SUPPORTING THE ENVIRONMENT

A great way to support a healthy lifestyle is to look after the environment. This is why Devon Wildlife Trust is my charity of choice for my next challenge.  My cycle ride last week through the Cambrian Mountains of Wales reminded me, as if I need reminding, how important wild places are and that we must protect them.

This charity is modern, healthy and green.  Not only does it look after 45 nature reserves in Devon, it promotes good practice at sea to preserve our marine environment for the benefit of fish stocks. It understands the effects of renewable energy with wildlife and it assists our regional water company to provide clean fresh drinking water without harming the environment. As if this is not all, our wildlife habitats absorb carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

For me, looking after our environment helps us with our lifestyles. Devon Wildlife Trust, having reached its 50th birthday, is innovative, green and understands modern life.  To find out how to support the Trust and this challenge, please go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GrahamWilson150

MY NEXT CHALLENGE

I have set myself a new challenge.  Every 2 years I need to challenge myself to do something new that I have never done before.  It is usually on a bike but not always so.  In 2010, I cycled 3,762 miles on The North Sea Cycle Route.  In 2008, it was Le Jog.  Previously I cycled in Mongolia, trekked across the Andes and there have been others.

For 2012, it is to beat my biggest one day cycle ride.  My current best is 122 miles across Snowdonia made three years ago.  I have set myself two targets and these are:

        127 Miles on 7 July from Stafford to Llandudno with Stafford Balti Bike Club, and

         150 Miles on 10 June from Ivybridge (Devon) to as far north of Bristol as possible.

These journeys will all be on minor roads and I prefer to use the National Cycle Network where possible.  This means great scenery and little traffic but many hills. 

I want to raise money for a special charity and have already been given £100 to it even though I have not told anyone about the challenge yet!  I support charities that promote healthy lifestyles because for me they contribute so much to society. 

Keep pedalling.

THE COBBLY WAY

I discovered the Cobbly Way while out in the beautiful South Hams of Devon.  It is an ancient cobble track beside the River Avon near South Brent.  It is so bumpy that cycling it requires much care, especially when wet.  The river flows fast between deep pools while mature trees span over it.  I peered into its pools and imagined giant salmon just waiting to be caught.  Hanging from a branch was a rope obviously used by children in the summer to swing into these pools. 

South Hams is rich farmland south of Dartmoor spanning to the sea.  The fields are filled with dairy cattle known for producing high quality milk and clotted cream.  Field boundaries have high banks with wild hedges and trees.   Several rivers run fast off Dartmoor and cross this landscape on their way to the sea.  As a consequence wildlife and food production seem to be in harmony.  I followed a figure of eight loop to the sea and back on little lanes and on route discovered a few hidden gems.  My next was a pub which required only a short detour at Slapton and well worth checking for a longer visit at another time.

Just two miles further on, I arrive at Slapton Lea, well known to local people and easier to find for visitors.  This freshwater lake just a stone's throw from the sea is a magnificent nature reserve where hoards of birds, many of which are unusual happily feed from crumbs thrown to them by children. 

East Prawle is the Devon's most southerly village.  I pedal here then follow a loop back to my home.

THE COTSWOLDS

I first met Jaana and Bill exactly 10 years ago on a cycle ride in Cuba.  Last weekend, we met up to explore the Cotswolds by bike.

Meeting regularly, we always cycle bye-lanes to explore the countryside and find great pubs.  Often we see somewhere special in some way and plans for the day are changed while we stop to have a look. 

Our previous rides have been a mixture of challenges from hard to easy.  Bill accompanied me on Lon Las Cymru, 250 miles across Wales on what some say is the most challenging road ride in Britain while Jaana has been with me across Scotland and Norway. 

The Cotswolds in late February in brilliant sunshine are hard to beat.  We started at Princes Risborough, cycled to Oxford and on to Witney where we stopped overnight.  As we rode, a flock of 15 red kites gave a stunning display swooping down into the furrows as a farmer was ploughing his fields.

The next night found us in a pub just outside Stroud.  We followed a route on the National Cycle Network that was a mixture of canal paths, quiet roads, gentle hills and small towns.

 
At Frampton on Severn on the following day, we parted company.  Jaana and Bill cycled to Gloucester to meet a train home while I pedalled south to Bristol.  Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire are well worth exploring and as always cars leave us alone while we are on the National Cycle Network.

Our next ride is already planned.  We resume at Gloucester to head north close to the River Severn.

