Newbury to London, Hammersmith. 20 miles

This was the hardest day for me, we woke up in the beautiful luxury of the golf course, and had a nice big breakfast before setting of across the sunlight frosty landscape. I had had aches and pains since day one. So I took a painkiller, determined to press through. About 4 miles in, the pain started to escalate. It was a beautiful day, wildlife was abundant, and the sun and ice made beautiful patterns. But unfortunately I was beyond appreciating any of this. The pain in my knee was excrutiating, everything else was trying to compensate, and so aches spread up and down. I pushed on and made it to Theale. Just outside Reading. Luckily we had decided to get a train through to Twickenhan, to avoid the busy roads and complicated roundabouts. At Reading station, remarkably, I bumped into my friend Ryan who I knew through a friend from Okehampton. Muddy and sweaty I gave him a big hug, what a little sliver of Devon! On the train I was heavily questioned by a man, before he asked for
my number, much to the amusement of Claire and my mum... I just shook my head and blushed heavily in to the polar bear mascot who had joined my journey.

We made it to Twickernham and out into London. Back on the bikes, my pain was only getting worse, and I retreated into a silent grumpy world. Head down and going as best as I could. The birdlife along the Thames was fantastic, greater creasted grebes, cormorants and parakeets!
Part of the route was closed, and we got a bit lost trying to find our way, there was also lots of flooding along our path and darkness was descending. I was pretty fed up. I didn't feel like celebrating. We got stopped by some Aussies from Perth, who wanted to know where the nightlife in London was, we said something along the lines of: do we look like we know about the nightlife in London? We're sweaty and mud splattered, and we've just cycled 100 miles to be here. I walked off at that point, but my mum reported that they were very nice, had said I was very beautiful and to keep up the good work, which I was pretty chuffed with, especially since I had a polar bear stuffed down my reflective jacket and thermals...

Eventually we made it. Food and comfy sofas! Nice hot bath revealed my horribly swollen knees! Ouch... :( but bed and sleep! Lovely.

Claire's Blog

Sunday 29th November- day one, Chagford to Uffculme.

Yes, it's finally the day to cycle to London! 7.30am Yuli phones, she's not well enough to leave today. She'll meet me in Bath with Kezzie on monday. HELP! So husband, Roger, hastily packs bike panniers. Breaks one and finds an old replacement. He's willing to cycle with me to Bath. Lark 15 year old daughter will be fine with friend Angela the angel (thousand thanks Angie) and thanks to Vicki for walking Bella the dog at short notice.
A gange o lovely friends brave the winter rain in Chagford Square to wavve us off and offer a few technical helping hands to ease our way-thanks you guys you know who you are. A quick pit stop at the Bikeshed in Exeter to improve our
equipment - new panniers that are waterproof. Then off to national. Cycle network
route 3 and away to London!
We made it to uffculme by 4 pm and with still a bit of light and plenty of peddle power we headed to Wellington in Somerset. Arrival at 6.30 pm to the Cleve Hotel
and lashings of hot water, a warm room for the trusty bikes, a welcome meal and the Sunday papers, bliss.

Monday 30th November. Day 2, Wellington to Glastonbury.
Happy Birthday to me, 52 and aching bum bones-ouch! No hanging around for us, so off after a hearty breakfast, enjoyed with a view of the Wellington memorial up the hill. Along lively country roads in winter sunshine and showers. Buzz in Taunton forr a coffee stop, and check all well at home - daughter Lark, not so well with tonsilitils after a lively party the nifty before-yes, we did know it was happening!
Enjoyed Taunton to Bridgewater canal with wind in our faces. Then the puncture happened as the sun was setting over the Somerset levels. So for the next 3 hours we pumped up the back tire every mile in the dark. But we peservered. Then we went along the busy A361 the wrong way for 4 miles in the dark: stay focused, concentrate and "om Mani pa me om." a driver swinging wide to avoid us bashed off another drivers wing mirror and kept going. A scary accident wizzing past us. We then had to contend with the A39 to Glastonbury: kept our nerve and more prayers plus a few bike lanes in street. Then Glastonbury where Khush met us; a cup of tea and he'll take care of our bikes with a quick service. Bless you Khush of www.icycles.net (try him) what a relief! Then a warm welcome from Sandy and Kraig, our bed for the night, your birthday truffle with candle meant a lot to me, as did your generous hospitality and kindness. Fun in the pub with Khush, Sam, Sandy and Kraig- New friends all round on a cold frost night.

