Day 1
Day 2
Monday, 16 June 2014
Stage 1 - Wheelton to Piel Island
So, on Friday morning four intrepid cyclists armed only with bicycle pumps and flapjacks set out on the 130 mile ride to Piel Island. And boy did we have some fun!
DAY 1 - Wheelton - Bolton le Sands - 70 miles
From home we cycled through Cuerden Valley Park and Avenham Park to Preston. We crossed the Ribble in Avenham Park, marking the officical start of the ECJ as we carried on along the estuary.
From Preston our route took us through the docks and then along a not-very-nice bit of busy road to get to the coast proper at Lytham St Annes, where we had our first real sighting of the sea. Wilm was very excited to see the windmill.
You will notice how heavily laden Simon's bike is. You'll also notice that the back of my bike is stragegicaly hidden in this picture, but I might as well fess up now - there was no luggage on it!
After a brief snack stop we pretty much flew up the coast: Lytham St Annes, Blackpool, Bispham, Thornton Cleveleys to Fleetwood. It was during a brief stop to enjoy the Comedy Carpet in Blackpool that we noticed Wilm's comedy cycling shoes. My guess is that he's had really good value for money from them...
A treat was in store for us in Fleetwood in the form of the Knot End Ferry. Wilm was very excited to be using the Knot End Ferry. Whilst on it, Simon and I spared a thought for absent friends, in particular Mark and Rob. Since you couldn't be there chaps, this picture is especially for you.
We had lunch at the cafe at Knot End. Wilm was very excited to find pie and chips on the menu. Wilm had promised us "the best ice-cream shop ever" just outside Cockerham, so he and I decided to forego cake at the cafe. Terry2Puds, however, lived up to his name and ordered lemon meringue pie. Simon, being easily led, did the same.
If you ever happen to find yourself near Cockerham, the ice-cream shop is indeed worthy of a visit. I asked for a two-scoop waffle cone. This is what I got...
Filled with sugar, we made good progress from Cockerham towards Glasson Dock, where we joined the Sustrans cycle path heading for Lancaster. A quick stop at the bike shop in Lancaster for an adjustment to Si’s bike, and we were flying off down the Lune Millennium Cycle Path to Morecambe.
The miles continued to fly by until we reached Bolton-le-Sands, our destination for the day. We’d booked a campsite and a curry house. Wilm was very excited at the prospect of curry.
Another estuary to cycle round and we found ourselves in Ulverston for lunch, which we took at a particularly classy establishment...
As we boarded the ferry, Simon and I spared a thought for absent friends, in particular Mark and Rob. Since you couldn't be there chaps, this picture is especially for you.
We later learned that four-year-old Rob was beside himself with excitement when he realised that not only was he going on a boat, but it was a pirate boat! Wilm was quite excited, too.
L-R Terry, Simon, Sue, Wilm
DAY 1 - Wheelton - Bolton le Sands - 70 miles
From home we cycled through Cuerden Valley Park and Avenham Park to Preston. We crossed the Ribble in Avenham Park, marking the officical start of the ECJ as we carried on along the estuary.
From Preston our route took us through the docks and then along a not-very-nice bit of busy road to get to the coast proper at Lytham St Annes, where we had our first real sighting of the sea. Wilm was very excited to see the windmill.
You will notice how heavily laden Simon's bike is. You'll also notice that the back of my bike is stragegicaly hidden in this picture, but I might as well fess up now - there was no luggage on it!
After a brief snack stop we pretty much flew up the coast: Lytham St Annes, Blackpool, Bispham, Thornton Cleveleys to Fleetwood. It was during a brief stop to enjoy the Comedy Carpet in Blackpool that we noticed Wilm's comedy cycling shoes. My guess is that he's had really good value for money from them...
A treat was in store for us in Fleetwood in the form of the Knot End Ferry. Wilm was very excited to be using the Knot End Ferry. Whilst on it, Simon and I spared a thought for absent friends, in particular Mark and Rob. Since you couldn't be there chaps, this picture is especially for you.
We had lunch at the cafe at Knot End. Wilm was very excited to find pie and chips on the menu. Wilm had promised us "the best ice-cream shop ever" just outside Cockerham, so he and I decided to forego cake at the cafe. Terry2Puds, however, lived up to his name and ordered lemon meringue pie. Simon, being easily led, did the same.
If you ever happen to find yourself near Cockerham, the ice-cream shop is indeed worthy of a visit. I asked for a two-scoop waffle cone. This is what I got...
Filled with sugar, we made good progress from Cockerham towards Glasson Dock, where we joined the Sustrans cycle path heading for Lancaster. A quick stop at the bike shop in Lancaster for an adjustment to Si’s bike, and we were flying off down the Lune Millennium Cycle Path to Morecambe.
The miles continued to fly by until we reached Bolton-le-Sands, our destination for the day. We’d booked a campsite and a curry house. Wilm was very excited at the prospect of curry.
We pitched camp. Simon and I were using our new lightweight
tent for the first time, bought specially for the ECJ. From the outside it
looks tiny. If I were an estate agent I would describe it as “surprisingly spacious”.
No really. Even with both of us in it, we could still get panniers, helmets etc
in and not feel cramped. New tent good!
