............if you could see, what I must see, still hidden in the rain..........

I'll leave all the talking to other people, I'll be out on a bicycle.....somewhere..........

To Hull and back..........

It's not all cycling, sometimes I have to leave the bike at home which possibly maybe might be a good thing. A few days away up North seeing family, cooked breakfasts and a couple of nights of sampling craft beers made a pleasant change. I've lived where I am now for longer than my place of birth. I like visiting the old place though, the familiar accent, the old haunts, I think when you're a kid you don't appreciate the history that surrounded you so I took the opportunity to remind myself. The Wilberforce House exhibition is excellent, very thought provoking. The small volunteer run Trawler centre detailing the history of the industry, the loss of life and the lives of all involved also touched a nerve. Seeing pictures of where my dad grew up which were basically slums we need to be truly thankful of what we have in this modern age. I missed the tour of the actual trawler though which was a shame maybe another time.

Wilberforce monument

I've always liked the 'Old Town' area and apparently the city has Quarters now it's nice to see the local authority trying to market it a bit better but some of the newer areas of the city are looking a bit tired I just hope the City of Culture thing leads to some revitalisation. I even managed to drag the girls to one of the old pubs for a bit of a history lesson....and a pint.

Always nice to visit, always nice to come home, when I say home, is that where the heart is or just your bike? I'd like to think I'm a sort of dual nationality now, part Yorkshireman part person from Somerset if they have a name, Wessex Boy?.....answers on a postcard.

....we are standing on the edge........

I took to social media to vent my despair at having to go back to work after three great days of cycling and taking pics. One of my American twitter buddies commented "Cycling does this to us.So fun, that rest days are like asking us not to breathe" I can't really add to that......

Lucky......

....and we'll all go together........

This week has been a good week, riding bikes with mates, realising how far I've come and riding bikes, did I say that already? In an effort to ride somewhere we hadn't for a while Bonus and I headed to Wimbleball lake which is now a Country Park apparently. They've done lots since I last visited, little pump tracks for kids (and big kids!) an activity centre and a big high ropes thing which looked scary. We parked up next to a very cool Citroen DS, got sorted and headed off around the lake.

Last time we rode here I distinctly remember pushing my bike up hills from the get go, this time we were just spinning along enjoying the view. As we were making such good time we took the opportunity to check out the ruins of the abandoned church at Upton. I think Bonus was a bit disappointed we were making such good time, he suggested doing two laps, but only suggested!

It's a very different part of Exmoor compared to where I usually ride, lots more trees and green rolling hills but just as beautiful. Loads of tucked away pretty cottages, my retirement residence list gets longer every ride.

After the only interesting descent of the ride, an overgrown sunken track between the hedgerows which basically turns into a river we were soon back at the lake. The dam is being re-grouted (yes really) and after a steep road climb up to the dam we were faced by fencing blocking off the route across. It was only temporary fencing so we temporarily moved out of the way, no one in a high vis vest and a hard hat came chasing after us, so no harm done. A gentle spin back towards the car park and a couple of laps of the kiddie tracks (had to be done) we were back at the car, we felt a bit flat. I commented to Bonus that this ride was testament to how far we've improved over the last few years and we should remember that, so we did, over coffee and cake :)

On Wednesday my mate Jennifer came over for her annual pilgrimage to ride up the Porlock Toll road and see me, hopefully. I won't bibble on as she's written a far superior blog all about it and took some lovely pics. She's the first to admit she might be struggling up the hills at the moment but there's no staying with her on descents, her eyes lit up when I suggested we head down Porlock hill! My gps gave up the ghost so no stats but that didn't matter it was a good ride with a mate.

Today. after enjoying(!) a drive along the A39 in a fruitless search for a bicycle repair stand from a German supermarket I decided to head out for an afternoon mtb spin. The sun had gone in but it was still warm and I made it up as I went along which meant it turned into a hard hilly loop after the last couple of steady rides. 

I felt good, the views were as ever stunning and I got up the hills far better than it felt at the time. I must remember if it's hurting I must be trying harder :) 

The heather is starting to bloom on North Hill which adds purple loveliness to the hillside and you can't go wrong with a bit of purple.

......it doesn't matter where you come from...it matters where you go........

As we stood in the still moonlit air in the wee small hours watching fox cubs play and explore their industrial home (beats working) my mate Bonus declared that we need to do a night ride on our days off. He thought we should make an evening of it and head for Dunkery Beacon, the highest point on Exmoor. I needed lights so popped down the shops and so with some lights from a land were everything is a quid we set off.

It was pleasantly warm, no wind and just so damn nice as we made our way up and along North Hill and as we reached the headland the view opened up, it was just breathtaking even more than usual. The sun slowly going down and reflecting on the flat calm sea. We took a path Bonus had never ridden which offers great views over the bay but if anyone asks, you ain't seen me...right!

