Cycle 7/70

THE AVOCET RIDE

2012-01-14T20:34:00.000Z

Nature at this time of year can be wonderful and my ride with three friends to Bere Alston Peninsula, near Plymouth, did not disappoint. It is easy to travel here by train (15 minutes from Plymouth) but long and tedious by car. This is where the Rivers Tamar and Tavy meet and the unspoilt village of Bere Ferrers stands sentinal.

Standing on Bere Ferrers ancient quay, we see lapwings, shelducks, snipe, curlew and lots of gulls. We move upstream beside the Tavy on to a muddy track where we find a loan egret hunting prey.

It is sunny but cold and a log fire beckons in the Plough at Bere Ferrers but not before one of us has a puncture. This ancient inn is welcoming and the food good. Afterwards we set off to find the Tamar and stop to admire the salt marsh just downstream from us. Out in front are two flocks of avocets quietly feeding on the mud flats. These are the most beautiful of birds and it is hard not to be entranced. Further one we encountered more avocets and just visible were, I think, a flock of knots. We returned to the train station via the Tavy where we had been this morning to find a flock of oyster catchers.

One of my daughters, not to be outdone, sent me a photo of herself on top of Sticklepike in the Lake District while we were on our ride. I have not heard of Sticklepike before and must check that out.

LOOKING BACK AT 2011

2011-12-21T18:20:00.002Z

Fast flowing rivers, craggy outcrops, ancient woodlands and plentiful wildlife make the backdrop for my cycle rides around Southern Dartmoor. Looking towards the coast are livestock rich pastures where farmers supply our local shops with fresh meat, vegetables, milk and cream. Cycling in this environment is special and means being at one with nature.

So, when Sustrans invited our volunteer group early in 2011 to help plan a new cycle route through this countryside, I was eager to share my part of Dartmoor with others.

Highlights of my year ranged from cycling the Pennines and Lake District in the Spring to an Autumn ride through the gentle rolling hills of Berkshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset.

My journey in June from Santander in Spain to Roscoff in Brittany was my longest at 750 miles. This will become one of Europe's Eurovelo cycle routes. It was a mixture of spectacular scenery, fascinating wetlands and less interesting cityscape. I am not over keen on big towns but the Guigenheim Museum at Bilbao proved to be an architectual gem. I found however the sculptures exhibited not to my taste.

My most challenging ride was on the Hebridean island of Mull. There is a ride of just under 100 miles around the island that forms a figure of eight. I have done it before in the summer 4 years ago. It takes you around the coast, up into the hills and around several lochs. It is as close to wilderness cycling as can be found in Britain. Sea eagles, Europe's largest bird, fly above you, deer come close, hen harriers dive for their prey in front of your eyes. It is a truly spectacular journey. This time however the weather was against me. The winds howled and squalls hit me with full force every now and again. My legs wobbled early and at 43 miles I called it a day totally exhausted. What these rides all had in common had taken me into environments where nature still rules and I love it.

Next year is a new challenge. There is to be a 50/50 cycle challenge for Devon Wildlife Trust so please keep watching. I plan another long distance ride in Europe and want to help Sustrans with more routes in Devon.

SEASONS GREETINGS AND KEEP PEDALLING

BIKE FRIDAY

2011-11-25T17:40:00.001Z

The last time I met Andy, it was cycling with him though Norway, Sweden and into Denmark. Since then, he has cycled across the mountains of Wales and on a 2,600 mile ride to the Black Sea. He arrived in Plymouth last Wednesday on a Bike Friday. It looks like a city bike but he says it has 30 gears, carries panniers and ideal for touring with day rides of 50 miles or more.

We left Plymouth's stunning waterfront by water taxi and I took him on a 50 mile journey through the beautiful South Hams countryside. On Boxing Day, Bike Friday leaves the UK with Andy for 6 weeks in Thailand. If he does a blog, I shall be his first follower.

Four days previously, I met my friend Jaana who also cycled 500 miles with me through Norway as well as Cuba on another trip. We explored the lanes of Berkshire, Wiltshire and Somerset.

The weather was pleasantly warm for the time of year. We wandered alongside the Kennet and Avon Canal, then onto quiet lanes, back to the canal, through tiny villages and small towns. We started at Reading and pedalled onto Bradford on Avon. Just before Bath, we turned left to cycle to Wells and Taunton.

We were amazed at the number of canal boats. I especially liked those of residents where the roofs were covered in logs and bikes were strapped onto the sterns. This was definately eco-living.

I cycled 187 miles this week and First Great Western Trains secured 3 return tickets for ourselves and our bikes.

AUTUMN IN DEVON

2011-11-03T17:10:00.000Z

Autumn can be a great time to be out on the bike but keeping motivated in Winter is more of a challenge. It takes about 3 days at Xmas for me to put on 5kg and 6 weeks to lose it again! I find January especially hard to keep motivated.

So what's new?

Autumn has brought some big rains. Our green lanes in Devon often fill up because the drains are blocked with leaves. I was caught out 3 years ago trying and failing to cycle this lane! No, it is not a river.

I have lots of ideas for what's left of this year and 2012. I shall shortly try a cycle route new to me from Reading to Taunton alongside the R. Kennett and through Wiltshire. I am hoping for great scenery, wildlife and pubs with roaring log fires.

The avocets are coming! These stunningly beautiful birds overwinter in South Devon and can be seen by bike. Last winter, my friend, Libby and I pedalled alongside the River Exe to discover not just the avocets, but a kingfisher as well. Another place is beside the River Tamar at Weir Quay, easy to cycle to from Bere Ferrers train station. A great place to see wading birds in winter on a bike is the Tarka Trail in North Devon. These are all accessible by families with young children.

I have just received an invitation to join a 127 one day charity ride through Snowdonia next July. Ouch, that sound's fierce. My favourite charity is Devon Wildlife Trust and I want to ride it. Do I have any sponsors?

And, finally, why not follow me on twitter where I shall be giving my fun ideas for the winter.

ISLAY AND JURA

2011-10-17T22:08:00.001+01:00

Sylvia and I have just completed our Hebridian journey with days on Islay and Jura. These islands are homes to wildlife and whisky. There are 9 distilleries here, or is it 10? There is an abundance of wildlife here.

We ask where we can see a golden eagle and at the exact spot we find two, both of which are very close to us. Further along, 15 choughs dance and sing around us. To reach this point we have passed thousands of barnacle geese that have just arrived from Greenland. We also pass over 20 hares in the fields and more deer than I have ever seen. These are wild animals and they share the fields with sheep and cattle all with the approval of the landowners. Earlier we saw an otter swimming and catching fish. A landowner on Jura is building a new hydro plant to power the island so less fossil fuels will be used.

I completed 160 miles on my bike. We leave Islay tomorrow for our long journey back to Devon.

THE ROADS TO IONA

2011-10-12T08:37:00.000+01:00

Yesterday, I completed my figure of eight cycle ride around the Hebridian Isle of Mull. I started at the tiny village of Salen on the east coast. The derelict pier is now home to shags who use the tops of the posts to rest while digesting their latest meal of fish. Every post is used and as soon as one is vacant, another shag immediately takes its place.

The weather forecast for the southern section I was about to do was much better than the one for the north that I completed last week. Sun and a west wind of 15mph was predicted. I pedalled off to Craignure, 10 miles to the south which is Mull's main ferry terminal from the mainland. Two squalls hit me reminding me that October can be wild here but they were gentle compared with those last week. I stocked up at Craignure with food and drink as it would 40 miles before I see another shop or pub.

The tiny road west passed two castles and alongside a sea lochs. It then headed inland into Glen More gently climbing as hills were encountered. This was remote moorland with no habitation and very picturesque.

Ben More, Mull's only munro, appeared to my right and I looked out for golden eagles. The road continued to climb but the eagles were elsewhere.

MULL, LAND OF THE SEA EAGLE

2011-10-08T11:34:00.000+01:00

The landscape and wildlife on the Hebridian island of Mull is as dramatic as anywhere in Scotland. I am here with my wife for a few days on my third visit. It is not long before I see white tailed eagles (called sea eagles locally), hen harriers and an otter. It is deer rutting season and I hear the call of a stag over the moors. My cycle ride is to be Mull's Figure of Eight, a loop around the coast that shows the best of this island. It is October and the weather is closing in so it will be taken over two days.

I leave Tobermoray knowing the forecast is squalls, 25mph winds and gusts up to 45 mph. The road west to Dervaig and Calgory is remote. In just 12 miles, there are lochs, high hills, sea water inlets and a wonderful machair beach. I hit my first squall. It smacks into me where there is no shelter. The sky is black and the deluge is horizontal. It is so cold that it feels like the skin is to be ripped off my face. Yet my body is warm as I find my Goretex cycling gear can cope with this weather. The squall vanishes and the wind drops.

I leave the land where yesterday my wife and I saw the white tailed eagles and as the coast turns south I realise that the wind is now behind me. This is much better. The sky has cleared and I can see the islands of Rum, Coll and Tiree on the horizon. Staffa is there also and Ulva soon follows. This coast has just a few islotated houses. I pass a water spout shooting vast volumes of water into the sea. This is spectacular scenery.

Looking out to sea, I see more squalls. Another one hits me. This time it is hail and even colder than before but it quickly passes. Although one island, Mull is narrow in the middle with a short single track road. This is the crossover of the Figure of Eight. I pedal off to Salem on the east coast along this road.

It is now just 10 miles to cycle back to my start at Tobermoray and my legs are wobbling. I now look across the Sound of Mull to the Scottish mainland on the other side. The view is just as dramatic. This last section is slow but no less rewarding.

On my first visit, I cycled the Figure of Eight in one day. This time I have only done the north part. The weather has completely exhausted me after 43 miles. It was Scotland in the raw and I enjoyed the challenge.

GONE NORTH

2011-10-03T23:02:00.000+01:00

It is less than 6 months and I am in the Lake District again. This time, it is a fleeting visit on route to the Isle of Mull. There was time for a ride out around Windermere with friends. I just find the scenery here incredibly beautiful with Lakeland Fells all around, then lakes appearing in the distance. It is good to see many out on their bikes, including a group of Japanese.

I plan to cycle Mull's figure of eight ride. It starts and finishes at Tobermory doing a double loop around the island. This is Scotland in the raw, a land of otters, eagles, seals, hen harriers, porpoise and so much more. The forecast is windy at 25 mph gusting to 40 mph with some rain. The sun was shining in the Lake District. Hmmmm.

THE PUFFING BILLY

2011-09-22T22:34:00.000+01:00

The secrets of the Puffing Billy trail, a redundant tramway into the heart of Dartmoor, will only unfold themselves in at least two trips. It starts near Ivybridge and meanders to a former clay quarry about 6 miles north. Few people visit this area of moorland. It is inhabited by sheep, moorland cattle, birds and wildlife. It is ideal for a mountain bike or on foot.

My favourite time is to arrive at Redlake Quarry, the end of the trail to see the sunset, then cycle back as fast as possible in the dusk. My adrenylin accelerates on the return journey.

The secrets that this trail holds will be missed unless this ride is taken slow and easy. Far below on the River Erme is Piles Copse, the remains of a forest 10,000 years old where oak trees cling for life between the rocks. There is a great swimming spot here and another trail sits on the other bank.

The evidence of stone age man is seen close to the track with stone rows and ancient tin workings. The views extend to Bodmin Moor, Plymouth Sound, South and East Devon.