Tuesday 1st December, day 3, Glastonbury to Bath.
V.frosty, cold and wintery. A morning view of the for took our breath away. A fond farewell to new friends Sandy, Kraig; Khush and Sam, and off across the Somerset levels to Wells. Coffee break at goodfellows, near the Cathedral, and a chat to a posh waiter who're not heard of climate change but liked biking on the mendip hills, where we were heading. As we panted up the mendips we looked back at Glastonbury tor in awe. No sight of the Welligton memorial and Chagford on Dartmoor is now days away in the distance. Roger is pushing his bike, is it his painful knee or a puncture? I don't believe him when he smilingly tells me it's the latter.
A sign of good health is the ability to manage challenging situations, so in true good health we pump up the tyre and head to Chew Stoke for tyre repairs. Malcom at the garage repaired Rogers puncture between car MOTs- bless you Malcolm and would take no payment for it.
Down the country lanes of natural cycle network 10 to Bath. When darkness fell we lost the plot and the route and arriving at a busy A road, I had a tearful frustrated moment, Roger picked up my spirits and getting directions from some kind locals we made our way to 'Compton Dando' still 6 miles from Bath and already 6 pm. Heading down a hill I felt a familiar sliding of a flat back tyre-yes another flat; 2 in 2 days for me! My friend from Bath, Amanda, drove out to collect us as we found refuge in a pub in Compton Dano, complete with G&T and wood store. Even in those struggling times I counted my blessings! Amanda, another angel friend, drove us to Bristol to put Roger on a train home. Thanks to Mark for wisking Roger back home to nurse Lark. Meanwhile Amanda and I sloshed sparkling wine in celebration of my birthday-hic and a good nights rest.

Wednesday 3rd December, day 4,Bath to Pewsey.
Early morning Bath with winter sunlight on Bathstone took my breath away. Puncture sorted at 'John's bikes' by 8.30pm and I'm off along the Kennet and Avon canal to meet Kezzie and Yuli at the famous George inn. At last we're together and eager to make peddle miles along this beatiful route 4 of the national cycle network. Now we're off for the next stretch-Bath to Pewsey. Then Pewsey to Newbury. If anyone can work out my mileage to date I'd appreciate it. It's been a fantastic journey through wonderful wintery England, meeting kind, generous fold as we go and giving them Ice Bear Project leaflets to connect them to the bigger issue than just us cycling to the Climate change demo with minimum impact. It's been wonderful cycling with mother and daughter, Yuli and Kezzie-inspiring, uplifting, humouros and quiet- a very special personal journey and these 2 are great at picking out the wildlife as we zoom along-I've seen more dab chicks in 2 days than in 52 years! Love you two. Claire.

Pewsey to Newbury.

Got up in the dark, but got a nice big carby breakfast, so I was happy. And quite a nice send off, seems the folk of Pewsey had warmed to us after all, although they definitely still thought we were barmy, although to be honest I would not dispute that fact. Back on the road and we were making good time. Got to Hungerford in about 2 hours, which was over double the speed we had started at the day previous (over 10 miles an hour) but I had INSISTED we stop before dark today, and after lunch and blogging in a nice little cafe, we popped into a bike shop. It was called supernova cycles, and Jonathon, who was the only person in there, fixed Yuli's brakes, for just the price of the breaks! Which saves us a lot of money! He was lovely and he also looked up places to stay for us, he found us a very posh looking country club that was offering cheaper prices than we had paid at the pub! So we were very chuffed! So I would like to thank Johnathon and wish him the best of luck with his race!

We set off again, and it was a very pleasant journey (except I couldn't work out if my neck, bum, or knees hurt more... Eventualy deciding on the knees.) The sun came out, and we saw a whole lot of deer and pheasants. Claire had some problems with her chain, making funny noises! And mine came off... But it was all lovely from there, and we met some very nice people and some very nice dogs. Plus we saw another dab chick once we made it back on the muddy canal! Newbury is lovely! A bit like Hereford... If anyone has ever been there. We gave the country club where we were going to stay, and they had room for all 3 of us for an incredibly good price, plus it was only 10 minutes away AND it was still light... My very high spirits
were boosted even further when we started cycling down the very long and very grand drive past all the lakes with the swans and heron, and the lush green golf courses to the large and very impressive castle like building. We got a bit worried when it came to entering the place, fearing we might be chucked out, as we looked so scruffy. but once we plucked up the courage, they could not have been lovlier, and even let us bring our muddy bikes inside! Plus... It was on-suite so I immediately headed to the bathroom for a long hot bath! Now we are all clean warm and dry, and looking forward to our dinner!

Bath to Pewsey, 35 miles.

