Updated on Mar 31st 2012 at 6:06 PM from the JustGiving API

A massive thank you to all those who sponsored me, and who emailed or texted me. I will reply now Ive got a bit of time ! But a really good total raised and very happy to have done something useful as well as pointlessly tiring.

Updated on Mar 31st 2012 at 6:05 PM from the JustGiving API

Oh, 84.1 miles, 13.5mph avg, 26.2 max. 2283.1 odo. So in total: 383.7 miles side to side. With about 25 more getting to St Davids, and on way home. I think that counts for the 400 advertised

Updated on Mar 31st 2012 at 6:02 PM from the JustGiving API

More. Late start due to B&B lady not wanting to do an early Bfast, then getting into a long conversation about her son going to uni. Basically assured her he'll probably turn out alright. 45 mins later on my way with another overcast day. Cambridge bit rubbish on way out - 2 close collisions, both with same police car seemingly unaware that cyclists are in cycle lanes. Never liked the police - bunch of near/actual criminals anyway. Decided to stop and add air to rear tyre as feeling slow. Classic mistake trying to fix s/t not actually broken - valve snapped off and then into a tire change - helped by a large dog very interested in smelling all of me and my bike. After that pretty miserable, strong NE wind smashing me back and A road option out due to being very open. Stuck to side lanes and headed E to at least take the edge off the wind. Pretty much 70miles of this accompanied by a lot of swearing. What is more, Anglia is not flat - Suffolk is ruddy hilly. Made resolutionto join submarine service, take over a Trident boat and level Suffolk. Hopefully remove enough so the sea takes it over. Last 40 didnt really stop as on mission for train. Pretty much the worst cycle ride of my life. Suffolk drivers worst in country for giving space and not wanting to lose even 5 seconds from their vital and urgent journey. Anyway, on way home. Ipswich, Liverpool St then via A40 (of all roads !) to Marylebone and Bsfield. With a nice bath waiting at the end hopefully...

Updated on Mar 31st 2012 at 5:25 PM from the JustGiving API

Day 4. Done it. Knackered. Arrived Lowestoft 1646. Left 1708 on train. Judging by what I did see of Lowestoft, that was more than enough time there. Horrible day. Hated it. On way home.

Updated on Mar 30th 2012 at 8:01 PM from the JustGiving API

Ps. Dont really do photos ! And not had much in the way of 3g connection.

Updated on Mar 30th 2012 at 8:01 PM from the JustGiving API

Day 3. 100.4 miles, 14.5 mvg avg, 32.6 max. 2198.9 odom. Left YHA 0810, arrived 1730. Long day. Slighlty rubbish day. Overcast, although cooler. Bloody great hill at outset, although superb ridge ride to Banbury after that. Section of road closed but was allowed to walk on verge - got s/t stuck in mudguards, evetually removed them as couldnt risk gouging. Lots of front derailler issues today, think partially jammed. Can get to shift up, down needsy right foot to lift and drop the chain. Busy everywhere today even B roads very busy. Banbury to Bedford pretty grim. A603 to Sandy worst - tried a different route from there, initially a disaster, 2 miles cross country on tracks to find no entry and gate. Back to road, however, then stumbled on a cycle way and had a great last 20miles on quiet and fast roads. Flatter round here, although roads surprisingly bumpy. Into Cambridge some proper cycle ways and more bikes in that 1/2 hr than seen in total on trip ! Always behind time today until last section, due to mudguard and then repeated derailleur playing (and few bady aimed kicks) - quite frustrating. B&b bit crap, someones deluxe shed and not very can do or freindly. Hey ho, cheap. 85-95miles tomorrow - must catch 1708 train from Lowestoft !

Updated on Mar 29th 2012 at 7:55 PM from the JustGiving API

Day 2. 93.4 miles, 14average, 40.5max, 2098.4 odom. Slightly overslept and breakfast busy so left 0830, finished 1715 thus 8hrs 45. Unending sunshine, had to splash out on sunscreen (12 quid !!!!) as burning. Feel dehydrated all the time yet 8-9litres today. Good fast start, took A road from Brecon which was quite good. B roads near Hay On Wye and Hereford - lovely route and fast. Harder going in aftA438 fm Hereford busy and not great for space in much of it. Came off before Ledbury and fantastc minor roads (albeit slow and hilly) - views awesome. Hell of a climb on to Malverns (justified an ice cream) but good descent ! After that ok but bit of a muchness. Pershore-vua Evesham to Stratford on B roads but still busy and fast traffic, not ideal, same with minor roads. Distance estimate out again, due to using non A roads but half expected that. Felt tired and numerous rest stops on last third - think not enough food earlier in day. Stratford YHA (beyond Stratford centre, just as St Davids and Brecon beyond the centre in my direction - typical) nice but full of very loud and irritating foreign teenagers. At or over half way now ish. A huge thanks to all the sponsors so far, does increase determination to finish !

