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.