilet) I had a shaky start to the morning. I was not able to eat breakfast and felt weak starting out. However, the flat grades along with just eating bananas and granola bars and drinking lots of water helped me recover. We started up the Clyde River valley. Very barren with forestry and wind farms along the way. It was an unusually warm 84 degrees, and the sun was shining all day. Stopped for lunch and a sandwich at Chatelherault Country Park, a great expanse overlooking the City of Glasgow. Then teamed up with the group to navigate the difficult path through the City of Glasgow that stretches over 17 miles. Fortunately they have great bike paths by the river and canals. In Glasgow I saw a Clansman in full uniform performing for a wedding. Did not have chance to get his photo though. The final part of the ride for the day was up the Fourth and Clyde Canal up to Loch Lomond wherethe scenery is spectacular. Completed 93 miles from 8:45 am-6:15 pm. Burned 3961 calories and climbed 2,269ft.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ran into Dave Buck, from Jackson, MS. who decided to come up here for a quick vacation. Enjoyed a nice dinner with him at the Loch Lomond Arms Hotel. Completed exhausted by the end of the day and hit the sack early.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Wind farms up the Clyde River basin leading to Glasgow</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPI4-KiFr3l0OS6dgxpcsmun0KJ77jB4ds7pLWgJa3X8bXkx5uTrDSwE218meGBu1ajYsszrx82sxdtfX5Y5Y8LD-gXRp1IdGQW59PjRxBZmjggFND_qoL2LOz8KeX37vo5R2DfhjpY4sO/s640/blogger-image-723216458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPI4-KiFr3l0OS6dgxpcsmun0KJ77jB4ds7pLWgJa3X8bXkx5uTrDSwE218meGBu1ajYsszrx82sxdtfX5Y5Y8LD-gXRp1IdGQW59PjRxBZmjggFND_qoL2LOz8KeX37vo5R2DfhjpY4sO/s640/blogger-image-723216458.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Looking back on the valley floor we had just ridden up from.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkg7CTVYIFgXW2UBtr_5T5o6iDsD_6eHzW_yfiNTF5oUZFIKiFP2bnFkZ2Fd4n82vdchj1j8S_MT6mwOy9rPDcYoO4-xehOI-qvDOaP6mKNVQlQ6Ror9TFuq1y_JscPA67z60GKphndPh8/s640/blogger-image-1230978596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkg7CTVYIFgXW2UBtr_5T5o6iDsD_6eHzW_yfiNTF5oUZFIKiFP2bnFkZ2Fd4n82vdchj1j8S_MT6mwOy9rPDcYoO4-xehOI-qvDOaP6mKNVQlQ6Ror9TFuq1y_JscPA67z60GKphndPh8/s640/blogger-image-1230978596.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On the road to Blackwood<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkg7CTVYIFgXW2UBtr_5T5o6iDsD_6eHzW_yfiNTF5oUZFIKiFP2bnFkZ2Fd4n82vdchj1j8S_MT6mwOy9rPDcYoO4-xehOI-qvDOaP6mKNVQlQ6Ror9TFuq1y_JscPA67z60GKphndPh8/s640/blogger-image-1230978596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerzyzb3Kt2H2N7sJiPKn-TqN38yXc35Myj4eHi0DNjJbpFp6w-iXN3T-2etKURcsixgyNi8CGoqHusKZ7MUH_6keyd9ZxVely6vkq7O4uBG62U_aySeFFWvakrCFUuidxKCHkAvwsWOBu/s640/blogger-image-590252777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerzyzb3Kt2H2N7sJiPKn-TqN38yXc35Myj4eHi0DNjJbpFp6w-iXN3T-2etKURcsixgyNi8CGoqHusKZ7MUH_6keyd9ZxVely6vkq7O4uBG62U_aySeFFWvakrCFUuidxKCHkAvwsWOBu/s640/blogger-image-590252777.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Stopped here for lunch at Chatelherault Country Park<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerzyzb3Kt2H2N7sJiPKn-TqN38yXc35Myj4eHi0DNjJbpFp6w-iXN3T-2etKURcsixgyNi8CGoqHusKZ7MUH_6keyd9ZxVely6vkq7O4uBG62U_aySeFFWvakrCFUuidxKCHkAvwsWOBu/s640/blogger-image-590252777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG56cp5i533P6ykrUxS2PbhZIpzOCxw55ozbg-6Xkd2p1H4B2AzBDIJzzKfyFwUI1zkryFtQamdvJ2POyHjRhaQrdlfvzXef1f1557TbDhxL30Q5jamzssU6GteQuhbz_KS63Qd3nfdJau/s640/blogger-image--1972340846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG56cp5i533P6ykrUxS2PbhZIpzOCxw55ozbg-6Xkd2p1H4B2AzBDIJzzKfyFwUI1zkryFtQamdvJ2POyHjRhaQrdlfvzXef1f1557TbDhxL30Q5jamzssU6GteQuhbz_KS63Qd3nfdJau/s640/blogger-image--1972340846.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The downtown City of Glasgow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3XLhvWfH1p0VDC11ICN0pEzluNXkZVjdVM_k0CfKxaiK4UuuXVfzosiIhsGMpik2WF434QUJze6E1SNQTydb36eKWl_sm8-keWUHX3STguW_zv8ihfwsH-JdXQSkzAiE7paW-Q87Py3h/s640/blogger-image--1372115042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3XLhvWfH1p0VDC11ICN0pEzluNXkZVjdVM_k0CfKxaiK4UuuXVfzosiIhsGMpik2WF434QUJze6E1SNQTydb36eKWl_sm8-keWUHX3STguW_zv8ihfwsH-JdXQSkzAiE7paW-Q87Py3h/s640/blogger-image--1372115042.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Fourth & Clyde Canal<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3XLhvWfH1p0VDC11ICN0pEzluNXkZVjdVM_k0CfKxaiK4UuuXVfzosiIhsGMpik2WF434QUJze6E1SNQTydb36eKWl_sm8-keWUHX3STguW_zv8ihfwsH-JdXQSkzAiE7paW-Q87Py3h/s640/blogger-image--1372115042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1K_b6o62QGxFbZHcMcQjERPyZJF0w2IA_xHr7mkPzGRZWLecT8kTzCmtel5xZIO6i_3gADSHt1UXIN1Q-dSEaHiCRptglAuUx2BefRXfmArrpQleMnsdz2RcWas4NoARoSD5EwaYihXjD/s640/blogger-image--2039805493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1K_b6o62QGxFbZHcMcQjERPyZJF0w2IA_xHr7mkPzGRZWLecT8kTzCmtel5xZIO6i_3gADSHt1UXIN1Q-dSEaHiCRptglAuUx2BefRXfmArrpQleMnsdz2RcWas4NoARoSD5EwaYihXjD/s640/blogger-image--2039805493.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Loch Lomond from Balloch<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1K_b6o62QGxFbZHcMcQjERPyZJF0w2IA_xHr7mkPzGRZWLecT8kTzCmtel5xZIO6i_3gADSHt1UXIN1Q-dSEaHiCRptglAuUx2BefRXfmArrpQleMnsdz2RcWas4NoARoSD5EwaYihXjD/s640/blogger-image--2039805493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZRF7VlecQo577EmxCeg6F6OQq4mH4bO3dLynCMFM5iyU-CwRXDc8x9jJK9GncxFQo_V5hAZ7o0M9tlMp8n2G5oZmK4t7SHw6c00e8XpFjnuch3vVjvuZhKpnDyMoasF335SEmP5Q8I97/s640/blogger-image--138960585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZRF7VlecQo577EmxCeg6F6OQq4mH4bO3dLynCMFM5iyU-CwRXDc8x9jJK9GncxFQo_V5hAZ7o0M9tlMp8n2G5oZmK4t7SHw6c00e8XpFjnuch3vVjvuZhKpnDyMoasF335SEmP5Q8I97/s640/blogger-image--138960585.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Luss Harbor<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ZRF7VlecQo577EmxCeg6F6OQq4mH4bO3dLynCMFM5iyU-CwRXDc8x9jJK9GncxFQo_V5hAZ7o0M9tlMp8n2G5oZmK4t7SHw6c00e8XpFjnuch3vVjvuZhKpnDyMoasF335SEmP5Q8I97/s640/blogger-image--138960585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-p97ajuu1zQCCU1hfGnPMoN6BF9TQQsWQVJNba3pLa-XvbFr2IbJKvYYjf5TzaDzj2zpzm88VFCqBF8ENj9LUtWd-bSBjM8PneJl0QjNgvY7bnfQ_bPmL4-gM3ClIYSs0zt_3t1PUcjY/s640/blogger-image--302307287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-p97ajuu1zQCCU1hfGnPMoN6BF9TQQsWQVJNba3pLa-XvbFr2IbJKvYYjf5TzaDzj2zpzm88VFCqBF8ENj9LUtWd-bSBjM8PneJl0QjNgvY7bnfQ_bPmL4-gM3ClIYSs0zt_3t1PUcjY/s640/blogger-image--302307287.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-p97ajuu1zQCCU1hfGnPMoN6BF9TQQsWQVJNba3pLa-XvbFr2IbJKvYYjf5TzaDzj2zpzm88VFCqBF8ENj9LUtWd-bSBjM8PneJl0QjNgvY7bnfQ_bPmL4-gM3ClIYSs0zt_3t1PUcjY/s640/blogger-image--302307287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5VDukpbbQCEBHw-BJamctO_b5-caXFuVNNmzbUEzfsRNnZeVFMWdbMTtLXdPNbFr98IHCjpMkqHlDy7b9Lzq7rUh9Te4qG9zl0LGt7oE4aKHBmAYl5SzLrNKeefUGk-eoyx3N6b5ZCKT/s640/blogger-image--199342207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5VDukpbbQCEBHw-BJamctO_b5-caXFuVNNmzbUEzfsRNnZeVFMWdbMTtLXdPNbFr98IHCjpMkqHlDy7b9Lzq7rUh9Te4qG9zl0LGt7oE4aKHBmAYl5SzLrNKeefUGk-eoyx3N6b5ZCKT/s640/blogger-image--199342207.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A cottage in the early evening with the mountains in the background</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbOUZjVDOcDD71wWZuqsfJbbZT7X9E5lKJSWZ2rn7pw_bp6qP0gJMwzgCjZl4JZhwldse6Fe4mmH98-fSqSdz4O4H4Y9e_PVEAdP1g1pUzbrEsBIIb8ixGia71K_eewDqUOp9XAbUydE8/s640/blogger-image-1897862326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbOUZjVDOcDD71wWZuqsfJbbZT7X9E5lKJSWZ2rn7pw_bp6qP0gJMwzgCjZl4JZhwldse6Fe4mmH98-fSqSdz4O4H4Y9e_PVEAdP1g1pUzbrEsBIIb8ixGia71K_eewDqUOp9XAbUydE8/s640/blogger-image-1897862326.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Loch Lomond Arms Hotel (small Inn) where I'm staying tonight.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbOUZjVDOcDD71wWZuqsfJbbZT7X9E5lKJSWZ2rn7pw_bp6qP0gJMwzgCjZl4JZhwldse6Fe4mmH98-fSqSdz4O4H4Y9e_PVEAdP1g1pUzbrEsBIIb8ixGia71K_eewDqUOp9XAbUydE8/s640/blogger-image-1897862326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrUm5FGSPTH3L1s17x3PXDOPmgdWu1f-6kChyQqSXu6giUGzpqH3p00FAtAxaYPfZRvTFjjh9eYIB-3xCDWufvB1p6rL70ZMSjPpZjda-eWQI6XD2EbwsjeNIctyJf7U8ZJ_2vyamFPSt/s640/blogger-image--1552147890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrUm5FGSPTH3L1s17x3PXDOPmgdWu1f-6kChyQqSXu6giUGzpqH3p00FAtAxaYPfZRvTFjjh9eYIB-3xCDWufvB1p6rL70ZMSjPpZjda-eWQI6XD2EbwsjeNIctyJf7U8ZJ_2vyamFPSt/s640/blogger-image--1552147890.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div>Tomorrow off to Glencoe. Short day but many hills to climb.</div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-36005074647499816742013-06-03T14:35:00.001-07:002013-06-03T14:47:26.235-07:00Day 9 Keswick to Moffat...73 miles...674 miles to dateCompared to the rest of the journey, today was relatively uneventful. Our route today took us out of Keswick, along the flank of Skiddaw, through Dalston, Carlisle, Longtown, Lockerbie, and into Moffat. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Started off the day making a wrong turn adding 2 1/2 additional miles and some steep hills to maneuver. Enjoyed pea soup and an egg salad baguette sandwich with tomato and watercress at Crumbs in Dalston. After getting through Longtown, I stopped off at Bikeseven. Shane was able to make a quick adjustment on my derailleur, and I was quickly back on the road.( Need LEJOG help, contact www.shane@bikeseven.co.uk or <a href="tel:(0)%201228%20792" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2">(0) 1228 792</a>497. Did not have chance to visit the Lockerbie Memorial where 288 people died. Tonight the Inn is taking care of doing my laundry. It will be nice to have clean clothes for the next few days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today I climbed 4,022 feet and burned 3,437 calories. Tamar won't recognize my body. Zero fat, all muscle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Inn at Keswick where I stayed last night was in the heart of downtown.