All the time there is wildlife. It is one of the few places in Devon where you can almost be sure of hearing a cuckoo in Spring. Today on my ride, birds were in abundance and it was a special treat to see five buzzards hovering overhead.

THE RAIL ALE TRAIL

2011-09-18T21:19:00.000+01:00

Beretown is the name on the sign opposite the Old Plough, the most southerly pub on the Bere Alston Peninsula. The easiest way to travel here is by train as the road from Plymouth was designed for horses and, except for adding tarmac, is not much better now. The other way is by bike via a ford over Lopwell Dam.

I went here by train last week with my friend, Alice. It took 2.5 hours to do our first mile. When we arrived, we discovered two enthusiasts working on their historic trains at the rail station. They had a buffet and heritage centre. We found it so interesting that it took us an hour before we left the railway.

The Old Plough was just one mile and now it was time for lunch. This had now become my slowest cycle ride ever. Feeling guilty about going straight into the pub, we stopped to look at the River Tavy. The view across the estuary was breathetaking.

There was some serious cycling after lunch where we covered 2 miles and crossed a hill only reach the River Tamar where we just had to stop again. If the Tavy is breathetaking, the Tamar is magical. We are in a SSSI where avocets come in winter. It took another 6 miles and 1.5 hours to complete our loop back to Bere Ferrers station, such that we savoured our journey. As the train came in, our host from this morning came up and asked we had enjoyed the day. "Yes" we said in harmony, "we have had a great day".

THE DARTMOOR WAY

2011-08-29T14:21:00.003+01:00

What's happened in Devon lately?

I was almost zapped by a peregrin falcon. It swooped low over my head then rose up and perched on a branch in front of me. "Strummocks. Wildlife experiences like this don't come often."

The encounter was close to a new cycle route being checked out by three volunteers, including me, for Sustrans, the cycling charity. The plan is for a new south section to the Dartmoor Way.

Devon is about to benefit from the creation and improvement of several cycle routes by Sustrans. The Dartmoor Way is a medium to strenuous route and I am hoping it is to be one of many planned improvements.

DEVON'S C2C: THE STORY IN PICTURES

2011-07-05T15:24:00.008+01:00

On 2 July 2011, six cyclists met in Plymouth with the aim to cycle 102 miles to Ilfracombe in one day. All were committed wildlife supporters and three had never completed 100 miles a day before. This is their story in pictures as they cycle across some of the finest scenery Devon has to offer.

We start at 6am in Plymouth.

It is now 6.30 and we stop to view birds nesting in Plymbridge Woods, an essential stop for wildlife enthusiasts.

At 7.15am, the riding gets tough where we leave Plymbridge Woods for Dartmoor.

Dartmoor offered spectacular cycling. At 9.30, we were riding across Mary Tavy Moor on route to Okehampton.

We left the moors at Okehampton and found ourselves on tiny lanes where traffic was minimal but wildlife can often be seen. Today, we had to make way for heavy horses and a trailer.

North Devon's coast is simply spectacular. There are not many places with views to die for like this.

It was 7.40pm when we pulled into Ilfracombe. Everyone had made it! a great achievement.

In case you noticed, two who were supremely fit rode ahead. We were all people who just love being out on our bikes in our very special countryside. Thank you to everyone who supported Devon Wildlife Trust

BRITTANY IN THE MIST

2011-06-20T19:26:00.005+01:00

Brittany is renowned for its cycling. It also rivals our West Country for cider offering some good local brews. Unless visiting the coast, it has pleasant rolling hills, artichoke fields, good restaurants for lunches and there is a timeless feel about the area. Cyclists we met ranged from a manic enthusiast who cycles 250km a day to groups out on their mountain bikes. At Vannes, we stayed in a former nunnery still run by the church and the pictures below show a Gite d'Etaps, a local hostel that provides food and has a bar.

We travelled three days sadly in the rain and one day it was windy so the area did not look at its best. Mostly buildings are traditional but the new house below in the shape of a dome was inspired with its woodland location.

We discover that lots of English people have made their homes in the rural centre of Brittany. They do not seem to be wealthy Brits with second homes but are less well off people who have moved to the area permanently.

Brittany shares a common language with the Cornish, Welsh, Irish and Scots who speak Gaelic. The Bretagne language is near enough the same. We spend a pleasant evening at the Gite discussing cider, Bretagne language, cycling and fishing.

There is a timeless feel about this holiday group encountered on a long distance cycleway.

We reached Roscoff at 07.30 this morning to catch our ferry back to Plymouth. I have calculated that our distance was 754 miles and we had 13 cycling days. We had two afternoons off.

My best bits were the wildlife areas in the coastal plains and the Vendee forests. I did not like the traffic in Bilbao and on the French/Spanish border.

THE BRIDGE OVER THE LOIRE

2011-06-17T06:01:00.003+01:00

We have arrived at St Brevin-Les-Pins and were stuck. There is a new huge bridge over the River Loire and we cannot get over it. It is true that it has a cycle lane but the locals are adament that it is too dangerous. The lane is narrow, the traffic is always heavy and the wind blows.

We search around. We spend a night here as we must catch the bike bus but this needs 24 hours notice and space must be booked. I am really surprised that a cycle friendly country does not provide a facility on this bridge.

The locals here go fishing in the Loire with nets and these can be seen from the bridge. Previously we saw more low level wildlife areas and had a fascinating ride on a cycle trail into St Brevin.

CYCLING WITH WILDLIFE, FRENCH STYLE

2011-06-14T21:03:00.007+01:00

It is not just me that cycles to appreciate wildlife, there are signposted routes all over this part of France to show the delights of seeing wildlife on a bike. I am now in Longville-Sur-Mer, 58 bike miles north west of Rochefort.

We have now finished forest trails, albeit there was a final flourish for a few miles from Soulac to the ferry terminal at Pointe de Grave.

If I could describe the last two days, much of it was spent cycling with wildlife intersperced with rich farmland. It was all low lying much like the Somerset Levels in England. There were drainage ditches, called canals here everywhere. Where the ground was higher, it was crops and vegetables. Where lower, it was wild flower grassland grazed by charolais cattle. There are so many birds here. I am embarrased to only know a few names. Egrets are everywhere. Old nog, the heron, is almost as numerous. Swallows appear from nowhere in vast numbers. They enjoy the mudflats and natural landscape that exists.

Many people are out on their bikes. This gentleman is cycling around France. We spoke to a couple on a tandem who work for a company manufacturing wind and kite surfing equipment. Others are touring or shopping. Racing cyclists go past us as we are snails.

We had a happy evening exploring Rochefort, apparantly the first city in the world with a modern grid system. Although planned in 1671, or thereabouts, it happily accepts cars with its wide streets. It was the model for all american cities, the template having been taken there by Lafaytte, the intrepid French sailor who played a key role in developing North America.

Some other things that we found fascinating included the transporter bridge built in 1900 that now takes cyclists into Rochefort. I now know three transporter bridges. The others are in Middlesbrough, England and Hamburg, Germany.

An important industry here is mussel and oyster farming. It is quite atmospheric looking at the preserved wooden oyster shacks. Tomorrow we head north towards St Naziare.

SANTANDER TO SOULAC

2011-06-13T08:36:00.004+01:00

We have now completed half of our cycle journey from Santander in Spain to Roscoff in Brittany. Our distance so far is 375 miles. From Biarritz going north we followed cycle paths through forests some of which were easy going and some where the trail dissappeared into sand and bad ground.

The coastline away from the towns is stunning with long sandy beaches, a surfer's paradise. I think that it will amazingly busy here during high summer but now it is quiet and easy going.

The sunset last night was outstanding at Soulac Sur Mer.

This part of France is ideal for cycling but further south, there was much heavy traffic. We spent a night in Biarritz and this came as a surprise. I imagined the faded glory from 40 years ago when it was a popular destination. Today, it has a bustling old town centre and excellent beaches. I was impressed.

We now head north towards La Rochelle.

SPAIN'S NORTH COAST

2011-06-09T06:56:00.006+01:00

We have arrived at Donastia. This is the Basque name for St Sebastian. It also means that we have almost completed Spain's northern coast. Yesterday was a long day's ride and we knew that we had pushed ourselves hard. We had seen a fascinating array of steep sided hills, lush river valleys and coastline. We started the hills in Cantabria and followed them to Euskad, the home of the Basque people.

Our first day took us past some coastal mudflats and our first sighting was a buzzard curiously out of place away from its native trees. We were able to see lots of fish swimming in the shallows scavanging for food, then disturbe an egret looking out for a fish dinner.

The hills followed in dramatic form. Our roads were not too steep, just long pulls that seemed to go for ever. Then, incredulously, we found the first sign that gave a speed restriction on cyclists, 60kph. Even Sir Chris Hoy, king of cycling athletes, would have struggled to exceed this limit on these hills.

Our first night was at Castro Urdiales, a medium size town on the coast and we found accommodation in its old part. This was very pretty with quaint narrow streets and houses with balconies leaving into one another.

We went to a fish restaurant where each dish was served one after the other so nothing was cold.

Breakfast the next day was tortilla. This was scrumptiously delicious and ideal food for cycling. Mine looked as if it had just been taken out of the oven by someone's mum. Potatoes, egg in the form of an omelette, bacon, peppers are fried slowly then put into the oven to finish. The result was mouthwateringly succulant.

Much of this day was spent in Bilbao, where we went to the Guggenheim Museum. This is a masterpiece of modern architecture filled with art forms by aclaimed artists like Damien Hirst.

It was a long ride to Donastia. Bilbao has no cycling policy and there was only one route out on a very busy main road. It was a case of heads down, peddle fast and anticipating other drivers. So this morning, we have completed our third night and will be heading for France.

THE FERRY TO SPAIN

2011-06-07T17:49:00.002+01:00

I had the most amazing night's sleep in my cabin on Pont Avon, Brittany Ferry's enormous ferry that was taking Jaana and me from Plymouth to Santander. I woke up to find a cat in my cabin. I did not own a cat but somehow it was mine. The cat desparately wanted to get out so I quickly got up, opened the door and let it out. Then I woke up properly and found that there was no cat. It was just a dream.

I had become something of a ferry expert last year with my bike ride around the North Sea coast. I had caught 23 ferries in all and my favourite was Stena Line who not only gave me a free meal in their luxury restaurant but also let me off their ferry first at Harwich. My current ship looked good with its cinema, pool, restaurants and amiable French crew.

We met three other cyclists, two who were doing the same journey as us to Roscoff and a third who looked scarily fit. He was off to do a month in the Pyrannes.

I had packed only tee shirts and my suncream bought in Germany last year that was so strong I could not get a suntan. I imaged Spain to be 40C heat so my surprise was total when we arrived at Santander in a Scottish mist. Luckily I had also bought a jumper and waterproofs. Because Brittany Ferries did not let cyclists off first and the loo in the cabin did not work too well, I confided in Jaana that Stena Line is still my favourite. Scarily fit cyclist overheard me and said that Stena Line is favourite ferry as well.

