Heading North

Day 6 - Monday 4th August: Cheddar, Bristol, Gloucester, Huntley. 64.42 miles, 881 metres climbed.
I wasn't looking forward to today's route too much but it turned out OK. After a bit of a drag uphill to Bristol I stopped under the Clifton Suspension Bridge for some pictures. I think I've discovered an interest in bridges - so much so I've found myself muttering to myself things like "now tell me that's not a nice bridge"!
I then climbed Clifton Downs (a nice area). Good progress owing to the exceptional road surface, I've worked out that it's not just the ratio of tar to macadams but also the size of the macadams that seem critical (small is good!).
So some small macadams and plenty of tar later and I arrived at Forest Gate campsite in Huntley to be greeted by a very chipper campsite owner who was off line dancing but not before selling me a bottle of his finest medium dry for a fiver. There were also a couple of blokes doing the End to End there (North to South), you can tell by their eyes whether they've got less miles to do than you have!

Day 7 - Tuesday 5th August: Huntley, Little Stretton (just outside Church Stretton). 66.17 miles, 1035 metres climbed.
I was looking forward to this one, mainly because the destination was where all my old cycling buddies used to go when I worked at the bike shop (while I generally held the fort at the shop!). Also I'd heard Ledbury and Ludlow were pretty towns, which they are. However I hadn't factored in the Stone Henge sized macamams and the endless convoy of trucks cutting it very close when passing!
Although a damp day, and having to take in a few extra miles after some creative diversions, the spirits remained unbroken.
I met a couple from Horndean (my old neck of the woods), who were doing the trip on their tandem (also N to S). Also a young chap from London who had had to leave his mates behind because they were too slow and he had a deadline! All heading to Lands End and with the now familiar 'nearly finished' look in their eyes. It'll be me soon enough!

Day 8 - Wednesday 6th August: Little Stretton, Telford, Newport, Stafford, Boylestone, Bradley near Ashbourne. 78.98 miles (longest so far), 1358 metres climbed.
I finished climbing Everest today! (somewhere between Gnosall and Uttoxeter). Also clocked my fastest speed so far at 47 mph!
A splendid day, weather good, road surface good, scenery surprisingly good (I had low expectations) and the legs finally returned to form. Leaving Little Stretton I immediately had to climb 'The Wall' (one of the Long Mynd's many climbs). This rewarded me with great views and a lovely long freewheel through to Much Wenlock. A sharpish climb followed, then after a flirt with Telford I headed to Newport and Gnosall.
I stopped here to take some pictures of some canal boats and help a stranded cat. Both missions accomplished I headed onwards through Stafford to Boylestone. Unfortunately the campsite we had earmarked did not meet Maddie's minimum standards so after checking there were enough miles left in the legs we headed further north to Bradley.

Day 9 - Thursday 7th August: Bradley, Bakewell, Chapel-En-Le-Frith, Castleton. 49.59 miles (about 10 miles longer than the routefinder had suggested), 1164 metres climbed.
Well what an agreeable day. Weather good and road surface didn't disappoint. However, it would appear that whichever route I decide to take, the first town of the day always throws a stiff little climb at me first thing. Church Stretton yesterday, Ashbourne obliged today. So muscles and lungs quickly warmed up, I ventured north into the Peak District proper.
Yes, it is as stunning as described. At Newhaven I headed east to Winster (great views), then had probably the best downhill as the (beautifully tarmac'd) road wound north through a forest. I joined the A6 and for two miles passed a traffic jam headed for Bakewell. Bakewell, as well as producing a choice tart, is rather picturesque, so I stopped and windowshopped in some nice jewellers (on the advice of the cheery Huntley campsite owner having witnessed Maddie taking down the tent in the rain - he suggested a bangle style treat for the lady!)
Heading west out of Bakewell was a very long, hard climb, that for some reason reminding me of the days when I was considered 'a bit of a climber'!
Buxton was a bit of an anti-climax, or at least the bit I passed through (dominated by Wetherspoons). Another long climb took me up to Blue John's Cavern (fnarr) and to Mam Tor (known locally as The Shivering Mountain due to the way the light catches it's slopes) - and this one was probably my pick of the day - if I was an American I would be using the word Awesome quite a lot at this point.
A bit of signposting confusion followed, where the apprently correct route didn't have a sign reading Castleton, unfortunately it was a road that seemed to fall off the edge of the world and if it was wrong, and I had to come back up it, I was doomed. There was no choice but to go for it, so I 'dropped in', only to find the world's largest sheep population joining me all over the road. The descent I believe has finally finished off my brake blocks, or what remained of them post Dartmoor, but I didn't kill any sheep, much to the passing tourists' disappointment. At the bottom of the hill a sign welcomed me to Castleton (pity it wasn't at the top to calm my nerves but there you go).
Maddie was sitting serenely (she does that) outside a well erected (it always is) tent to welcome me home. We both agreed it was a pity we couldn't stay here longer, but adventure awaits! Tomorrow sees the back of the Peak District and our first B&B.