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Leaving Keswick this was the view on the way out of town.<br><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmXks9Ro3rJRMsV_3HlEBLk39pvQMLcZU_a8cDhhXhlbh8tksTF3cj0gItUBdsP0kS5T5K79HoClgkQMk86Khk47-bmj-7P0ulsgXZsnVeuao46qSXPKTqdGktHijMVihybO6vxk_HZzU/s640/blogger-image-1163390537.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><br></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; ">Over the mountains near Bassenthwaite Common<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu61PnktQY3GifeJQ8mu53sJo3BxDJCLOmueKSDQOYW6JL0lpkv8qfjd75c5vbFlSON-gj0ieOk9nL8OBmJz4oO1M5022OqWVhZyV2n30JjzU8EICqKVKkgh7wD_u7MvcYl5XPvv5ZF4B/s640/blogger-image--193189162.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There were four ( not two) sheep staring me down as I rode by. They were sitting on top of the hill and I swear they were saying there goes another sucker who just got lost.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9vEoossQWjOSTdF3RdGH-kAIXjnWgoWgOolNI7JPS-hMoNqllHaLFHOmJPTjjG4ZepYAHzZdNiRWsddAy-QukgcYpEkdlqOFAo4JVgjR871jSx1eiGy7s3Xya1XYxLQdH_TpYkz2IVKY/s640/blogger-image-70482318.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This one posed for this shot. It was literally standing in front of me 20 ft away for several minutes waiting for me to take the photo.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n3R8WYnMTDlaiNVU_QmyWc3kRklTAc7wd2J1FMGGf-gvO5PRLvIMxLj96r2gyhjaG7YKOTWXk3HusZ6SXUsjH-WS4fe3qJBiAZ5YASBmp4UopgEdLUhl3o7qjc4g5K8g_Nne-mSDvWul/s640/blogger-image-260859895.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Qo0blfuV0HBX5-YwH9hRZxM_BuoBEAdw5N-ICgyjXWPTMRPvHyKN2CiGKKMLa1R342r3QquRCHfZXDABl8x26VBJWEsK6GGSTiOjOjtVmo7iceboi30LXAW6ZwHvUvvTzjFjIxlAWglU/s640/blogger-image--1355787149.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On the descent, the city of Carlisle is in the distance to the left over the river Eden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrfXEZaBG2xc6EdpzxksW806At3-tZLmTZFcaBLLek__DHykKlbuMEao2J6sToUL9S4PFITbtvNnp6CnGKyfLK7xLmBOiN-5OVfqoCdexQnCq81ka9UevlJBZnGSNl0IfUHetKziOeM-i/s640/blogger-image--264523935.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Carlisle Castle<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3nGXAgj0hHLepVE9rb3eUR2T2FIsb8Xsvd4xKb0tRNlK6MHX1dIKbb-5lcc6-uWvC77aIGphHZ9TO0X3gKJF6LI-tZSCySov-Q8a9YMOElbky1vblmYLFvqbNX-1eiL2pYUr3Bg10eo2/s640/blogger-image-504693661.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Some gypsies I ran into along the road. <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCrgO5BP5hOZ3KRnIJkLp0CYiIdr13mq09u1ocx_hknhUjaLroieYpmCd6lGFdvTeQ405jHCpxX0F7OfRFC0vyy-7eLr72L8X6icE3zPphLXU5ROFwhPLN7fWbEKJLHGV8GzaiKwmNXkD/s640/blogger-image-377514525.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Leaving England and entering Scotland. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGRKtmQIPOku2dEyKQXHLNsd7qgFpBiE-Dupg1H_tV7FPsFcHK7cYWVXDgRupXKajO2q85q6AVUQV5vdfagHhPjnvVQZ5oTj9nh6Sj_ccQDvbwhqHlsZ75gAG6nlHEv0W0_HZnXnGikVz/s640/blogger-image-796818335.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Standing with Mc......something or other in the lobby of the Inn. Do you know the Tartan? Looks like it's my size. I'll sneak out in the middle of the (k)night, ( no pun intended), and try it on for size!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvlbb8C8ON4WLVYybfgrEyqnxPvFFnYgeMwVxSfe8nakKiGOIbGG_agvZU6eXIY3bBBWUHQijR4PXsNynDuvVQUUcxMbU4Vh8AYDgHSPwcAQzYG8RkMScGyLl6DsNxX83LyvIjHxDDWbP/s640/blogger-image-655760014.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Inn on Main Street in the heart of downtown. Comfortable and modern amenities.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceAfa7P8W8zFjrM_3hHbqoY4F7HNzobxy7sJp7UbbJu_cU0IN57hGS0wejCm-v0HZhGQ-oWcrB9K2afAtuEhM1Uhb-XBWz3t8oX2bc9k7J0COLK_240r18lL-hw_lD5FJJU53BP5nQ4Sd/s640/blogger-image-129376431.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sharing great food and company with Nick's tour group over a few pints at the Balmoral Hotel, right across the street from the Annandale Arms. Nick Mitchell is first on the right.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Notice everyone is still smiling. Had a hearty meal of lamb, neeps, tatties, yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy and treacle pudding for dessert.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8GFqEdXyRKruz7u6tok6rmJrcOBaTCVyi_yBi8AO9LVO1USt90N2xrV9GsLg66GO94gUBDpuStSjrALfAJeLz-5emygXz4-iDgvK1NZ8dX-G_LIY83nIDQTko7UFIISBHDy3Am5GjHW8/s640/blogger-image-1826065381.jpg"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv25K9lMAVpmhbzuNwmBIpX5FFgwbfyHP6Z06rMNE6HF_ilOGRuSHmhypkUZS4_bMh1xATc8m48RpkT_TpT_B5W0U9608iyRaJyOX_h61X6juY0kLW3fxAW-JJV100GhTJXZ1tBLQqRRjZ/s640/blogger-image-1710010094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Tomorrow off to Loch Lomond via Glasgow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You may have noticed I raised the goal again, now to $20,000. Let' s see if we can coach some friends or family to help reach the new target! Anyone?</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><font color="#0000ee"><br></font></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; "><font color="#0000ee"><br></font></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-45941137310538647002013-06-02T14:35:00.001-07:002013-06-02T14:35:12.156-07:00Day 8 Clitheroe to Keswick (pronounced Kezick) 82 miles......601 miles
to date<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today I reached an all time low and then an all time high. I started out from Clitheroe at 7:45am towards Slaidburn 8 miles away. Along the way I kept telling myself if I can't find Nick from the tour group, I'll never make it to Keswick. The weight of my panniers would have been just too much. As luck would have it, I ran into Nick and he gladly took my panniers, and I was off. Nick Mitchell wrote the book I have been referencing for the journey and leads group bike tours on his route for LEJOG. You can contact him at www.pedalnation.co.uk. Having done several LEJOGs, Nick knows all there is about LEJOG. How about liking him on facebook. Luckily I picked the same 14 days that Nick was leading his tour. After leaving Nick I climbed 1,300 ft over 4 miles (did I say STEEP!) Then it was smooth sailing through High Bentham, Wray, Gressingham, Kendall down to Windermere. Stopped for lunch outside Kendall and had Tomato & Basil Soup and Ham & Tomato sandwiches with tea. Yummy! Onto the Lake District where the scenery was spectacular (reminding me of Yosemite). Rode along the lake valley floor from Windermere through Grasmere into Keswick. Many times today I felt like Sir Bradley Wiggins, England's Lance Armstrong, ( without the tarnished record). Today was in the mid 60's with the sun in and out, but mostly out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">View from the Inn at Whitwell in Clitheroe at 7:30 a.m.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoGlc6X9HyuthVuiluIxSxB9UDuSx3n5ju5fAtqyMPicKfqeWKR386sZODoAoLVBRSE5RfRy_Mn6I4ehJ1VW9O9sST20_deOO2RAmuG62ZC0CMrhwfLjNg6DV5dz1VIKtd1Du-VN2tE38/s640/blogger-image-1068821261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoGlc6X9HyuthVuiluIxSxB9UDuSx3n5ju5fAtqyMPicKfqeWKR386sZODoAoLVBRSE5RfRy_Mn6I4ehJ1VW9O9sST20_deOO2RAmuG62ZC0CMrhwfLjNg6DV5dz1VIKtd1Du-VN2tE38/s640/blogger-image-1068821261.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">YES, I came up this mountain. Had to walk part of the way. 1,300 ft...41/2 miles. Knackered by the end!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoGlc6X9HyuthVuiluIxSxB9UDuSx3n5ju5fAtqyMPicKfqeWKR386sZODoAoLVBRSE5RfRy_Mn6I4ehJ1VW9O9sST20_deOO2RAmuG62ZC0CMrhwfLjNg6DV5dz1VIKtd1Du-VN2tE38/s640/blogger-image-1068821261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoGlc6X9HyuthVuiluIxSxB9UDuSx3n5ju5fAtqyMPicKfqeWKR386sZODoAoLVBRSE5RfRy_Mn6I4ehJ1VW9O9sST20_deOO2RAmuG62ZC0CMrhwfLjNg6DV5dz1VIKtd1Du-VN2tE38/s640/blogger-image-1068821261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr4Cf_Gqv3tOf9b9b650Ix0Y_SWOwk0Q_v4mfIHPVJ7CftTX7qFxeKT-HXGhqzx5JxmjGMWJCrlvXCtxh9o-ViFoCKYdhwhUagCyuVF6YGO42AttJePUKKP-iEvygwNivePTScyWMSdwY/s640/blogger-image-337448567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtr4Cf_Gqv3tOf9b9b650Ix0Y_SWOwk0Q_v4mfIHPVJ7CftTX7qFxeKT-HXGhqzx5JxmjGMWJCrlvXCtxh9o-ViFoCKYdhwhUagCyuVF6YGO42AttJePUKKP-iEvygwNivePTScyWMSdwY/s640/blogger-image-337448567.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Beautiful garden in Grasmere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi32BAm1ESWxzB8X3JaCXKthgQ3dpW64eNMg2djmlZqAGpjQDIabGRgImjaBLAv3n86G3Z1JRza5BLH-V1_geEVRz_BMCyrzGtja-nYytFJbcNGTqDXDIRCu-szU32Pjk3PDlJPdgwb4H2/s640/blogger-image-395792396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi32BAm1ESWxzB8X3JaCXKthgQ3dpW64eNMg2djmlZqAGpjQDIabGRgImjaBLAv3n86G3Z1JRza5BLH-V1_geEVRz_BMCyrzGtja-nYytFJbcNGTqDXDIRCu-szU32Pjk3PDlJPdgwb4H2/s640/blogger-image-395792396.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sunday afternoon flea market near Kendall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUPkpGbn_5Dy5Xk1mIsOoKoz92MTmJKrGfiAF_PbdTdTTPzG4dtRmsFXjB1Mv1cdcXA0_bCHjS_m1mJDIuXiFMBq083xspGIQ7eQ0ezbWOeI0_cPsppyZJ4tRnmnuEWj04_YkxrkI3L-m/s640/blogger-image--893845337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUPkpGbn_5Dy5Xk1mIsOoKoz92MTmJKrGfiAF_PbdTdTTPzG4dtRmsFXjB1Mv1cdcXA0_bCHjS_m1mJDIuXiFMBq083xspGIQ7eQ0ezbWOeI0_cPsppyZJ4tRnmnuEWj04_YkxrkI3L-m/s640/blogger-image--893845337.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Stopped for an ice-cream in Grasmere. Your right I cannot see a thing under that helmet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-omed-13BnqAV70zx5iay6MLDBPtjZNRU9buNe8iNFpd_S912pUH1I7ZYYIAmr75rMisN2i76OPkxSXoTS6suwiEuN17UxyaP1TYEDp3FtOg2E8xC4kN3VjPxnmry7Y2c8PrdisGOjx3z/s640/blogger-image-168537391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-omed-13BnqAV70zx5iay6MLDBPtjZNRU9buNe8iNFpd_S912pUH1I7ZYYIAmr75rMisN2i76OPkxSXoTS6suwiEuN17UxyaP1TYEDp3FtOg2E8xC4kN3VjPxnmry7Y2c8PrdisGOjx3z/s640/blogger-image-168537391.