THE THREE RIVERS CHALLENGE

Once in a while, someone comes up with a really good idea for a bike ride. Yesterday's ride was a mini adventure. Our group were told to take flip flops and keep to exact times as we were to cross one river accessible only at low tide and two others as dictated by the ferry men.
Our group met at Saltram Park in Plymouth and headed off to the Volunteer Inn in Yealmpton where the landlord agreed to open one hour early for our group of cyclists. 20 minutes later we were on the road to Ermington, Modbury and our first river crossing, the stunningly beautiful Erme at Mothecombe.

We had to cycle 10 miles to our next river, the Yealm at Newton Ferrers where first we crossed an inlet accessible only at low tide and then a ferry







An unmade road greeted us on the other side where there were a cluster of ancient cottages. As we climbed we had superb views of the Yealm estuary looking out to sea. The Mewstone, a huge rock about a mile off shore, shimmered in the sun while a white mist was dancing tantalisingly around it. The track took us to Wembury where we rejoined the road and headed to a cafe and cream teas. Never have I seen such large scones as at this cafe. Some put their jam on before the cream while others put cream on first. One is the Cornish way while the other is Devon. Our final ferry took us from Mountbatten terminal into Plymouth's Barbican and we cycled back to Saltram



PEDAL ON UK: MY RIDE

Three days riding with Pedal On UK was both a privilege and fun. It was fun because it was I like doing best and that is going on a cycle tour. I was one of a group of 17 Sustrans volunteers who cycled from Newton Abbot via Exe Valley Trail, Sidmouth, Blackdown Hills, Somerset Levels, Wells to Bath and Bristol.  The story is told on Pedal On UK Tumblr.
I was one of the Ride Reporters and my highlights were wide and varied. For me, these were special:
a) We cycled many miles on dedicated cycle/walking paths. These were hugely popular. There were families with young children, older people, disabled people and those who simply enjoyed being out in the countryside in a traffic free environment. The story that had most meaning were the Appleton and Miller families near Chard on the Stopline Way. Grandparents, their children and grandchildren all enjoyed the route. But one child was disabled and the smile on her face was a treat to see. These dedicated paths are genuinely cycling for everyone.
b) Sustrans commissions artwork on all its routes. All tell a story about the local area. Can you see Brunel hiding behind us in the image above?
c) I learned some new IT skills with a new phone that downloaded my stories straight on the website.
d) Last Dr Dawn Harper allowed me to take her picture as seen on the website. She was very friendly and genuinely supportive of Sustrans work.

So, where next? I am off to the Hebrides in October to enjoy fantastic scenery, outstanding wildlife and ride a few miles

PEDAL ON UK

Cycling should be for everyone. It is a wonderful way to experience the countryside and wide open spaces. This is why I passionately support Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity who promote walking and cycling. Their concerns are like mine. There is too much traffic on our roads yet somehow Sustrans is creating a network across the whole country of safe cycle and walking routes.
Last Friday Sustrans linked with London Gamesmakers to celebrate their acheivements over three weeks with Pedal On UK. In its first few days it was on prime time BBC1 and Channel 5. Already Dame Kelly Holmes and Paralympic gold medallist, Dave Stone have joined in. There is more to come across the country.
I am Ride Reporter for Stage 4 Newton Abbott to Bath and Bristol on 24 -26 August. I have received my reporter's pack and have a mixture of excitement with a twitch of nervousness as I report on this ride. Will I meet a celebrity? That would be exciting.
Equally exciting will be cycling with 16 like minded people alongside South Devon's wonderful coast, across the Blackdown Hills, the Somerset Levels, into Bath and finishing in Bristol.
Locally to me Sustrans have worked hard and now Devon has an extensive network. Fellow Pedal On rider, Nicki and myself were out yesterday and again tomorrow training for our ride and, of course, we are on the network.

MORNING RIDE TO MILNTHORPE SANDS

Milnethorpe Sands are in Cumbria. My younger daughter, Jo whose second sport is cycling took me here. She wanted to show me where she broke her leg earlier this year. "Why do we want to go there?" I asked. "Because it is a beautiful bike ride" she replied.
When we arrived, she pointed out into the estuary. "It was there" she said "about a quarter mile out. I was kite surfing, misread the shallows and flipped over." I think that it is called a wipeout in kite surfing circles. Apparently she dragged herself back to shore, went into recovery mode and is now better.
Jo kite surfs the world and had just come back from Puerto Rico where she had been taking a kite surfing course. Jo has a website for medium and advanced courses. She does not normally have accidents.
We finished with cakes and coffee.