After a brief pedal up and down, Santander's waterfront, Jaana and I jumped on another ferry to take us over the estuary to the start of our next cycling adventure

FRANCE'S ATLANTIC COAST - A NEW DESTINATION

2011-06-03T20:46:00.002+01:00

On Sunday, I leave for my next adventure on my trusty Trek bike. I shall load my panniers, head for Plymouth's ferry port and set sail for Santander in Spain

My friend, Jaana will be with me and we will be cycling close to the coast up to Roscoff in Brittany, a distance of 750 miles. We start our ride in Basque country where we head east to the French border and onwards to Biarritz. To our south, we will see the Pyrenees Mountains while to the north lies a rugged coastline and several towns of which I know little. I want to know what this proud part of Spain is like.
Once over the border, we hope to sample the French rural way of life, see the coast, experience the wildlife, eat the food and drink the wine.
My previous visit to France was laid back and enjoyable. I have high hopes. We plan to take 2.5 weeks and will be reporting what I see

PENNINES AND LAKELANDS

2011-05-21T10:51:00.006+01:00

Last Saturday, East Coast Trains whisked my friend, Jaana and myself to Newcastle where we hoped to discover what it is like to cycle across the Pennines and the hills of Cumbria. We expected a challenging ride and variable weather. The cycle maps showed many off road trails, some suitable only for mountain bikes

It was not long before we found out that this is one of the World's premier cycle routes. High up in the Pennines, sheep and cyclists vied with one another on the trail. Grouse watched from the side as if interested spectators. Birds of all varieties swooped and glided around us. We had a headwind of 20mph which meant that cyclists going the other way hit phenominal speeds going downhill while we chugged uphill at a very modest pace. The scenery was open moorland, wild and remote.

We took a detour north to visit Hadrian's Wall, still remarkably intact in places. A museum near Haltwhistle gave us a story how it took just 6 years to build. It provided lots of information about the Romans and I left pondering how people could be so warlike on the one hand, yet incredibly civilised on the other. Some grit jammed itself into my front gear such that I had to partially dismantle it to release the mechanism. The ride south from the wall to Penrith was exhilerating. The wind blew from the Cumbrian hills and the rain came down, yet somehow it felt right to be out in these elements.

The Lake District beckoned once we had left Penrith. Jaana lives in London and cannot find a suitable outdoors shop there so when we arrived in Keswick, it must have felt like heaven for her to see so many outdoor shops. She wanted a particular type of trousers and it did not take her long to find a pair.

Our next stop and final one together was Cockermouth. The cycle route out of Keswick meandered initially along the foothills of some high peaks, then abruptly turned left and went straight up one. Moreover, it was a rough muddy trail. This was impossible to cycle so we puffed our way up. Behind us we looked down on Bassethwaite Water. When we reached the top, a breathetaking vista opened in front of us with wild flower meadows, forests and fells showing themselves in a glistening shimmering sunlight. It was awesome.

At Cockermouth, Jaana left to cycle on to Workington for a train home while I turned round and went back to Keswick. My destination tonight was Staverley, near Kendal. Unfortunately there are no byeways going south to Windermere so I had to wrestle with traffic on the main road. I did mean however that I cycled fast but I still time to appreciate the countryside

I cycled 180 miles on this trip. I continue to be amazed at what this country has to offer.

My next ride starts on 4 June when Jaana and I cycle what is becoming known as "The Atlantic Coast Ride". It starts at Santander in Spain and finishes at Roscoff in Brittany

SMILES FOR MILES

2011-05-01T16:52:00.002+01:00

If miles can be measured with smiles, 50 cyclists of all ages and abilities generated 600 smiles when they followed a 12 mile route around Plymouth today. It was organised by volunteers from Sustrans and was attended by children, oldies, enthusiasts and casual cyclists

I wore my Wildlife Trust teeshirt to remind myself and others that an important part of the health of the nation can be measured by how well our wildlife is thriving. Plymouth is a trendy city. We cycled along the Hoe, through the historic Barbican and past the National Marine Aquarium before heading inland to see avenues of houses built in the 19th century to the north of the city centre. Central Park and Devonport were revelations. A huge sports complex is under construction and Devonport is being tastefully redeveloped where Architects have designed new buildings that sit comfortably alongside the best of local historic buildings. We finished at Royal William Yard, one of Plymouth's jewels.
Plymouth is a city transforming its life and soul and is playing its role in a vibrant West Country. This was a day for plenty of smiles.

CYCLING IN PLYMOUTH

2011-04-24T11:04:00.003+01:00

I have taken a fresh look at Plymouth from a cyclist's perspective. It is my nearest city. The journey by bike into the city is a delight especially if you are a touring cyclist. Here are my suggestions for the best access:
a) From Cornwall, take the coast route to Cawsand and catch a water taxi into the historic Barbican
b) From East Devon, go through Yealmpton to the coast at Staddiscombe, take the water taxi from Mountbatten into the Barbican
c) From North Devon, take Sustrans Cycle Route 27 down the Plym Valley, passing the ancient oak tree at Meavy on route where Libby is taking a break

All these routes offer the most scenic journeys and make cycling into the heart of Plymouth a pleasure.

Plymouth's Fresh Air Miles Cycle Ride is 10 miles long on Sunday, 1 May. Meet at Cafe Roma beside the Civic Centre at 10.30. It is organised by Sustrans, the national cycle charity

SPRING'S WILDLIFE CYCLES

2011-04-12T09:01:00.003+01:00

Without doubt, Spring is an exciting time of year. Wildlife at our home is exploding. We have a wildlife pond and babies of all types are appearing. There are tadpoles everywhere. A mother duck appeared with 13 baby ducklings last week. They scatter across the pond in joyjul play that knows no boundaries. Ten canada geese have appeared and are squabbling with one another as to whose territory it is. Meanwhile Mother Goose sits quietly on her one egg at our neighbour's pond next door while father goose tries to fight off the others saying our pond belongs to him

While this is happening, a moorhen looks out from her nest in the reeds waiting for her eggs to hatch. Two weeks ago at about the time when the first bluebells appeared, we watched a male wren courting a female. He was fluffing up his feathers and dancing to show his preferred partner the best place to nest in the overgrown bank.
The relationship between the moorhen and goose is fascinating. It is real David and Goliath story where an angry moorhen easily chases off any canada goose that invades its territory. Mostly they live in harmony.

I think that we are living in a time that is crucially important to us where we must work with the grain of nature. There are so many pressures in modern life and it is easy to think that nature is always there. Actually, nature needs to be savoured and nurtured. It is good for our soul and our children will thank us if we look after it.
I love to be out in the wild and a bicycle is my way to keep me fit and my mind uncluttered. Here is a picture of the Erme estuary in Devon at low tide waiting for me to peddle across it. It is as picturesque as anywhere in the whole World. I am hoping that cycling charity, Sustrans, will put it on their cycling map for their new route from Plymouth to Salcombe

For those who are dubious about cycling for wildlife, here are two cyclists whose exploits I intensely admire.

John Grimshaw was one the founders of Sustrans back in the 1970s. With single minded dedication, he has opened up cycling in Britain from no cycle routes to where we now have over 12,000 miles of superb journeys dedicated to cycling touring. These routes range from the remote hills of Sutherland to the mountains of Snowdonia, the moors of Cornwall and the glades of East Anglia. In my rides on these trails, I have seen peregrin falcons, ospreys, huge numbers of wading birds, a white deer, many other deer and much, much more.

Alastair Humphreys is a man who cycled the World, a mammoth journey and he wrote about his experiences. His two books tell not just his tale but that of the World we live. There are so many rich experiences that he has brought to life but he has also created an awareness in me of the dangers if we do not care for and cherish our wild places and wildlife.

I will be cycling two new adventures in May and June. My first journey will be the very first C2C from Sunderland to Whitehaven, a distance of 140 miles across the Pennines and through the Lake District. My second is from Santander in Spain to Roscoff in Brittany, 750 miles alongside the Atlantic coast.

Next year, I have an embryo of an idea for a journey. I want to cycle to the Arctic Circle. I have not fully decided this yet. The embryo starts at Malmo in Sweden or possibly Copenhagen. The journey that really appeals is to cycle north through Sweden to the Norwegian frontier. I want to experience how midsummer is celebrated in the far north of Sweden as part of this journey

JUMPING FOR JOY

2011-03-18T16:07:00.006Z

Last weekend, Libby and I loaded our panniers for our recce ride of the Devon C2C. Our adrenalin kicked the moment we started on Plymouth's historic Barbican. When Libby found out that we were to cycle past Putsborough, her favourite surfing beach in North Devon, there was no containing her. We were fired up for a great ride!

We left Plymouth seeing Drakes Island, The Eddystone Light and Mountbatten, one time home of RAF Airsea Rescue where Lawrence of Arabia once served. Our journey took us up the valley of the River Plym, partly tarmac and later gravel onto the moors where a steep hill into Clearbrook awaited us. This was heavily wooded and home to a breeding pair of peregrin falcons. The western edge of Dartmoor arrived quickly

Our journey now took us into some challenging hills, some of which we knicknamed "Evils". Our first Evil was at Walkhampton and we both ate humble pie by walking. On route, we encountered a field, more stony tracks and a fantastic pub at Horndon where we stopped and tucked into lunch. We had seen only tiny hamlets since leaving Plymouth and we had covered 24 miles. Amazingly, the temperature climbed to 17C.

It felt remote when we left roads altogether to cycle across Mary Tavy Moor but when we rejoined a road on the other side, it was to find an old castle that used to mint coins.

At Okehampton, we were surrounded by a pack of hounds but these animals were impeccably behaved. The last stretch into Okehampton was an easy ride on former railway track and it was here that we encountered one of many old railways on our journey, another castle and our first shops.

This was a recce ride so it was taking much longer than normal. We left Okehampton to cycle 12 miles to Sheepwash in the dusk. It was totally dark for the last 5 miles and as we dropped down into the valley of the River Torridge, we encountered two Evils. Owls hooted in the trees nearby. The thought of the Half Moon Inn kept us going

We were greeted by Adam who has kept the bar going at the Half Moon for possibly all his life. There was no need to give our names. He knew who we were and we were given two great bedrooms with baths. There is nothing to beat a wallow in a bath after a long day's cycling. Adam kept a table beside the log fire for us and the meal here was a satisfying way to end the day.

We knew that the second day would be easier but also we knew that there would be an Evil, possibly two Evils at the end. There were some gentle hills leaving the Half Moon where Dartmoor could be seen to the south and the Torridge valley wound its way north. After 4 miles we joined the Tarka Trail. We were now in a beautiful river valley, home to wild salmon, otters, buzzards and rich with wild flower meadows and woodland. Bill Oddy, the naturist was once filming live on BBC Springwatch at the pool in the picture below when an otter came out in front of him. His excitement was intense and infectious

There was a huge estuary at the confluence where the Rivers Torridge and Taw met the sea. Libby and I saw vast numbers of birds everywhere. Oystercatchers, redshanks, shell ducks and curlews all came close. This used to be home to a great naturalist, Henry Williamson, who wrote two terrific books, Tarka the Otter and Salar the Salmon. He used to call the heron, Old Nog, a name which I think suits a heron perfectly. We passed Bideford and Barnstaple and slowed down to overtake a girl walking a dog.

I was level with the girl who said "I want to race you". She ran ahead with the dog at a gallop. I caught up and said to her she was running at 12mph whereupon the dog stopped and the girl didn't,... except she did. Just for a moment the girl was 60cms in the air with legs out in front and completely horizontal. She landed ok and the dog had a headache.

