clairedavieswriter

Overnight I learned that, just like the window and the WiFi, a full-size duvet does not come as standard in this all-expense-spared accommodation. It’s hard to imagine the procurement process: “Yes, that’s right – we’d like to order 200 duvets that are a foot shorter than usual.” I suspect only the most petite guests come…

Due to a particularly dreich weather forecast, our expectations for today were low, but the heavy rain never materialised and after a grey start… … we rode for much of the time under blue skies with warm sun on our backs. The wind swung in our favour and positively blew us north, so despite the…

There’s been an element of Schrödinger’s cat about my approach to this bike ride, because I’ve always held two entirely incompatible thoughts in my head at the same time: first, that I would do it, and second that I couldn’t possibly. The latter has prompted many ‘I can’t believe I’m here’ moments, none more so…

If yesterday was all about the views, today was all about the wind, the low cloud and the ‘not very nice out’ (cf ‘Day 5: cyclists’ terms for rain). Happily, today also featured excellent coffee and pastries – c/o Saddlebacks, a converted horse box (geddit?) on Langwathby village green. It had been recommended to us…

My latest ride companion was so committed to the cause that she left home at 4.30am so we could be on the road by 9.30. Chapeau Diane. Glad to have you with me till Glasgow. The theme for today was spectacular views – we found one round virtually every corner. Obviously, obtaining spectacular views on…

A gate without a bike propped against it – must mean a rest day. Given my legs are screaming at me just going upstairs, I think it was necessary. Kirkby Lonsdale sported some excellent art on their public toilets – to which everyone is welcome provided they have a credit card to open the door.…

This morning I learned that I can consider myself a true citizen of Oswaldtwistle, or Gobbiner, because I’ve spent the night ‘above the lamp’ – ie in the part of town above the Gobbin lantern that stands outside the library. Obviously. Neighbouring Accrington is famous for its ‘nori’ bricks (apparently ‘iron’ was spelled backwards in…

Today’s early hero was Dylan of Dilly’s Bike Shed in Glazebrook, who successfully extracted and replaced Trixie’s sheared and frayed gear cable, so that I was on my way, with a fully functioning multi-speed bike, by 11am. It’s safe to say that his establishment didn’t bear much resemblance to our local bike shop: But the…

This morning’s coffee came with a side order of mechanical failure, which looked set to derail my plans, were it not for the intervention of a perfect stranger – in the purest sense of the phrase. The day started innocently enough, with a chilly ride through a shady avenue of broad leaf trees. For the…

It was a cool misty start in Bewdley… But we soon warmed up with a punishing climb out of the Severn valley. Having negotiated the unremarkable outskirts of Kidderminster, we briefly enjoyed the tranquility of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. But could have done without the alarmingly rutted section of towpath in this tunnel: We…