A few years ago, some friends came over for dinner. Halfway through the evening, one of them asked out of the blue:

"Why don't we cycle off-road to [Brixham] Devon ?"

"Yes!", I exclaimed.

"Why don't you organise it?"

Another positive response.

Then the next morning, I thought "... Why......! ? ! ? ! ? ! What on earth did I say that for?!"

Once the proposal caught hold, it seemed like a terrific challenge. It took 2 months to plan and 8 days for the 2 of us to achieve starting from Watford , north-west of London. Along the way, people asked if we were doing it for charity - so in July this year, we did.

Planning for this year’s trip took an equivalent amount of time spread over 6 months, using Memory-Map software as well as the 'net , email (thank you Sustrans), several Ordnance Survey Explorer maps, various books, spreadsheets and a Garmin GPS.

3 of us set out in sunshine from the Regent’s Canal in East London on Sunday 15th July 2007 for Brixham, Devon. We probably had the best weather available each day: we got wet when it rained, we got dry when the sun shined! The overall journey over 7 days was about 300 miles, 60% of which was off-road, sometimes averaging 5mph. Days lasted between 7 and 11 hours, though that includes stops. It was a team activity, and as such so rewarding that we want to do a revised route next year.

We were seeking sponsorship for the trip and are still raising money for Cancer Research out of respect for a wonderful, dignified work colleague for whom nothing was too much trouble, an example to us all, but who sadly has recently passed away - and in support of relatives.

Please help with raising money for Cancer Research either:

via this web site

or

by sending a cheque payable to "Cancer Research UK" to me (email london2brixham@hotmail.co.uk for the postal address), with a completed copy of the CRUK donation form < http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/pdfs/donatebypostform.pdf >.

Either method will enable individual UK donations to grow by 28%, i.e. the tax clawed back.

Q&As:

Q: Why Brixham? A: Family connections.

Q: Why did it take 7 days? A: The average speed for most sections was 5-8 mph, bearing in mind the rough ground. We allowed an hour for lunch and there were also other stoppages, e.g. refreshment breaks or to check the route, regroup or mend punctures! We paced ourselves, mindful of the track ahead and desire to avoid mishaps.

Q: What was the planned route? A: Regents Canal, Grand Union Canal, Slough Arm, National Cycle Network route 61 [NCN 61], Jubilee River, NCN 4, Thames, Kennet and Avon Canal / NCN 4, NCN 24, country roads from Radstock to Wells, NCN 3 or alternative off-road sections to Tiverton, down to Exeter, Exeter Canal to Star Cross, along the coast to Teignmouth, beside the river to Newton Abott and the railway to Torquay, roads to Brixham.

Please email london2brixham@hotmail.co.uk for any further details you'd like.

Thank you.

Ralph Cox