After a very good nights sleep in Bath, we cycled to meet claire by the canal, she told us her tales of punctures and getting lost, but it was a cheerful start, cycling along the canal was beautiful, passing beautiful house boats, kizzie, my newt and miss behavin (savin my love for you) were among my favorites. Also a great day for the bad bird watchers with coots and moorhens and very specially a little grebe (if there are any hos Reading this, imagine that in a Jone accent...) we Also had a brief water vole encounter, and had a rather magical view of a pair of kingfishers. Eventualy we left the calm of the canal for a road, which made much better time, but I was definitely beggining to feel the miles. Darkness fell and we still hadn't made our target. We set off with our torches alight, the descent of darkness squeezed my last vestiges of energy, and I made it to Pewsey on pure determination, it didn't help that the cycle route suddenly veered off in an unexpected direction, we decided to follow the signs for Pewsey, and eventually we made it. Then we were faced with the new problem of a place to stay, the first pub we tried said they only had 2 beds, so we cycled on. But everywhere was effctively no room at the inn. We went back to the first pub and they said they. Could put us all up. The locals were very unfriendly, and one particularly rude man attacked our views and exclaimed we were bonkers for even trying. But the food was just what I needed and the bed was warm and comfortable, unfortunately the shower only had 2 settings and that was too hot or too cold, but eventualy we all got to bed clean warm and dry (and driving through the mud with no mud guard mention this was no mean feat! We rubbed in the deep heat and settled down to a deep sleep.

Tentatively in the saddle.

I had been worried I would never make it even this far, I may have not been long on my bike yet (in fact I've just done one side of bath to the other, which is nothing in the scheme of things) but as soon as we actually got on the bike, I began to remember why I volunteered for this in the first place. A bike is a remarkable kind of freedom, it's not as fast as a car, bus, train or plane, but it gets you closer to the world, it connects you with what's happening, you know what the weather is like, what the places you normally pass through in a flash, are really like. Plus it doesn't need fuel, just the power of you. I've been to Bath, I even like to think I know it quite well, the shops, bus station and train station
are all familiar to me, but I didn't know until today that it even had a canal, or at least I have never been there. It's such an oasis, ducks and house boats float in the murky water, a tumble of dogs and people of all ages
adorn the banks in chaotic bunches. Joggers and fellow cyclists flash by, and sudden hills require a run up, or sudden appearences threaten to capsize me and my very full and unruly panniers into the river. Now sitting in a lovely sitting room in a lovely part of Bath I am looking forward to our journey along the length of this canal, I'm still a bit worried about my fitness levels, but after my practise run today, I'm more worried about getting sadle sore than not making the miles. Let's see what tommorow brings.

The Journey starts.

This Sunday, Claire and her husband Roger set out on the first leg of the journey to London by bike. The Okehampton times was there to see them off from Chagford. Joining her today is Bath, myself and my mum Yuli (who were unable to start from Chagford due to flu and a bad shoulder!) will finish the journey with them, all arriving in London for 'the wave' protest against climate change (http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/the-wave).

If you want to sponsor us email at: kesella@icebearproject.org.

Wish us luck!

Cycling for a Change.. Introduced.

Next week is the start of a rather hair brained scheme... for some reason we have decided that CYCLING ALL THE WAY TO LONDON is some kind of a fantastically sane idea.

But we are doing it, although I think we haven't quite admitted that yet. Claire and My mum Yuli will be leaving this sunday to cycle over 300 miles to 'the wave' in London, a protest against climate change. I will be joining them in Bath on Wednesday, and will be bringing my companion bear with me... and some blogging tools.

We're also raising money for the ice bear as we go. email me to find out more about how you can sponsor... kesella@icebearproject.org

What Happens Next?

In my first week I made the facebook (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Chagford-United-Kingdom/The-Ice-Bear-Project/156511814608) and the twitter (http://twitter.com/friendofthebear) pages for the project. But Todd was working down in Cornwall, and I found myself very quickly at a loose end.

When Todd returned we drove up to Ice Bear HQ for a meeting with Toby and Mark, the other main members of the team. After a 6 hour meeting, and the 4 hours spent in the car, I realised I would probably never be at a loose end again... there was an overwhelming amount to do. Todd reassured me there was no way I'd be able to do it all, and to just focus on the important bits.

Now a routine of sorts has descended. Ideas and plans fly around the room, and we sit at our macs (We are both part of the mac tribe, everything white and sleek and with the promise of quality...) and tap tap away at our keys, emails, form fillings, and facebook updates, punctuated by cups of tea, and tip bits sent from various places to inspire us on our journeys.

But we are not far now, this friday will be the 'Fire and Ice' event at Castle Drogo, which has been the first event I have EVER been involved with organising, and with a lot of help from some rather fantastic people, it can't fail to be a corker!

