Story
Blood, Sweat & Gears - the ultimate cycle challenge from Lands End to John O'Groats
It all started last year when needing a goal to act as a motivation for losing weight. Reading the newspaper one weekend I came across an article which detailed an assault on the world record for cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats - LEJOG. An idea was born and in May 2010 six foolhardy souls (five cyclists and a much needed support vehicle driver) will be setting off on our own epic journey.
Setting off on Monday May 10th we will finish some 13 days later at the most northerly point on the mainland. 1100 gruelling miles across hills and dales, by lochs and glens before we will be able to say "We've done it"! Apart from Martyn who is the baby of his group and still shy of his 30th birthday we are a bunch of guys at the wrong end of our 40's who believe that we still have the looks and stamina of our youth combined with the maturity that comes with age.
To amuse and entertain you we will be posting stories of our training and progress on our blog -
http://bloodsweatandgears.tumblr.com
- and so log on for the full story and pictures! We all feel strongly that we wish to support a local charity which will keep us focussed and motivated on our ride. We have chosen Nelsons Journey.
Back in 1986, Katie and Hannah Greensmith woke up one morning to find their mother dead in bed. Katie was four years old, Hannah was two. As they were so young, they did not understand death and sadly they were alone in the house as their father was away at the time. The girls were by themselves for several hours and it wasn’t until their father, Chris, phoned that it was realised something was wrong. Katie wouldn’t usually answer the telephone as it was high on the wall, but she had dragged a chair across the room and climbed on it to answer it. It is because of Katie and Hannah’s experience of losing a parent and the anger, confusion and distress that followed, that Nelson’s Journey exists today. The charity was registered in November 1997 to support bereaved children and young people living in Norfolk and relies upon donations to continue its important work.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
Some tasters from our blog:
7 March 2010 “So the day arrived for the first of the team practice rides – and we were blessed with clear blue skies. We had agreed to meet at a central point to start the ride and amazingly we all opted to cycle there (up to 9 miles for some) rather than load the bikes in the car! An excellent start. After the obligatory admiring of bikes and subsequent photos we set off. Key elements of the ride were to assess our fitness levels, ability to ride as a group, individual pace and targeting a 15mph average. Three of the four pretended not to know which way to go which left Kevin riding point to start with – he wont fall for that one again – and after a slightly ambitious pace left everyone trailing behind we soon settled into a comfortable rhythm. With the sun shining down it was a most pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning albeit with temperatures hovering just above freezing. We mixed and matched our riding as we made our way from Norwich to Reepham and enjoyed a wide variety of conversation from road etiquette to the convincing 3-0 victory by NCFC the day before. We were riding along at a comfortable 17mph average as we arrived into Reepham and turned towards Buxton. This was perhaps the best part of the ride with stunning scenery including the fabulous church at Booton and minimal levels of traffic. Crossing tow main roads we were then overtaken by a couple of fellow cyclists as we ambled along – this brought out the competitive streak and we matched them until they peeled off in a different direction. From Buxton we made our way to Coltishall and then on to Wroxham where Richard lives. This was the only time in the ride that we encountered any road rage. Despite travelling in single file through Hoveton and Wroxham some cars found it difficult to pass quickly as there was traffic coming from the opposite direction. When we stopped to say farewell to RV we were met with a few beeps and gestures and one moron in a red pick up truck who thought that it would be clever to try and get as close to us as possible. We then made our way back to Norwich with Steve branching off leaving just two of us to cycle back to Norwich where we agreed that it had been a great morning that we were probably fitter than we thought and that we still had some “gas in the tank”. However later on the joints were telling me that they had done their bit for the day. Roll on 21 March for the next group ride!”
