1 man and his bike, 1 woman + her elderly caravan!

Didn't sleep well at all. After a hearty breakfast finally left at 0930, a bit later than anticipated, but get talking to owner about the journey.

Weather is cloudy witha brisk wind. Not directly behind me, but good enough. After 3 miles, the 1st climb of the day, a short sharp hill compared to the A30 yesterday. 18 miles to Crediton which undulated like the roads I trained on at home so no problems. Sheep, tractors and low flying aviation, it was all there. Typical England... Passed through Crediton without stopping so progress good.

Sun now shining so the cycling coat comes off. Warm, but not too warm. A3072 is terrible and needs resurfacing! Midway between Crediton and Tiverton is a climb of epic proportions. You start in the valley and climb for approx 2 miles before you hit it properly. It starts normally and then you turn a bend and it gets steeper, then at the next bend, steeper still! Somewhere near the top, it gets stupid!! View from the top was nice though.

Descended into Tiverton, beside the river for the last two miles so flat and easy and very pretty. Stopped in Tiverton for lunch. Joined A361 out of Tiverton near the M5. Dual carriageway again so felt at home and easy riding with westerly wind behind me. Cross M5 and finally head due north. Passed Somerset sign soon after so county number two seen off.

On the A38, undulating but not too bad. Back to the short, shape hills again.

Went past a cider farm outside Taunton, it was bloody closed, could not believe it!

Carried on through Taunton, eventually finding the A38 again. Decended in A38 to Churchill some 6 miles south of Bristol airport. This was 27 miles further north that I had planned. Well done me!

Found a B & B, had shower then found a pub that sells San Miguel and a carvery for £6.96. Good day, total 82.5 miles, a max of 39 mph and finished cycling 1830. It's all good and really enjoying it.

I'm packing up at Cirencester and a couple who own a '79 Safari come and talk to me. A lot of people are interested in Colin, because he looks so different.

Driving from Cirencester to Chirk today to meet up with Graham in the evening. It's the day I've been looking forward to the most as I miss Graham and I need reasurance that me, the skoda and Colin will survive!!!

Went the wrong way out of the site almost immediately and ended up on the A419 to Stroud. Oh shit.

Huge fuck off hills with escape lanes. Colin is literally shaking on the back. Skoda is really not impressed. Went wrong on the A5, ended going south instead of north. Managed to turn off and swing across a junction!!! Got to the site, really nice and a couple opposite helped me pitch. Set up and collected Graham and the bike. Really nice to be together again. Went out to Clagowan and had a meal.

I feel stronger now that we are together again. I can tow on my own ok, but knowing Graham is not too far away is much nicer than being completely on my own.

Woke early around 0600. Legs fell fine. All shoes and clothes dried overnight. Weather dull but dry. Breakfast is at 0800, cereal, toast and full english, it's all good.

Set off at 0910 back towards the A30 again. The forecast says heavy rain from 1000 onwards. Took time for 1st five miles or so to allow food to settle. Stayed off A30 for 6 miles on A3047 then a quieter road. Joined A30 at A390 junction. Bodmin was 20 miles away and the A30 was hill after hill. I was drinking power juice all the time. I was in full on climbling mode and although the hills were long and visable mainly from the bottom to top, I was coping well and changing gear frequently to keep my momentum up. Unfortchanatly, with the bag on the bike, the option of coming out of the saddle and swinging the bike from side to side is not there but I was coping well and not finding it as difficult as I was lead to believe!

Bring on Bodmin Moor (I think...)!!!

Had lunch and was ready for the climbs ahead. Just as well, as each was steeper than the others so far! Used my emergency bottom gear on the climb leading to the summit of Bodmin Moor, it was like climbing a bloody mountain. However, didn't stop, just got on with it. Took a photo on the top of the moor, a bit on the bleak side as you would expect. Adverage speed of 13.3 mph which I think is good. On one hill on the way down from Bodmin Moor summit, I reached 40.3 mph which was a bit scary as the waind was comming from the right hand side and was blowing the bike and bags a bit.

Carried on A30 past Lauceston, still up and down hille. V.concerned to see a sign saying due road works A30 is closed to cyclists! What!!!

Followed diversion signs which were pictures of bikes on yellow background. Went through Lauceston, lots of people looking like they were related to each other. Very strange. Went down a hill in time to see a sign saying welcome to Devon, Hoorah!! Joined A30 again after about 10 miles.
Carried on to Okehampton some 15 miles ahead. At Oke hampton, there is a hill 2 miles long that gets steeper and steeper. That was hard work. Emergency gear needed again as I neared to top. I got up it without stopping, had a drink and rest at the top though!!

