We have now finalised the route that we are going take and trying to find places to stay along the way that won't cost us anything. if you take a look on this page I will endeavour to show the route and the various stats.
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| Our wall map of the action |
Saturday 9th July 2011
This is the first day of the adventure. We will be meeting somewhere as yet undecided with our two support vehicles. From there we will pack all the gear and start the journey by mini bus to the start. This journey by road should take about 5 hours and at the moment we haven't got anywhere to stay. Dave you said that you would sort it!!!!
Sunday 10th July 2011
We make our way to Land's End and dip our bike wheels in the sea. (If we can). Also we will have photos taken with the sign post, meet up with other Police Officers from Devon and Cornwall who fancied a days ride and with butterflies in our stomaches, start the ride.
From here we will cycle 75 miles to our first overnight stay in Liskeard, Cornwall. we have been very lucky in that we are being allowed to stay in the Police Bar in Liskeard Police Station. Unfortunatley it has been decomissioned and all that is left are a few musty bar stools. I guess we will manage. Hopefully at this stage spirits will still be high. (link below fro the route)
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=mysrtvyjlzrbwenf
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=mysrtvyjlzrbwenf
Monday 11th July 2011
From here we set out again and plan to do 78 miles to a little town in Somerset called Wellington. Again the local Police (Avon and Somerset) have arranged for us to stay in the town. By this time I would imagine we should be starting to get rid of the crinks in our legs and just starting to handle on things. (yeah right)
Tuesday 12th July 2011
Again we should be joined by local Officers who fancy a leg stretch for our longest day which is 90 miles and will take us to a small village called St Weonards. From here we will be going to Daddy Davies's caravan to meet up with members from our Policing team in the West Midlands for a BBQ, if the weather allows. I think that by this stage all we will want is to go to bed but it's always nice to have friends around.
Wednesday 13th July 2011
Thursday 14th July 2011
This is the last riding day and is a short one at only 50 miles. We should be finished sometime just after lunch. Again here we should dip the wheels into the sea and have our photos taken at John O'Groats before we jump into the mini-bus and start the 12 hour journey by vehicle to the West Midlands. This should be through the night.
Friday 22nd July 2011
The next leg is 76 miles to Shrewsbury where we will be staying with local Fire Officers on their night shift. I would think that the riders will be a little sore by this point and I guess that we will be wondering why we bothered in the first place!
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| Shrewsbury Fire Station |
Thursday 14th July 2011
We then cycle on 84 miles through the fairly built up areas of the North West on the A6. This won't be the most safe part of our journey but we should be being kept safe by our Support Team and our two vehicles. Although we will be stopping at Preston we hopefully should be staying at The Village Hotel in Warrington. Ah, a real bed for the night!
Friday 15th July 2011
A pretty leisurely cycle on this leg. Again we will follow the A6 past Lancaster and into the South Lakes. 60 miles will take me to my home town of Hawkshead at the heart of the Lake District. Many thanks to my Mum and the local Doctor's Surgery as we are being allowed to kip in there. (I might even sneak a night in my old bed!) Again if the weather holds up a BBQ is the order of the day and a bit of a relax as the next day is going to be a killer.
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| Hawkshead |
Saturday 16th July 2011
Distance 82 miles, all the way to Lockerbie. Today will be a real killer as we take a tour through the Lakes and some very long climbs. I have to say that I am looking forward to the scenery but not the cycling! We will also cross the border near Carlisle and enter Scotland. We haven't sorted out where we will be staying yet but I'm not worrying, yet!
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| Dunmail Raise. Don't laugh boys, we have to cycle up that! |
Sunday 17th July 2011
This day will take us to the outskirts of Glasgow and we will be finishing at Paisley at The Watermill Hotel where the very kind owner has said that they will put us up for free. This leg is 79 miles.
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| The Water Mill Hotel |
Monday 18th July 2011
Today we will be staying in Glen Coe. Though again we don't have anywhere to stay yet. This leg is 80 miles which os pretty average for the ride. Our group will now be in the Highlands and we are all looking forward to this as none of us have spent much time up the other side of the Border.
Tuesday 19th July 2011
The next stop is Inverness, 84 miles away. Yet again we don't have anywhere to stay though I'm sure that won't be a problem. From here I think that we can just about see the finish line! I wish!
Wednesday 20th July 2011
Onwards now to Helmsdale which is almost the end. I don't know where we will be staying, even the local Fire Station is just a shed in a field. So no joy there. Again a slowish day at 68 miles.
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| Is it a shed? No it's Helmsdale Fire Station! |
Thursday 21st July 2011
This is the last riding day and is a short one at only 50 miles. We should be finished sometime just after lunch. Again here we should dip the wheels into the sea and have our photos taken at John O'Groats before we jump into the mini-bus and start the 12 hour journey by vehicle to the West Midlands. This should be through the night.
Friday 22nd July 2011
Arrive home to see our family!!!