At Braunton, Libby was a bit twitchy. On the one hand, she was excited that Putsborough beckoned and, on the other, she was convinced that some Evils were not far away.
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Libby was right! At the end of the journey, all we found were hills with two Evils. However, the scenery was majestic. Woolacombe Beach of which Putsborough is at one end was dreamy. Lundy Isle and later South Wales shimmered on the horizon. Woolacombe looked a fun place. especially if you are a surfer. We struggled up the final Evil out of Woolacombe that seemed to go on forever. When we reached the top, we realised that the temperature had plummited to 5C but that a long downhill trail would take us into Ilfracombe, the end of our journey. It was too dark at the harbour to take photographs. Libby was happy to see her partner, Scott who came over to meet her and I found a local hotel for the night. I also found another pub for a final pint and a meal.
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CYCLING IN SOUTH DEVON? TAKE A TIDE TIMETABLE

2011-03-05T20:03:00.006Z

There is such a cool ride in Devon that I have just found out about. It starts in Plymouth and ends at Salcombe. There are no main roads, just an unspoilt coastline, stunning countryside, plenty of pubs and cream teas. You must take flip flops and a tide timetable

Start at Plymouth's historic Barbican by catching a water taxi to Mountbatten and cycle along the coast before being stopped in your tracks by the River Yealm. There are superb views along the coast. Behind you Dartmoor looks over as if to say come here next. Wind back inland to the villages of Brixton and Yealmpton where pasties and pints of your choice await

Peddle back to rejoin the coast going past the thatched cottages of Holbeton to the estuary of the River Erme at Mothecombe. It is here that a tide timetable and flip flops are needed as this most beautiful of all estuaries can only be crossed at low tide. When I cycled across the enormous stretch of sand earlier today to reach the river crossing, I realised that the only thing I could see that was less than 200 years old was my bicycle. On my left, a horse rider galloped up the estuary disappearing into the distance. Straight ahead was an ancient ramp surrounded by woodland and this was my destination. The fast flowing river was between me and the ramp. To my right, the sun was beaming down over the ocean. It was cold and the water was freezing but this was special. This was no ordinary river crossing.
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It is not possible to cycle anywhere in Devon without finding a Green Lane. Today was no different. This one was in good shape with hedges cut and I was on firm ground. There are times when Green Lanes offer cyclists special challenges. In the winter the drainage sometimes stop working and they fill up with water. One lane near me is often up to 60cm deep and my challenge is to cycle through it without putting my feet down. More often, it will be horse riders who share the Green Lanes with you.

A tidal road took me into Aveton Gifford and it is here that wading birds such as the egret allow you to get close. Today, I came within 5 metres of an egret that carried on fishing while I cycled by. Egrets have made a surprise return to Devon having disappeared about 100 years ago as a result of excessive shooting. My photo above is Mother Hubbards Cottage in Yealmpton of nursery rhyme fame.

The River Avon is crossed and the cycle route now takes a winding route back to the coast where cream teas await. If Salcombe can be reached in one day without stopping at all the distractions on route, this will be as a result of much will power.

DEVON'S C2C: 102 MILES: JOIN US FOR A GREAT CYCLE CHALLENGE

2011-02-14T20:18:00.002Z

Meet Libby, a marine ecologist, dedicated like me to sport and raising the importance of wildlife to our daily lives.

Come and join us on Devon's C2C, 102 miles of the finest trails across Dartmoor and North Devon starting on Plymouth Hoe and cycling to Ilfracombe. We have arranged a 2 day ride on 21/22 May staying at a great pub overnight or go for the big one, 102 miles in a day on 2 July. If interested, go to http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/cycle-devon-coast-to-coast-2011/

COMING SOON: MORE ADVENTURES ON A BIKE

2011-01-14T20:25:00.004Z

I have plans for some great cycle rides in 2011. In June, there is a new ride for me. I will be cycling the Atlantic Coast of France starting at Santander in Spain to Roscoff in Brittany. It will be a distance of over 600 miles. My rides are chosen not just to be adventures but to watch out for wildlife.

In 2005, I had one of the best cycle rides of my life when I was in a group of 16 who cycled across the Khangai Mountains of Mongolia. We cycled among the nomads camping in the wild for our overnight stops. There were no roads and no towns.

The nomads lived in gers and followed the yaks high up into the mountains. A ger is a tent, the same as a Russian yurt. When we passed a cluster of gers, the people came out and it was a fantastic experience as the nomads waved to us. Occasionally, they would ride with us on horseback. On one occasion, I was out on my own cycling as fast as I could on a downhill stony trail. A horseman came up from an encampment 400 metres away to join me. He galloped at full speed alongside me as I put everything I had into that downhill trail. I kept up with him until the hill ended. He joined us at our lunch stop.

In Mongolia, despite the desert, there are a fantastic number of birds. A great experience was to watch kites swoop down to the ground in our camp sites, seemingly unafraid of us.

Coming soon in 2011, there will be more cycle rides for wildlife. Please keep watching my blog

SNOWED IN

2010-12-18T11:51:00.006Z

We are snowed in today on our small farm. There are plenty of berries on a holly tree that overhangs the river. It looks promising for a white Christmas.

The sun has come out and the winter landscape has an almost dazzling effect with the snow lying on the trees and meadows. Our alpacas seem unphased by the weather. There are deer here and I disturbed one this morning while searching for photographs in the woods.

We had a brief respite from the weather a few days ago and I cycled alongside the River Exe from Exeter to Exmouth with a friend. This estuary is renowned for its birds. We had a close up sighting of an avocet feeding on the mud flats beside the cycle trail. Shortly afterwards, a kingfisher closely followed by a buzzard flew in front of us as we were cycling along. These were all good sightings.

Happy Christmas

GREAT RIDES IN DEVON AND A RARE SIGHTING

2010-11-21T16:12:00.004Z

Autumn is a great time of year to be out on the bike in Devon. It is also a great time to see wildlife. Keeping on the tracks and minor roads in Devon often gives wildlife sightings and the autumn colours are to be savoured. Three weeks ago, I was on a circular tour of the county with two friends when we encountered a white deer on the road in front of us. This is very rare indeed. It stared at us in disbelief that we had spoilt its tranquility, then ran off. My buddy, Bill, also saw it. It was on a minor road between Hatherleigh and Sheepwash. The film clip is another from our recent bike ride near Ivybridge which I filmed in my last blog.

The evenings are longer in Devon than in other parts of the country and the cold winter days have not yet set in, so we are lucky down here. I have a new cycling buddy who wanted to see my part of Dartmoor and we went out two weeks ago. Her legs wobbled a bit from the hills at the end of our journey, but she said that it was an A1 ride. A kingfisher frequents the pond just outside our house at the moment.

I am now thinking ahead for big rides next year. Three of us are to cycle the North Country C2C, probably in May. Sometime in the future, I would like to cycle in Ireland and visit Scotland again. Another that appeals is Sweden where more cycle friendly rides are opening up. I also want to continue to raise the relevance and importance of wildlife to our society. My local Wildlife Trust in Devon makes an enormous contribution on a national scale. Please keep following.

AUTUMN CYCLING

2010-10-23T09:21:00.003+01:00

Autumn has arrived and this is a good time of year to be out on the bike. I have just returned from a fortnight's holiday in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales with Sylvia. I kept my promise not to use the bike too much and did just a couple of rides in both areas. This picture shows a trail in Swaledale near to Gunnerside. My other ride was in the lanes out of Staverley between Kendal and Windermere.

I have found out more what Northern England has to offer. It has superb road, trail and mountain bike country. I also like the trail walking, local food, scenery to die for and wildlife. I must come back.

Here is a wildlife story while walking beside the River Swale. We see a dipper on a rock in the middle of the river. The dipper moves to another rock just upstream. We move with it. The dipper spots us and we keep very still. The dipper wants a meal and in front of us dives under water, swims upstream and pops up again to sit on another rock. He allows to follow him for a few minutes. Watching wildlife means taking the opportunity and enjoying the moment.

Cycling in Devon after heavy rain offers new challenges. I went out with my daughter, Jo and her partner, Chris to do some green lane riding near my home. Here is a video clip and hope you enjoy the fun.

CERTIFICATE RECEIVED AND £3,254 RAISED FOR WILDLIFE

2010-09-12T10:44:00.004+01:00

My first "Cycle For Wildlife" is now complete. A magnificent total of £3,254, including gift aid, was donated for Devon Wildlife Trust from my ride and I want to say A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed.

My "Cycles for Wildlife" will continue and my first event will be to give an illustrated talk about the North Sea Cycle Route at University College of Marjons, Derriford, Plymouth during this winter (date to be announced).

This beautiful route through Britain, Scandinavia, Germany and Holland can be cycled in stages and is accessible. You do not need a car as a train, boat or plane are ideal to take you to hop on/hop off points.

Some of it is family friendly with level easy riding. Other sections are much more demanding being suited for enthusiasts with high abilities. Wherever you go, you will find scenic countryside, lots of wildlife, attractive towns, good food and lots of wonderful coastline to be savoured and explored. My talk will tell you about it.

It is planned that fund raising adventures will be organised for Devon Wildlife Trust in 2011. Please keep watching.

DARTMOOR: THE DROVER'S TRAIL

2010-08-14T18:29:00.007+01:00

My daughter, Sandie, and I went on to Dartmoor today to cycle a little known track. It is the Drover's Trail and it connects Hexworthy with Princetown via Swincombe. It is only 4 miles long but it connects to the wider range of trails that come out of Princetown. This section is technically reasonably demanding and can only be done on a mountain bike

This trail is in the middle of Dartmoor and although there are lots of holiday visitors locally, we see only a few hardened walkers. We stop and chat to one couple who are letterboxing. This is a hobby peculiar to Dartmoor. It is a form of orienteering where people search for letterboxes that contain stamps and are hidden under rocks. The club that organise it give clues. As Dartmoor is 400 square miles containing thousands of rocks, it is challenging. It is also popular.

Dartmoor today is open moorland but it has not always been the case. It used to be farmed extensively during the summer by stone age people and there are numerous remains of their lives that can still be seen. There are many stone circles, stone rows and tin workings still visible on the moor. Our ride is on an old drover's trail which is still visible.

At Swincombe, there is a ford and remains of some buildings. One looks as if it could have been a toll house. There are remains of two houses nearby that look more like crofts in Scotland than West Country dwellings. The trail here is a real challenge due to the large stones and waterlogged ground

A challenging day ride is to start near my home in Ivybridge, cycle along tarmac lanes to Buckfastleigh, Holne and Hexworthy where the Drover's Trail starts. Before reaching Princetown, turn off onto the Jobber's Trail and wind your way on off road tracks to Cadover Bridge. The last stretch to Ivybridge is mostly downhill. The distance is 45 miles but it is quite tough with the hills and the off road bit in the middle.

There are always interesting aspects of nature to see on Dartmoor and I quite liked this fungus growing out of an old tree stump near to Shipley Bridge
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DEVON'S COAST TO COAST

2010-07-24T20:15:00.007+01:00

It is now nearly 3 weeks since I came home from the North Sea Cycle Route and today I went out for one of my favourite rides. I started from home at Ivybridge , cycled over Dartmoor to Okehampton, through mid Devon to Bideford, along the Taw/Torridge estuary to Barnstaple. It is 75 miles. I came home on the train in the same day. It is a long day.

This is a view of Dartmoor, typical where I cycle.

There are many hazzards like this ford, fun with a mountain bike

Dartmoor has many stone crosses erected by monks who used them as direction signs in the Middle Ages.

Devon is notorious for its hills. Cyclists doing the End to Ender reckon Devon is the hardest on the whole journey for hills.

