He made it!

My dad made it to bergerac on saturday night so has completed the sponsered bike ride!
He is staying at my auntie sues in monsegur till tuesday (tomorrow) when he flies back home :)

txt recieved 11/9/09

"Camped at mirambeau, South of pons. The weather is very hot. Early night- early start tomorrow"

txt recieved 8/9/09

"Found a tent pitch with permission after trying to leave nantes for 1.5hours! Kept coming back onto the autoroute where bikes aren't allowed! I'm now camped south of nantes. Its very warm"

Arriving in france, text recieved at 21:09

"Ferry excellent journey: smooth sea! I am on french soil and the weather is mild. I have found a campsite as I asked on the ferry. Gave me directions 5mins on bike. Had a coffee from vending machine onsite.
I plan an early start tomorrow"

sent by text to me, allans daughter, yesterday at 20:11

I am pitched, showered, changed and fed in Weymouth. Ferry to St Malo is at 13:00 tomorrow. Ready for start of my rest day as I start cycling again on Monday on french roads. Great family friendly campsite.The owner gave me a free pitch, ' her contribution'. Making a cuppa now. Lost key to bike lock and odometer!
All is well

3 Switches Riddle Brain Teaser

3 Switches Riddle Brain Teaser

Heading for the ferry

Thursday started windy and taking the B road to Monmouth was tiring with lots of ups and downs- then a lovely ride following the Wye down to picnic at Tintern Abbey , where I had a(unplanned)lovely doze in the sun! Then onto Bristol. A highlight was crossing the M48 bridge and feeling the bridge shake with the lorries - and being able to stop and look over the Avon. Great evening at Sue's - Claudine Charlotte and Olivia round as I enjoyed a bowl of rice , lentils potatoes etc -very very tasty. Breifly caught up with James as well. Looking forward to seeing them all in a couple of weeks at our house. Bathed , Sue put on a clothes wash for me and we chatted til late. Managed to speak with Nick who gave some useful tips - enjoy the French 12 til 2 lunch break and look out for Les Routiers .
So today is Friday. Took my bike as concerned about the tyres - rightly so . Cycle shop ( Harvey's cycle exchange is just up from Sue's) put on new innertubes and tyres. I'm pleased that I did that as I now feel more confident going into France. I'leave Bristol today to Weymouth for the 13.00 ferry to St Malo on Sunday with view to camping overnight in St Malo.
This will probably be the last update I'll do directly. I've asked my daughter to do a brief update when I ring her. It's been good en route to hear from family and friends from time : Texts and occasional calls. Very encouraging. Thanks for that.
Just for Kathy so she can sleep at night. Answer to first riddle - the toilet seat was up . Answer to second to follow.

Reality bites - especially the bum !

Here I am day 2 ( wed) at Hereford as planned. I trained for dry sunny days , blue skies with a following wind - apart from Tues morning and the ride from Chester it's been a mixture of side to head winds, overcast skies and rain . Today I was soaked - thankfully the campsite had a dryer , so I've dried everything out. How come I'm updating my blog on the road. 'Cos Eddie - a good friend has been with me for two days , support car, taking photos, going ahead to sort out a campsite - has a laptop which we've tuned into the wifi facilty as the campsite. He goes back tonight so I travel down tomorrow to Sue's in Bristol on my own. It's been good to have Eddie and David with me for the first two days. Expect to update the blog at Sue's - after that I'll look to update the blog via my daughter every couple of days. Signing out for now . It's great fun .
Stayed at Cuckoo's Corner campsite , on A49 into Hereford. I arrived soaking wet and it still raining. The campsite owner was very obliging. It has all the facilities you could want - reading room, games room, wifi , washing and drying facilities. They even offered me a mug of hot tea in the morning. Simple site but run kindly - but note adults only and no rowdiness. Highly recommended.

Tuesday- and off we go!

This is a quick blog to say at least I've woken up to start the day, earlier than I planned- 6am. Bags packed, bike loaded, cycle shorts donned. Tummy stirring.I'm going to text my daughter who will update the blog so you - and she - knows I'm on track . So porridge and then off to church for 10.30 prayers and blessings before heading off on the A41.

Here's the planned schedule. As I'm camping there is some flexibility to allow for old aching limbs :

Sept 1 Tues Shrewsbury/ Sept 2 Wed Hereford / Sept 3 Thurs Bristol – staying at Angie’s sisters / Sept 4 Fri Dorchester / Sept 5 Sat Weymouth / Sept 6 Sun Condor Ferry 13.00 to St Malo / Sept 7 Mon South of Rennes /Sept 8 Tues Nantes /Sept 9 Wed South of La Roche s Yon
Sept 10 Thurs Niort / Sept 11 Fri Saintes /Sept 12 Sat Libourne /Sept 13 Sun Arrive Monsegur/
Sept 14 Mon Resting in Monsegur / Sept 15 Tues Liverpool JL Airport 11.20 am

A bientot !

Update to say made it to Shrewsbury first day. Fish and chip supper and to bed!