Blogging problems

Hello all my readers
I am having great problems keeping this blog up to date. Firstly getting access to an on line PC is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be and secondly we are doing huge distances over the last few days. So I am also too knackered to get anything done. The distances are getting smaller soon so I hope to keep my journal up to date and update the blog when I can.
We are now in Chester having done 77 miles today and 81 yesterday. Our room is on the 2nd floor and we can hardly get up the stairs.
Sorry about the lack of blogs.

Day 1 Lands End to Perranporth 23/4/06

First up for breakfast we had a good feed overlooking a hazy Longships Lighthouse. Got all the bikes loaded up by 9:30 then waited for my sister Joanne (Jober) and her family to turn up. While we were waiting a group of very sporty cyclists from Ashton under Lyne were starting theit end to end. They were expecting to do it in 10 days and were ending the first stage in Callington. But they had no luggage to speak of and a support vehicle. We eventually got away by about 10:30 after lots of faffing around getting signpost photos taken and some photos by the start/finish line and getting the paperwork stamped and signed. Rob McElwie said it was going to rain today, but in the event it didn't. It looked like it might when we started but it was just a mist coming down. This was quite eeris at times - old ghostly engine houses looming out of the mist. It felt like a hard ride which built up to a peak, then we had a fantastic descent to St Ives. Where we met up with Jober, Mark (her husband) and James (their son). Had a nice lunch of St Ives bay Mackerel (best Mackerel I have ever tasted). Then said our farewells as we set off on our quest alone. Bit of a climb out of St Ives over to Hayle and there was much more traffic here than before St Ives. Land End to St Ives really does feel like the end of the world. Made slow progress through Portreath, where dad had a minor drivetrain problem. Then an incredibly steep climb out of Porthtowan. Eventaully rolled into Perranporth YHA after 7pm. What a fantastic hostal - real surfers place, but stunning views over Perran bay. A beautiful warm evening with a gorgeous sinking into the sea sunset. Overall a good ride if harder than anticipated. Physically we both felt OK. Distance cycled 48 miles.

Day 0 Worcester to Lands End

Had a pretty good journey down. All the trains were on time. Nearly lost dad at Bristol TM when he decided to go off to the toilet just before the train arrived. I had to manhandle both bikes to the front of the train. Dad just about got back in time to get on the train without knowing whether I or the bikes were on the train at all. It reminded me of the Mallorca trip when we nearly missed the plane because of toilet trips and too much faffing around. We had a slight delay in Teignmouth due to a body on the line. Gruesomely I saw the body bag being wheeled along the path at the side of the railway.. On the latter part of the train journey we had this chap sat opposite us watching a comedy DVD on his laptop and trying his best not to be completely convulsed with laughter. Cycled through Penzance with event. Then Stopped at the Red Lion in Newlyn for a mediocre lunch. This place must have an ace darts team as the ceiling was covered with 180 certifcates. From there we went through Mousehole, had a short haul up to Paul, felt forlorner in Lamorna and there was a hill we got to know in Porthcurno. In Paul churchyard we attempted to find the grave of the last native speaker of Cornish. Dolly Pentraeth, which has an inscription in Cornish (reputedly). However we were unable to fine it as most of the old headstones were covered in lichen. The rest of the trip to Lands End was OK. Just a few gear problems with the bike. A beautiful hazy sunny day. A perfect start to the trip.

5 days to go

It's now Easter Monday and I have not been on a bike for several days now, whilst my dad has been continuing his training. I'm back at work tomorrow so will be on the bike then. This may be totally misguided but my philosophy is that I will get plenty of training once the ride starts - it's not as if I am going from being someone who does not cycle at all straight into this major challenge. Anyway you can all say "I told you so" if I collapse with exhaustion in the first week. For some inspiration I've started reading Josie Dew's "Slow Coast Home". Her account of cycling in Devon & Cornwall is a bit disconcerting. Having cycled a bit down there myself I know it is very hilly, but that was quite a long time ago. Maybe I've forgotten what hard work it really was.
Anyway, enough of this speculation - We really can't wait to get on with the trip and do some proper blogging about things that are really happening.