Okehampton Railway Station was closed many years ago but has been restored and reopened. Old trains use it. There is a nearby railway yard full of old railway carriages waiting for something to happen. If you would like to buy an old railway carriage, it would worth checking this out.

I cycle alongside the River Torridge. This was home to Tarka the Otter and where Henry Williamson used to live. If you have read the book, you will recognise this stretch of river.

Barnstaple Station has hourly trains to Exeter and has itself just been restored to the old Southern Railway colours. It is a nice touch. It is right beside the cycle route and the station building has a cafe and cycle hire shop as well as the ticket office.

Sustrans has signposted this route (NCR 27) and it is one of two 100 mile routes in Devon. This one is a mixture of challenging and easy, a bit like the North Sea Cycle Route in miniature. The other is NCR 2 from Plymouth to Lyme Regis and beyond. I cycled from Weymouth to home last year and this route is definately a challenge.

FACTOIDS AND WHAT'S NEXT?

2010-07-11T19:32:00.002+01:00

I want to go back to the Shetlands. It must be one of the most windswept yet romantic places on this planet. I want to stay with Mr and Mrs Sutherland in Gruting again. They are warm hearted Shetland folk who love their islands and have a warm but practical understanding of wildlife. Next time, I would like to go with my wife. The bike will be left at home

Hey, Mary. I love your comments and thank you for them. The two people who said I should do the route again intended that I just carry on, none stop so to speak. Has that been done before? Now Ireland, I was thinking just the same thing. It has to be something different though. Did you know that someone gave themselves a challenge to hitchhike around Ireland in one month carrying a fridge? A local radio station found out and the Irish were on the lookout for him to give him a lift.

Here are some facts from my journey;

a) Distance: 3,762 miles (6,019km)

b) Time: 72 days, including 4.5 rest days

c) Nos of ferries: 22

d) Most distance in one day: 87 miles (139km), twice

e) Most hill climbing in one day: 3,600ft (1,100m), approx (Hauge - Kvinesdal, Norway)

f) Type of cycle tracks: varied. 1. Much riding on quiet country roads, 2. Many dedicated cycle paths, suitable for families, except Britain, 3. Some gravel tracks in forests and along the coast in all countries, 4. Some challenging mountain bike trails in Norway.

g) Bike breakdowns: None

h) Punctures: None

i) Tyre replacements: 1

j) Type of bike: Trek Model X1

I have undertaken this as a charity challenge. If you would like to find out if I have met this challenge, there is a separate website at http://www.mycharitypage.com/GrahamWilson. Please have a look. If you like it and have not already donated, may I ask you to make a donation.

BADGER RIDES AGAIN

2010-07-07T12:59:00.005+01:00

I am now back in England having cycled with Dagmar for the last eight days. My adventure has continued but the story is not over. I have twice been asked to cycle the Route a second time as nobody has done that before.
I booked my ticket with Stena Line Ferries to Harwich and Stena laid on a special treat for Dagma and myself. We were given a complimentary three course dinner in their luxury restaurant. Thank you very much Stena Line. This was a very nice gesture from this company. It is not often large companies make welcome gestures like this. The meal was delicious too

We ended our dyke riding and I cycled as close to the water's edge as possible. I have ridden 100's of miles along dykes and I have come to like these man made features which nature has responded to so magnificently. The last part of the journey was through sand dunes and for a moment I thought that I was back in Denmark. I love taking photos while on my bike in the setting sun.

Sylvia met us at Harwich and we went back to the start to celebrate with some champagne. Badger joined in. Badger has never been on a ferry or been abroad before. He has learned lots of things. He has seen ostriches and windmills. He is a minor celebrity in Norway. He can cope with the cold, rain, wind and the sun.

And..........................Badger travels again! I might not be going a second time around but Badger is. He has joined Dagma and is doing the adventure all over again. We both had to ask him. He will be going to live beside Lake Constance when his journey is over. Unless, of course, but then a third time may be too much.

As for my adventure, my story is not over so please keep watching.

GOING DUTCH

2010-07-03T20:26:00.005+01:00

Holland is my last country on this challenge and is fun too. Everyone is so friendly. There have been lots of dykes to cycle along as well viewing the countryside and villages. Sheep graze the dykes and love to sit on the road. We have to navigate around extensive sheep poo at times. We are still cycling along the Wadden Sea and birds are still here in large numbers. Today we cycled the Zirder Zee, 20 miles of road in the sea! Here is Dagmar pedalling away

I have seen windmills throughout Denmark, Germany and Holland. Badger has heard of them and thought they were dangerous. He is much happier now to have seen them

There is a rumour here that The North Sea has put in a takeover bid for the English Channel. Apparantly this may have something to do with making the Cycle Route longer. This must be resisted.

My bike lost a bolt yesterday. Do you like my improvised repair? It has lasted 72 miles so far.

I have seen so many people cycling on my trip. At times, bikes outnumber cars. Kids cycle to school in Norway and Sweden. People go to the beach in Germany on them. In Holland they go shopping with them. In Denmark, they just go for tours. They are strange looking bikes and I have never seen them in Britain.

Mostly they have 3 gears. This seems to be the uses: 1 - Wind behind you, 2 - no wind, 3 - headwind. Supermarkets have rows of bike racks by their entrances. I cannot find any bike racks at Tesco in Ivybridge but Tesco in Inverness has three. The bike below is very old but the new bikes look the same. Some have very comfy saddles and others have upright bars to rest on while you are cycling

Tomorrow starts a big push to reach Hook of Holland. The weather forecast is good. My crank bearing still works. Despite the fact the journey was supposed to be 3,629 miles, I have now done 3,654 miles so far and am still going.

FAREWELL GERMANY, HELLO HOLLAND

2010-07-01T20:57:00.005+01:00

The temperature has gradually been rising over the last few days so that it is now very hot. I am still carrying my wet and cold weather clothing from the first part of my journey. It is cooler to be cycling than resting. Dagmar and I are both cycling to Hook of Holland together and to overcome the heat, we have taken to cafe stops. Here is Dagmar in between cafe stops.

I have not appreciated cafe stops previously in the way I do now. We have joined in conversations with others, people watched and simply chilled out. I was fascinated by this statue outside one cafe and had long discussions with some Dutch at another.

This is Greetseil, one of my last places in Germany which was picture post card perfect. It sits in harmony with a dyke.

This lighthouse has not yet reached maturity and almost joins my set of toytown pictures.

Dagmar says she is worried about not meeting people and asked if I ever had low points. I have had no low points and based on my experience she will meet lots of interesting people. In Scotland, she will meet End To Enders (Lands End to John O Groats). In Norway and Sweden she will meet the crazy ones cycling strange journeys. They will be the ones with monster rigs and going not just on my route but to North Cape, Poland, Iceland and longer. She must stop and exchange experiences and plans. There will be Kiwis, Aussies, Europians of all countries, Norwegians who are curious as well as being manic cyclists and others. Her partner, Stefan is joining her in Sweden. Like me, she has her laptop and what modern cyclist doesn't?

My crank still makes its unnerving noise but it has been doing so since Norway. I have made no plans to change it............

IMAGES OF GERMANY

2010-06-29T18:57:00.005+01:00

The day I entered Germany, I cycled 87 miles to my destination. The sun was shining and yet again The North Sea Cycle Route has proved to me what a superb route it is to show the best of each country. I have left the remoteness of Denmark and am passing through beautiful towns, villages and countryside. The first two people I met were 2 German cyclists who asked me for directions. Me? I have not been to Germany before. However my Bikeline map was so good that I could tell them the way. Sometimes my navigational skills were tested as the road network is so extensive. However, cycling along the dykes was exhilerating as I brought my heavyweight rig up to 30kph with only the birds as my companions. I entered Hamburg to the sight of a sunken ship.

Brunsbuttel is a town I can understand. It is an industrial town but the route took me away from the industrial bits and I arrived at a town centre with a party about to start. It looked a fun place to be so I stopped at this cafe and had the most enormous ice cream .

There are many windmills here. I like this one as it has been converted into a cafe. It is on the South side of the Elbe.

Many of the buildings I like. This is one in a whole street of similar buildings. I believe they were barns on farms, some having been converted to other uses. I saw many original buildings of this design.

More people speak English here than I expected. It is not always the case. Last night, I arrived in a village and went into the local Gasthaus to ask if there was a room locally. No one could speak English but I found a room in a local house and the owners made me most welcome. Breakfast was at the family table with my hosts this morning. None of us could understand each other but somehow I knew that I was welcome and was given some lunch to take away with me.

Today, I have a new cycling companion. She is Dagmar and she started the North Sea Cycle Route in Hamburg and extracted me from being lost in Wilhelmshaven. Her blog is http://www.nordseerunde.wordpress.com

THE WADDEN SEA

2010-06-24T19:36:00.005+01:00

I have now been in Germany for two days and have completed 3,067 miles in total. To reach Harwich, the end of my journey, I still have 660 miles to cycle. My target date was set by Devon Wildlife Trust as 70 days, so this is 3 July 2010. Much of the last three days has been spent cycling alongside the Wadden Sea. As one of my aims is to highlight the importance of wildlife, I must tell you a little about the Sea, especially as man has created so much here. It is one of the World's most important wet areas, yet it has been shaped in many ways by man. Here are some pictures that tell a story.

More than 100,000 breeding pairs of coastal birds can be counted every year. There are 10 -12 million migratory birds who stop here on their flights to their breeding and overwintering grounds. Worms, snails and mussels exist in astronomic numbers, believed to be up to 100,000 per square metre. Yet it is shaped by man. The dykes are on the landward side. There are water farmers who have built fields in the sea. The walls are sometimes made from stone but more frequently from wood. The pictures show the shapes and cultivation of the fields, a boat being loaded with wood for fence maintenance and a water borne digger. When cycling, all I hear and see are birds in large numbers. Sometimes the birds have fun with me. I had a whole swarm of swallows diving in front of my bike, often within 5 metres. It was their game. Oystercatchers would test their bravery by seeing how close I would come before they fly off. They sit on my path and again, it is very close.

A VIEW FROM THE SADDLE

2010-06-22T18:09:00.006+01:00

I have now almost finished my journey in Denmark. I could have crossed the border into Germany this evening but decided I wanted one more night in this lovely country, so I am in Hoger. I was not sure what to expect here. All I knew was that it is flat. I have cycled along sand dunes, on forest trails, over open moorland and alongside extensive wetlands that are of international importance both for breeding birds and migratory birds. I have met some delightful people on the way. Here is a picture on my journey that can only be cycled at low tide and when the sea is not rough

The next picture brings on a slightly serious point. It shows some wind turbines beside one of the wetlands. There were a huge number of birds here. On one occasion a wading bird (species not known to me) flew alongside me so close that I could almost put my hand out and touch it. The serious point concerns wind turbines. There are many here in Denmark. It is easy to see them on this flat landscape. The question is whether they detract from the landscape and nature. This is a big issue in the UK at the moment. Part of the reason that I am doing this website is to highlight the importance of wildlife to our daily lives

What do you think? An issue that I think is an outrage at the moment is the oil spillage in the USA. I think directors of all oil companies should be sent on compulsory training about the damage they can inflict.