And here is how we got on:
“The gods of cycle training are obviously on our side as the sun was shining on a perfect day for the start of spring and our second group ride. Buoyed up by the success of the previous ride we decided to broaden our horizons and attempt a 50+ mile ride. Our route was to take us from home along to Coltishall and then through the villages of Little Hautbois, Felmingham and Bradfield to Mundesley on the coast. From there down the coast route past Bacton and Walcott and then inland via Dilham, Smallburgh and Wroxham and then back home to Norwich. As the sun was shining we were resplendent in our Lycra shorts and sun shades and cut a dash (we like to think) as we raced through the glorious countryside. We kept up a good pace as we passed through villages with much of the conversation reflecting 1) the sunshine 2) how beautiful Norfolk is 3) The “Million pound bike ride” programme in aid of Sport Relief. Steve was so inspired by the programme that he watched it twice! We all agreed that it was a great motivational video for us and whetted the appetite for what we had in front of us. We wondered if we could best the top speed of Patrick Kielty at 45mph and what would happen if we came off at that speed! Two other interesting facts from the programme were that the challenge is equivalent to climbing Mount Everest – twice – and you use up 120,000 calories! We could see Richards’ brain working out how many pints of real ale this equates to! We arrived in Mundesley in good heart and hardly out of breath. This was the time to break out our scientifically calculated refreshments which amounted to some fruit pastilles, Cadburys mini eggs, orange segments and Kendal Mint Cake. We agreed that this is perhaps an area which we will need to take more seriously on the ride! After a detour to find working toilets in Mundesley we were on our way again down the coast road. This is where Steve decided that our 15-17mph pace was way too slow and upped it to 20mph with the inevitable result of a “string” of riders struggling to keep up with someone who is as thin as a whippet and fit as a butchers dog. However we cruised on to Wroxham when we suffered our first puncture. A deep pothole resulted in an impact puncture for Kevin just outside Roy’s. Between us we had the required kit and “Formula 1” Steve swung into action with a record breaking repair to a rear tyre. Ten minutes later we were waving goodbye to Richard and making our way back to Norwich. Carl and Kevin took it in turns to ride point as the legs started to tire and conversation was somewhat in short supply. 55 miles later we were back home with a self satisfied feeling at completing a lengthy ride in good time. This was a good practice for what will be an average morning on our trek. 50 days to go!”1 April 2010
I have rediscovered the art of “tinkering”. Since buying my new bike I have enjoyed pulling it apart to clean, mend and improve it. It takes me back to Saturday mornings as a teenager when “messing about” with bikes was a normal activity for our group of friends. The joys of getting greasy hands, seeing something that you have done work well and generally whiling away an hour or two are not to be dismissed. A great stress reliever too.
As we get closer to the ride (less than 6 weeks to go) there is an element of mild panic as I start to fret about training, stamina and sundry other matters. I am sure that this is a common fault but riding the length of the country is now a very real prospect and I feel very guilty if a day goes by when I haven’t either been out on the bike or in the gym. The consoling thought is that as a group we will support each other and there is no doubt that riding in a group is much easier than solo training slogs.
The fundraising is most encouraging as we near £2000 with plenty of time left to extract some more pennies from our supporters! Thanks to each and every one of you who has donated – it is much appreciated.
Sunday 11 April
So the sun shone once again on our latest group ride. Is this an omen for good weather on our trip or are we using up all of our luck now? We decided to meet in the car park at Waitrose and once Carl had realised that the 6 space car park he was in was a bit small for Waitrose and cycled a little further down the road we were ready to start. This time we were joined by two young and extremely fit cyclists – Steve’s son and his friend. We were also graced by Carls new bike and a GPS system purchased by Kevin.
Setting off we followed the GPS route instructions for nearly a mile when we then went the wrong way and decided to make up our own route which completely destroyed our carefully laid plans. The fact that Kevin is a long way from understanding how the GPS works means that there was no chance of any reprogramming whilst on the move. Still the “Bianchi Boys” – Carl and Kevin – led the way as we meandered around the lanes with a broad target of heading in the general direction of Halesworth. This went very well until Steve pointed out the magnificent views across to Norwich pointing out City Hall and we realised that we were heading in completely the wrong direction. A quick U-turn and we were back on track with the two “young uns” demonstrating how fit they were by cycling with one leg and still going faster than we were with two!
Tragedy struck however when the relentless showing off by the youngsters resulted in a snapped spoke. A stop at a village shop for supplies and running repairs meant a farewell to our new riding chums as they went back to Norwich and we weaved our way in a roughly southern direction. We cantered on at a good pace and found our way via Bungay to Beccles for a quick pit stop coffee at the local fast food restaurant which had been taken over by a gaggle of bikers with some awesome machinery on display – have you ever felt self conscious in tight lycra surrounded by hoards of leather clad bearded men?
