Just a quick note to say thank you for supporting me on Saturday.

When I planned the ride I assumed that choosing a date in mid August would guarantee me a sunny day but the great British weather proved me wrong and I left for Weston-Super-Mare at 6:00 on a wet Saturday morning.

The first part of my route was quite familiar until I reached the other side of Winchester where I entered uncharted territory. Following my laminated Google street map print out I managed to pedal my way to roundabout before Stone Hendge where I was met but a large traffic jam on a duel carriageway. I was quite exhilarating riding up between the cars, occasionally tapping on windows to get drivers to move over so I could squeeze through. Unfortunately Adam and Charlotte did not experience the same speed on transit along this stretch and had to wait with all the other cars, meaning that we would miss the first meeting point on the trip. Wet and hungry I continued another 10 miles past Stone Hendge till they caught me up in the middle of Salisbury Plain.

A change of socks, dry hair, Adams offer of a foot massage, a sausage roll and I’m off towards Frome. Adam had provided me at this point with a walkie talkie to enable communication between us and the van. This proved unfortunate for any army personnel who were training on the plains as their radio messages were replied to by a tired and mischievous Adam and Charlotte. This leg of the journey involved two of the most boring and slightly uphill dual carriageways, which seemed to last forever!

After climbing a hill just before Shepton Mallet, I heard a familiar voice coming from the bag on my bike. It was Adam on the radio. I had reached check point number two! I was feeling a lot happier at this point with the knowledge that I was well over halfway and had no more dual carriageways left.

As soon as I went past the sign ‘You are now entering the Mendips’ the scenery improved, the sun came out and I had a very enjoyable ride to the top of the Cheddar Gorge. This was the part I had been waiting for and with Adam and Charlotte behind me in the van holding back the traffic I had the whole road to play with and what an awesome decent. 30 – 35mph down the twisty gorge avoiding goats and tourists, brilliant!!

The last stretch was good skirting around the bottom of a huge hill, over the M3, one final huge hill and down to the seafront at Weston-Super-Mare where it would appear that mass early evening drinking is the done thing as I had to avoid stumbling flocks of inebriated super-marians. I had made it. I was there. Time for beer, BBQ and bed.

So far I have raised £370 of my £500 target for Parkinson’s UK, thank you for all your help. If you have not yet donated and wish to help me meet my target please visit http://www.justgiving.com/Peter-Westmore

Thanks again

Peter

 

 

On the 14th of August I am going to attempt to cycle form my place in Bordon, Hampshire to Weston-Super-Mare. I will be doing this as a solo ride and hope to complete the ride in less than 10 hours. My support team (Charlotte, Adam and Claire) will be driving ahead of me and meeting me at several places along the route to allow me to have a quick rest, grab some food and refill my water bottles.

The 122 mile route will take me past Stonehenge, The Westbury White Horse and down through the Cheddar Gorge. Someone has challenged me to run up Jacobs Ladder with my bike when I get to the gorge, but as this is about 90 miles along my route I will have to see how it goes.

As well as the personal challenge, I am taking this opportunity to raise some money for Parkinsons Uk. So if you feel that you are able to help the charity it would be very much appreciated.

Cheers

Peter