DAY RIDE IN CEREDIGION

Red kites were flying as I left my base at Rhydlewis, a tiny village about 4 miles from the coast. The O.S. map showed plenty of hills. I wanted to discover the valley of the River Teifi, sample the coastline and taste the inland countryside.
Rolling hills not dissimilar to Devon greeted me as I cycled to Cenarth where I met the Teifi and Lon Teifi, the long distance cycle route from Shrewsbury to Fishguard. The river at Cenarth has deep pools that hold salmon and where fishermen used to swing their nets from coracles, tiny boats made from animal skins. Today there is a museum and a few local people still have coracles.
The cycle route meanders to Cardigan following the river. Tree lined water meadows are seen with rolling farmland behind full of sheep and cattle.
The river enters a gorge at Cilgerran and an ancient castle looks down. Further on the cycle route follows an old railway through The Welsh Wildlife Centre and nature reserve just east of Cardigan.
I discovered two outstanding unspoilt beaches cycling north out of Cardigan, Mwnt where there is a tiny church and Penbryn. These are owned by the National Trust and local people must feel that they have two treasures.
The ride back took me through the hamlet of Betws Ifan where a workshop created in 1900 still displays enamelled metal signs that the owner's grandfather installed.

MORNING RIDE IN SOUTH DEVON

Today seemed extra special as I cycled through the quiet Devon lanes where I live. I have cycled these routes many times. I left Ivybridge and went to South Brent. A mile south from here is the Cobbly Way at Avonwick. I clung on for dear life as I bumped over the cobbles and peddled off to Harbeton and Totnes.

It took me a while to realise why today was different. The morning was sunny and hot and it was not just me that appreciated the benefits of the weather. There was no traffic but this alone is not unusual. Cars like main roads and leave my little roads alone. What was special was the sound of birds singing, butterflies everywhere, wild flowers in the hedges and the smell of fresh cut grass for hay making.

THE LONG ROAD TO CRICCIETH

This is the fifth year that I have joined the Balti Bike Club of Stafford's annual ride to the Welsh coast. Their main rule is that it must be at least 100 miles long passing through Snowdonia. This year it was to be 116 miles to Criccieth and we duly undertook the ride on Saturday.
Our meeting point was at Stafford Castle for a 6am start. Nine bleary eyed cyclists arrived with Andy heading the back up vehicles. He soon wakened us up with his bbc style interviews on his camcorder so our thoughts are recorded for posterity. I hope that I did not make a mug of myself!
Snowdonia beckoned. It was a 40 mile warm up over beautiful Staffordshire countryside to reach the Welsh border where the hills start.

The sun rose crystal clear in the sky and as we left Wem, it started getting hot. I had some factor 30 German suncream from a previous ride and on one occasion I plastered so much on my nose that I was asked by another rider if I had taken tips from Shane Warne. Well no, but my suncream became very popular with some of the others. At Llangollen, I was ringing wet with perspiration and had drunk 2 litres of milk (best drink for these conditions) as well as lots of water.
At Carrog while the others were enjoying lunch beside the River Dee, I cycled up to have a quick look at an old steam engine.

Lots of people have a nostalgic fascination with steam trains including me and I do not know why. Cycling is more fun though and I was relishing moving on.

We left Carrog for Corwen and Bala where by now we were in Snowdonia. The peaks were stunning in the glorious sunshine. How lucky we were with the weather. A wind blew up to cool us off. We had all spread out a bit because of the terrain.

Our fabulous back up crew kept us replenished with home made cakes and water. They always give magnificent support. There was the most enormous downhill through Ffestiniog. It would have been a killer if we had been cycling in the opposite direction. Becky and I whooped with joy as we passed 100 miles then I realised she might have been filming me.
The twist in the tale was at Maentwrog where with just 10 miles to go there was a 1:6 hill that did its best to break us. After that it was an easy ride into Criccieth where we had that mixture of elation and weariness that goes with a good challenge. A hot shower, dinner of roast lamb and a pint of cider soon replinished me.
Balti Bike Club's website can be found here and you can follow me on twitter.
Keep pedalling