Wending our way back towards Norwich we realised that due to our detour we would only hit about 55 miles instead of the planned 70 but Steve was grateful for the opportunity of seeing his wife who he has been neglecting and Carl was feeling a “twinge” in the knee. Richard was disappointed pointing out that he could have cycled to the start from Wroxham if he had known! After our last stop to agree on our various departure points we sped down the Poringland Road really pushing up the long drag and narrowly avoiding being hit by some stupid women in a red Renault people carrier who brushed past us with inches to spare. Why is it that there are so many inconsiderate or plain bad drivers on the road?
Steve peeled off home and Carl and Kevin pulled up at the traffic lights to allow Richard to catch up. We waited, and waited as the lights kept changing and then we turned around to try and find out what had happened to Richard who is Mr consistent on his bike and as he points out is built for endurance. Back tracking to our last point of contact there was no sign of RV and so we phoned and texted with no response. Being responsible team mates we shrugged our shoulders and went home. Much later we heard from Richard who had popped in to his Aunts for a sandwich and cup of tea and then carried on to achieve his 70 mile target!
One more group ride to go in a fortnight and then 4 weeks today we will be on our way.
26 April
Well, two weeks to go and it hardly seems like yesterday when we first started to talk about the ride. Training is going well and whilst there is aprehension at entering the unknown I do feel that we have prepared well - certainly more than some others who i have read about! The route is now fully plotted and if you would like to follow us log in daily for an update on our blog. If you want to se what a trip from Lands End to John O'Groats looks like then the following links will show you our planned route starting at Day 1 and going up to Day 13:
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=119611
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=119612
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=119614
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=119630
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=119643
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=119673
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=119678
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=120266
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=120273
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=120276
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=120284
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=120472
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=120475
A really big thank you to everyone who has donated so far including donations from TCHC, Onyx, Citygate Developments, WENTA,Iconi and the Wilky Group (most of which are shown in offline donations. We still want to hit our £5k target so please be generous!
Saturday 8 May 2010
Well the minibus is now loaded and its too late to back out now! John picked up the minibus yesterday and proudly displayed his customisation which consisted of a host of NCFC additions which should go down well along our route! Loading all the energy drinks and bars seemed to take up a lot of room and it is going to be "cosy" if we all need to take refuge in the minibus at any one time! However all the planning is now complete and it is time for action. Do not forget to follow us on our blog and this website over the next two weks and laugh at our antics along the way!
Keep up to date with how we are doing!
We are updating our blog every day so to see how we are doing visit:
www.bloodsweatandgears.tumblr.com
28 May 2010 - Reflections on an extraordinary journey I am finding it hard to believe that it was only a year ago when I set myself the target of losing 3 stone in weight and cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats – and 12 months later I have achieved my goal! As you will have seen from the blog the adventure unfolded over a couple of weeks and there were certainly laughs and tears, highs and lows, joy and despair along the way. So having been back a few days and allowing everything to sink in what stands out from the ride? Firstly there were many more highs than lows and I am so pleased that I completed the challenge. So looking at the low points: - Every one of us had times when the physical demands were almost too much to bear and my “moment” came on day 3. When people tell you that the hills in Devon and Cornwall are worse than Scotland they are most definitely telling the truth. The hills are relentless and sometimes are 1 in 3 inclines which are almost impossible to cycle up. We were climbing 6000+ feet each day of the first three days and 10 miles from the end of day 3 when we stopped for a rest break my legs had turned to jelly. I could not even stand up