The night will be filled with tales to inspire, awe and amaze, and there will also be some taste bud temptations with an Indian meal, and some suitably on target decorations, provided by the talented Hannah and her many hours of dedication. Plus, you will get to watch a master at work, with a live sculpting from Mark Coreth.

We have also had some beautiful things donated to us! Both for the raffle and for the auction. Shown is a picture of the very gorgeous necklace donated to us by Jason Of England, and The Beautiful painting 'Spirit of the Ice Bear' donated to us By Danielle Barlow.

Change and Reaction

I was working on a volunteer project in Greece when my Dad gave me a ring and asked if I wanted to work for Todd on the ice bear project. I'd heard of the project. But I didn't really know what it was all about. I said yes anyway. If someone asks me to help them out, I almost always say yes. The job was volunteer, and pretty much full time. But it was about a subject I cared about, and it was a chance to prove to myself that I could be organized, focused, and make things happen.

Yes I'm worried about climate change. Looking at the very bare facts of it scares me. Even without opinion and politics getting in the way it seems obvious we need to make some changes to our lifestyles. I know lots of people throw their hands up in the air and start protesting at this point. But to be honest with you I'm really not interested in whose fault it is. I'm just concerned with living my life, with minimal impact on our world. It feels like a precious place to me, a beautiful place, and I just want to do my bit to protect it.

I'm 18 years old. I quit school over a year ago, because it all felt all wrong to me. It just wasn't a place I fitted. Leaving college was the hardest decision I have made yet, and also the scariest one. It felt like the right thing to do, but I've been given a lot of stick for it, people assume I'm lazy, assume I'm the type of person to give up easily. I have been assigned a title by the government which is akin to ASBO youth. I dread the question, 'so what are you studying?' It is always assumed I am in education, and when anyone finds out other wise, a surprised look of disappointment appears, and I desperately attempt to justify myself without sounding crazy.

Without the support of my parents I would never have made it any further. But luck has been on my side from the start, and at the end of the day. I know this is right for me, and I will make it work.

With the ice bear project, I had no idea what to expect. I said yes purely because I liked the project, I liked the idea, and more than anything I wanted to help. I'm more than 2 weeks into the job now, and at times I feel totally incapable. I have no experience in the area, I have to be organised, I have meetings, I take notes, I email important people and they reply to me. It feels like a job better suited to someone with 20 years of experience behind them. And to be completely frank, I am endlessly grateful that I don't get paid. I chose to do this job, I want to do it, and I will give and am giving it, the best shot I possibly can. But its not the kind of jobs 18 year olds have, for a reason. WE ARE NOT ORGANISED PEOPLE. until now I've never written a report, taken down minutes, arranged meetings. I'm very shy when it comes to phone calls. BUT... I'll give it my all, for free. Just because I want to, just because I care. And I love it. I just give thanks to the patience and trust the other members of the group are putting in me. Thanks guys, I'll try my very best not to let you down!

I'm writing this blog because I want you all to know what I'm getting up to, and what this project actually is.

The Ice Bear project is an art project. But so much more. Its about Climate Change. Or rather. Its a reaction to climate change, and to the melting of the ice in the Arctic.

For most people. The Arctic is pretty far away. We've all heard that the ice is melting up there. But its not affecting us at the moment, and its often being dismissed as rumour. Unfortunately, it's no rumor. The first satellite went up in 1957. So, we have pictures, of the arctic, from space, from then, till now. In that time we have lost 70% of our ice. What exactly that means for us, personally, is still unclear. The world is changing so fast, that all models are out of date before they are even finished. But, whether you like it or not, the world now is changing faster, and to a greater extent, than it has since our race first walked this earth. This is not a fact disputed by science. All the argument is on if the human race is the cause of this, and what exactly is going to happen. But no one is predicting anything particularly nice. Losing the Arctic is sad, its a unique environment, with its own people. But I can understand that as most of us have only seen it on the telly, we don't necessarily feel that emotionally attached to it. For us the problem is, what happens next? Maybe the ice melt will cool down our seas, giving the British isles a climate more akin to Alaska. Maybe the rise in water level will cause floods across the land. Maybe, without that vast mass of white ice reflecting back the suns rays, our part of the world will heat up, and we will have drought to face.

One thing is for certain. Change is coming, we can't say what, and we can't say when. We do need to take action. There is much debate about this. What action should be taken, is what we personally do going to make any difference now, is it too late? My thinking personally is, change is positive. We need to move forward as a species. We live in a corrupted world piled up with stuff. Lets pull together. Community, is important, doing your bit, is important, being aware, is important, being open to this change, is important. Maybe what we do now wont stop the ice melting. But it will get us ready to change, to live more simply. To work together, and try to heal some other damages.