A great descent down to Bossington and over to Porlock to ascend the Toll road, a case of gentle spin with draggy 2" mountain bike tyres but at least you get to enjoy the views even more and I just had to stop to take pics which broke things up a bit.

The sun looked awesome now, my phone couldn't focus on it so the pictures don't do justice but it was a good place to be, physically and mentally. It was still pretty light as we headed along the road towards the beacon but the cloud rolled in and darkness descended. Deer, ponies and great big hairy cows in the darkness as we spun along, it was awesome and the cheap lights worked a treat I even got a pb on the climb up to the beacon. We were hoping for moonlight and stars but we got low cloud so discretion being the better part of valour and having got to where we wanted to go, which matters ;) we headed back along the road. A totally brilliant ride.

.....keep on keeping on......

This time last year, Paul who everyone knew as Gilly was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer, five weeks later he passed away. Father to Milly and George and partner, friend and soulmate to Pat and friend to many people.

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancers, 40 years ago the survival rate for five years was 3%, forty years on and it's still 3%. Pancreatic cancer research attracts very little funding from major bodies some 1% of all the monies available.

My old mate Drew was a close friend of Gilly's so when he asked me to join him on his annual cycle challenge this time in memory of Gilly and to raise some money for the charity I felt I couldn't make any excuses, it's only riding a bike. 

I slept quite well considering the 4.00am alarm call but up and at them and on my way to Taunton for a 5.30 start. We were joined by Rick a cycling mate of Drew who had turned up the morning before so, at least he was keen and Drew's brother Steve who was kindly driving the support van for the day. The original plan was to ride from Birmingham back to Taunton but with a strong southerly wind forecast we agreed to flip the route and take advantage of a gentle push from mother nature. So off we went into the still warm morning, quiet roads and the sun rising, just follow the signs for the A38. A distant view of the Glastonbury Tor in early morning haze looked amazing, I may have to head that way again soon with a camera. Familiar roads to start with, Bridgwater, Highbridge and Weston before I ventured into pastures new. The only puncture of the day happened early after Drew hit a pothole, but fixed in record time. It soon warmed up especially after the climb from Flax Bourton but as climbs go it was quite a nice one and what seemed like no time we were in Bristol nearly 50 miles done.

Steve met us and we ditched unnecessary layers and topped up fluids and wound our way through the relatively quiet streets of Bristol. We pressed on now at a good pace taking turns to pull each other along until we got to Gloucester and seemed to get every red light at every junction. The roads were busy now, there seemed to be lots of hand car washes and garden centres on the route so if you need a clean car and some hardy perennials take the A38. After negotiating the busy roads of Gloucester and the very pretty Tewksbury we stopped just before Worcester in the shadows(ish) of the Malvern hills, 100 miles done.

Into the unknown now for me distance wise but after a while to get warmed up early on I was feeling quite good and we'd just done 100 miles in just over six hours so I was feeling quite pleased. Fuelled up and topped up, the final push, busy through Worcester, lots of lights and traffic and much the same all the way through to Droitwich and Bromsgrove. A few slogs along faceless dual carriageways and traffic lights, so many traffic lights, that and fatigue slowed us down a bit towards the end and one dodgy moment on a roundabout nearly ended Rick but no harm done. We did it, not bad for three blokes of a certain age, 137 miles in total, Drew wanted to beat 8 hours 42, he recorded 8 hours 2mins, done.

.....it's all downhill from here.........

Not blogged for a while, not really had a great deal to say and anyone who knows me personally will say I don't say that much anyway. Spring's been and gone and as the rain pours outside it must mean summers here, I've not been idle though, riding bicycles and taking pictures sometimes at the same time other times not. I got myself one those cross type bikes just to vary my riding up a bit, it's a lairy green colour which is great, ten gears and disc brakes I'm considering calling it Conchita ;)

Had a few days in Devon and had a wander and a bit of cycle around Dartmoor, it was glorious, stunning add your own superlative, youngest child even got to stand on the same rock as Sherlock or so she reckons.

Being getting lots of miles in, rode coast to coast from Somerset to Dorset and back a bit and on Sunday I took part in the Tour of Wessex, only did the second day. The second day was a nice ride around South Somerset and Dorset and it was with friends who made it worthwhile and didn't hold anyone back!!! The third went through my patch so I popped up the Porlock toll road to grab some pics.

All these miles are leading up to my big ride on June 8th, 150 miles from Birmingham to Taunton so it should be all downhill right? Myself and my friend Drew are riding in memory of our friend Paul who was taken too early by pancreatic cancer. If anyone can kindly donate they can here,  thanks to those who already have and anyone who does it's really appreciated, thank you.