straight and was really worried that I may not make it to the nights stop. However I did not realise the strength of the bond which had already been built up between us and the team did everything they could to ensure that I made that last stretch. Sharing of snacks, a thigh massage from RV (!) and general encouragement combined with my dogged mental attitude that I would not be beaten meant that we all made it back together. - I do not think that any of us realised that we would miss our loved ones so much during the journey. At different stages we all felt homesick and longed for the company of our partners. But they were far outweighed by the high points: - We cycled through some amazing scenery and saw parts of the country that took the breath away with their beauty. Notable examples include a delightful ride alongside the river in the Wye Valley, the ride up to Balmoral in glorious sunshine and climbing the Cairngorms which were magnificent in splendid isolation. - Tears rolling down our cheeks as Steve embarked on his “naked” leg of the bike ride. We were in the middle of nowhere but just as he was stripping off two cars came along and who knows what they thought when they saw a naked man squatting in a ditch surrounded by sheep in the wilds of Scotland! - The amazing lack of mechanical problems during the route. One tyre changed, one slow puncture and my pedal coming off were about the extent of our woes which was a pleasant surprise. - The great accommodation which we had en route. The Great British B&B is alive and kicking. From small family homes to rambling country houses, charming people to comfy beds, super sausages to perfect porridge – this all contributed to making the journey totally enjoyable. - The food at the “Boasters Arms” (not the real name of the pub!) where the steaks and pies were the best that we had ever tasted only surpassed by the tall tales of a landlord who could name drop at will and his rotund appearance belies his international sporting prowess with a multitude of nations! - Hitting 45.8mph on the downhill stretch from GlenShee which was such an adrenaline rush that it was worth the 6000 feet climb! - Crossing the finish line at JOG which seemed an almost surreal moment - Finally and most importantly the camaraderie and friendship forged by a group of guys undertaking an adventure and all determined to help each other come what may.
Each of us will have different reasons for remembering this journey for the rest of our lives but without doubt we have shared something quite special. All talk now is what we will do next!
The journey in stats:
Day From/to Average speed (day) Hours riding Miles covered Calories used Feet climbed
1 Lands End/Tintagel 12.4mph 7h12m 89.3 5712 6680
2 Tintagel/Barnstaple 11mph 12h5m 142.1 9533 12098
3 Barnstaple/Bath 12.2mph 18h27m 223.2 15616 18168
4 Bath/Leominster 15mph 23h28m 294.4 20574 21116
5 Leominster/Nantwich 15.6mph 28h9m 367.5 25612 24297
6 Nantwich/Waddington 14.7mph 33h48m 450.5 31091 6829
7 Waddington/Carlisle 13.3mph 39h22m 533.3 36482 31745
8 Carlisle/Edinburgh 14.8mph 46h6m 623 42313 35009
9 Edinburgh/Blairgowrie 14.5mph 50h58m 693.3 47033 37886
10 Blairgowrie/Tomintoul 13.3mph 55h54m 758.9 51933 43128
11 Tomintoul/Alness 15.2mph 60h20m 826.2 56070 45732
12 Alness/Tongue 14.8mph 64h49m 892.4 60315 48376
13 Tongue/JOG 15.3mph 68h58m 955.7 64516 51914
13.9mph average
B&B reviews
9 May Sunnybank Hotel Sennen Lands End Cornwall Sunnybank-hotel@btinternet.com A good place from which to start our trip. Ideally located a mile or so from Lands End this is a comfortable and welcoming small B&B. Rooms are very clean and the hosts are welcoming. The only minor point would be that the en suite bathrooms are so tiny there is only a sliding door which does not offer that much privacy! However this is a minor point and the breakfast was a good standard and if you are staying at the start or end of LEJOG then this cyclist friendly place is hard to beat. 10 May Bosayne Guest House Atlantic Road Tintagel Cornwall http://www.bosayne.co.uk/ As a part of a small group of cyclists on our way to John O'Groats this was our first stop after Lands End. The previous reports are all accurate and we enjoyed clean rooms, well appointed and a safe place for our bikes. As we were late arriving (c7pm) we did not get the coffee and cake welcome mentioned by some but being exhausted we were just pleased to have a bath/shower and find somewhere to eat. The only eccentric part of the stay was at breakfast where we had to sit where we were told (!) and when one of our party asked if they could have porridge and the cooked breakfast instead of cereal and a cooked breakfast there was an audible gasp! Off to the kitchen to seek instructions leaving us in fits of laughter! Unfortunately we never did get an answer but that should not detract from a good breakfast - nothing that a course in customer service couldn’t iron out! This is the beauty of staying in a B&B - eccentricity. 