Day 5. Bristol To Tewkesbury 72 miles.

A day of bridges and villages. I chose to follow the A4 cycle route out of Bristol rather than climbing through the city. This was longer but relatively quick, and meant passing under the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Then a rather gentle route passing the industrial docks and up towards the Severn Bridges, under excellent sky.

I'm glad to have included the bridges and a ride over the older M48 crossing for the fun of it. Police were about for any speeding cyclists (15 mph limit signed). During planning I saw no ideally safe route up the Welsh side of the Severn, hence the return to England. Though I did touch Wales briefly!

From there some twisting along nice gentle lanes passing many villages. Gloucester was reached by canal path of varying surface quality. Then the slightly hilly road push to Tewkesbury. A much longer day than expected and tiring towards the end, but still good.

Day 5 map, stats and gradients.

Rest day thoughts.

Taking a rest day in Bristol has given me a chance to reflect on the 230 ish miles so far.

Looking back the west country has been a real achievement. I was aware it would be tough. My routes were fairly direct rather than the most direct. The rail paths and canal paths were all good and worth including. I feel more LEJoGers should take these into account and be more about the journey than the daily target.

Perhaps on reflection, using some dual carriageways could have been safer than banking on being spotted around tight up-hill corners on twisty roads. Of course carriageways are faster and often less pretty. I guess the true answer depends on the nature of the trip and what one aims to get out of it. That and that where ever you are, fate still hangs in the alertness of motorists. So far however, touch wood, drivers have been kind.

Weather has been mixed. Never too hot or too cold but fairly damp on the whole with bright spells here and there. Windy too which was felt more across the edge of Cornish moorland, though this didn't spoil the views.

And me? The body feels charged and keen to continue. Legs are holding out, albeit a little tight, and no saddle sores as yet. The mind however has gone through more of a battering so far as the underlying knowledge of the distance to go was repressed to help me focus on the grueling West Country. There have been moments of "why am I doing this". Though I know deep down giving up so easily would be regretted in future.

Day 4. Taunton To Bristol 51 miles

Simple day today. Started off on the canal from Taunton. One of my favourite canals to cycle, it offers pleasing views of rolling greenery with just the occasional train to be heard flying along close by.

Beyond that just regular flat roads, then through Weston Super Mare on a tangle of cycle paths. Then it rained... again. But a cheery roadside tea and chat with a Burger Man and a Driving Instructor helped this time pass. We were men of the road!

From there more regular roads over the hills and down to Bristol. So nothing special about the later part of the day, though as anticipated the earlier canal section was well worth the go.

Day 4 map, stats and gradients.

Day 3. Okehampton To Taunton 56 miles.

Quite a damp start for the pull out of Okehampton. The roads undulated gently in comparison to the previous days.

Got my first puncture (damn thorns) and continued through now bright weather, with more climbs and frightening speeds on the drops. The Tiverton Canal was as good as I remember, great to pedal. Then lots of meandering into Taunton as the rain returned.

Day 3 map, stats and gradients.

Day 2. Nr Wadebridge to Okehampton 68 miles.

Today was a bit better hill wise. I started off with the Camel Trail and can see it's popularity, so chose to double back on it a bit via Padstow. Then another old rail path from near Bodmin towards some place called Poley Bridge. This was also enjoyable and well surfaced.

Beyond that another day of hills. Minor roads taken skirting around the edge of some windy baron moor. Scenic but very, very blustery. It then rained for almost the rest of the day. A brief spell on the A30 was necessary before more hilly back roads.

The day finished with a high speed ish run along the railpath towards Okehampton over Meldon Viaduct. Today would have been better if not for wind and rain, but can't be helped. Progress slower than anticipated.

Day 2 map, stats and gradients.  

Day 1. Land's End to nr Wadebridge. 57 miles.

Day 1 down and a day of mixed feelings. I was warned before this trip by previous LEJoGers that the west country, in particular Cornwall, can be tough. They were right. West of Penzance from what I've seen makes good cycling. The hills are gentler and roads quieter by comparison. Some real delights out there! Most of Cornwall East of Penzance however is entirely the opposite. The weather was damp at first but the LE to Penzance leg was still great. Beyond that the hills bit hard at times, though it was now dry.

I could have taken the A30 most of the way, cutting with ease through the landscape. This road however being almost a motorway is a death trap. Sadly literally for some cyclists and hence my avoidance. The roads towards Newquay and Wadebridge however were gentler and in parts a dream to whizz along, though the traffic requires constant awareness.

I was suprised to see 37mph as my recorded max and such speeds with panniers can be frightening at turns. I took a slight diversion into Newquay for rest which was nice to see. On the whole a good but tiring day.

Day 1 map, gradients and stats.

Time to get going!

Proof I started it!

Track Me Live!

For those on my Facebook, there's now a way to see where I am live during any of my days away. It's very simple, just click the tab above on how to track me live.

Mystery Route Alterations

Yes, that's right, mystery route alterations. I've been looking back over some of the daily routes and identified possible diversions or alterations I can just choose that morning, weather permitting. Some quite off-course as well, but not too strenuous on the extra milage. Possibilities include coasts, borders, even mountains (passing them, not up them). All will be revealed as and when, or if and when, along the way!