I was cycling along a woodland trail two days ago. It was raining and I had not seen anyone for an hour. In the distance, I saw that the trail was blocked. As I drew closer, it was 2 fully laden cyclists standing close to one another with an umbrella. This is not a made up story. It gets better. The rain stopped and so did I to have some lunch. A butterfly landed on my nose! Then another landed on the DWT motif on my tee shirt. I resumed my journey only to see the road blocked again. This time, it was 10 people sunbathing in the middle of the road. I want to show this next picture because there are lots of thatched cottages and farmhouses all down this coast line.

And finally, I have given the names of 2 special places to stay on my journey so far. Here is a third. It is Vesterhavens Naturkunst at Thorsminde. It was so nice. The apartment is for 2 people and is in the artist's studio who makes sculptures from driftwood. The artist is Inger who can be contacted on +45 22 50 29 39 . There have been lots of other excellent stops and it is just those who provide an extra special welcome that I mention

Tomorrow I cross into Germany. I am on the final leg of my journey.

AM I BACK IN TOYTOWN?

2010-06-18T20:58:00.005+01:00

This is Grenen, Denmark's most Northerley point. Look straight ahead and it is Norway, look left and it is Scotland, look right and it is Sweden. I have cycled in all these places on this trip

Here is the latest must have toy. These two guys were zapping around Skagen. Apparantly it is legal to do 24kph. Why do they not fall off? It would do wonders for Plymouth city traffic if all the commutors had one of these.

This must be the tiniest bunkhouse in the World. Just imagine having got hammered at the BarBQ and you wanted to sleep it off'. Each time you wake up in the middle of the night, your headache only gets worse.

And now for the lighthouse buried in sand. This was built and nobody thought about shifting sands. The surrounding buildings are completely buried and this is half buried. I can understand the problem. When I arrived, there was a gale from the West and sand was blowing everywhere. It was too dangerous to get close

And finally, here is a Hans Christian Anderson story. Hans loved to visit Skagen but in his day it was a hazardous long journey. Skagen is famous for its artists and they have been there since 1870. They loved to paint fishermen's cottages, nature and themselves. Hans stayed at Skagen's only hotel. On one visit, he was very irritable after his journey and demanded fresh fish for dinner. There were none and Hans was very angry. The hotelier sent a maid to the harbour to buy a fresh fish but she was delayed because she chatted to a friend. Hans now lost his temper completely. The hotelier's wife came to placate him but she was heavily pregnant. However his anger was so much that she gave birth immediately. The fish appeared, Hans apologised and the baby was Anna Anchor who would become one of Denmark's most famous painters.

FAREWELL SWEDEN, HELLO DENMARK

2010-06-16T16:45:00.005+01:00

Denmark is a huge contrast to where I have cycled recently. There is no more rugged scenery and Spring has now finally arrived on my trip. It is warm, the winds are light, the towns and villages have a serene and calming effect. I have fallen in love with Denmark. Andy and I said goodbye for the third and fourth times

The signs and cycle maps South of Gothenber were excellent. The Swedish South West coast is evidently a haven for water enthusiasts. Here is a group of 30 kite surfers about 20km North of Varberg. It seems also to be good for wind surfing, sailing and power boating

Sometime I must count the number of ferries I have caught. There are already two in Denmark. I have now reached Skagen, Denmark's most Northerly town.

I still have 1,175 miles to cycle. Up to now, my body seems to have coped well. I am told that the rest of the journey is far easier to cycle than everything up to now. I have decided to have a rest day in Skagen. My last rest day was in Kirkwall and I have cycled a long way since then. My bike needed a new rear tyre but otherwise has been fault free. There are two items that may need repair. The front brakes look worn but I have a replacement set with me. I have a slightly alarming noise from the crank but I have done 500 miles with it so .........

SWEDEN

2010-06-12T20:05:00.004+01:00

This is my new buddy, Andy, who I have ridden with for a few days. He has just climbed 135m in this picture. East Norway has more gentle countryside than where we have been, but every now and again, it likes to make sure that you can still do the climbs

I wanted to stop in Larvik, home of who I think is the greatest 20th century maritime explorer of all, Thor Heyadhal, however the heavens opened with the most enormous deluge. All I could think of was to outrun the rain.
After one last enormous hill on the border, I cycled into Sweden. Norway has one huge disadvantage. It is extremely expensive. Nowhere was this more evident than at the border where in Norway the shops were closed while on the Swedish side there were many large supermarkets.
I had some initial difficulty finding the cycle route in Sweden but found my way to Stromstad. I now found that the Norwegians are better than the Swedes at cycle maps/signposting.
Sweden's South West coast is charming. It is very pretty. While having none of the grandeur of Norway, it has a delightful character. The Swedes love their bathing. Below is a typical example of someone's swimming place

On another occasion, I was sitting alone having a snack when a Swedish lady cycled up, introduced herself and then went for a swim. It looked freezing but she said she swims every day.

Yesterday, I was getting myself into a fix. It was raining most of the day. I did not like the town I originally wanted to stop at, so I kept going. Anyhow there was nowhere to stop and I was wet through. After a tip from a local, I went to a farm. No one answered the door, so I went into the cowshed and I found the farmer's wife feeding the animals. She had a room, moreover it was a 4 bed apartment which I could have for £35. Here is its picture

After yesterday's rain, this morning it was a Westerly gale. Apart from ice, this is the worst weather for a cyclist. Sideways gusts can knock you into cars and even blow you over. I needed some mental preparation for this. I also needed some for cycling through Gothenburg which I had been told was very difficult. I managed 52 miles today which in the circumstances I was pleased with. I made much use of the position of the sun when cycling through Gothenburg and this proved a useful supplement to checking the maps.

Tomorrow I head for Varberg and hope top be in Denmark on Monday. I have now done 2,346 miles and that means it is 1,300 miles to go. I am hoping for no hills and no wind.

AM I IN TOYTOWN?

2010-06-07T19:09:00.003+01:00

I have two curious pictures to show from today. Below is the tiniest car ferry that I have ever been on. Andy, who is cycling from Stavanger to Esbjerg and doing a slightly different route to me, and I have teamed up for a while and we were the only passengers on this ferry. It takes three cars or 60 people. Unfortunately Andy and I were held up losing 20 miles yesterday because this ferry does not run at weekends. However it was a fun ride and well worth the wait.

How about this for a boathouse? It seems to be supported only at the back. It is real and not an optical illusion.

Yesterday, Jaana left me but not before she undertook a 20 mile dash to catch a bus. I was struggling to keep up. She was really motoring. Now I have teamed up with Andy from Chester. He has just retired from the day job. He is a super fit guy and enjoys his cycling. His bike has Rolhaff gears and these are reputed to be the best for long distance cycling. I also met up with a Norwegian enthusiast and a New Zealand couple on a tandem.

There are still plenty of hills and although I am on the bike for 9 to 10 hours a day, it is difficult to put in the distances that I would like. There were some real steep slopes towards the end of today.

For the records, I have reached Brevik. Tomorrow, I hope to pass though Larvik, home of Thor Heyadhal, who I think is the greatest maritime explorer of the 20th century.

KRISTIANSAND

2010-06-05T22:01:00.003+01:00

This was taken in an estate agent's window in Mandal. I don't think the house had a garage but it was close to a cycle lane.

Mandal was beautiful and its setting was between two fjords so we spent a short time walking around it before setting off again. With one exception where there was 8km of rough track/steep hills, the cycling was much easier for both days. Kristiansand is a big city and port. I struggled to find much that interested me here and Jaana wanted to move on quickly.

My half way point is now passed and I have cycled 1,923 miles. I liked Birkeland, Lillesand and Arendal where I am now. Grimstad seemed too commercialised for me. I only have brief glances so I might be wrong. We met a guy from Cornwall yesterday who cycled here along the South coast, then all the way from Boulogne. Then today we met a Dutch guy who is doing my journey in reverse.

Tomorrow, Jaana leaves me and I cycle East towards Sweden

FARSUND AND MANDAL

2010-06-03T21:00:00.003+01:00

We continue on our journey around the Norwegian coastline. The route includes some wonderful beaches.

We drift in and around fjords. We climb many hills between them and find that many roads here are dirt tracks. Sometimes, like today, we career down a big hill to cross a bridge where a fjord is at its narrow point only to find that we are heading far out to sea on a promontary. But it isn't a promontary as land appears unexpectedly from nowhere and another bridge is crossed. Sometimes a dirt track is so steep, I walk down as well as up because of risk of sliding and falling off.

The communities are small and many rely on summer visitors for their income but there are many harbours that contain commercial ships and these strangely are not out of place in this landscape.

We meet more long distance cyclists. Wiep comes from Holland and is cycling in the opposite direction to me. We are both at our half way points and swop experiences. My companion, Jaana, is enjoying Norway. She comes from Finland. Norwegians speak English and Swedish as well as their own langage. Jaana speaks fluent Swedish and can translate when their English is not so good. Another English cyclist is just ahead of me and he started in Stavanger.

These are not days for big mileages as the landscape dictates what we can do. This ride is an adventure that I am relishing. I will be half way tomorrow. I hope the second half is as good as the first.

FLEKKEFJORD AND BEYOND

2010-06-01T21:17:00.003+01:00

We left Stavanger after lunch after having visited the Oil Museum. We loved this city. However finding our way out proved a challenge in its own right due to lack of sign posting.

We rejoined the North Sea Cycle Route eventually and now commenced some of the most challenging cycling I have done.It started easliy enough with tracks alongside the coast which yet again was intensely beautiful. So far, the North Sea coast has proved itself to be scenically on equal terms with some of the finest scenery in the World that I have seen.

The real challenge started yesterday when we set off inland on a mountain trail suitable for lightweight mountain bikes and not heavy touring bikes. There was about 20 miles with many short but mighty steep hills. It was rugged country shared only with wildlife. It continued into Egersund. After a very late lunch, a tarmac road took us up into more hills and then down to the coast and this was dotted with small fishing settlements .

Today's ride was one that burned the legs. We climbed about 4,000 ft but it was not all in one go. These hills were steep. We buried our prides and walked. At the top, you shot off downhill, sometimes through tunnels. We were weaving around fjords so at one moment we were at sea level, then up to 900 ft, then down again. The road was narrow so when a lorry came, we had to get on to the verge. On arrival at Flekkefjord, we were greeted by the horn of a monster ocean going tug that was in port.

We were not the only long distance cyclists on this route today. We met two from New Zealand who are cycling 36,000km around Europe, then a Swiss girl who cycled here from Zurich and there was another guy who did not stop. As I write, I think it would be good to have a short rest.

NORWAY: MY FIRST 3 DAYS

2010-05-29T21:18:00.005+01:00

I am in Norway and I have found someone inside a bubble! Is this person completely mad?

I am 3 days into this part of my journey and so far Norway is everything the advertising pictures say. It is incredibly beautiful. I am cycling across islands linked together by ferries and monster bridges. The scenery is rugged with forests, rocks, lakes and the North Sea is weaving in and out with enormous tentacles, My friend, Jaana, joined me in Bergen and had an instant problem when her pedal sheared from a new crank. Fortunately, a bike shop dropped what they were doing and replaced the offending parts.

Bergen is a bike friendly city and I cycled 12 miles from the airport almost entirely on cycle lanes. In fact, everywhere seems to be bike friendly. Cars stop for cyclists at junctions and crossings in such a way that they go to jail if they don't. Little children either walk or cycle to school where there are numerous cycle racks.