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On the valley floor between Keswick and Ambleside</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEhKfIUR55-aE8jmzlcOqRl3hEkexGqI9ur8jdETzwCvn-4c7zzVbgo3yOJeIZth9AJpSeYONyjYn6HaPLMo25JudgHa6bKHUpImp7n7t2AswZdaexMHDstz-MA46qBcDprN1wwLaW3YC/s640/blogger-image--1947274900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEhKfIUR55-aE8jmzlcOqRl3hEkexGqI9ur8jdETzwCvn-4c7zzVbgo3yOJeIZth9AJpSeYONyjYn6HaPLMo25JudgHa6bKHUpImp7n7t2AswZdaexMHDstz-MA46qBcDprN1wwLaW3YC/s640/blogger-image--1947274900.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hard to concentrate on riding when you have these views to ponder.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEhKfIUR55-aE8jmzlcOqRl3hEkexGqI9ur8jdETzwCvn-4c7zzVbgo3yOJeIZth9AJpSeYONyjYn6HaPLMo25JudgHa6bKHUpImp7n7t2AswZdaexMHDstz-MA46qBcDprN1wwLaW3YC/s640/blogger-image--1947274900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsJSOB_T4UpgH7O0ZxgYEhcMs-wP1b5sT91hoj4Hl8A5_EGC-tZ0H_j5YXeIBiM1d_Il_Zcf2yrUV0MFJLJvtqzF7A1JCnWHms-tdNVsOEuP2AkbcPBxsS31PA2JvnNJdXZ2TY5GRRfRz/s640/blogger-image--142131917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsJSOB_T4UpgH7O0ZxgYEhcMs-wP1b5sT91hoj4Hl8A5_EGC-tZ0H_j5YXeIBiM1d_Il_Zcf2yrUV0MFJLJvtqzF7A1JCnWHms-tdNVsOEuP2AkbcPBxsS31PA2JvnNJdXZ2TY5GRRfRz/s640/blogger-image--142131917.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QZU9FU9QOKGZPQBfh5Eryn8lAoh7fyU99SzRqsl_maa7kAGs1319VxZ5nQ9KM7FtScnjz79G1g6ypLhkyryg-JnySpsBejMaUBFeZXOMiuxbG4TshQp5VuZtmEOUNRIGEgNApndIZzz3/s640/blogger-image--1062779661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QZU9FU9QOKGZPQBfh5Eryn8lAoh7fyU99SzRqsl_maa7kAGs1319VxZ5nQ9KM7FtScnjz79G1g6ypLhkyryg-JnySpsBejMaUBFeZXOMiuxbG4TshQp5VuZtmEOUNRIGEgNApndIZzz3/s640/blogger-image--1062779661.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg343tbAQltEnOBPzdQRNR_BQxUgaqzzc92cvOVcKrUv0DT1AabPZfsv0wAVtdvB6kTMQj38EC5n9ZOuv2E8QTiIOyqO8CtCi2IFQVNQHuRkqMF0fqb901c03_nsleg8MRsg4QrKh5GWRv9/s640/blogger-image-1037942618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg343tbAQltEnOBPzdQRNR_BQxUgaqzzc92cvOVcKrUv0DT1AabPZfsv0wAVtdvB6kTMQj38EC5n9ZOuv2E8QTiIOyqO8CtCi2IFQVNQHuRkqMF0fqb901c03_nsleg8MRsg4QrKh5GWRv9/s640/blogger-image-1037942618.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv9frWyV_6xo5yt5BTEhQBAHTyVTr49ZUmMqx2CE0nFAd3x421XnoU4OUQFDwWioYoRj24SNf38HF7s6AvtLVWY7V93zJNejNyhOd4-Z35b252MBGmA5WQE6De3RoShZn4RV7V8wDBHpz/s640/blogger-image--1193599320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv9frWyV_6xo5yt5BTEhQBAHTyVTr49ZUmMqx2CE0nFAd3x421XnoU4OUQFDwWioYoRj24SNf38HF7s6AvtLVWY7V93zJNejNyhOd4-Z35b252MBGmA5WQE6De3RoShZn4RV7V8wDBHpz/s640/blogger-image--1193599320.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Commemorates the first stone laid to construct the lake in Thirlmere in 1890. This reservoir feeds Manchester water supply.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18nITPE_g5QnFRSmrP7q-3R988zuqUIrMpVM02LDYf0cWl7FA84yP2Ve2c0CHPMFSSfyY3Xf7tx-N3zPsfI3spAKIK1DxWzQous80aLWj89tmI0pAeNYnC_GDxt8gXtiTqHLQ8Z62srPn/s640/blogger-image--436656323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18nITPE_g5QnFRSmrP7q-3R988zuqUIrMpVM02LDYf0cWl7FA84yP2Ve2c0CHPMFSSfyY3Xf7tx-N3zPsfI3spAKIK1DxWzQous80aLWj89tmI0pAeNYnC_GDxt8gXtiTqHLQ8Z62srPn/s640/blogger-image--436656323.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Arrived in Keswick at 5:15 pm and had a nice dinner at Casa Bella with Nick and his tour group. Staying downtown off the square at the Inn at Keswick. Today climbed 4,258 ft and burned 4,190 calories. Tomorrow off to Moffat and will enter Scotland.</div></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-7930042229271736632013-06-01T23:24:00.001-07:002013-06-01T23:24:22.916-07:00Day 7 Runcorn to Clitheroe..... 64 miles....519 miles to date<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After a porridge breakfast at the Travelodge, I was on the road by 8:30 a.m. I immediately passed the chemical plant at Swanton that probably covers two sq miles. Anyway the fumes from the plant were downwind and I had cover my face until I past the plant. Most of the road was filled with industrial plants. After Runcorn I went through Warrington, Leigh, Bolton, Darwen, Blackburn & Clitheroe. The weather was cool, slightly breezy, yet dry and comfortable. I was forced to stop every ten minutes or so to check my guidebook, so that I could properly navigate the changes in direction. It slowed me down a lot and took away any momentum I was able to garner. The route in today's journey was 64 miles, but tomorrow is a very challenging 71 miles to Keswick in the Lake District. I climbed 4,258 ft and burned 2,984 calories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Plants off in the distance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwTj7ViLmaHD1q56-jHY8wbaDAW0QvC9fRS6UuJXSTbmNQH1_DFVixKVN3epZRXt83nI_ClgzKAIa2lZKoRmd6O2Zoa57bJzoNLsbP1cqvi9nj_35L79vLkB6i6i5beZU8-gxY8xKz85a/s640/blogger-image-2098209229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwTj7ViLmaHD1q56-jHY8wbaDAW0QvC9fRS6UuJXSTbmNQH1_DFVixKVN3epZRXt83nI_ClgzKAIa2lZKoRmd6O2Zoa57bJzoNLsbP1cqvi9nj_35L79vLkB6i6i5beZU8-gxY8xKz85a/s640/blogger-image-2098209229.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Bob Smithy's Inn in Chorley, leading up to the hill over to Belmont</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFHTHx3-6nZ78Ez2OniXrnUAUobgmg0th4oGS8jM1RpL8C7CFgzDA3uauJr7VizCKJ6LliT_CfF7pMHrZxgLKC6X8beRi5cHu6bwD0h1rEG78UVZ7zGlGylvUGkGpu2Ka6_n1-Ws_we4R/s640/blogger-image-566718334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFHTHx3-6nZ78Ez2OniXrnUAUobgmg0th4oGS8jM1RpL8C7CFgzDA3uauJr7VizCKJ6LliT_CfF7pMHrZxgLKC6X8beRi5cHu6bwD0h1rEG78UVZ7zGlGylvUGkGpu2Ka6_n1-Ws_we4R/s640/blogger-image-566718334.jpg"></a></div>A fourteen month and two year old being walked on the road I was on. You make up their names, I didn't ask!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBtAzFNZCKi7A2AwbGXbHjirySRQlcML1ji3KRL4sKVe1IKDrc8ibXjonEa5o4q6F4druA7LaxFI0SXIYJpU__vVGzo63gF35eSiqc4kye8KKVOhBCrGVW7sLYAIcNBoXh-PXeisRuiIF/s640/blogger-image-971695560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBtAzFNZCKi7A2AwbGXbHjirySRQlcML1ji3KRL4sKVe1IKDrc8ibXjonEa5o4q6F4druA7LaxFI0SXIYJpU__vVGzo63gF35eSiqc4kye8KKVOhBCrGVW7sLYAIcNBoXh-PXeisRuiIF/s640/blogger-image-971695560.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgm5c5PDQ_pgIGkE_gVWD588q_I14uTVlKjdfI53f0ntG8sUIa2158YonlFYD_uAHTevnWAg7M4P60zYaVeJtMPil9immYrVxJ3Cxb3FIXUCLsFPZ6BltEl8XvP3N14R052G4ar17RFAkp/s640/blogger-image--519637030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgm5c5PDQ_pgIGkE_gVWD588q_I14uTVlKjdfI53f0ntG8sUIa2158YonlFYD_uAHTevnWAg7M4P60zYaVeJtMPil9immYrVxJ3Cxb3FIXUCLsFPZ6BltEl8XvP3N14R052G4ar17RFAkp/s640/blogger-image--519637030.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB00kEYiFc2KHEqVPZHjS5yJQ09wVKat-uqz_YIGMWPb3Tv_qKvlhBYGqtvTGxjAw38qUEKd1INB-DWeRIU6gHy5-EfzSaximfWi5YC-5PjaRZhhdwecYx9r2PJJ8QhMJpcaAnDa2iPYl9/s640/blogger-image-460551554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB00kEYiFc2KHEqVPZHjS5yJQ09wVKat-uqz_YIGMWPb3Tv_qKvlhBYGqtvTGxjAw38qUEKd1INB-DWeRIU6gHy5-EfzSaximfWi5YC-5PjaRZhhdwecYx9r2PJJ8QhMJpcaAnDa2iPYl9/s640/blogger-image-460551554.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sailing Club on the Belmont Reservoir. The wind was tough here so the sailing must have been as challenging as the cycling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwru6Pyw88yZyMpBHhuz6NE4uQ8an5-s5iBWCf3qZNPP-Xcw6wnOaEIjRHh-z01_t-ZICiWXm2vN15LtJ4VpqKW9wg1-ELRPKpYcGQQeerEboiCrj3qo3f4kgpsdUMIReEm1PmmSVIxvsJ/s640/blogger-image--727932197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwru6Pyw88yZyMpBHhuz6NE4uQ8an5-s5iBWCf3qZNPP-Xcw6wnOaEIjRHh-z01_t-ZICiWXm2vN15LtJ4VpqKW9wg1-ELRPKpYcGQQeerEboiCrj3qo3f4kgpsdUMIReEm1PmmSVIxvsJ/s640/blogger-image--727932197.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Wainright Bridge in Blackburn. Can you spot my bike?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1kpnrDZ68w_vkGeDFwigJBRKFwddMIAxJ2F8O4-EAOMJDILW6rmYyLfy_-mnRQ8ODfOn0A5UYpOql0Es5MLxiLd-W39nHJeTR6FFU4GquFvWMztv5ZBaah0bkHmtObPUUa-rXGaiPbqT/s640/blogger-image--236448009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1kpnrDZ68w_vkGeDFwigJBRKFwddMIAxJ2F8O4-EAOMJDILW6rmYyLfy_-mnRQ8ODfOn0A5UYpOql0Es5MLxiLd-W39nHJeTR6FFU4GquFvWMztv5ZBaah0bkHmtObPUUa-rXGaiPbqT/s640/blogger-image--236448009.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Inn at Whitewell near Clitheroe. Beautiful spot where I'm staying tonight. Food superb!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsQPO6Z7-DGAzEvrGo7QJ2kb4Yt5s57gVTCJqSU6M96pDbG39CvbDJumkKw2T5kwXALsmxUIHEchmX0KDWhJMHboaLjcPbQDIPsDyXOg_BEHScDHpgUG7i3-MnwoN2eULwDMBO6t7SHLh/s640/blogger-image-59149740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsQPO6Z7-DGAzEvrGo7QJ2kb4Yt5s57gVTCJqSU6M96pDbG39CvbDJumkKw2T5kwXALsmxUIHEchmX0KDWhJMHboaLjcPbQDIPsDyXOg_BEHScDHpgUG7i3-MnwoN2eULwDMBO6t7SHLh/s640/blogger-image-59149740.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's now 10:00 p.m. and still light out! Time to go to bed. Need a good night's rest.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hope you're enjoying the blog. Please tell your friends just a few more days to sponsor my journey.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-52110687843246477842013-05-31T14:58:00.002-07:002013-05-31T16:13:39.266-07:00Day 6 Clun to Runcorn....80 miles...455 miles to date<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">What a difference a day makes. Today was a beautiful day, sunny and about 68 degrees. Rose early to take photos and get organized. Enjoyed a restful night at the White Horse Inn in beautiful Clun. After poached eggs on toast, I ventured up the hill and then down 51/2 miles into Hope Valley. After passing through Hope Valley, up north by Chester and onto the industrial area south of Liverpool called Runcorn. Very little wind until the mid afternoon. Completed 80 miles, burned 3,631 calories and climbed 4,262 ft.