11 May Yeo Dale Hotel Pilton Bridge Barnstaple North Devon http://www.yeodalehotel.co.uk/ As a part of a small group of cyclists on our way to John O'Groats this was stop two. Easy to find and a great welcome from the hosts who were most accommodating and provided a safe place in their back yard to store our bikes. The rooms were of a great quality with some boasting fireplaces and balconies. High praise from the group culminated with breakfast which on balance was considered to be the best on our tour. Fresh tasty local ingredients served well and from a choice well beyond the normal - I had pancakes, bacon and syrup rather than the full english. We were even treated to a hot plum pancake as an appetiser! Great hoteliers and without doubt the place to stay in Barnstaple. 12 May Travelodge Rossiter Road Widcombe Basin Bath Oh dear. Yes I know that it is a Travelodge and you know what to expect but there are good and bad ones and this is in the latter category. The place is a shambles. Cleanliness is only just acceptable the receptionist had a face and manner like thunder and as others have mentioned you get one threadbare towel per room which means a trip to reception and an inevitable queue (never more than one person on duty) to beg for more. In the morning breakfast was chaotic in the restaurant and at the end despite 5 surly staff sitting at a table drinking coffee no-one wanted to take our money so we got a free breakfast - however at these rates (can anyone say they got a £19 room here?) it was the least that I would have expected. Stay at Premier Inns they are much better! 13 May Eyton Old Hall Eyton Leominster Herefordshire http://www.eytonoldhall.co.uk/ What a find! First of all it is difficult to locate with no signs in the village or at the gate – we then attempted to check in at the gate house before cycling up a long drive to a mansion house! Welcoming owners who allowed us to clean off our bikes in the yard and then despite only booking 4 rooms for the 6 of us proceeded to give us a room each! On top of that they also did a load of washing and drying for us. A large home with numerous rooms all superbly decorated this was like stepping back in time. Enormous rooms combined with a true B&B experience. Breakfast was another highlight and very civilised. The owners appear somewhat new and bemused by the R&B experience but I have to say that they are naturals and I would highly recommend a stay at this delightful and unique place. 14 May Mill Covert Mill Lane Doddington Nantwich Cheshire http://www.millcovertbandb.co.uk/ Every now and again you stumble across something quite special and this is what happened when our group of cyclists stopped here on route to Scotland. This house was built by Richard and is perhaps the best B&B that we have stayed in. Superb rooms with comfortable beds, tea making facilities large plasma screen TV and I had a huge bathroom with wet room and a whirlpool bath - just the thing after cycling 90 miles! But this was just the start - there was tea and coffee supplied in the huge guest lounge which had a wood burner throwing out welcome heat. We then relaxed and enjoyed a three course meal which at £15ph was impressive value for 6 hungry guys. Linda was a gracious host and cooked up a mean breakfast the next day. We all wished that we could have stayed for more than one night. This place has to rank amongst the very best that the country has to offer. Stay there - you will not be disappointed. 15 May Waddington Arms Waddington Clitheroe Lancashire www.waddingtonarms.co.uk As a group we took 4 of the 6 rooms available here and also ate in the pub on the Saturday evening. Waddington is a beautiful village and the pub is obviously a magnet - especially at the weekends. The rooms were clean, well appointed and whilst the water pressure for the showers is not the best this should not detract from the excellent value that this place is. The meal in the evening was just what we needed and one member of the party was very pleased with his choice of Lancashire Hotpot. Breakfast the next day was similarly impressive and we set out on our cycles ready for a long trip to Carlisle well rested and fed. 16 May Premier Inn Carlisle M6 J44 What amazing value. At £29 a room it is difficult to understand how Premier Inn manages to do it. Having stayed at an awful Travelodge a few days earlier this was a pleasant change. The rooms are what you would expect but meet all needs and are much better appointed than aforementioned establishment. A good night’s sleep always seems to come along with a premier Inn. Service was gracious and the only gripe was the ridiculous bar charges (think London prices and then some) and the bar food which those who partook were not impressed with. The breakfast was good though and again with great service. We had 4 rooms and whilst there is a walk down a corridor it is hardly a problem. Overall well done to Premier Inn for showing exactly what can be done at budget rates - unbeatable at this price. 