Month: July 2012

Monday, 30^th July – Home – (about 60 miles)

Here we are on the last day – always the worse day as we had no challenge to complete. Last year we cycled across the country so the last day had some value, today we just cycled to Cheltenham. Up with the lark, and over to the on site pub for a big brekkie. Not bad nosh, got a few bacon sarnies down my neck. Then it was off around Oxford, then along the river and finally to the road that Marrsy took us on a picturesque jaunt yesterday. Problem today was the wind, and not the Brend, this was Westerly and right in our mushes. Well I took the head of the peloton and it was blumming hard going – don’t know how Marrsy manages it. Obviously after a couple of minutes he had to take the lead again, he cannot help it. Any time someone gets in front those calves tense and he is off back to the front. Anyway, we went past some really fabulous villages today. There was a lot of up and down, but it was a scenic route across the Cotswolds and it was very pleasant. Apart from my tush which, although Marrsy had lent me some padded pants (they *were* still in the pack), was still a little sore. At one point after flying through what seemed to be someones country estate we got to the junction and there was no sign of Greg and the Brend. After 5 mins Rescue Marr sped back to check their condition. Me and Span had a picnic on the side of the road, and a little doze. Marrsy came back red faced after fixing Gregs puncture and off he sped towards the lunch stop.

Just before lunch we had the wetting time, only about 15-20 mins but it really poured, but not bad considering – down we went into Bourton-on-the-water and time for lunch. Went in a pub and the miserable sod who was serving was a right miserable sod. I stood at the bar waiting for him, with a stupid cycle helmet on and a fluorescent yellow jacket and he just ignored me and served some bird who just stepped up to the bar. Luckily she said – “didn’t you see this prick, he was before me”, and I got served. Cross I was.

After lunch Greg asked a cycle tour gang if they would pump up his tires and off we went towards Cheltenham. We went up a massive hill and peddled for some time, then we went down and down and down into Cheltenham – epic. We had the end of tour photo, so I can keep tabs on the growth of my mobs, and we were whisked away to the four corners of the UK as the trip had completed.

Big thanks as usual to everyone who bothered to turn up for another year of cycling, its reasonably hard work, but not really too knackering. And most of all its a very enjoyable way to spend a couple of days. The most important point is that without the volunteers it would be a lonely cycle. So thanks Greg, Brend, Marrsy and Span – it wouldn’t be the same without you….. ;o)

Sunday, 29^th July – Oxford Circus – (about 45 miles)

All too soon it was the morning, and we assembled in the lobby to fill up on water and for Marrsy to fix Spans bike a little – we set off to find the closest Maccy D’s. Again thanks to tech, this was simple to do and within a few mins we were ordering the breakfast menu. Very easy to get 1000 calories down your neck in this place for brekkie, so suitably fuelled we headed for the Magic Round-about. Last year I had brought padded shorts and pants, this year just the shorts and already I was suffering. Nothing too bad, just that uncomfortable feeling on sitting on a razor sharp saddle. Anyway after the delights of Swindon town – off we went towards Kingston Bagpuize.

Had a real steep hill just out of Swindon, but for the rest of the morning it was really fast undulating countryside. Once you got your legs spinning it was a really nice ride, not too hot, not too cold – we made great time. I was told we were off to the “White Horse”, imagine my disappointment when it was a big carving in the hillside and not an actual pub. And we didn’t actually get to see it, we just cycled next to it. Before we knew it we had got to a nice little pub by the river and although slightly early we stopped for refreshments. Lovely sausage and mash was just finished when the rain came down. We migrated into the bar and sat on the smallest table in the world, with our squashes waiting for the rain to stop. Wasn’t long and we set off back up the hill we had just come down to continue our journey.

We made it back up towards Kingston Bagpuize then East through Appleton and onward to Cumnor, as it was a easy day Marrsy thought it wise to take us for a fun downhill section in the opposite direction, then back along a busy road into Oxford – we appreciated that.. ;o) Got into Oxford and although I had booked the hotel I really thought Marrsy had gone mental when he took us in the complete opposite direction, I could not believe he had got it wrong – he hadn’t. Round the outskirts of Oxford and at the hotel nice and early.

Quick shower and change and we were looking for a way into town, no buses from the stop we looked at so we ordered a cab to get us into the historic city. Once debarked Brend took us for an interesting journey into time and space around the many impressive buildings, A few photo opportunities later and Marrsy led us down a back alley and to a quite wonderful little pub in the middle of buildings with no sign as to how to get there. They served lots of different ales, I had a San Miguel. We sat in the Sun and talked nonsense – this is what the cycle adventures are all about. A couple of pints later and we had decided on supper, so with the trusty tech directing us we set off to the next pub. Once in more ales and Miguel were quaffed, I thought I had bought a wonderful painting for a quid – it was actually a postcard – robbers. Then to the pizza place, big pizza, couple of beers then off home to dream of hills and peddles.

