Rain to rain

Well we made it and typically it was wet windy and cold just like john o'groats. Magical throng of friends cheering, champagne popping and cameras flashing. We are wet but well chuffed.

Not the first for us

Only a mile to go but just time to stop off for a pint at the first and last

Getting ready for celebrations

somebody's lining up our welcoming committee.

Not far to go

A brief stop in penzance for refueling.1444

A day of two halves

This morning lovely sun. Afternoon lovely rain. This morning beautiful quiet country lanes. Afternoon the a30. This morning relaxed. This afternoon hating every stressfull minute. But we reached our goal for the day and we,re only 30 miles from the end. i,m elated that we.re near to success but saddened that the adventure will end and that me and blogger will go our seperate ways. he's got me through the lows and i thank him from the bottom of my heart (and the other bits too) . he's a true friend and blogging hero.

Cornish decor

Day 14 - only cornish ladies would have flowery wallpaper inside the shower. Don't think ish likes this b+b. it.s a bit strange but something really bright is shining through the curtains. On investigation there appears to be a ball of fire in the sky surrounded by blue - i wonder what it could be ! Hopefully it will stay for a while today.

There was an old lady that lived in a pub!

Remarkable a pub shaped like a shoe on one side and a stage coach on the other. Shame it was shut

Would you believe it ?

we're in the last county

Warning - not for the faint hearted

By popular demand ! On an otherwise truly atrocious day. Gale force wind, monsoon rain and lovely devon hills.

what's that ?

Well it.s not what you thought. he's blogging. Bit of a pig of a leg from wellington to tiverton. Started hilly, then muddy, then busy. Got to tiverton the obligatory two hours late. Angel guesthouse has the longest bath in the world which is bliss. We are both worn out but there's only two more big bits to do. But .... Forecast is for 25 mph wind against - i haven't told ish.

Ever felt like a muggle

Glastonbury is full of mystic magic shops and people. We even saw a dumbledor look alike (obviously the real one is dead although i.ve not heard what happens in the last book) anyway licra is not in in this town. We .ve made good progress to taunton against a strong wind (the other blog will give a more vivid account i.m sure!). Bit of a debate as to best way to go but we.re off to tiverton next.

Day 12 on tor with ish

Bit rainy. nothing's happened to report.

pilates

At the top of a very steep hill ish puts his feet up

Looking back at severn bridge

How could i refuse

But i had beer not pims

For once a beautiful day

Bristol blogging

Day 11 . Slow but pleasant for once. Strong wind juust blew my bike over. May be a struggle to shepton mallet

Happy ish

Nearly at the end of day 10 and we.re on the severn bridge. Considering all the flooding up stream there was no sign of it here although the tide was out.

Has it been raining

This was monmouth on sea (normally 30 miles inland) at 6.30pm (we should have been here 4 hours earlier but another series of unfortunate events had takencontrol of the day - yet another ish puncture , two new chains for alan . And a lovely pair of stockings for me. Just after this photo alan.s tyre burst so we did the decent thing and left him behind. He showed up in taxi an hour later looking much fresher than we joglers. Two bikes to fix in morn as i also got a puncture on severn bridge. Thank you to hilary for the rescue from severn view services.

Another fine start

Rain again. Puncture again (/sh). Happy holidays !

love

My new shoes that saved the day - i think i.ll sleep with them tonight. (although due to another long story i.m sharing a bed with my son jack)

The repair shed visitors

Willian was one of many visitors to the makeshift repair shed in the smoking area of the fox inn at wem. Jo john and emma and the rest of the cresswells all turned up to see ish cope with yet another
Deflation. Only four hours late by now.

Smiling now but ...

Not smiling after the third puncture in one crazy hour when he also literally blew up an inner tube by over inflating it (or was it faulty). Alan also smiling here wasn.t when his chain snapped, he fell off, cut his leg - all in the pouring rain. My only mechanical failure was with my legs when they refused to go a nother inch when we were diverted by floods with only a half mile to go at 8.45pm. All in all a difficult day - what will the ish blog make of it

Then there were five

Late start from ish's with two of his friends steve and ian. This pic was for ian but involved a little detour down (then up) a very steep hill. No problems at this point but......