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Outside the White Horse Inn in Clun</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCYLZL3AtfplWQHj56mchcHGF9dh1p_QidF3BfFRhQRD8U2fieARvc2K-RN2XYUqnHxWtOfLrwJOP7PfHZYgNXX8xnAU-HsTYIH-8bbhMPNsU86RFuBFUInp0ELRHWhZyglQ4wyV_LOPN/s640/blogger-image--1783858586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCYLZL3AtfplWQHj56mchcHGF9dh1p_QidF3BfFRhQRD8U2fieARvc2K-RN2XYUqnHxWtOfLrwJOP7PfHZYgNXX8xnAU-HsTYIH-8bbhMPNsU86RFuBFUInp0ELRHWhZyglQ4wyV_LOPN/s640/blogger-image--1783858586.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Clun Castle built in the middle of the 12th Century.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><img src="webkit-fake-url://967FB418-FF04-4CC7-8F7D-9207F16F7131/imagejpeg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Looking back at Clun Castle</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUT-d_IghvSY2OyHd_Rwz73-HNaqFVR8kyAlP3udW9FYinL8sKpaonTLaX2dNd7NRnCrcsrroFFRDmpA2LDfHKE1l_0fihhXdSNMsGzeCkN0meOpc9_4DAGbZ1Y0Zr60cPsZr6YXw7vWU/s640/blogger-image-1743026571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUT-d_IghvSY2OyHd_Rwz73-HNaqFVR8kyAlP3udW9FYinL8sKpaonTLaX2dNd7NRnCrcsrroFFRDmpA2LDfHKE1l_0fihhXdSNMsGzeCkN0meOpc9_4DAGbZ1Y0Zr60cPsZr6YXw7vWU/s640/blogger-image-1743026571.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Downhill into the Hope Valley</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7yTuO4DQfaB6BwsVQhBRfJf-lw-NKHk1CbyyXvK5x8toQhi8XQDfKm5_fWlqrKuaVJeVwynw7LmrPHY0C40t5OxoNjF8PoIQOYX6ZUQCNyp2jqBh7pVwylvWIEqPgq7IVQEvWrxBQK_P/s640/blogger-image-183048565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7yTuO4DQfaB6BwsVQhBRfJf-lw-NKHk1CbyyXvK5x8toQhi8XQDfKm5_fWlqrKuaVJeVwynw7LmrPHY0C40t5OxoNjF8PoIQOYX6ZUQCNyp2jqBh7pVwylvWIEqPgq7IVQEvWrxBQK_P/s640/blogger-image-183048565.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Beautiful Hope Valley</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHO3jptqVpFLBT12s8MyVi6bG3lbP_rn92u00ej8lQVMx7LpZLh4ZR4FUpFhO-YJLcF3gPh1yoX1g45rLxrFktkvWjxGD3RlkGA9m4E8SaT9t-CbBTVQvqzaoEo255MQSiBAkIy_VnnUx/s640/blogger-image-750323388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHO3jptqVpFLBT12s8MyVi6bG3lbP_rn92u00ej8lQVMx7LpZLh4ZR4FUpFhO-YJLcF3gPh1yoX1g45rLxrFktkvWjxGD3RlkGA9m4E8SaT9t-CbBTVQvqzaoEo255MQSiBAkIy_VnnUx/s640/blogger-image-750323388.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">City of Shrewsbury on the River Seven</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhia2kW47dEF1EPZ0QZ_rHNAtHIzsK5-Gl6-Ct7tLD0WPWoTAggFy-RYMM-bHnzopDwLQ-K6-bCQPkHgQwSf0SJ8EXrgao9dJRIipR3-m-Ok84f3aunel9Jv1GYSNPMnt7cc_1XOvYBKolZ/s640/blogger-image--755914660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhia2kW47dEF1EPZ0QZ_rHNAtHIzsK5-Gl6-Ct7tLD0WPWoTAggFy-RYMM-bHnzopDwLQ-K6-bCQPkHgQwSf0SJ8EXrgao9dJRIipR3-m-Ok84f3aunel9Jv1GYSNPMnt7cc_1XOvYBKolZ/s640/blogger-image--755914660.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Downtown Shrewsbury green</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXu3TCWcQUcUbMx3cqd0DoWDHHGfNfLg0-ldGBKA0LjU_ar3eXvMm0AoouPn2jTErDh05H_HpgQoC-paKhXtgyMDR6Njk-NKpIhOLFZwfgSWOmFqdo0Wtr9CT1IZwQgdV3HH7X5l3O83Xq/s640/blogger-image-841950267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXu3TCWcQUcUbMx3cqd0DoWDHHGfNfLg0-ldGBKA0LjU_ar3eXvMm0AoouPn2jTErDh05H_HpgQoC-paKhXtgyMDR6Njk-NKpIhOLFZwfgSWOmFqdo0Wtr9CT1IZwQgdV3HH7X5l3O83Xq/s640/blogger-image-841950267.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Quantum Leap in Shrewsbury. 120 ton artwork honoring Charles Darwin, born in Shrewsbury. Built in 2009, evolves images of a double helix.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEXKDdDNUYrHYw3OSiwqrCZafRBKbV6dPNXLN8_MvWC5XUo3S5TwfNsgBT6DEbVWWCR60NxydLIFw8LF1LAJNccrCA3N3ikLXbK3bb6UtbC5WKIFIULgIB0WOjlwb3kSsbrt6mcvJ1ZYh/s640/blogger-image--670647344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEXKDdDNUYrHYw3OSiwqrCZafRBKbV6dPNXLN8_MvWC5XUo3S5TwfNsgBT6DEbVWWCR60NxydLIFw8LF1LAJNccrCA3N3ikLXbK3bb6UtbC5WKIFIULgIB0WOjlwb3kSsbrt6mcvJ1ZYh/s640/blogger-image--670647344.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoJ4bVm19QAPKrqAP2xzX1UJoAtH5QR5MqUeriZbOBgJCokrkcQisWcXgM00GaTWb0wzcon_5ee4lC6Sb4X3iH-dIOsZa10TXmifnBoGf3e867ooTJlV4En6tCrr-oRnY49JLcSsVKpTW/s640/blogger-image-1858138534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoJ4bVm19QAPKrqAP2xzX1UJoAtH5QR5MqUeriZbOBgJCokrkcQisWcXgM00GaTWb0wzcon_5ee4lC6Sb4X3iH-dIOsZa10TXmifnBoGf3e867ooTJlV4En6tCrr-oRnY49JLcSsVKpTW/s640/blogger-image-1858138534.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sailing Club on lake near Chester. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mo62zZCUS_qMh_wPVXhY8IOj3ImrK281S2F8a_mbWgfHhaFGt77DA_SCO2g04hjH_8sUWarMuenRv38kSqusMX00nWBhPRMtF5yD4hX_wy-dow1wjV3g4RQDaElCyDgVziyHA3iDr1Gf/s640/blogger-image--1012867055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mo62zZCUS_qMh_wPVXhY8IOj3ImrK281S2F8a_mbWgfHhaFGt77DA_SCO2g04hjH_8sUWarMuenRv38kSqusMX00nWBhPRMtF5yD4hX_wy-dow1wjV3g4RQDaElCyDgVziyHA3iDr1Gf/s640/blogger-image--1012867055.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Throughout the UK there are many beautiful and historic churches. Penny tells me many of them are in jeopardy due to the lack of interest in Church of England from the Gen. X, Y & Z. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemGdB1fCw_vgYK8KqVDPVWow9iS4g2u79EmHfjjVmDsA-D4OHMQMjnt4tkhQTe9E8peDLo4UhaTsmw2RMCGuXzi37ZR7WUQe7pPpn-26ESHQI5sPByCsApj3_juiHegjjKE3xcdz5SL44/s640/blogger-image-956511968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemGdB1fCw_vgYK8KqVDPVWow9iS4g2u79EmHfjjVmDsA-D4OHMQMjnt4tkhQTe9E8peDLo4UhaTsmw2RMCGuXzi37ZR7WUQe7pPpn-26ESHQI5sPByCsApj3_juiHegjjKE3xcdz5SL44/s640/blogger-image-956511968.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For those US friends following my blog who have never been to the UK, let me enlighten you on some of the cultural observations that I've observed. Brits love their dogs. They even bring them to pubs. They also love gardening, and keep pristine gardens spending hours on their upkeep. Most Brits don't use dryers for their laundry, but hang their clothes outside to dry. It preserves the clothes and saves energy. Brits love their tea, football (soccer), betting on horses, Ales, politics and are generally very concerned about the environment and sustainability. Brits are very reserved, compared to Americans, and are still very class conscious. They enjoy their holidays and take anywhere from four to six weeks per year. Pubs serve as the social gathering place for local communities, where locals catch up on local news with lots of chatter about sports and neighbors. More later on this......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A garden I passed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jS1iygfQ_jACH40GSlfwN0LdtTmYMO517nbaxVTVKh-dwXRwqBvq5HWM3t25m9zZ276mZLE05lqbwOib6Rg7E9lB4cklOKeB4OwYHzn06W9fd6F9l65YINW3UGBD28p3byRwjl4ZLL9m/s640/blogger-image--711933460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jS1iygfQ_jACH40GSlfwN0LdtTmYMO517nbaxVTVKh-dwXRwqBvq5HWM3t25m9zZ276mZLE05lqbwOib6Rg7E9lB4cklOKeB4OwYHzn06W9fd6F9l65YINW3UGBD28p3byRwjl4ZLL9m/s640/blogger-image--711933460.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div></div>Tonight I'm staying at a Travelodge near a Mall and Expressway close to Runcorn. Tomorrow on to Clitheroe...</div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-40749364653521613932013-05-30T14:00:00.000-07:002013-05-30T15:22:07.642-07:00Day 4...Dunster to Lydney 83 miles...274 miles to date<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Enjoyed meeting Michael and Bernice, owners of the Stag's Head Inn in Dunster. Bernice is a cancer survivor and could relate to my journey. Had a wonderful nights sleep and great breakfast ready for my next leg of my ride. Penny, my sister (pictured below), picked up my panniers and dropped them of at the next Inn in Lydney on her way home to Hereford.</div>
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On the way out of Dunster I took photos of the picturesque town. Notice the castle on the next photo. Tamar and I toured it two years ago when visiting Penny and Richard and its quite impressive.</div>
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Today was 62 degrees, sunny in the morning and then overcast from 11:00am until I hit rain again around 4:00 p.m. The cycling was smooth until I hit A 38 after Bridgewater and then the hills were challenging until I arrived in Bristol. Today seemed to be the most difficult to date. Partly because of the hills and distance, but mostly the mental concentration on traffic, as I was riding mostly on A roads with many trucks and cars. My eyes burned at the end, so much that I had to use visine. Below I was riding the north Devon coastline and could see Wales ( Cardiff and Swansea) across the Bristol Channel and River Severn.</div>
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Here I caught a photo of two young men rolling out a cricket pitch in the countryside.</div>
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Below you can see mustard seed blooming in the fields</div>
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After arriving in Bristol I passed the Clifton Suspension bridge built in 1829.</div>
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Also in Bristol there is this cliff that runs alongside the river Avon. Can you spot the mountain climbers?</div>
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As per the last three days it started raining in the late afternoon. There are two bridges over the river Severn. I cycled to the second one as this is the one that has the separate cyclists path. It was approximately 5:00pm, and I had already ridden 74 miles, and it was raining. You can see the original newer Severn Bridge in the mist that I took a photo of, and was commissioned in 1966. Penny tells me my father was involved in arranging the cables for that bridge. The bridge I went over was the the older of the two bridges.</div>
