And they're off!

Tuesday 29th July: Prologue: Well that wasn't supposed to happen! The drive to Cornwall was entirely uneventful, it's just what was waiting for us there - over 2 inches of rain and force 5 winds (not sure what that means in terms of mph but when you're trying to sleep in a tent it is true to say I was surprised to find the world hadn't ended when I grumpily surfaced the next morning. My other Cornish surprise was that all the blood in my body hadn't ended up in my feet (sloping tent pitch).

Day 1 - Wednesday 30th July: Lands End, Penzance, Helston, Truro, Hewas Water. 60 miles, climbed 1224 vertical metres. Knees sore, bum sorer, a little toe suffering the worst (reconsider shoes).
My start was 5 miles to Land's End to meet Roy (not too distant relation of Maddie) and a keen cyclist. Maddie would also meet me there in the car. I arrived already drenched but with spirits more or less intact. I set off (after a brief delay getting filmed by German tourists). The ride was a mix of drizzle, sea fog and proper rain. On the downhills I had to blink superfast to purge the rain which was almost as scary as realising I'd left my lights at home (wasn't expecting fog!) I can only describe this phenomenon as driving through torrential rain with wipers going mad but not quite mad enough to create actual visibility. Helston had an airshow today (see the bad rain and sea fog). The radio praised the organisers for no traffic bedlam (I suspect that having literally tens of spectators also helped).

Day 2 - Thursday 31st July: Hewas Water, Liskeard, Tavistock (nice), Then Dartmoor (Postbridge, Bovey Castle, Moretonhampstead, Venton. 70.14 miles, 2904 vertical metres climbed (about 1/3 Everest).
'A Thursday in Hell'.
Well today was one I won't forget in a hurry. More torrential rain plus some serious and relentless climbing. Arrived eventually in Dartmoor safe & sound, had a great meal and beer in Fingles Bridge (anyone in the area should definitely visit - don't imagine you will be though) and have just seen some blue sky! Owing to the fact that I spent most of the day drowning (not as pleasant a way to go as some might have you believe) I didn't really take in the sights. Tomorrow is easier.

Day 3 - Friday 1st August: Venton, Tiverton, Bridgetown (Exmoor). 45.18 miles and only 847 metres of climbing.
A stage for the sprinters! Today was definitely easier. Lovely in fact, no rain to speak of and much less climbing. I met a guy from Belfast who was also doing the 'end to end' so I cycled with him for a few miles before we went our separate ways. Bridgetown seems nice. I had a call yesterday from my mate Scott who lives near Taunton, he's going to meet us tomorrow in Bridgewater which is a great surprise. Well that's it really, knees are holding up in a sore kind of a way, saddle is getting more comfy by the day and a change of shoes has sorted my little toe out. And as I write, the sun has finally started to shine - things must be on the up!

PS - got a voicemail from Melissa yesterday informing me that unlike the wet windy misery of Dartmoor, in Portugal it was over 30 degrees C. Guess where she's off to then.

Day 4 - Saturday 2nd August: Bridgetown, Minehead, Bridgewater, Wells, Cheddar. 73.51 miles and 1041 metres climbed.
A long one! The sunshine was short lived.Last night was pretty persistent rain (again), which was still going at 7.30 when I set off in order to be on time for meeting Scott & Penny.I took the A396 north from Bridgetown and more or less immediately hit the first big hill of the day. I smirked at the top as I saw a pub called 'rest & Be Thankful' - obviously named after a mountain that Chris and I will be tackling later on. I suspect that one will be a little trickier. After a nice few miles freewheeling I passed through Dunster - which must be England's prettiest village - it has it's own castle! Must visit when less sweaty (the summer rain brings on the staying dry versus overheating in waterproofs quandary).
Decent Tarmac along the way (I am becoming something of an expert) with views over Bridgewater Bay to Cardiff. Arrived in Bridgewater to find a suitable meeting place with Scott & Penny, who after a scenic drive round Bridgewater attempting to find us caught us for an hour for some drinks and good catching up. Maddie also joined us which was only the second time we've met up so far during he day - always nice. En route to Glastonbury it turns out that the shoe manufacturer Clarks has it's own village - surprising and a bit eerie!
The previous plan coming out of Wells was to cross the Mendips (more climbing) but given I'd covered 60 miles that day already decided to be sensible and took the direct route to Cheddar to save the legs for another day. However as we know, a man's pride is a complex beast and two miles from the finish I succumbed and headed to the hills. The sun had been shining for a while by now so spirits were high. The hill climb from Draycott (where I turned off the main road) to Priddy was as hard as any I've done in all my years but the view from the top nearly brought a tear to my eye. I then took the road west to Cheddar, which unbeknown to me drops down into Cheddar Gorge in the most spectacular fashion.
The Gorge is just breathtaking, I've never seen a place like it. The quality Tarmac would be great to take at speed but I wanted to take it all in. At the bottom nature's finest gives way to tourist tat but it can be forgiven. The campsite was immediately upon me after 73 miles. We ate out posh at 'Franks' capping a fine, fine day. Tomorrow is rest!
Total distance covered so far 249 miles, with 6016 vertical metres climbed (19,732 feet). Tracking against Everest - 8848 metres (29,029 feet).