THE AVOCET RIDE

Nature at this time of year can be wonderful and my ride with three friends to Bere Alston Peninsula, near Plymouth, did not disappoint.  It is easy to travel here by train (15 minutes from Plymouth) but long and tedious by car.  This is where the Rivers Tamar and Tavy meet and the unspoilt village of Bere Ferrers stands sentinal. 

Standing on Bere Ferrers ancient quay, we see lapwings, shelducks, snipe, curlew and lots of gulls.  We move upstream beside the Tavy on to a muddy track where we find a loan egret hunting prey.

It is sunny but cold and a log fire beckons in the Plough at Bere Ferrers but not before one of us has a puncture. This ancient inn is welcoming and the food good. Afterwards we set off to find the Tamar and stop to admire the salt marsh just downstream from us. Out in front are two flocks of avocets quietly feeding on the mud flats. These are the most beautiful of birds and it is hard not to be entranced. Further one we encountered more avocets and just visible were, I think, a flock of knots. We returned to the train station via the Tavy where we had been this morning to find a flock of oyster catchers.

One of my daughters, not to be outdone, sent me a photo of herself on top of Sticklepike in the Lake District while we were on our ride. I have not heard of Sticklepike before and must check that out.

LOOKING BACK AT 2011

Fast flowing rivers, craggy outcrops, ancient woodlands and plentiful wildlife make the backdrop for my cycle rides around Southern Dartmoor. Looking towards the coast are livestock rich pastures where farmers supply our local shops with fresh meat, vegetables, milk and cream. Cycling in this environment is special and means being at one with nature.

So, when Sustrans invited our volunteer group early in 2011 to help plan a new cycle route through this countryside, I was eager to share my part of Dartmoor with others.

Highlights of my year ranged from cycling the Pennines and Lake District in the Spring to an Autumn ride through the gentle rolling hills of Berkshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset. 

My journey in June from Santander in Spain to Roscoff in Brittany was my longest at 750 miles.  This will become one of Europe's Eurovelo cycle routes. It was a mixture of spectacular scenery, fascinating wetlands and less interesting cityscape.  I am not over keen on big towns but the Guigenheim Museum at Bilbao proved to be an architectual gem. I found however the sculptures exhibited not to my taste.

My most challenging ride was on the Hebridean island of Mull.  There is a ride of just under 100 miles around the island that forms a figure of eight.  I have done it before in the summer 4 years ago. It takes you around the coast, up into the hills and around several lochs. It is as close to wilderness cycling as can be found in Britain.  Sea eagles, Europe's largest bird, fly above you, deer come close, hen harriers dive for their prey in front of your eyes.  It is a truly spectacular journey.  This time however the weather was against me.  The winds howled and squalls hit me with full force every now and again. My legs wobbled early and at 43 miles I called it a day totally exhausted.  What these rides all had in common had taken me into environments where nature still rules and I love it.

 Next year is a new challenge. There is to be a 50/50 cycle challenge for Devon Wildlife Trust so please keep watching. I plan another long distance ride in Europe and want to help Sustrans with more routes in Devon.

SEASONS GREETINGS AND KEEP PEDALLING

BIKE FRIDAY

The last time I met Andy, it was cycling with him though Norway, Sweden and into Denmark.  Since then, he has cycled across the mountains of Wales and on a 2,600 mile ride to the Black Sea.  He arrived in Plymouth last Wednesday on a Bike Friday.  It looks like a city bike but he says it has 30 gears, carries panniers and ideal for touring with day rides of 50 miles or more.

We left Plymouth's stunning waterfront by water taxi and I took him on a 50 mile journey through the beautiful South Hams countryside.  On Boxing Day, Bike Friday leaves the UK with Andy for 6 weeks in Thailand.  If he does a blog, I shall be his first follower.

Four days previously, I met my friend Jaana who also cycled 500 miles with me through Norway as well as Cuba on another trip.  We explored the lanes of Berkshire, Wiltshire and Somerset.

The weather was pleasantly warm for the time of year.  We wandered alongside the Kennet and Avon Canal, then onto quiet lanes, back to the canal, through tiny villages and small towns.  We started at Reading and pedalled onto Bradford on Avon.  Just before Bath, we turned left to cycle to Wells and Taunton.

We were amazed at the number of canal boats.  I especially liked those of residents where the roofs were covered in logs and bikes were strapped onto the sterns.  This was definately eco-living. 

I cycled 187 miles this week and First Great Western Trains secured 3 return tickets for ourselves and our bikes.