Defeating England .. 

so far I have an idea and an overview map of the proposed route ... and not a lot else ... 

The idea is to cycle the length of England from North to South, hence Defeating England ... I'm hoping this will take just over a week, assuming about 70miles per day. There is no hard and fast time limit as there was for the 3 Peaks Challenge, as long as I finish!

.. and now we have a start date .. 22nd June 2004!! so I have something to work towards. I will travel up to Berwick on Monday (hopefully on a very cheap or free??!!) train ticket, and camp overnight at Marshall Meadows Farm possibly, which is here!! Looks nice, although possibly not as 'nice' as its neighbour! (if anyone would like to finance a night for me here, I would find it hard to refuse!) and not far from the border!.. Then an early start on day 1.. I wonder if I need to ride to the border first?! opinions please ..

Day 1.

We now have a 'draft' day 1! A map of the route, and details of the first night stopover. This is planned to be at the Derwent Park Caravan and Camping site just west of Gateshead. This little local map gives the exact location. Sounds lovely!! All being well I will arrive in the early afternoon, and have time to have a gentle amble round the parkland in the late afternoon sun and eat a good nutritional meal before getting a good rest for the next day. I see there are even cycle ways ... of course I'll probably just go down the local chippy then collapse in a heap ...

Day 2.

Day 2 is designed to finish at my sister's in Bishop Monkton, just north of Harrogate. map of the day's route. 

Day 3.

Day 3, Thursday, should be a good one - a bit of Dales, Bradford and Huddersfield, and then over the Peaks to finish just outside Glossop possibly at Windy Harbour Farm. map of the day's route. 

Day 4.

Day 4, Friday - Glossop to Telford. the route map. I plan to stay at the Severn Gorge Park. I don't know why I put these links in before they agree to put me up for nothing!! sounds nice, and ideally situated for an early morning stroll round Ironbridge!! by now I should think an early morning anything would be a bonus!!

Day 5.

Day 5, Saturday - Down past Worcester (meet the family for elevensies in Holt Heath, just west of Droitwich) and on to Gloucester .... map. Have struggled to find anywhere to stay around Gloucester! So far am planning to stay in the Bell in Frampton, a little bit out the other side. sounds good again, but no pics, just a big CAMRA logo to recommend it !! I'll probably need a few by then, but it doesn't bode well for the next morning's efforts ...

Day 6.

Next morning is a run parallel to the M5, then between Bristol and Bath, Glastonbury, and on to Taunton. (route Map) Again camp sites seem a bit scarce where I wanted one, but I found one just south east of Taunton, Ashe Farm. Peaceful, informal site on working farm with lovely views apparently, and with a new toilet block!! there's nothing like a new toilet block to turn a bloke's head when it gets to the end of a hard day in the saddle!!

Day 7.

Onwards parallel to the M5 again before crossing Dartmoor via Princetown towards Tavistock (route map), holing up (hopefully) for the night at a farm in Moorshop. panoramic views of Dartmoor if I'm in the mood, and as well as a modern toilet block, hair dryers!! wey hey!! not much use for that, unless its for drying out the waterproofs!!

Day 8.

Wriggling along the coast via St Austell and Truro to my last resting place before the end(!), just inland from Portreath on the north coast (route map), that'll be Globe Vale then!! more delightful situation in the charming countryside - family run with warm and friendly welcome.. I wonder if that includes knackered and smelly cyclists? .. and no mention of hair dryers!!

Day 9.

Just a quick?! dash to Lands End then back to Penzance to catch the train ... and some sleep!!

That's it for the planning for now ... I'll add more as I go..

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Thanks very much, come back soon and keep up with the latest developments!!