Jaana is one of a small group of friends and we all go cycling together. Here she is setting off into a forest

We met Martin yesterday. He lives in Oslo but has no car. He had to work in Bergen on Wednesday and his next appointment is in Stavanger tomorrow, so he decided to cycle there. This is about the same distance as Plymouth to Bristol but has many more hills. We cycled with him for about a day and we learned many things about Norway. Jaana is from Finland so we shared some Finnish and British culture with him. Martin thought his wife might like badger, my ever patient mascot, so he sent her a photo. Martin's wife said the picture was not good enough so badger had his picture taken a second time .

Badger is doing fine. He has got over the shock of the scarecrow in Norfolk, the ostridges in Scotland and the wind in the Shetlands. He is taking Norway in his stride and is very happy to find out that other badgers live in Norway and for his photo to be sent to Oslo. Unlike me, he is not all weatherbeaten. In my case, my daughter, Jo, keeps on sending me messages to put on moisturiser. This bloke does not do moisturiser but I am told it is normal these days. Maybe I should if only because daughters are always right.

SHETLAND IN SEARCH OF AN OTTER

2010-05-26T20:22:00.003+01:00

Sandie and I arrived on the Shetland Isles on Sunday morning.

Our first view of Lerwick was thick fog so we cycled for an hour unable to see anything. This was rectified for the next two days with some strong winds that enabled us to see the islands wonderfully. They are full of remote hills, moorland, lochs and tiny villages. The coastline is rugged and there are lots of small islands. This is Simon King country who spent much of last year here for the BBC filming otters and killer whales.

The people we met were extremely friendly and we were taken on a tour of otter haunts. We cycled 96 miles around the coast. Our most Northerly point was reached at Sullom Voe and in the South it was Sumburgh. We saw lots of seals and Shetland ponies but sadly no otters or killer whales.

A new industry farming mussels has been formed. This has proved a great hit for the eider ducks who dive down to perhaps 4 metres and help themselves to this easy source of food. Needless to say the farmers are not too happy.

Sandie left yesterday while this morning I cycled to Sumburgh Airport for my flight to Bergen. I had the novel experience of cycling across the main runway to reach the terminal building. There were traffic lights in case a plane was coming.

I have now arrived in Bergen. I have now completed 1,522 miles of my journey.

THE DIVER'S TALE

2010-05-22T17:06:00.004+01:00

Sandie and I completed our cycle route in Orkney last night. There is no ferry to Shetland on a Friday so we have an extra day. Yesterday's ride was 61 miles as a circular route from Kirkwall and it passed many of the stone age sites for which the islands are famous. They are also famous for trout fishing and we watched a fisherman land a trout while we had our first break of the day. The picture below has a story that had us entranced on our third stop.

This is Tingwall ferry terminal which is tiny. Contractors were doing some work to a slipway. We watched as a diver walked into the water beside a crane which was sitting on a barge. He had an air tube connected to the land. What happened next was that the crane lifted a huge concrete plank and placed it in the water right beside the diver, who appeared to be acting as an underwater banksman. A man who was holding the diver's air tube then walked off leaving the diver alone below water. A ferry appeared and pulled up right beside the submerged diver and crane. The barge had just done a wobble moving the plank. We were very worried about the diver who seemed to be fixing the plank. We waited with baited breath. The ferry departed and a few moments later up popped the diver. All was well but we could not help thinking that the episode had the air of Spike Milligan about it.

Tonight we leave for Shetland. Accommodation is sparce there and we have booked into a remote cottage on West mainland which is close to our route. I try to update this blog every two days but it relies on wifi. Where we are staying is renowned for otters so time permitting we will try and spot one. I am doubtful if there is wifi though so the next report will be as soon as possible after that.

ORKNEY

2010-05-20T21:32:00.002+01:00

I had a break of two days in Thurso and have now been joined by my daughter, Sandie. We caught the ferry to Burwick, the entry to Orkney for the North Sea Cycle Route and its most Southerly terminal. Tonight we are in Kirkwall. The route crossed the Churchill Barriers and these wrecked ships can still be seen. There are so many different species of birds here and it is a joy to see and hear.

On my second day in Thurso, I visited Caithness Horizons, a beautifully designed heritage centre. Much of this is devoted to wildlife. For me, there is a timely reminder why I am doing this challenge. It simply says......."We must care for and sustain our natural heritage if we want it to sustain us".

Tomorrow, we cycle 60 miles around Orkney Mainland and return here to Kirkwall. On Saturday night, we catch the overnight ferry to the Shetland Isles.

HEADLINES FROM SCOTLAND'S TOP END

2010-05-17T20:32:00.002+01:00

I have reached John O Groats and this means I have completed one third of my challenge. It is 1,230 miles so far and 2,400 miles to go. I am taking two days as a rest break and Sandie my older daughter joins me on Wednesday. We then travel to Orkney and Shetland. I am cycling to raise money for my local Wildlife Trust. Just a quick reminder for anyone who I can persuade to donate. It is easy to donate online, just go to http://www.mycharitypage.com/GrahamWilson.

It is so important to support wildlife these days. Kate Humble on the BBC gave her reasons this morning on primetime TV. An important body representing landowners, the CLA, have just officially announced the same. If you are following my journey, can I ask you to do the same. Wildlife is fun and exciting and vital for our wellbeing.
This journey is fun and exciting. Scotland's top end is remote, rugged, full of lochs and open moorland and the coast has the most spectacular beaches. Oh and cuckoos have been singing their hearts out.

My family take precedence today. My daughter, Jo, sent me to spy out potential kite surfing beaches. She is a coach for medium and advanced kite surfers. I have suggested Dunnet Bay but Thurso looks good as well. Sylvia, my wife, sent me to the Castle of Mey to take photographs for an audio visual project she is doing. This was HRH the Queen Mother's home and is the only royal home where the family chose their own furniture.

SCOTLAND'S NORTH COAST

2010-05-15T22:16:00.002+01:00

You can travel the World and see some fantastic scenery but some of the best is right here in Great Britain. I have just cycled up through the centre of the Northern Highlands to Tongue on the North coast. The scenery is breathtaking and this will be one of the highlights of my trip.

Sadly the Staggies lost 3 - 0 to Dundee United earlier today.

DINGWALL - HOME OF THE STAGGIES

2010-05-13T21:20:00.003+01:00

I am in Dingwall, home of the Staggies. This is Ross County, Scotland's most Northerley football team. They are playing Dundee United in Saturday's Scottish cup final. It is football crazy here and I say " go for it, Staggies". It would be a formidable victory.

This picture shows where I passed the 1,000 mile mark yesterday. Only 2,600 miles to go. I am up for it.

The Moray coast is dotted with ancient tiny harbours. The snow covered Highlands are in the distance. Tesco at Inverness is a mecca for long distance cyclists, though they do not know it. We are having better weather here than the rest of the country and apparantly for much of Europe as well. Tomorrow, Jo leaves me while I head North towards Thurso. I am ahead of schedule and plan to have a day off before taking the ferry to the Orkney Islands.

THE MORAY FIRTH

2010-05-11T20:40:00.004+01:00

There are now two of us cycling North. Jo arrived yesterday and we left Aberdeen after lunch for Banff on the Moray Firth. The route heads inland to Turiff and then follows the Valley of the River Deveron to Banff. Sustrans who signposted the UK section have been very reliable with their maps and signposting. The weather is unseasonably cold but, apart from two brief hail showers, the sun has been shining. We have a brief encounter with some ostridges on route. Badger has never seen an ostridge before.

Jo coaches medium and advanced kite surfers as her business on weekends so she can sometimes take time off during the week. However her phone rings 24/7 so below you see her conducting some business on route.

This part of the Moray Firth has some very old harbours. Tonight we are staying in Portsoy and its harbour was built in 1692. A local seafood delicacy is Cullen Skink. Tomorrow we head West along the Moray Firth.

ABERDEEN AT LAST

2010-05-09T21:31:00.004+01:00

I reached Aberdeen at 7.00 this evening and I have completed a quarter of my journey. Yesterday, I cycled alongside two World famous golf courses, The Old Course of St Andrews and Carnoustie. I crossed my third big bridge, the Tay Bridge into Dundee.

The route North of Carnoustie to Stonehaven had several attractive harbours such as this one at Johnshaven. I meet my daughter, Jo, tomorrow who is cycling with me to Dingwall.

My mileage to date is 901 and this is almost quarter of my journey. To put it another way, this is the same distance as Lands End to John O' Groats.

BADGER REACHES ST ANDREWS

2010-05-07T21:14:00.002+01:00

St Andrews was reached this evening and I walked around the town. It has the ruins of a castle and cathedral, a sandy beach, a university, a harbour and an attractive lively centre. The North Sea shimmered in the setting sun. More well known is that it hosts a World class golf course.
Yesterday, badger and I crossed the Moorfoot Hills. We did not see them because of the wind and rain. I knew it because there was a hill 12 miles long. Badger was freezing and much preferred to be in his sett. It was a lonely road and I was first to find a woman who had just climbed out of her car that was upside down in a peat bog. Although obviously shocked, she appeared unhurt and then another car arrived. The driver took her to the nearest town. It could have been much worse.

My route took me through Edinburgh and over the Forth Bridge to last night's stop in Inverkeithing. The Forth Bridge was not as scary to cross as the Humber Bridge. It is not good to cycle over these bridges if you suffer from vertigo. Tomorrow I cross the Tay Bridge and this is closed to cyclists when it is windy.

Today was sunny and cold. There was a moderate headwind. Badger and I are now in hill country. The countryside today was again stunning with contrasting scenery from lowland arable farms to open moorland and forests. Loch Leven and the Lomand Hills made for stunning backdrops.

Edinburgh and the Forth has lots of history. Here is a lesser known fact. The first roll on/roll off ferry in the World started service in 1850 on the Forth. It was named Leviathon. It carried railway wagons loaded with coal, limestone, grain and whisky from Burntisland to Granton.

Tomorrow I leave for Dundee and Montrose. The forecast is fine but cold and there is to be a headwind.

THE SCOTTISH BORDERS

2010-05-05T21:09:00.002+01:00

My journey today followed the valley of the River Tweed to Innerleithen. The beautiful rolling hills of the Scottish Borders beckoned.

This is a land of castles. Perhaps the most beautiful is at Bamburgh. Grace Darling came from Bamburgh and on 7 September 1838, she with her dad rescued 9 survivors from SS Forfarshire by rowing out to them in a small open boat. She became a national hero.

Further on, for the benefit of us who live down South, Berwick on Tweed is definately in England and has been so since 1482. Prior to this, it changed hands with Scotland 14 times.

Most of my overnight stays have been good and here is a second one that deserves special mention - www.oshthornton.co.uk . It is 4 miles from Berwick

DURHAM AND INTO NORTHUMBERLAND

2010-05-03T20:10:00.003+01:00

I have reached Alnmouth in Northumberland today and my distance is now 569 miles. Yesterday I stayed in Teesside and visited my Aunt Barbara who was 100 years old earlier this year. The journey after I left her took me through Tyneside where we had our first ferry crossing. Badger, I am happy to say, was not seasick.

Northumberland is one of the most beautiful counties in England and I have been looking forward to my travels through here. Tomorrow I head up the coast to Berwick on Tweed.

IT'S YORKSHIRE AND BADGER DOES ROUTE 66

2010-05-02T09:32:00.005+01:00

My entry into Yorkshire was through Hull and this proved to be incomprehensible to this cyclist. However my disappointment was short lived. I decided Yorkshire is a county than deserves a longer visit and that I will come back again. The route went through Beverley with its magnificent churches and town centre and onto York.