17 May Aaron Glen Loanhead Midlothian www.aaronglen.com Well this was a real find. Our group was not expecting the quality from what looks like just another B&B from the outside. Some of us were in the main house with comfortable beds and a state of the art bathroom (great shower!) whilst others were across the courtyard in converted mini flats complete with lounge and kitchen. This was ideal for us as we could go out and get some fish and chips and beer and eat together in comfort. Breakfast the next day was of top quality and the service likewise. An unpreposing place from the outside but something of a "boutique" B&B once you are inside. Poor TV reception was about the only complaint although we were really too busy playing cards to bother anyway! 18 May Glenshieling House Blairgowrie Perthshire http://www.glenshielinghouse.co.uk/ Once we had found Glenshieling House (after a detour up a particularly steep hill!) we were entranced by this real home from home. The owners helpfully let us wash and service our cycles supplying hot water etc as required. The rooms were cosy and whilst not huge certainly met our needs. Cleanliness was top class and these two ladies are clearly at home with running a top notch B&B. You got the feeling that if there was anything that you wanted that you only had to ask and it would be made available. Breakfast the next day was another highlight of our trip and ranked amongst the best that we had - especially the porridge which was divine. Anyone staying here would not be disappointed - great value in a beautiful location - even if a neighbour did report one of our group to the police as he looked "shifty" strolling up the drive! 19 May Argyle House Tomintoul http://www.argyletomintoul.co.uk/ Cycling here from Blairgowrie was spectacular and one of the best days of the journey from Lands End to John O'Groats. Providing a safe place to store our cycles was first thing on the agenda and then we were shown to our rooms which were comfortable and quite well appointed. We enjoyed a great meal at a local restaurant following a recommendation and the breakfast menu the next day was a cut above the normal B&B with a range of lovely options. Hosts who had the knack of being friendly and happy to chat but not too overbearing are rare but here the mix was just right. Tomintoul is a one street town but in its way is quite charming. 20 May Tullochard Guest House Alness Highland http://www.tullochardguesthouse.com/ Our group of cyclists were extremely well looked after here. Shelley phoned to check on our arrival time and could not have been more helpful. The rooms were top class, very clean, well appointed and comfortable which is all you need after a long days cycling. Shelley offered to do some washing for us which was very much appreciated when you are on a 12 day cycling tour. However the size of the mountain of clothes must have worried her! Three full loads of washing and drying (she even paired up the socks) later we were all equipped once more for the rest of the trip. Add on to this another good breakfast and you wonder how she can provide such a service for the low price. Highly recommended and if you find better value in the UK let me know. 21 May Tongue Hotel Tongue Sutherland http://www.tonguehotel.co.uk/ An elegant place to stop in a stunning location. Pausing as we came over the hills looking down on Tongue it was a picture that will remain in the memory. The hotel is old fashioned charm sprinkled with modern touches which combine to provide a great resting place. Our cycles were safely locked away in an outbuilding and after a refreshing drink in the sunshine outside we were shown to our rooms. Elegant and very comfortable with a well appointed bathroom. We ate a meal in the restaurant that night and it was of good quality at a reasonable price. The staff were a real asset to the hotel combining warmth with humour. As we wanted to get away early the next day we asked if we could have a packed breakfast and this was happily provided - bacon rolls, crisps, fruit, bars and drink - just what hungry cyclists need. 22 May Kirklands Hotel Kinross http://www.thekirklandshotel.com/ We stayed here on our way back home having cycled from Lands End to John O'Groats. After 5 hours in a minibus we stopped here and were blown away by a great little hotel and restaurant. The rooms are top class and refurbished to a high standard. The stairs need some work but this is a work in progress. The bar area was "hip" and the restaurant in the rear was a real surprise. Great food for our last meal as a group was superb and finished our tour very well. The young owners are a model of how to run a hotel and restaurant. Service was of top quality, efficient yet charming, friendly yet unobtrusive. add to this a great breakfast and if you are in the area you would be mad to stay or eat anywhere else.