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Across the bridge, you enter Wales. Crossing the bridge is a milestone, because is it marks the crossover into easier cycling. Yeah I'll believe it when I experience it.</div>
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Today I completed 83 miles in 9 hours, burned 3,233 calories and I'm sore and tired. Definitely taking Aleve tonight. Staying at the The George's Inn in Lydney. Had dinner in the pub and the locals chipped in 13 pounds equals $20 towards the Fund. After blogging I,went back to the pub to listen in on quiz night( glad I did not enter, because mostly English sports questions), but received 7 pounds 50p more in donations to the Fund. Thank you to the folks at The George's Inn for their kindness and generosity. More tomorrow.....</div>
<br />Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-30781199658587476962013-05-30T13:53:00.001-07:002013-05-30T15:35:59.691-07:00Day 5...Lydney to Clun 96 miles.... 370 miles to date<div>
What a day!!!!!! @$&/... it was definitely the toughest so far. One because I had almost a steady 15 mph headwind gusting to 30 mph. Two because I got lost a couple of times I ended up doing 96 miles. The weather was 62 degrees and mostly overcast with sun peeking through, throughout the day. After a porridge breakfast, I set out at 8:00 a.m. From Lydney to Chepstow and then up the Wye Valley to Monmouth. </div>
Passed Tintern Abbey built in 1131.<br />
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The picturesque Wye Valley<br />
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Hereford calf's and their mom.<br />
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Arrived in Hereford around 1:45 pm and was treated to a great homemade lunch chicken vegetable soup and a tuna sandwich by my sister Penny. Back on the road at 2:45 pm. and soon after I started getting lost. I had done 50 miles to Hereford and should have traveled an additional 35 to Clun. It ended up being an additional 46 miles.</div>
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After I took the photo of the cows, I quickly passed Hampton Court Castle. Realizing it was a great photo opportunity, I quickly stopped (on an upgrade) and attempted to turn around when traffic cleared. As I turned, I did not get enough forward momentum to stay balanced and fell into the roadside burm into dogwoods and nettles. Luckily I took a soft landing and did not fall into the road. My ego a little bruised, I recovered and took the Castle photo.</div>
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Hampton Court Castle near Leominster<br />
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Tudor homes in Pembridge</div>
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I finally arrived in Clun at 7:50 p.m. almost 12 hours on the bike. Quickly checked in at the White Horse Inn. I preordered my meal as the kitchen was closing at 8:30 pm and ran upstairs to take a quick shower. Came back downstairs to a nice glass of wine and a Lamb Chop dinner, with mashed potatoes, peas, carrots and mint sauce...yummy! I devoured it.</div>
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Today I burned 4,382 calories and climbed 6,289 ft. No wonder I feel wiped! Stay tuned......</div>
Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-55017611811106522982013-05-28T16:03:00.001-07:002013-05-29T12:58:13.420-07:00Day 3....Moretonhampstead to Dunster 72 miles.... 191 miles to dateSo today I varied away from Nick Mitchell's route so that I could spend time with Penny. Had a rough night sleeping probably a result of what I ate and drank the night before. Anyway got to sleep at 2 am and awake at 7:30. Settled on dry toast for breakfast as my stomach was still upset. On the road by 9:00 am and took a long way round to Exeter after some locals advised me of the hills I may encounter if I stayed on the route I had planned. What impresses me about the U.K. is their commitment to the environment. From recycling(everywhere) to water and energy conservation (many farms have the windmills for electricity), and approx. 20 percent of the homes have solar panels.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHpLsp8K0dnMviEkS63VMOW1r47xo96paNYVPN__pux_7QrFNa0bkc11oPhJ_yKXjs1z2iP1R6Ibx1ERE3uiGNC32LoIuQOGa9hpPS08WBMemTqWJ-mhhf6JFehtEc_LhRcSGOwYcfdaG/s640/blogger-image--961201858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHpLsp8K0dnMviEkS63VMOW1r47xo96paNYVPN__pux_7QrFNa0bkc11oPhJ_yKXjs1z2iP1R6Ibx1ERE3uiGNC32LoIuQOGa9hpPS08WBMemTqWJ-mhhf6JFehtEc_LhRcSGOwYcfdaG/s640/blogger-image--961201858.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4B7h2eiCMlGlY1Aq3679mL6YcTB3d43YVLbJUtZjqOLD71IHUjuV4sISMu_c80AG6qtUA72MBBPnFMPOl___fKShHUXX6hE16D9o6_EQm8U74tyr0h5gG8Oy8ZgUo0z2nwF4pDy4iX3bU/s640/blogger-image-1694626180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4B7h2eiCMlGlY1Aq3679mL6YcTB3d43YVLbJUtZjqOLD71IHUjuV4sISMu_c80AG6qtUA72MBBPnFMPOl___fKShHUXX6hE16D9o6_EQm8U74tyr0h5gG8Oy8ZgUo0z2nwF4pDy4iX3bU/s640/blogger-image-1694626180.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgOX-Cel4_dVPdf_-lBIJDHtJ-oSLqgfHwHls2SwMNrltAh6lQhAM_GElnkv9-vXCKjLiMXbwLDMDO-zWkEqnuNjUqxuL_2O8mV1cSbrU5-KQqfP8iRSwBR7PJ1wpVqcgZ_JENsk0fT24/s640/blogger-image--216276975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgOX-Cel4_dVPdf_-lBIJDHtJ-oSLqgfHwHls2SwMNrltAh6lQhAM_GElnkv9-vXCKjLiMXbwLDMDO-zWkEqnuNjUqxuL_2O8mV1cSbrU5-KQqfP8iRSwBR7PJ1wpVqcgZ_JENsk0fT24/s640/blogger-image--216276975.jpg"></a></div><br></div>You can see many of the types of narrow roads with tall walls or hedges to keep the farm animals in the field. This time of year the farmers cover the fields in manure to naturally fertilize the fields before planting. A very distinct odor as you're cycling through the countryside. Today I saw the three cows together with their three new born calf's. I then spotted two black sheep and then mallard ducks and three partridges in a row. Had a beautiful ride up the River Ex valley ( reminded me of the Yosemite Valley floor). Climbed 1400 ft onto Exmoor before a torrential rainfall. I would have enjoyed the six mile downhill ride to Dunster, if it were not for the heavy rain. This was the uphill final ride tree covered road before descending into Dunster. Notice the grade.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-9yfRieRUzQ4fBstaLdW0iJbT9fn-UN_mYTMGqhHzxrIOhWNvZNOs1VHezJNZI2ga1hyphenhypheny8zJgzjCRLvMTUXxSGMIpnoTPCtZ63gxvamvH-_YwRJXb96SHut-sWipf-Yz6HhUrEkXn3wf/s640/blogger-image-1407678447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-9yfRieRUzQ4fBstaLdW0iJbT9fn-UN_mYTMGqhHzxrIOhWNvZNOs1VHezJNZI2ga1hyphenhypheny8zJgzjCRLvMTUXxSGMIpnoTPCtZ63gxvamvH-_YwRJXb96SHut-sWipf-Yz6HhUrEkXn3wf/s640/blogger-image-1407678447.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsgrD4XlfUUtmwRt95Z4f718S4A6xOPtNUWwKV_3Yr9QDtrMC0S-pmnzW0z7KQSwmrUpzGAdJDFVR49JwtmW7BHJvBFsOSTu4TvVvWn6xWSY_2DSXI9XqXbNmFz_rMDV8G8kRChlGJiux/s640/blogger-image--1998591697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsgrD4XlfUUtmwRt95Z4f718S4A6xOPtNUWwKV_3Yr9QDtrMC0S-pmnzW0z7KQSwmrUpzGAdJDFVR49JwtmW7BHJvBFsOSTu4TvVvWn6xWSY_2DSXI9XqXbNmFz_rMDV8G8kRChlGJiux/s640/blogger-image--1998591697.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The weather was so bad I did not get a photo of the castle, but will on the way out tomorrow. Spent this evening doing my wash and having a birthday dinner with my sister Penny. Great to catch up and spend some alone time with her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Temp. Today started at 50 degrees and with the rain and a steady headwind dropped not the mid 40's by the time I arrives about 5:15pm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After three days, and the worst of the hills I'll experience most of the journey, I'm pretty pleased with my progress. Tomorrow a long ride (89 miles) from Dunster to Lydney over the Bristol Channel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-7285995830102289462013-05-27T13:34:00.001-07:002013-05-29T12:55:48.424-07:00Day 2.....Fowey to Moretonhampstead 55 miles ...Total miles to date 119<div>Started the day with a traditional English Breakfast; fried egg, sausage, grilled tomato, sautéed mushrooms, baked beans, toast and tea. </div>So today I headed from the riverside town of Fowey (pronounced Foy) to Dartmoor 2,037 ft above sea level. Since my mopie battery I purchased to keep the charge on my I phone could not be recharged because of the English current being different than the US (didn't plan that one), then I could not use runtastic and keep stats on my ride.<div>My day started with getting on the ferry across the river Fowey, and my front wheel getting caught in the ferry ramp. Luckily no serious damage, but may have to get checked out when I find a bike shop.<br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5aZCfJpjX2hWjLPmFU770luizji0Wpq_yNDo01ptI8r56911RII6xhJAodKVqW5Z-WHl51XlGcC5W5L4aNa7OF742s3OGrTWsKlrSPaFpnWFDvgBNq8OGXkrnPEu2xoZBo7LzQrfNRgH/s640/blogger-image-877745787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5aZCfJpjX2hWjLPmFU770luizji0Wpq_yNDo01ptI8r56911RII6xhJAodKVqW5Z-WHl51XlGcC5W5L4aNa7OF742s3OGrTWsKlrSPaFpnWFDvgBNq8OGXkrnPEu2xoZBo7LzQrfNRgH/s640/blogger-image-877745787.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div>The bad weather held off until after lunch, so I made good headway from Fowey to Plymouth via Looe.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWgKksovym0T7VXmtmPwuvSHytuyQWuar6suRbyfpPGY96Os5-atMCztQPbhgG8yg09UAEvVthrU8in7PBza8d3LKwWhmetyh1skQMx7kId6uxz23qlEU4vUhzEj-xMzRyIxfK-riV6ox/s640/blogger-image--1766740781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWgKksovym0T7VXmtmPwuvSHytuyQWuar6suRbyfpPGY96Os5-atMCztQPbhgG8yg09UAEvVthrU8in7PBza8d3LKwWhmetyh1skQMx7kId6uxz23qlEU4vUhzEj-xMzRyIxfK-riV6ox/s640/blogger-image--1766740781.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>Met my sister Penny and her husband Richard for lunch in Yelverton which is on the edge of Dartmoor.