Sat 28^th July – The “big” one (about 65 miles)

Have a different car at the moment because the last one has been written off, so the two bikes squeezed in with room to spare. Quick run up to Bristol Parkway, saw us at the entrance around 9:30 – waiting for the rest of the contingent to arrive. Mr Marr made an appearance next, and once Brend had finished his coffee in the cafe he appeared too. Then we paused for reflection as we awaited Dave. He came, we faffed, we took a photo op, Span nearly got run over, we left.

This year had little in the way of cycle paths so Marrsy had created the route and was, once again, the chief navigator. So forming a line of middle aged adventure scouts we trailed off into the unknown. First part of the journey was to get out of Bristol, which is never as easy as you would think. But we were soon passed the motorway, and into the country. Amazingly it had not actually rained yet, and it was if anything quite sunny.

We planned to eat at Calne, but as we rounded the corner by the canal we were met by a number of motorbikers and their steeds. Not just a couple, but 100’s all up the river bank. And lots and lots of leather. We meandered through the throng, seeing more and more bikes – it just happened we were there for the South West Motorcycle Meet. We had some funny looks as we pushed our bikes through the iron horses, but soon we were in the town itself. Everywhere you looked were bikes – it was amazing. Live music playing, thousands of peoples and lots of beards, bandanas, bike helmets and oil. We decided we didn’t really fit in, and all the pubs were packed, so on we rolled right through to Avebury. Coming out of Calne we took some tracks which really started to get a little cross country – luckily the weather held, and the route through to Avebury was gravelly, bumpy and bouncy but was really quite pleasant.

We cycled through the throngs in Avebury – very popular place, and very nice. We found a pub and thankfully got of those bikes and got some beer and food and a little relax in the sun. Lager was welcome, but had to have a glass of pop as well, and the burger was excellent. Plenty of noshing all round, although GD seemed to have just a small potato, the rest of us had platefuls.. So after the refuelling, we had a little look around the standing stones, and the weird freaks who live there (they may not actually live there). A beard, a staff and a stupid cloak and hey presto you are a druid – idiots. The stones were neat, maybe even better than Glastonbury – and its free. Little walk and a few photo’s and we were on our way.

Through Marlborough and then the worse part of the route, large A road with tons of traffic (and many Aston Martins and Ferraris) zooming past. The run was long, slightly windy and uphill – it was relentless. We split up a little at this point due to the continual traffic and peddling – Marrsy told us it was only 8 miles to Swindon, at the end of this 4 mile stretch of road we found the cycle route into Swindon – ah, only another 8 miles to go. I was knackered at this point and it was getting a little late and cold. But after only one minor up and down diversion we sped up and over the motorway on that bridge which has a windy path on either side (which I always thought was for cows, but it seems bikes can go on it too. We descended into Coate Water which was completely full of Indians (or there about), as we cycled though us five were the only white faces in the entire place – which seemed a little odd. Getting into Swindon was easy, getting to the hotel was a ball ache. I had google mapped it, and knew we wanted a turning called something like Kember, Marrsy was not convinced and we agreed after quite away up a road that we should turn – we turned one junction too early damn it!. We then spend 20 mins cycling around until technology was unleashed and Span guided us to the hotel.

Long day, and was glad of a shower – it was shite. Dribbling out – swine. So slightly washed we headed over the pub for a well deserved beverage. Using the latest technology we decided to just mooch down to the local Nepalese restaurant rather than get a bus or taxi into Swindon itself. So after a couple of pints we walked down through the rough neighbourhood and into the (empty) restaurant. Nepalese basically equals Indian but with more goat. Everyone went for something “different” except me who ordered a Vindaloo. Span decided that he would order a mild curry and add some chillies on the side – after seeing the picture of him in York on the last cycle trip he makes good faces when the going gets hot. Brend ordered a chick chilli affair, which had two chillies next to it on the menu – as the Vindaloo didn’t have any chillies (as everyone knows the temperature of normal curry) he jumped to the obvious conclusion that his was hotter… It wasn’t. (Although it might have been close). We were given a bronze tray each with the food and Marrsy immediately poured his rice into it – we all told him that this was just a plate warmer, and looking very sheepish he tried to spoon his rice back from the tray into his bowl. It loses something in translation but it was a little amusing seeing him look like a guilty child…

Friday 27^th July – The Day before.

So I was supposed to be good. But I am not, and had a beer or two. You see I had a day off and the weather was surprisingly seasonal – so it would be particularly rude not too. GD decided to make the best of his day off too, and rolled up to Magor around 8:00 in the PM. Just in time for him to settle himself down with a cuppa and watch the Olympics. I have never watched an opening ceremony before and probably never will again. It was kind of interesting to start with, then 200 countries walked past. The most fun you can have is trying to guess the next country, and that is not fun. We watched it all, every last single second. Went to bed around one – tired.