DAY 2 – Bolton-le-Sands to Piel Island – 55 miles
We’d been joined the previous evening at the campsite by the Campbells; Gavin, Andrea, Finlay and Lochlan, so eight cyclists hit the road on day 2. Due to a couple of mix ups about who had the map and which cafe it was we were supposed to turn right at we did have a couple of false starts, but once we got going enjoyed some lovely quiet lanes and beautiful sunshine, pedalling along from Carnforth to Silverdale and then Arnside, Milnthorpe, Haversham, Levens, then down to Grange over Sands. At Grange we parted company with Andrea and Lochlan, who took a train back to Carnforth to collect their car and spend the GDP of a small African nation in Booths, buying food for that evening’s BBQ.
We’d been joined the previous evening at the campsite by the Campbells; Gavin, Andrea, Finlay and Lochlan, so eight cyclists hit the road on day 2. Due to a couple of mix ups about who had the map and which cafe it was we were supposed to turn right at we did have a couple of false starts, but once we got going enjoyed some lovely quiet lanes and beautiful sunshine, pedalling along from Carnforth to Silverdale and then Arnside, Milnthorpe, Haversham, Levens, then down to Grange over Sands. At Grange we parted company with Andrea and Lochlan, who took a train back to Carnforth to collect their car and spend the GDP of a small African nation in Booths, buying food for that evening’s BBQ.
Back to front: Andrea, Gavin, Lochlan, Finlay, Sue
Another estuary to cycle round and we found ourselves in Ulverston for lunch, which we took at a particularly classy establishment...
L-R: Simon, Terry, Sue
Whilst this was ostensibly our lunch, it was rather past lunchtime and we were all pretty tired by this point, Simon having driven the pace to make sure we would be in time for the ferry to Piel Island. A bit of food soon revived us, as did the realisation that we only had about another 15 miles to go.
Our first sight of Piel Island came from the A5087, a fabulous road to cycle that hugs the coast all the way to Roa, from where you get the ferry.
Our first sight of Piel Island came from the A5087, a fabulous road to cycle that hugs the coast all the way to Roa, from where you get the ferry.
As we boarded the ferry, Simon and I spared a thought for absent friends, in particular Mark and Rob. Since you couldn't be there chaps, this picture is especially for you.
We later learned that four-year-old Rob was beside himself with excitement when he realised that not only was he going on a boat, but it was a pirate boat! Wilm was quite excited, too.
PIEL ISLAND
We were joined on Piel Island by Wilm’s family, Rachel, Elsa and Morgan, along with Kate, Simon and Rob, and Wendy and Steven. A BBQ tea followed by a couple of beers and rather interesting game of football (three teams and one set of goal posts) rounded off a superb day.
Oh, just one “incident” to report. A group of football fans had been devastated to learn that there is no TV in the pub on the island. They had persuaded the ferryman to lend them his 12V TV from his yacht and they spent several hours (yes, really, several hours, that’s not an exaggeration) setting it up, getting the aerial in just the right place for the best reception etc. Then, about 10.45 (which, for non football fans was about 15 mins before the kick off of England’s first World Cup game), Wilm tripped over the aerial and the picture was lost! We’re not entirely sure how a nasty altercation with several drunk football fans was avoided, but thankfully it was. And thankfully they were so drunk that the next morning they couldn’t remember what had happened! We declined to give them the benefit of our good advice, which would have been, “next time, don’t set up your TV on the main thoroughfare to the campsite toilets”!
We had a lovely, lazy morning on Sunday, explored the island, had lunch at the pub and then loaded up the ferry again for the return trip.
As a start to our ECJ, this could not have been better. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who came along to be part of it. Simon and I had a fabulous time, quite honestly enjoying every minute.
L-R: Morgan, Elsa, Rachel, Sue
Kate and Rob
Lochlan and Morgan
Finlay
Steven and Wendy
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
The Journey Begins
The first leg of the Epic Coastal Journey (ECJ) begins on
Friday. Friday 13th. Good job we’re not superstitious.
This leg demonstrates the true spirit of the ECJ. We’ll be
doing two days of cycling, joined by two guest riders, Terry and Wilm, on
Friday, and up to four more, the Campbells, on Saturday. We’re camping. We’re including an island, and we have a few
friends joining us there on Saturday evening.
We will be leaving Wheelton on Friday morning heading for
Bolton le Sands, and from there to Barrow in Furness on Saturday. From Barrow
in Furness we will take the “ferry” (a small open topped motor boat) to Piel
Island, which lies off the tip of the Furness peninsula in Morecambe Bay.
Piel Island is very small, there is no electricity, no
roads, no cars. There is ruined castle and pub, and you can camp there. The
landlord of the pub is known as the King of Piel. We’re looking forward to it.
The Project
This blog is about a project by Simon & Sue to cycle around the coast of Britain. We're hoping that this trip will take us to places we might not ordinarily go. It will certainly provide a great variety of scenery and terrain. We would love to take six months off work and do it as a single trip, but that's just not possible, so we will do it in sections instead.
There are no rules - if the road nearest the coast is a busy A road, we'll come inland a bit; if we fancy including an island or two, we will; we might start again where we left off, but then again we might not.
Sections of the ride will vary in length from a single day to up to a week, or possibly more if we can swing it. We'll probably camp for most of it. We'll have guest riders on some sections, not on others.
It is likely to take a long time to complete. Perhaps even a very long time. Several years is our expectation.
The main purpose of writing a blog will be to record the journey for ourselves, to have something to look back on. But of course we're hoping that at least some of our friends will be interested enough to stop by every now and again and see how we're getting on.
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