</div><div>After we finished lunch the rain started and winds were gusting up to 30 mph. Luckily it was a tail wind out of the SW, so it helped me the rest of the way home. The hills were very challenging as you climb about 2,000 ft rather rapidly. Richard took a photo with me giving the thumbs up.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ92QPr2bPXZH56BiZPl3IujSiKYR15DASPz4xE1IIMRLLnAes2sUCCafykw6wxsSlx8NhyphenhyphenXB8jru0n7tR8hsKmFivVDbJenMSuQGtbb1QJygn2GR6_6NJpZJCTmtqDwkujPyk8-a7BLSU/s640/blogger-image-517844609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ92QPr2bPXZH56BiZPl3IujSiKYR15DASPz4xE1IIMRLLnAes2sUCCafykw6wxsSlx8NhyphenhyphenXB8jru0n7tR8hsKmFivVDbJenMSuQGtbb1QJygn2GR6_6NJpZJCTmtqDwkujPyk8-a7BLSU/s640/blogger-image-517844609.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Dartmoor is very barren and there are brick walls dating back thousands of years. Sheep roam wild and occasionally cross the road. Luckily this one didn't attack me...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKyVIY_GNFCipdLXaYzqcxI35hvIJY0dmk_adunxmdjvC32TpRHf2MUkltNpuTPkW2ksiwa9uvWL061QCOJrQfxBdmlZzyln8NsEXFbUl5ijUpQJ5vzlFTaJ5vZt8_8you_MNvihLQtHv/s640/blogger-image--99904151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKyVIY_GNFCipdLXaYzqcxI35hvIJY0dmk_adunxmdjvC32TpRHf2MUkltNpuTPkW2ksiwa9uvWL061QCOJrQfxBdmlZzyln8NsEXFbUl5ijUpQJ5vzlFTaJ5vZt8_8you_MNvihLQtHv/s640/blogger-image--99904151.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div>Finally arrived at my castle by 4:30p.m.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaD6MUvcgFMyUvJm1sVJXPOQaYc4fAOM1EreMO0PisAzPG-bR73x5XIlkv38MhJZR1wCSJA76EX-WvE7iym1k6bYdOzTOOJgKgf4dh8nRgk3lTEi42CjxjlPX-LhZ7YZrcvZSOcQq8_1OR/s640/blogger-image--1076255589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaD6MUvcgFMyUvJm1sVJXPOQaYc4fAOM1EreMO0PisAzPG-bR73x5XIlkv38MhJZR1wCSJA76EX-WvE7iym1k6bYdOzTOOJgKgf4dh8nRgk3lTEi42CjxjlPX-LhZ7YZrcvZSOcQq8_1OR/s640/blogger-image--1076255589.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Unfortunately, my staff took a long holiday weekend, so I ended up staying at Ring of the Bells in North Bovey. It's a quaint 13 Century Inn with restaurant and pub. Many locals were dining for the Holiday weekend. Enjoyed a pint of Dartmoor( local ale), dinner with Penny & Richard and retired for the evening.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51Qx8T_4q3uaoS975G8lHWrhedAW4K8kN_8mLb3VvzCWOmp26_UQERWk3liuXi0gm4ZqwJHLtEygMNKXzSl70GcE5T5o2z0rb6K6szR62ZYSH4sx_7ndvI98ZEztOWS2rIZM8KoHgsG7a/s640/blogger-image-1572710764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51Qx8T_4q3uaoS975G8lHWrhedAW4K8kN_8mLb3VvzCWOmp26_UQERWk3liuXi0gm4ZqwJHLtEygMNKXzSl70GcE5T5o2z0rb6K6szR62ZYSH4sx_7ndvI98ZEztOWS2rIZM8KoHgsG7a/s640/blogger-image-1572710764.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The weather is supposed to clear in the morning. I'm drying out my gear on the radiator in my room.Have yet to pull out the aleve out of the bag, but tomorrow may be a different story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Plan on doing my wash tomorrow night in Dunster and celebrating Penny's birthday. Stay tuned....</div></div></div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-72788401550732741042013-05-26T13:51:00.001-07:002013-06-14T17:48:07.020-07:00Day I...Land's End to Fowey. 64 milesI woke up early and was on the rode at 7:20 without breakfast. It was a chilly 45 degrees to start but ending up in the low 60's, a perfect cycling weather day. After a 12 mile ride to Land's End, I took the necessary photos and had my pass stamped to prove I started the ride. In order to get a certificate you must show stamps from various places along your route. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbT5l970HqZI2o-M7WJ4HyuY4M35B6RBwjtosZVzcUM4kIlxz7uh2uPOuh9dzG74tu63EvJHhiRb_DDluChj3ClyGGSeEdwe9t5tTqGvDoEHnj_QfJM4wZXd-3laqm8waoQ9rjwk-KGarA/s640/blogger-image-1373761300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbT5l970HqZI2o-M7WJ4HyuY4M35B6RBwjtosZVzcUM4kIlxz7uh2uPOuh9dzG74tu63EvJHhiRb_DDluChj3ClyGGSeEdwe9t5tTqGvDoEHnj_QfJM4wZXd-3laqm8waoQ9rjwk-KGarA/s640/blogger-image-1373761300.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtG_cImwTZzOs0TpGg3KME0c4yw2b9689MVxXH_dJLhgoOiO2utsMI6MX-2i6CrVWGZEiFZctmNAkFS3vLF8NvF-eHRoCx6VE8EGIt7rEjhmumOtgbrIheL_9Q1_EyEmBh8V-_bXn_SL-/s640/blogger-image--1445539985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtG_cImwTZzOs0TpGg3KME0c4yw2b9689MVxXH_dJLhgoOiO2utsMI6MX-2i6CrVWGZEiFZctmNAkFS3vLF8NvF-eHRoCx6VE8EGIt7rEjhmumOtgbrIheL_9Q1_EyEmBh8V-_bXn_SL-/s640/blogger-image--1445539985.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtkjco55bSy9Wo_E4OAKDSZwMjydt4vMblq2Goyyt20dLnIexjjqQ_VPwhFW04XOmY2TSXfbJhmynagg5eYI2RHbUUwh8qig1q05atW8lbI4mrU90T8ZA_wrJ2NVNaNOkiha_9VPb133O/s640/blogger-image--1599008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtkjco55bSy9Wo_E4OAKDSZwMjydt4vMblq2Goyyt20dLnIexjjqQ_VPwhFW04XOmY2TSXfbJhmynagg5eYI2RHbUUwh8qig1q05atW8lbI4mrU90T8ZA_wrJ2NVNaNOkiha_9VPb133O/s640/blogger-image--1599008.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I also left a polished stone guitar pick in the rocks, a memento to commemorate Simon. He played guitar and it is tradition for us to leave stones at a gravesite when visiting. Met quite a few riders on the road today.Everyone has several different routes to LEJOG, but I did meet a group of six that are doing the same route I am. They are following Nick Mitchell's book route, that I also picked. He is actually leading their tour, so I hope I get to meet him along the way.</div><div>My route took me past St Michael's Mount. You can actually walk across to it at low tide. There was quite a pilgrimage out there today being that this is a Bank Holiday weekend. the roads were packed.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCQJJdfRvrdp51F3B4Ss1OpSh5SGB75Uft-HV7pPeXPmj0_LCUtUhFtIqn5_kxPagPA3f4QnIoPYfee1iw0_6TurYdd48S1NLIwFr6ja4XjmT9woZYQMh0f2f-8DHRfoSuDWcVewc2EBv/s640/blogger-image--1996398713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCQJJdfRvrdp51F3B4Ss1OpSh5SGB75Uft-HV7pPeXPmj0_LCUtUhFtIqn5_kxPagPA3f4QnIoPYfee1iw0_6TurYdd48S1NLIwFr6ja4XjmT9woZYQMh0f2f-8DHRfoSuDWcVewc2EBv/s640/blogger-image--1996398713.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I have to admit today was a tough day. In addition to the 71 miles I rode, the hills in Cornwall are killers. Up and down, up and down. One of the hills the grade was 49 percent. I did have to walk at least a half dozen hills. My total elevation up was 5,846 ft which represents about 34 percent of the total elevation for the fourteen day trip.this obviously slowed me down and the trip from LE to Fowey took me eight hours ( with stops for photos and map checking). I burned 1604 calories. I arrived at beautiful Fowey, river tributary. As you can see from the photos below it is very picturesque. This is the view from my Inn window:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnwXcduU8ztwOVmzsEtmSxAyyvs6dVl6W2vKwoSww9RTzVHRd-kPT7cZ96ur_yIlYFeomE0qRHC4l6DEVY55aCXNd37ogr69egW33vKZuVjbCu5NCUuSVS4jz1v0Ct2Y0NC0r4Hp6TWX8/s640/blogger-image--1692728937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnwXcduU8ztwOVmzsEtmSxAyyvs6dVl6W2vKwoSww9RTzVHRd-kPT7cZ96ur_yIlYFeomE0qRHC4l6DEVY55aCXNd37ogr69egW33vKZuVjbCu5NCUuSVS4jz1v0Ct2Y0NC0r4Hp6TWX8/s640/blogger-image--1692728937.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWbPzGE8B3TTz1BczBXyieZcrH_W-Pkb5-GsOHDBwk71pQa3jmPseRcaKmiAGhaQoKSqmtYPCfhL2cmDLP225E4DM3ujL4Ar0aT8i4vVBD5oAbkSYPjI_i0cYjiIRZ7YzTibDjcMTUelA/s640/blogger-image-1621784797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWbPzGE8B3TTz1BczBXyieZcrH_W-Pkb5-GsOHDBwk71pQa3jmPseRcaKmiAGhaQoKSqmtYPCfhL2cmDLP225E4DM3ujL4Ar0aT8i4vVBD5oAbkSYPjI_i0cYjiIRZ7YzTibDjcMTUelA/s640/blogger-image-1621784797.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgREY9mpYZYHwBM5VkND3oVcCTDYlJOEs2ThhSterJlElBWHKsW9Q2Q4xUrB2kwyM-Yh5Y6Pllm4d7Oykdae4d2e9se3escJgX2YKcL4PsqkizXKp2Y8TnosQqgJcCz90MCNAMDvyJvu5/s640/blogger-image--1618963538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgREY9mpYZYHwBM5VkND3oVcCTDYlJOEs2ThhSterJlElBWHKsW9Q2Q4xUrB2kwyM-Yh5Y6Pllm4d7Oykdae4d2e9se3escJgX2YKcL4PsqkizXKp2Y8TnosQqgJcCz90MCNAMDvyJvu5/s640/blogger-image--1618963538.jpg"></a></div>They knew I was coming because they even had a draught beer named after me. After a hot bath, a pint at the bar, I went next door to the Boathouse and had a great pasta dinner including Tiramisu. I was famished. Now I' m all carbed up and ready for tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get a good nights rest. Hoping to see my sister Penny and brother-in-law Richard sometime tomorrow. Stay tuned......</div><div> </div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-77682917081986095332013-05-25T23:05:00.001-07:002013-05-25T23:05:38.884-07:00Made it to PenzanceI'm happy to say the planning worked out well for London and getting to Paddington Station was a five minute walk from my hotel. I took my suitcase and extra "stuff" and deposited it at the baggage storage at Paddington Station.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8V3YsOmQAXrEGh00LdJDMD30RoHBaFa-qGpqoegpvQP8sDmsfdSnfsxt5b96C8jYw7jJ3kuI02IUBLX4c3Dr1K6JG_zCNSAEgmTp3c6YhGTDTeteM_tNxs8rCE0wh6zLMX1dmPOsUf0J/s640/blogger-image-276290427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8V3YsOmQAXrEGh00LdJDMD30RoHBaFa-qGpqoegpvQP8sDmsfdSnfsxt5b96C8jYw7jJ3kuI02IUBLX4c3Dr1K6JG_zCNSAEgmTp3c6YhGTDTeteM_tNxs8rCE0wh6zLMX1dmPOsUf0J/s640/blogger-image-276290427.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5eURHVxRFpk35cIFWwCX63J4NV8S3Ha0oCMR39Hcgb6AD0bLdoRz4tWO_9ZzkeZdoCTnxZtVSalNMccvJL_CAqXuFYFzq8WH_3qyQl00NF30FTReBrlgafg8gZ70VO2EZi-3Wkqy-zfq/s640/blogger-image-1651002384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5eURHVxRFpk35cIFWwCX63J4NV8S3Ha0oCMR39Hcgb6AD0bLdoRz4tWO_9ZzkeZdoCTnxZtVSalNMccvJL_CAqXuFYFzq8WH_3qyQl00NF30FTReBrlgafg8gZ70VO2EZi-3Wkqy-zfq/s640/blogger-image-1651002384.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNEIspWWRRzWrlCzqr3Lk4Ik3_t7qQmorLqiY7AutZyI0D7a2gUaE_6ZqPnnM_3W_huceGtiZgL3O_PetOpgr4MNrlTYfVXbHD89MWGYRUtNZSPjQmZN78Zz7Quy35OaTnGVsyZHj9pZv/s640/blogger-image--1463517323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNEIspWWRRzWrlCzqr3Lk4Ik3_t7qQmorLqiY7AutZyI0D7a2gUaE_6ZqPnnM_3W_huceGtiZgL3O_PetOpgr4MNrlTYfVXbHD89MWGYRUtNZSPjQmZN78Zz7Quy35OaTnGVsyZHj9pZv/s640/blogger-image--1463517323.