Then there were three

Alan joined the team for days 8-11 with fresh legs. Unfortunately i.m on my last legs and really struggling. Got wet again today and it all seemed pretty miserable until we arrived in chester where helen greeted us with home baked cake, hot tea, and a hot bath. The world seems a little brighter, until tomorrow. Will i survive ? Another blog (alan's) to read www.worldofwotler.blogspot.com If i don.t survive you can read it there or on ish's. I wish i hadn't dissed the faith healer.

preston

The best in the world. The words of our host mark (beak) - pictured about their hospitality and it was good.

Lunch in kendal

Day 7 completed. 82 miles. The last 10 in monsoon conditions. Ish is in the picture blogging again - took an hour today and tried my patience to extreme (we must be married). A kindly aged gentleman gave me words of comfort ,cycling gives you prostrate cancer and i should know., at this i kicked ish into going very fast. I really was on my last legs today. Tomorrow is a shorter day thank god.

The best yet

Jackie says ,beat that helen,

Seriously hard and prolonged (shap)

Ish reaching the top of shap. The A road went much much higher than the m way and was a hard slog. But 42.5 mph coming down and a cruise into kendal. Weather fine but threatening. Thigh giving serious pain again but have to keep going. Only 35 miles to go. Uh!

Saint ish

Ish (blogging again) with a curious cross above his head. Very saintly until he too succumbed to a call of nature on hallowed ground.

doesn.t look too bad but ..

This is the view from our b+b near penrith. In the distance are some dark clouds. Unfortunatey when we were under them there was rain from hell and i was pedaling with my feet under water. Not good when you've only one pair of trainers. Flash flood didn.t stop us even though i wanted to shelter in a pub. My less expensive panniers filled with water but ish,s were bone dry ! A parked car looked like it was about to become a boat. A damp end to an otherwise good day. Jane our host washed and dried everything then drove us to the pub! What more could you ask. Roger (her hub) was the chef and taxi home... Faltless. Someone in the pub said there.s a severe weather warning .... A likely story....... But i.ll buy a snorkel !

that's stretching it

In england. Lunch at church+again. Yet another injury. Pulled thigh. Only 24 to do to b+b.

Now thats service

Hats off to mrs mackenzie for the best laundry service. i.ve never seen socks so well folded.

Day 6

it.s a beautiful day 6. Suntan lotion on. Thirty miles done. A deer nearly killed me and it by leaping from the woods into my path. She was the more scared though. How many times do you see that sign with a deer on it . Then no sign and ...... Ish has unveiled his secret weapon by wearing shorts for the first time. He has calf muscles as big as my thighs ! And he is getting fitter. Next stop england in 15 mins.

Day 5 done

Not sure why i.m still doing this as the battle of the blogs is well and truly lost. 65 miles done today and we're in selkirk. Nice bath had and janet is doing our washing so a good b+b. Very tiring day with wind blowing at us most of the time. Ish continues to ride in the middle of the road and is suprised when drivers moan. If his blog stops fear the worst. Tomorrow is a big one so bo early start if ish can stop writing his book. Off for tea now at 8. 15

Smoking ban

The smoking ban has even spread to the wildlife

Is this the end of the road .

The boys seen together for once

Man at work . Still not talking

At the scottish mining museum cafe 2.30pm

Yes they were

Are they painting it .

Not quite the hill of death

The hedge man was fishing today

Luckily we didn't run any over

We do cycle sometimes

Luckily ish obeys the words on the road and i can get the camera out.

This was the offending hotel

Thank god it.s 82 miles behind us. Service with a grimace. Ponsy food. Weird music. But on the plus side what are the chances of meeting a faith heeler in the middle of nowhere when you can hardly walk. Shame ion (a norwegian).s magic didn.t do bugger all. Very nice bloke though and laughed at all my jokes. The magic was weaved by a nice pharmacist and i.m now jumping like a spring chicken. Mr bloggy doesn.t speak much any more as he.s always on his mobile blogging away. Of course
i.ve got no idea what he says. Look forward to reading it. Still his doesn.t have as many pics. Thanks for all the good wishes even from dubai! Only 65 tomorrow ! So that.ll be easy (i wish). Currently seated in a smokeroo _ never knew such things existed. More pics later.

The sign says it all. It rained.

Ish on a rare moment not blogging. Nice morning though

lunch

On the bank of the tummel. Waiting for the rain to stop. My achilles (both) are sore but under medication. 30 miles done but another 35 to do.

Is it true ?

no

Happy or what

And that was when we'd finished