Route 66 is the Trans Pennine Way where Badger and I both thought that we were going in the wrong direction but it is correct.

If I stopped in York, I decided it would be for two days so I kept going. Greg, if you are reading this blog, I reached my destination ok. After York, I cycled to Thirsk, a beautiful town, but the Council should do something about the cars. Next was cycling aroung the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors and to Hartburn where I stayed overnight with Margaret and John, both delightful hosts.

My mileage to date is 492 and I am a day ahead of schedule.

LINCOLNSHIRE

2010-04-29T21:33:00.003+01:00

I have covered 135 miles in the last two days. This is the fen country with Lincoln as a city highlight. Yesterday was windy and as my cycle route zig zags, sometimes I was cycling into wind and at other times it was behind me.

My cycle route had several off road stretches such as the above. The countryside consists of huge rivers, wide open fields and lots of hamlets. I met a couple today who said that they had just finished a 30,000 mile bike ride across Asia. It had taken them 6 years.

SUFFOLK AND NORFOLK

2010-04-27T18:19:00.003+01:00

I have now cycled through Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. I have arrived at Kings Lynn. My distance to date is 210 miles. I could have gone further today but there is nowhere to stay. These counties have beautiful gently rolling countryside and delightful villages. Last night, I thought that I would be sleeping rough in a hedgerow and, as it was a warm balmy evening, I was partly looking forward to it.

I liked this picture above and there are many views like this around here. Anyhow I arrived at Foulsham, 15 miles from Norwich and a local directed me to a B+B in a Georgian house soon to be cherished. Not only were the owners friendly, my room was enormous and it had a roll top bath. Now if your legs are tired having cycled 73 miles, there is nothing better in this World than to languish in a roll top bath. If you are in Norfolk, please check http://www.ivyhousefoulsham.co.uk/

I have a mascot. It is Badger and he sits on my back pannier. Badger nearly came to grief yesterday. I was on a rough track and my bike slid over on the gravel. I had some cuts and grazes but Badger is made of sterner stuff and is fine. Badger had a scary moment today when we encountered this ... gentleman.

The North Sea Cycle Route is slightly confusing as it often goes inland. In fact, this afternoon was the first time I have seen it since leaving Harwich. Finally, in case anyone wants to know, my legs are going fine.

DAYS 1 AND 2

2010-04-25T21:49:00.003+01:00

I set off from Harwich at 3pm yesterday and have cycled through the beautiful rolling countryside of Suffolk to reach Framlingham this evening.

Mileage to date............83

Mileage to go...........3,546

Am meeting my buddy, Bill tomorrow evening at Norwich who is joining me for a few days.

MY JOURNEY PLAN

2010-04-13T20:26:00.002+01:00

The start date for my journey is Saturday, 24 April from Harwich, England. I am going to cycle 3,600 miles clockwise around the coastline of the North Sea.

My route takes me through some of the most stunning and remote scenery that Europe has to offer. I hope to see an abundance of wildlife. At my Northernmost points, I will be cycling around the Shetland Isles and ffiords near Bergen in Norway.

I will be taking time out to visit a 100 year old lady in Teesside and an army officer who distinguished himself in Afghanistan.

My bike is a Trek X1 that looks like a racer but is strong and sturdy. My ride is unsupported and this means that I carry all my own gear.

I have another challenge. I want to raise money to protect wildlife. I think that protection of wildlife is as important as global warming in the 21st century. If you think wildlife deserves support, please go to www.mycharitypage.com/GrahamWilson

I will be publishing posts throughout my journey on this website. I will also be saying places that I will visit on http://www.twitter.com/cycle770

Cheers for now

OKEHAMPTON: CYCLING WITH DEER

2010-03-27T20:49:00.004Z

It has hardly stopped raining this week until today. This is not a good advert for the West Country but previously we had a long spell of fine weather. Today's ride was over Dartmoor to Okehampton and included a muddy field and off road track, so it was fun.

Here is another fun bit. I came face to face with a deer. The animal ran just in front of me for 200 metres then hopped into the hedge and ran with me for another 200 metres. The speed of a deer is 15mph. Here is a gypsy horse, part Welsh cob, part much else according to the owner. What a great looking animal!

TRAINING IN WEST CORNWALL

2010-03-22T21:11:00.002Z

It is getting closer to the start of my huge ride. I have just come back from West Penwith with my buddy, Jaana, where you there is good cycling around the coast as well as seeing some of the best attractions West Cornwall has to offer. Here I am on a blustery day at Lands End.

TRAINING RIDE - THE WAY OF THE DRAGON

2010-03-17T18:39:00.002Z

I gave myself a more testing ride on Monday. I cycled fully laden from Machynlleth in Wales to Welshpool using minor roads where ever possible, a distance of 50 miles. Ok, so this may not be a big achievement to hardened enthusiasts, but it proved to me that my fitness level is better.

For mountain walkers and off road cyclists following Sustrans Route 8, check out http://www.talbontdrain.co.uk. This is a perfect guest house in the mountains 4 miles South of Machynlleth

IT IS 8 WEEKS BEFORE I START CYCLE 7/70

2010-02-28T10:01:00.003Z

The weather in Devon has improved since my last posting. I will be out on the bike at least 3 times a week from now on. I have some special rides planned. I will have a day's ride in Snowdonia in March after I attend a course on The Centre of Alternative Technology on micro-renewable energy. Then I go to West Penwith for a 3 day ride with friends on the following weekend.

The picture below is at Shipley Bridge on Dartmoor which I visited yesterday.

IT'S COLD IN DEVON

2010-01-23T18:26:00.002Z

Training in Winter is challenging. An excess of turkey, cider and wine at Xmas is not good for a fitness regime! Neither is ice and snow which has been in abundance. Today it was warmer. I was stopped by a farmer who knows about Cycle 7/70 and we had a roadside chat.

The picture is a lane near my house.

START TRAINING FOR CYCLE 7/70

2009-12-11T15:27:00.004Z

Now that I am back from my holiday, I have no excuses for not training. I have been out on my mountain bike several times in the last three weeks. Mountain biking is great fun and Devon gives you lots of opportunities. Here is a green lane near my house that I tried to get through yesterday. I was ok until my daughter, Jo, rugby tackled me and I came off.

AUSTRALIA - WILDLIFE WHILE ON HOLIDAY

2009-11-22T16:23:00.004Z

With my wife, Sylvia, I have taken one month off to visit Australia. Wildlife thrives here and some of the best can be seen where we travelled. We visited the Kimberley Outback, the Ningaloo Reef and the North West coast starting from Darwin and going to Perth.

This is some of the remotest parts where travel is often on dirt roads and fuel stops are 150km apart. The Australians value their wildlife and have extensive national parks. I also met a cyclist who started his ride in Adelaide and had achieved half way in cycling around the continent. Hats off to him.

I am back home now and will shortly starting my preparation in earnest for my charity cycle ride http://www.mycharitypage.com/GrahamWilson.

WHERE IN THE WORLD - THE ANSWER.

2009-11-22T16:09:00.003Z

The answer to the picture question to my earlier blog is Uyuni Salt Lake, Bolivia. Unfortunately, no one was close to right with their answers.

The clue is the cyclist. He is an indiginous South American on his way to work to dig salt. His ancestors may have been Incas.

Bolivia is a wonderful country to visit. The Uyuni Salt Flats are the largest in the World. The Bolivian Altiplano has some unbelievably beautiful scenery in the Andes. The local people say that they would like lots more visitors to come and see them. We went to Bolivia with http://www.dragoman.com

VIVE LA BELLE PROVENCE

2009-09-16T17:07:00.003+01:00

What a pleasant surprise. My friend, Bill, had organised a week's cycling based in Avignon. It seemed a long way to go, especially when pondering putting the bikes on a plane or driving. Bill, however, had a good plan. We simply caught a Eurostar train at St Pancras and 5.5 hours later we were in the centre of Avignon.

We quickly discovered that Provence is a cyclist's delight. Within 20 minutes of leaving Avignon, we found our first unspoilt French village. Life here seems timeless. There are markets everywhere, older people play boules, younger check out their motor bikes and, out in the country while we were there, the grapes were being gathered in for wine making.

Cycling enables you to see life more closely than in a car. The advantage of Provence is that there are lots of quiet roads with minimal hills or you can pretend to be a Tour de France rider by climbing Mont Ventoux. What is more, the sun just kept shining. We covered 235 miles in 5 days, mainly siteseeing and using Avignon as our base.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THIS?

2009-08-22T15:30:00.003+01:00

I am fund raising for Devon Wildlife Trust and aim to raise over £10,000.

I am having a one day competition where you can win a prize. All you have to do is to come to Exeter Walk For Wildlife on Saturday, 12 September, enter the competition, say where you think that this cyclist is. The nearest wins a prize. All proceeds go to the Trust.

SOME PREVIOUS RIDES

2009-08-13T16:34:00.011+01:00

Since 2005, I have done some spectacular rides. My cycling is achieving recognition in the Press, including BBC TV and Local Radio. The latest is page 122 online magazine International Mountain Bike

Mongolia: I cycled from the North side of the Gobi Desert, through the Khangai Mountains to Karakorum as part of a team raising funds for the National Deaf Children’s Society in 2005.

Chepstow to Holyhead: In 2007 I cycled this route on the National Cycle Network. It is a spectacular 5 day ride through the Brecon Beacons, Black Mountains and Snowdonia

Balti Bike Club: For three years I have joined the Balti Bike Club of Stafford for 100 mile day rides raising funds for charity from Stafford to the Welsh coast. http://www.baltibikeclub.info/2009

Lands End to John O Groats (The Shamrock Route): Last year, I cycled this 1,053 mile route via Ireland to get my pint of Magners.

Western Scotland: In May, I cycled 8 days from Oban to Ullapool through Mull, Skye and the Hebrides.

I try to cycle 60 miles per week at least to maintain fitness and prepare me for my journey up to and beyond the hills of Norway

MY TRAINING

2009-08-13T15:33:00.005+01:00

I cycle all the time around Devon which is never short of hills. To train for a long trip, it is really important to cycle regularly each week. I also cycle much longer trips and like to use the National Cycle Network because the roads are scenic and quiet. In 2009, I am cycling in Scotland and Provence in France on week long trips. When carrying panniers fully loaded, I aim to average 50 - 60 miles a day.

MY RIDE - ABOUT CYCLE 7/70

2009-08-13T15:08:00.004+01:00

My plan is to cycle 3,600 miles around the coastline of the North Sea and visit 7 countries in 70 days. I intend to start from Felixstowe at the end of April 2010. I will cycle up the East coast of England and Scotland to John O Groats where I will take ferries to the Orkney and Shetland Isles. The next stage starts in Bergen in Norway where it follows the coastline to Varberg in Sweden. I will continue along the North Sea coastline in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands to The Hook of Holland where a final ferry takes me back to Felixstowe. The route will follow minor roads and can be viewed on http://www.northsea-cycle.com/

I have named the journey, Cycle 7/70, because the name North Sea Cycle Route does not describe the journey as exciting as it will be. I am raising money for Devon Wildlife Trust because they do such a fantastic job for the countryside and wildlife locally. The beautiful coutryside, wildlife and conservation in Devon exists because of Devon Wildlife Trust and other like minded people and organisations. Please see my website for more information.