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div> After a picturesque 31/2 hour train ride, I explored Penzance and achieved a small workout at the same time. Getting used to riding on the left and all the roundabouts. Using many hand signals and taking the center of the road is the assertive approach to cycling and staying safe. Penzance is a small fishing village on the southwest tip of Cornwall.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosaZdnf90S3zBNZZ83MrIbnJQHRfmM352XDPqDgvKdkBeZo9C7H4R4P7piF_NKLfUnp7IpzJLJ0UxehUjik-d9lw9KI5gdUnnDUOsCQ0yad1D5jHjOcht1BDPuNbdD91_zB_Lal3Cncta/s640/blogger-image--1614170426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosaZdnf90S3zBNZZ83MrIbnJQHRfmM352XDPqDgvKdkBeZo9C7H4R4P7piF_NKLfUnp7IpzJLJ0UxehUjik-d9lw9KI5gdUnnDUOsCQ0yad1D5jHjOcht1BDPuNbdD91_zB_Lal3Cncta/s640/blogger-image--1614170426.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBc3Nwp4nqRVwZv1dvVI3A5NfXTCms2hTYbKBfuSUToE3ZzyV5HApSB_SGzkUAeyaQzux9iX11FyAeRCSBxUbPWUu4MAHd7ZgLSHIB_Eghdem0CAEcinxcqw2CwJ4F3xLMMwKwPCrjPej/s640/blogger-image--156516646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBc3Nwp4nqRVwZv1dvVI3A5NfXTCms2hTYbKBfuSUToE3ZzyV5HApSB_SGzkUAeyaQzux9iX11FyAeRCSBxUbPWUu4MAHd7ZgLSHIB_Eghdem0CAEcinxcqw2CwJ4F3xLMMwKwPCrjPej/s640/blogger-image--156516646.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Settled into the Coldstreamer Inn (circa 1895) early, and had a great meal of Mackeral Salad and a Duck Breast entree. Great little pub and superb food. The room is very clean and comfortable. The Inn is located up the hill from Penzance in a beautiful small village called Gulval. Harry, the manager let me keep my cycle in my room which made things easy. The hardest thing right now is remembering what things are in which pannier. With everything in large ziplock bags it's getting easier to remember every day what goes where.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLdpKPzXET73tmdpjSxEw5xbU1hauNZWZiPj0HAgsfHM8ny275SYUDlPple9ntrsoEHOY-CywVpK47YvtnTDiQfXgX9IEpOHSwgnIem10tIdXWeWriGMihNNUFLkroUDOP9jukUo31E5d/s640/blogger-image--2022842142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLdpKPzXET73tmdpjSxEw5xbU1hauNZWZiPj0HAgsfHM8ny275SYUDlPple9ntrsoEHOY-CywVpK47YvtnTDiQfXgX9IEpOHSwgnIem10tIdXWeWriGMihNNUFLkroUDOP9jukUo31E5d/s640/blogger-image--2022842142.jpg"></a></div></div><div>Retired early to get ready for the big day tomorrow and review my route plan. Having a little trouble with Internet/wireless access (not at the Inn) which may affect my navigation ability, but if all else fails I may resort to maps only. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosts9xDQUNKlLZkoR6TBDMMXqeW4xw-8yv8DDPb5u4JmTVLg64BReGtQR-O53UN7O_GPUl5rPqqx6NVTFMHOrwVmTStKxX8BOFq_vlsZTCsM-nQ8YDya8djViuyo4bbaPBYKhQ0o1wulQ/s640/blogger-image--961646741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosts9xDQUNKlLZkoR6TBDMMXqeW4xw-8yv8DDPb5u4JmTVLg64BReGtQR-O53UN7O_GPUl5rPqqx6NVTFMHOrwVmTStKxX8BOFq_vlsZTCsM-nQ8YDya8djViuyo4bbaPBYKhQ0o1wulQ/s640/blogger-image--961646741.jpg"></a></div>Met Harry the Manager and presented him with a Mississippi goodie bag. Met a couple who dined next to me that gave five pounds towards the Fund. I'll post after I figure the exchange rate. ($1.56 yesterday).</div><div><br></div><div>Tomorrow, Sunday, starts LEJOG at Land's End. Plan on arriving early for photos. Cheers!.......</div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-36363235849523838292013-05-24T14:41:00.000-07:002013-05-24T14:46:46.414-07:00Arrived in the U.K.First, let me thank everyone who turned out for the Bon Voyage Party. It was great to visit and share with everyone the plans, training, goals and nervous anticipation of my journey. Thanks to all those that attended and donated. Together we raised an additional $1,075 for the charities, putting us over $15K. This prompted me to raise my goal from $15K to $18K.<br>
After a smooth flight on Southwest to Chicago, there was a slight delay from Virgin Atlantic before our final departure at 6:50 p.m. I was only able to sleep two hours on the plane and today I'm feeling a little jet lag. I arrived at the Bicycle Workshop on time and the folks there did a wonderful job of getting my bike ready and were able to store my cycle case for me while I'm on the ride.<br>
It was a cold and dreary day in London (45 degrees), but I was able to get my train tickets at Paddington Station, mailed some packages to my sister, rode my bike back to my hotel room from the bike shop, and see a little of the Kensington/ Notting Hill area. I must have walked about five miles today, which felt great after being cramped on an airplane for eight hours.<br>
This evening I ventured over to Covent Garden to a map shop called Stanton's. Then I wandered down to the bustling theatre district and ate a pasta dinner to start building up my carbs for riding. Great people watching, and the food was pretty good also. Now for a good nights sleep ( on UK time) and up early to catch the train to Penzance. More tomorrow.......<br>
<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwc9pTfXwMACWVN2uL6sesl0frMaKLAX8YKYwYWiR8vMVDXuur1pEo1ACc_y0f2kj9rdc_s_xPemWAlQ1EpSTE0wmsDLZNeC7cJ0GHI-78ZeYGpaOETRcEAfk-y8y7luu5OceX98CG0xOM/s640/blogger-image-644318499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwc9pTfXwMACWVN2uL6sesl0frMaKLAX8YKYwYWiR8vMVDXuur1pEo1ACc_y0f2kj9rdc_s_xPemWAlQ1EpSTE0wmsDLZNeC7cJ0GHI-78ZeYGpaOETRcEAfk-y8y7luu5OceX98CG0xOM/s640/blogger-image-644318499.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7Gl3fYAUumpPKA2Fb2TGpt7R022-RySnGryobSNVOlVM4UhQ6tEi1DG6NewlYls0NW-26ZiLtpQVb7offRh99AqOioXrd0mz16D1KZLVo3awBS9Bq1auutKFMW55WhN0Hk99l1_IjzTe/s640/blogger-image--1435375644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7Gl3fYAUumpPKA2Fb2TGpt7R022-RySnGryobSNVOlVM4UhQ6tEi1DG6NewlYls0NW-26ZiLtpQVb7offRh99AqOioXrd0mz16D1KZLVo3awBS9Bq1auutKFMW55WhN0Hk99l1_IjzTe/s640/blogger-image--1435375644.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1wA9pRIiy1oPe7Hcf-cUJigSXrQij71KffVi9QgqKEm3XLQ1gZrPJE0V5goczguKv_60Oh2iN2PMDOnfLOLgXYnfl8Dgq1wUxw1rjbQ-p-RUJErrqjsefVJuZm5KQ6n9y071QV3vA-IV/s640/blogger-image-2146289154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1wA9pRIiy1oPe7Hcf-cUJigSXrQij71KffVi9QgqKEm3XLQ1gZrPJE0V5goczguKv_60Oh2iN2PMDOnfLOLgXYnfl8Dgq1wUxw1rjbQ-p-RUJErrqjsefVJuZm5KQ6n9y071QV3vA-IV/s640/blogger-image-2146289154.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYj08hFwMiGr9gAoCIuRSTgXKKwDW-U43WYovRkSDExI2AOsvhfeCBCXD4jKD2OABdye0yXaj1C_eZdY4AGQ5F2qGMyr73_zEcTu523Lqd5Y1EZV0sMX1vHtQXtsIU3ESasoCTibViS15x/s640/blogger-image-722394239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYj08hFwMiGr9gAoCIuRSTgXKKwDW-U43WYovRkSDExI2AOsvhfeCBCXD4jKD2OABdye0yXaj1C_eZdY4AGQ5F2qGMyr73_zEcTu523Lqd5Y1EZV0sMX1vHtQXtsIU3ESasoCTibViS15x/s640/blogger-image-722394239.jpg"></a></div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-82578681029283478932013-05-22T09:09:00.001-07:002013-05-22T09:09:42.907-07:00CUDOS to The Bike Rack Staff!!!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2oW21h9iLslg_-QXsImrSowT6S7UydHQvEtYhMjSzSoVDbPg3_UtK6_UTid930ZSBthVVg-4DtmKNADQUgt6gpoxWXFTixsfsaD5mVUew67VsnLQn-PLJCJl5vEJ1R7roQluw25Vwq_f/s640/blogger-image-334565559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2oW21h9iLslg_-QXsImrSowT6S7UydHQvEtYhMjSzSoVDbPg3_UtK6_UTid930ZSBthVVg-4DtmKNADQUgt6gpoxWXFTixsfsaD5mVUew67VsnLQn-PLJCJl5vEJ1R7roQluw25Vwq_f/s640/blogger-image-334565559.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> The Bike Rack Team - Tom, Owner (not pictured), Rex, Michael, Jacqueline and J.C.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A special thank you to the team at the Bike Rack. Since I started planning for this trip, the entire staff has gone out of their way to give me great advice and support as I have prepared for the ride. They are all very knowledgable, and are avid riders themselves. In addition, Tom and the staff donated their time to prepping my bike for the journey. Thanks guys, I really appreciate your support of my ride in Simon's honor.</div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-28963699450008116072013-05-20T19:26:00.001-07:002013-05-20T19:26:10.975-07:00Last workout before LEJOGSo today was my last spin class before I start LEJOG. Felt great and especially happy that my extended hamstring muscle has fully healed. I also quit coffee last week and feel so much better for it. <div>I dropped my bike off at the Bike Rack today. They'll give the bike a tune-up, put on new tires and brake pads, clean and oil the chain and then break the bike down so that it fits into the carrying case. I'm hoping the fenders and racks will fit also. If not, I will have to put them in my suitcase. I' m planning to pre-pack my panniers with my gear and then put the panniers in my suitcase. The airline allows 50lb for the suitcase and 70lb for the bike and it's case. Trying to tie up all the loose ends and preparations before I leave, so that Tamar does not have too many things to worry about while I' m gone. Everyone I run into has been so supportive of my journey and intrigued by all that is necessary to prepare for a ride such as this. One of the things most people don't realize is that I'll be climbing almost 17,000 feet above sea level (higher than Mt. Everest) over the fourteen days. Luckily I'll also be going downhill that same distance also. Look forward to seeing some of you at the Bon Voyage Party Wednesday night. 89 percent of my Fundraising goal to date. Hope Wednesday night makes it 100 percent. Thanks so much to all that have donated or pledged to date. You're all awesome!</div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-39577112753485368682013-05-13T14:50:00.000-07:002013-05-13T14:56:16.315-07:00Bumble Bee on the TraceSince my last post I worked out twice at St. D's in spin classes. Today I took advantage of the wonderful weather and went out mid morning north on the Trace for a 30 mile ride. I felt great, especially not carrying the panniers. It's certainly so much easier without additional weight. Finished the ride in just of two hours. Average speed 14.5 mph and burned 1003 calories. Ironically when I got back to the Inn, about 20 travel agents from the UK and Europe stopped by on a tour hosted by the Jackson CVB and MDA Tourism. As many Brits do the LEJOG ride, they were all familiar with my ride and route.<br>