Finally left the A30 some 2.5 miles outside Okehampton. I was on it for 110 miles! I hadn't been as bad as I was expecting. A nice feeling to be off it though and onto the next stage.

Went into Okehampton and found a B & B very easily. Nice couple made me a tea whilst I did the paperwork. Had a shower and went down the pub for food and beer. Looking forward to football on TV.

Missing Bev like crazy and can't wait to Friday. I text her all the time and look at her photo on my phone, read her note which means so much to me. It all seems to stop me feeling alone. It's all good.

Arrived Penzance 1530. Changed into cycling gear and departed the train station at 1545. Found A30 and began the 10 mile trip the wrong way! Southbound to Lands End.
Bugger.
1st five miles up and down (mainly up) some v.steep hills. Wind and rain in face so progress slow. Eventually made Land's End. Had photo taken at the sign post free of charge as bloke just going home! Didn't pay to get in either. Just as well, it should of been £9.75!!!

Depart Land's End at 1645, wind now behind me and did the same 10 miles this time the correct way in 30 mins which was good.

Passed Penzance on A30 and carried on towards Redruth some 20 miles ahead. A30 is good with a white line on cycle lane to seperate cars and bikes. However, as feared, it was long straight hill after long straight hill - not too steep though which is nice...

The distance to Redruth was easy, with a speed of 13.4 mph and a max of 36 mph on a nice downhill bit. Got to accomodation at Redruth at 1845. Bike is stored in the stable overnight. Tumblydown farm is nice. I have an ensuite, tv tea and biccys in the room.

Everything exposed is wet, but somehow luggage is dry, Hoorah!!! I dry most of my stuff on the radiator. Went for a meal at Trickys which is 50 yards down the country lane. Good food, good beer and warm.

However, missing Bev like crazy so text all the time. I return to the room at 2100 and Bev phones which helps. Watch the weather on tv, is says southerly winds for tomorrow, Hoorah! Going to bed.

I'm on my 2nd tea with a blinding headache as well. I'm hoping the tea will kick in the painkillers!

I'm at the caravan club site at Cirencester with Colin. I'm quite amazed I'm here at all and we are intact. No major disasters.... It started to go slightly wrong back at home when the towbar refused to mate with the Skoda. Took deep breaths and swore a lot but got there in the end. Hitching up Colin went well, so set off with almost entire contents of the house in Colin.

Alas, got the wrong turning in Malborough and ended up driving through the middle of Malborough instead of going past it. Whoops. It's narrow, busy and there are two rows of cars parked in the middle of the town.

Waitrose artic lorry glued to Colin's arse.

In a bit of a panic, I drove past the official right turn in the middle of the parking, but then see a gap where there are six empty car parking spaces.

Hoorah!!

Cross everything, indicate and hack through the spaces!!!! Nearly bag myself a small citroen coming the other way, I don't look at the driver, just keep going....

Got to the site and the wardens are nice. They suggest I drive onto the grass pitch to make my life easier, (a lot better than me reversing Colin) so I'm here. Next door but one, is Chris in his huge flash Hymer and a nice black labrador called Taz. We make friends and he helps me click the power cable in as I can't do it for some reason. Settle down after a pasta meal cooked by Colin's cute little stove. Peace at last... Text Graham and now I'm going to get in my sleeping bag.

Graham is v. intelligent but isn't organised at all. It's Sunday night and he leaves on the train tomorrow morning for Penzance. It's four days before me and colin join him.

Has he booked any accommodation?

Has he hell!!!

MAJOR rush on with lots of looking on the internet, the best site I found was www.bedandbreaksfasts.co.uk and managed to book him into a farm house in Redruth Cornwall for Monday night.

Graham is cycling Land's End to John O'Groats. He was doing it for charity but decided not to in the end, as he had a few injuries and didn't want the pressure of money hanging over him. I'm pleased he gave up on the charity idea as he wouldn't of given up because of the money even if he was injured.

I am towing my Carlight Casalette caravan (which was purchased off Ebay two years ago for £75!!) named Colin to join Graham to provide back up and accommodation.

Colin the caravan was born in Feb 1976 and I was born in Sept 1975. He is very dumpy and very retro, (at least I like to think so!) Colin has just been serviced by Carlight and had his brakes reinstated so today was reversing day.

I got stressed, greasy, tearful, angry and several scrapes. My Skoda Octavia now has a white paint mark on his bumper as Colin became over friendly at one point.

For most of the trip, I will be towing Colin on my own and navigating to several caravan sites on my own.

It should be pointed out that I'm crap at directions.

Whether I get to any of the sites remains to be seen.

Colin and me are not leaving till Thursday 27th.

Anyway, will update you as to how Graham does. He has done lots of training so hopefully, it will all go well.