LEJOG August/September 2021

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Solocle

Über Member
Location
Poole
Thanks to @Ajax Bay for the route out of Cornwall/Devon! https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36575350

Departed Land's End at 5pm on Saturday.
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I had to split it into two rides - 200 km to Exeter, and then 100 km to Dorset. I put my own colour on it by religiously sticking to the old A30 through Camborne/Redruth, which includes the rather quaint semi-pedestrianised Fore St in Redruth.
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After that, I just bit the bullet with A30 Chiverton-Carland Cross. Interesting to see the dualling scheme in progress.
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Fortunately, T1 was just the Zelah non-bypass, as intended!

The climb up the A39 past Camelford was a hell of a slog, of course. Relatively gentle gradient, but for 5.5 miles.
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Here I made another minor deviation by following the A395 all the way back to the A30. I planned on taking Ajax's back road route, but deep into the night, decided it would be better just to follow the main roads for the downhill. It did mean about 2 miles on the A30, but it was virtually deserted!
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Then it was across the Tamar into Devon, at 2am.
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The next section was dark. I ended up sitting down against a fence and taking a short break, before slogging up the hill to Sourton Down services. Which wasn't actually as bad as I anticipated, but I was still nearly broken as I reached the services and ticked over 100 miles. I spent two hours here, not prepared to leave the vestige of civilization that was a petrol station! I would have booked in to the Travellodge for a few hours of kip, but being a bank holiday, they were all booked up.

When I set off again it was nearly morning, and I was immediately on the A30. I got a bit carried away withe the descent and flew past the exit to Okehampton! Bit of a mistake, as even at that early hour, slogging up the uphill parts of the Okehampton bypass was unpleasant with the traffic.
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Back on the route, and hill after hill greeted me as I meandered my way towards Exeter.
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At Exeter, I finally took some proper well earned rest!
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Report for day 2 will follow shortly.
 

Rocky

Hello decadence
Nice one!! Have a great ride.
 
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Solocle

Solocle

Über Member
Location
Poole
Quite a full on start for a Lejog - 130 miles, setting off at 5pm and riding through the night!!
Yeah, that was a logistical consideration! I've got a day at work today, which doubles as a rest day. Was hoping to knock the whole lot out in one go, as I've previously struggled with getting going again the day after.

The start timing was primarily determined by getting a bike reservation with the train ticket... but did feed into route choice. I suspect that at the wrong time the A39 could have been thoroughly unpleasant. As it was, I'd probably have been totally fine taking the A30 across Bodmin Moor, but didn't like the lack of "outs".

Where that plan really shone was part of the day 2 route... which would have been a quiet early Sunday Morning, rather than a bank holiday Monday. I made a very minor route change as a result.
 
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Solocle

Solocle

Über Member
Location
Poole
Day 2 -Grockle Galore

Well, it's Bank Holiday Monday, I'm in Exeter, and I'm headed Londonward. Fantastic. I set off just past 9am.

Having stopped day 1 at Honiton Road P&R, I didn't have to worry about crossing Exeter. I set off, under the M5, and I was out!

The cycle route to Honiton down the old A30 was very good.
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After Honiton, it was up the Blackdown Hills, by way of Old Chard Road / Viney Lane. "Nice little climb".
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Then things got a bit more serious.
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I got a chance to pull out and persisted.
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Pulled over to let traffic pass, take a photo, and just chill for a moment. But not so terrible tbh. Even if at this point Google was tracking me!
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But shortly after this, things took a turn for the worse. About to finally reach the descent to Marsh, ready to get some steam on, and guess what? A tractor. A tractor pulled out ahead of me! So rather than a 40 mph blast, it was a 20 mph crawl, looking in vain for an overtaking opportunity. :laugh:

At Marsh I pulled off and tackled the uphill stint on a convenient country lane.
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Welcome to Somerset!
 
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Solocle

Solocle

Über Member
Location
Poole
Now in Somerset, and re-joining the A303 near the crest of the hill.
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What followed was 2 km covered in 2:06 (Ø 59.7 kph), with a top speed of 72.4 kph. Fabulous.
:bicycle:
Southfield's Roundabout, and off onto the Ilminster non-bypass.
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Yep, that's a sign literally directing cyclists to the A303! 😳
And yes, I followed it. Other end of the Ilminster Bypass, 1 mile of dual carriageway (wherein I funnelled my inner time trialist), and then it was off onto the quiet road through Montactute.
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Montacute house.
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Into Dorset and nearly home! Oh, and back on my old friend the A30. :becool:
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Solocle

Solocle

Über Member
Location
Poole
Day 4 - Leamington Spa
Having turned 23 overnight in the Cirencester Youth Hostel, it was time to head north again. This was when my holiday coincided with my dad's, so my parents drove north to meet me. I got to Leamington first...
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Drag up onto the Cotswolds. Barnsley is much further south than I remember...
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Stan got quite excited by the road signs for Oxford
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The flat midlands await!
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I thought I left Okehampton behind 150 miles ago!
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The Midlands, finally
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Love a botched roadsign, me.
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Shakespeare's Birthplace
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And across the M40 into Warwick and Leamington.
 
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Solocle

Solocle

Über Member
Location
Poole
Day 5 - Derby
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Having indulged in a birthday meal in Leamington Spa, it was time to leave the next day.
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Ooh, a sign for Cirencester... my last encounter with the Fosse Way for this trip.
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A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!
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Derby.

Not a lot to say, really, except for a good 60 mile/day rhythm developing. Tomorrow, the Pennines (Peak District), and Sheffield... might be a bit of a shock to the system!
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Solocle

Solocle

Über Member
Location
Poole
Day 6 - Revenge of the Pennines
Finally that point of the country. I departed Derby straight up the A6.
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Then it was off to sweep through the grounds of Chatsworth house. I was now officially in't Peak.
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1 gruelling climb up into South Yorkshire...
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And time for lunch at the Fox House Inn near the top!
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Then down, through Sheffield, and into the borough of Barnsley.
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Day's End - M1 Woolley Edge Services.
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Solocle

Solocle

Über Member
Location
Poole
Day 7 - Return to the Dales
ONGOING

Bit of a dash up to Leeds, got a time trial feeling on the A653! Jostled with the Leeds 10K a bit up the A65 - cue a few miles riding on the wrong side of the (closed) road!
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Reached my old stomping ground of Horsforth.
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Then over to Otley and up Wharfedale.
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Sat down for lunch, in Burnsall, in a bit of trepidation of what's to come.
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Yep. Fleet. Moss. I must be bonkers :laugh:
 
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