Updated on Mar 29th 2012 at 11:38 AM from the JustGiving API

Hereford is very nice. Great roads, flattish and quietish, from Brecon, 15.5mph average. Feeling sunburn now. Hit 41mph, nearly lost front bike bag... Hey ho.

Updated on Mar 28th 2012 at 7:13 PM from the JustGiving API

Day 1. 105.5 miles. 9hrs 50 mins. 13.4mph moving average. 36.7max. Blimey - longest ride ever, West of Carmarthen surprisingly hilly, after that on B roads which quite fast and went Llandover to Brecon on A40 (of all roads - goes to Bsfield !) pretty good, not to busy and nicely graded (albeit uphill). Stayed off it previously, at cost of billions (yes that many) hills on country lanes and about 10 miles extra distance. Very sunny and hot. Bit dehydrated today, despite about 8 litres of fluids. Brecon YHA very nice, awaiting scoff. Being fully interrogated by Welsh people - Julie tells me that's normal. Hopefully hardest day distance and hills wise. 85 to Stratford Upon Avon tomorrow. I hope England is flatter. Not sure packing thermals was worth it !

Updated on Mar 28th 2012 at 9:11 AM from the JustGiving API

Day Zero. 27/3/12. 18.5miles, 14.1 avg, 37.6max, 1899.4 odo. Surprisingly easy and quiet train journey to Haverfordwest from lovely Slough. At St Davids YHA. Glorious weather, almost a bit too warm really. Lots of ups and downs, too like bloody Cornwall... Nice shakedown before 95 miles to Brecon tomorrow. Popped down to sea, and back to St Davids centre for scoff. Very nice here, shame to leave !

Updated on Mar 27th 2012 at 8:42 PM from the JustGiving API

Day Zero. 18.5miles, 14.1 avg, 37.6max, 1899.4 odo. Surprisingly easy and quiet train journey to Haverfordwest from lovely Slough. At St Davids YHA. Glorious weather, almost a bit too warm really. Lots of ups and downs, too like bloody Cornwall... Nice shakedown before 95 miles to Brecon tomorrow. Popped down to sea, and back to St Davids centre for scoff. Very nice here, shame to leave !

Updated on Mar 27th 2012 at 8:42 PM from the JustGiving API

Day Zero. 18.5miles, 14.1 avg, 37.6max, 1899.4 odo. Surprisingly easy and quiet train journey to Haverfordwest from lovely Slough. At St Davids YHA. Glorious weather, almost a bit too warm really. Lots of ups and downs, too like bloody Cornwall... Nice shakedown before 95 miles to Brecon tomorrow. Popped down to sea, and back to St Davids centre for scoff. Very nice here, shame to leave !

 

Thank you for making the effort to get to this page. 

Some of you may know I cycled Land's End to John O Groats in Oct 2010 to raise money for charity. I really (mostly) enjoyed the experience (although less so the 3 months off sport due to injury afterwards), and came up with some other rides I'd like to do. This is one of them, from the Westernmost point of Wales, to the Easternmost point of England. Circa 400 miles, aiming for 4 days. It's a bit shorter than the LEJOG or a planned "length of France" ride, but it fits into the time I've got prior to deployment.

I'm doing this in aid of Combat Stress (http://www.combatstress.org.uk/) because this is a very worthwhile cause, that hopefully neither I or anyone I know will ever need, but undoubtedly, many, many people do and will need in order to try and recover their life from the effects of their time in the UK's Armed Forces. It's also the charity a friend of mine, killed in Afghanistan, supported, and it was his encouragement and support that got me into this long distance cycling lark for charity in the first place. 

So please feel generous, I'd be doing this anyway, but if me getting hot, mucky, pissed off at traffic, screaming obscenities at hills and constant headwind and hobbling around afterwards can achieve some good elsewhere, then very much the better.

Many thanks and have a very good day.

 

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