My First Camper/Cycle tour of England and Wales.

After nearly a year from the purchase of my Camper Car, Dobbin, I have been able to do what I originally intended; use Dobbin to access other parts of the country for my cycle rides.

I was away for 8 days and 7 nights. In all I drove 550 miles and rode another 107.4. I had 5 rides in all as follows:

1. From the Caravan & Motorhome Camp Site near Carsington Water to the Knockerdown Inn.

2, Two Circuits of Carsington Lake, one on the mountain bike cycle path, one on the roads.

3. From Ripponden a circuit via Sowerby Bridge and near to Hebden Bridge over the hill back to Ripponden.

4. A circuit of Great Orme in North Wales.

5. A beach side and hilly ride from Rhos on Sea to Prestatyn and back.

The detailed maps and data are below with brief descriptions of the rides.

It was a great week, I only slept in Dobbin for two nights. I stayed with my cousin Ann for 3 nights and with my M2M chum Michael for 2. However it was a good test of using Dobbin and I learnt a lot about how best to organise myself in such a small space. I slept well which was the main thing and only had to use my heater for a short time.

The weather was pretty varied with cold cloudy weather a lot of the time and one very hot day of about 25 deg C. There was some brilliant sunshine too on the colder days at times.

The countryside changed a lot in the week and by Sunday Michael and I were able to identify the following flowers:

Bluebells, cow parsley, alexanders (very prolific near the sea), wood anemone, stitchwort, a few late daffodils, dogs mercury, jack by the hedge (also known as garlic mustard), Jack in the pulpit, early spotted orchid, dandelions, cowslips, primroses, herb robert, honesty, violets, celandines, green alkanet, daisies, buttercups and even some mahonia, (no doubt an escapee). I have probably forgotten some others!

The trees greened up nicely too and some of the woodlands had many shades of green and with white flowers of blackthorn adding to the mix.

1. From the Caravan & Motorhome Camp Site near Carsington Water to the Knockerdown Inn.

2, Two Circuits of Carsington Lake, one on the mountain bike cycle path, one on the roads.

3. From Ripponden a circuit via Sowerby Bridge and near to Hebden Bridge over the hill back to Ripponden.

4. A circuit of Great Orme in North Wales.

5. A beach side and hilly ride from Rhos on Sea to Prestatyn and back.

A most enjoyable week in all with friends and family who all treated me right royally. Thanks Ann, Ron, Michael, June and many other nameless passers by.

Now I have to settle and relax as I have just had a small operation and have been advised to take it easy for a week or so.

Gridironman.

A busy mid week.

Two rides in two days but then when I was hoping for another this morning (Thursday 12th) I woke feeling awful, seems I have picked up my first cold in about three years. I guess I have been very lucky. Just hoping I shake it off quickly as I have lots to do next week. Here are my two reports:-

Tuesday 10th April.

Pedallers ride to The Hawk Conservancy Centre.

                                                Wednesday 11th April.

                                 Away day with the LoTSW Group in the New Forest.

Unfortunately things only got worse and I have had to change all my plans just because of a stupid cold. Not having had one for along time I had forgotten how debilitating they can be especially when you spend all night coughing and wake up feeling more tired than when you went to bed. 

I have already cancelled my planned attendance at a birthday party and a visit to see my friend Millie and her family.

I am constantly revising my plans for the coming week and still hope to go and visit my family and friends. Dobbin is stamping impatiently waiting to fulfil his function. 

Hope to have more interesting news next time.

Gridiroman.

More like Spring!

These last few days has seen an improvement in our weather here in Hampshire. Two rides without any significant rain and some nice sunshine, much warmer too. On Thursday 5th April I rode alone to the HCMF meet at Soberton. When I got there I discovered I had been following Steve about ten minutes behind. We had a good lunch together before we said a brief hello to the others who had chosen to go into the bar instead of the dining room where tables had been reserved for us. Steve and I rode together the "easy way" to Old Winchester Hill. We parted here and Steve went on for a much longer way home via Four Marks.

It was a very enjoyable ride, thanks Steve for your company.

Map and Data for Thursday 5th April.

Today Saturday 7th April I had a most enjoyable day out with a small number of friends who I had not ridden with recently. Here are the Map and Data with a brief description. 

I enquired at the pub about my friend Laurence John, who was the victim of a horrible accident a couple of months ago,  and had the good news that he is back home and has been in the pub a couple of times.

The violets near Northington.

Some of the flowers in my garden. Not bad seeing how much I've neglected it these last 12 months! 

Thanks PinkPal, Kate, John and Ken for your good companionship on and off the bikes. 

Gridironman.

Soggy Roads.

I have been watching the program on TV following seven people walking the Camino de Santiago. I found it very interesting and reflecting on how it had affected them I realized that in many ways their pilgrimage was like my experience riding the M2M in 2016. It is a challenge and needs some determination to do it. The rewards are immense, making many new friends, seeing new places, enjoying the countryside and sights along the way and feeling on top of the world. I was blessed by having 15 others to ride with who all had their own challenges. We got along so well that I am in regular contact with most of the group. I am planning to meet up with two of them in April to renew our friendship and hopefully to have a couple of rides together. In the meantime I am trying to stay fit and prepare Dobbin for my trip.

This is my Saturday outing:-

Saturday 31st March 2018.

After a very wet week I was inclined to go out whatever the weather. In fact it was not too bad at all. I was away just before 11 a.m. and had little idea of where I was going. I was on Sporty who had not been out for a ride for ages but I found he was going well so I decided to go to the Golden Glider, Lasham. It started to drizzle as I stopped to take my picture in Brown Candover but that didn't last long. In Preston Candover I met a couple of riders who had stopped to fix a flat. Since getting home I have identified one of them by using Strava Fly Bys and have sent him a message In Ellisfield

I was scared out of my skin when someone fired a shot gun just the other side of the hedge. A number of other shots rang out, pigeon shooting?

There were a few other bikes about and fortunately not too many cars. Nice piece of Bakewell Cherry Cake and a coffee at The Golden Glider and then a ride home in much nicer weather, except for the last half mile!

Not much to report regarding wild life, lots of daffodils , a number of Robins singing, a few blackbirds and a squirrel. No Kites.

Sunday April 1st 2018.

Was it an April Fools Day. Not at all I had a lovely morning. 

Continued to ride Sporty testing whether he would be a better choice than Posh for my Camper Car outings. He does have slightly lower gears than Posh but he is also a few pounds heavier which rather negates the advantage, I also find him harder to climb onto, so I think I will stick to my original decision to take Posh. (Don't want to risk Paris.) 

Thanks to all my friends both new and old for supporting me on my many rides and in many other ways. 

Gridironman.