Yesterday, Cassandra Mickens of the Clarion Ledger wrote a very nice article about my ride. Click this link <a href="http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013305120003">Clarion Ledger</a> to read it.<br>
Just 10 days before I leave for the U.K. Next Wednesday, May 22nd there will be a Bon Voyage party in the Library Lounge from 5-8p.m. Complimentary appetizers will be served, and the first round is on us for anyone donating to the charities. I hope you will stop by for the send off.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWv3d_fZuApSk0X1KdanTUSpjC6s1JNXrxugy49rYGIATKII9HcqroFqQG31XQoX0P9PGserFWCNu-IBA3yLpIdiYcHjmchxfYXw9b8Rg-rLns1nxJIu7YBkGh51E7khUYfgP3fNCOnVbK/s640/blogger-image-648712573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWv3d_fZuApSk0X1KdanTUSpjC6s1JNXrxugy49rYGIATKII9HcqroFqQG31XQoX0P9PGserFWCNu-IBA3yLpIdiYcHjmchxfYXw9b8Rg-rLns1nxJIu7YBkGh51E7khUYfgP3fNCOnVbK/s640/blogger-image-648712573.jpg"></a></div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-49597626321539173892013-05-03T09:15:00.001-07:002013-05-03T09:45:24.121-07:00Back to back centuries...I'm ready for LEJOGSo after a hearty breakfast and wonderful hospitality from my friends Ron & Eleanor Fry at the Devereaux Shields House B&B, I set out on my return journey home to Jackson. I headed north on Hwy. 61 and picked up the Trace about 6 miles north of Natchez. It rained about 50 percent of the time coming home, but the wind was more distracting than the rain. In fact I enjoy riding in the rain because it keeps you cool. The wind was directly in my face all the way home adding to the challenge of distance. I chose not to to stop for lunch but just snacked every half hour along the way. With all the rain, twice I ran across trees that were downed across the road, but the Park Service was quick to respond and get them cleared. From this trip, I have learned that I need to reduce the weight in my panniers from the current 30lbs to under 20lbs. With my bike weighing 47 lbs, that's a total of 67 lbs I have to cycle up hills. Luckily I was able to use my 27 gears on the bike and was able to navigate the steeper grades without being too winded. I also need to drink more water than Gatorade. I drank too much Gatorade on this ride that gave me too much gas and built up salt in my system that created bloating. All in all great lessons learned on the two day trip and it definitely has given me the confidence to complete LEJOG. I plan to let my body recoup from this trip and probably not ride for at least a week. Here are some photos from my trip down the Trace. <br />
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<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5eMZBFO4MwHUoqc7pEZ0SpMXNEj9VViOvjIKBFctGkLQwfdqyQ_zD34dYLedFq6Vne4EU086sJgC4sN4hDacoSWy8mhVRQJ2mYEbiMvxQy1ELisaryiP5aDXFT72XVIG7txI31WDbHH_/s640/blogger-image--791468368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5eMZBFO4MwHUoqc7pEZ0SpMXNEj9VViOvjIKBFctGkLQwfdqyQ_zD34dYLedFq6Vne4EU086sJgC4sN4hDacoSWy8mhVRQJ2mYEbiMvxQy1ELisaryiP5aDXFT72XVIG7txI31WDbHH_/s640/blogger-image--791468368.jpg" /></a></div>Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-85413758031942792262013-05-01T18:49:00.000-07:002013-05-01T19:29:16.052-07:00Century Ride to NatchezFirst a few thanks! Thanks to John Swanson, our bartender in the Library Lounge. Last night was John's last, as he accepted a position as Bar Manager at the new Miso. John donated his last night tips to the Simon Sharp Eagle Fund, so,thank you John! Secondly thanks to Ron and Eleanor Fry, owners of the Devereaux Shields House B&B in Natchez. Ron and Eleanor were so willing to accommodate me while on my ride. The accommodations are immaculate and relaxing and Ron & Eleanor are such gracious hosts. And thank you to my wonderful wife, Tamar. After realizing I left my overnight toiletry bag, she drove all the way to Port Gibson to give it to me.( I think she was worried I didn't have my BP pills).<br />
So today, besides making it safely to Natchez, I learned a few lessons. 1) Don't pass up an opportunity to pick up water or something to drink. 2) Find a way to pack lighter. My packs are way too heavy and I have to reduce the weight. 3) Don't wear rain gear unless it's pouring. I was perspiring more from wearing my rain gear than from the rain or heat. 4) Put on sunscreen even if the sun is not out.<br />
Today I was fortunate that the rain held off until five miles before Natchez. Smooth sailing most of the way, but I definitely had too much weight on the bike. This is something I have to reduce if I am going to make it in the UK. I really love riding the Natchez Trace. It's peaceful, you're with nature and the roads are relatively quiet. I especially like the bridge overpasses. These are great spots to take a break and a snack. You can place your bike against the concrete bridge rail and easily get back on your bike as you carry on your journey. Of course, I'm thoroughly exhausted, but hope after a good nights rest, I'll be ready to do it all again. I took some photos along he Trace but forgot the adapter from my IPhone to IPad.<br />
More tomorrow about the return journey home.Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-6714572083029051212013-04-27T14:19:00.003-07:002013-04-27T14:19:51.494-07:00Holy Cow.....Adding gear makes a difference!So overall this was a good week of training. Started with a 35 mile ride on the Trace on Monday. Went to the gym at St. D's on Tuesday and along with riding a bike,, I did some upper body strength lifting. Wednesday I did a spin class at St. D's - brutal but effective. Rested Thursday, and Friday cycled 50.7 miles south on the Trace. I decided to load up my panniers (bags that I will carry my gear/ clothes etc.) each with a 5 lb brick. That's 20 lbs additional weight. Well what a shock that was.<br />
Having ridden the Trace often now, I know what gears work well on particular hills. But with the addition of the weight on the bike, that all went by the wayside. I'm really going to have to watch what I pack to keep the additional weight to a minimum. After 25 miles, I pulled over and took the two bricks out of the back panniers and I could immediately feel the difference. They say it's best to load the front panniers heavier than the back for easier cycling. anyway going up hill requires a lot lower gears when carrying additional weight. This was a good test prior to my 100 miler to Natchez and then back the next day this coming Wednesday. Planning to rest until then. The other thing that affected me yesterday was the heat. 86 degrees in the sun. I had to stop at one point on the way home and get in the shade to cool down. They say only mad dogs and Englishman go out in the midday sun and you know which one I am. The forecasters are calling for rain on Wednesday which I would rather have than 86 degree and strong sun. Staying hydrated is more of a challenge in the direct heat also. Stay tuned for Natchez and my first 100 miler!Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-9933028459272091362013-04-21T20:36:00.000-07:002013-04-21T20:37:00.047-07:00Back in the Saddle...Two new firsts.....Spent five days this past week in Charleston, SC attending PAII Leadership Conference and Board Meetings. We stayed at the Inn on Middleton Place, a beautiful 2,000 acre complex with spectacular gardens, stables and steeped in history. I ran around on their free cycles but did not get a real workout in. However, Saturday was a gorgeous day and I was able to squeeze in a quick 40.2 miles in between functions. Smooth sailing up until 11 miles and then the pollen really affected me and my eyes started swelling and burning. On top of that, suddenly I caught a bug in my right eye that temporarily blinded me. I stopped and poured water in my eye and the bug was cleared. This is the first time I experienced either one of these distractions. Felt strong most of the ride, although I'm still experiencing pain from the extended hamstring pull. Only 34 days to go. Thank you again to all of you who have sponsored me. We're at 33 percent of the goal and climbing. Please pass along to your acquaintances this sponsoring opportunity. Hoping to cycle 60 plus miles on Monday.....Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3077750491348747944.post-55524952156981168792013-04-13T16:37:00.001-07:002013-04-13T16:38:27.737-07:0086 miles Record RideYesterday was a beautiful da, sunny and in the seventies, perfect riding weather. I planned to ride to Utica, MS and back. Took the Natchez Trace South from Ridgeland leaving just after 11am. Arrived in Utica at 2:30 pm clocking just over 42 miles. I wasn't sure at that point that I would make it back. After taking a 20 minute rest and eating French fries and a snickers bar I was ready for the return ride. Hwy 27 is pretty dangerous, with 18 wheeler truckers and a narrow burm on the road with grooves to stop drivers falling asleep, but not conducive for cyclists. Managed to get back on the Trace and stayed hydrated and fueled all the way. Within 10 miles of getting back to Ridgeland I experienced a pretty strong headwind that slowed me down quite a bit coming in. Anyway completed 86.4 miles in 6 hours 20 minutes. Climbed 4,275 ft and burned 2,748 calories. Average speed of 13.6 mph and ave. pace of 4:24 minute miles. I was really exhausted when I returned home, but recovered well after a good nights sleep. Woke up with a sunburn. I'll remember to put sunscreen on next time. Peter Sharphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04239114197148096603noreply@blogger.com0