Cancer Research, Long Way Home 2010
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russt1969
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Hi all,
Long Way Home 2010 UK is now all done and dusted and life is getting back to normal. I hope you enjoy my ride report and a few photos. Iâm not the best at story telling and Iâm no David Baileyâ¦â¦ I hope you find it mildley interesting.
Day 1
Cheam, Surrey to Craster, Northumberland.
Left home at 6am. Felt nervous and excited all at the same time. Meeting Chris at the Motorway service station. A quick blast into Norfolk then up the east coast to Northumberland and into Proctorâs Stead camp site. 352 miles.
Day 2
Northumberland to Turriff, Aberdeenshire.
The weather was again ok for this day. Great riding along the eastern coast road. Edinburgh has far too many traffic lights. Lovely part of Scotland indeed. East Balthangie Caravan Park had the warmest of welcomes for us indeed. 295 miles.
Day3
Aberdeenshire to Durness, The Highlands.
Left Turriff and headed northwards towards John Oâ Groats. Made it to Golspie and the rain absolutely fell down. Iâve only ever seen rain like that in Sri Lanka. My Sat Nav died and we had to hope Chrisâ kept on going. We had to forget going to John Oâ Groats. It was just far too bad. Later found out there was a severe weather warning. There sure wasâ¦â¦ Headed off to Durness. All the way the weather was the worst Iâve seen. Made it there and the Camp Site was under water. No good at all. Lets find a B & B. We gave up after and hour of riding around. No Vacancies was everywhere. We ended up in Ben Raey, Sutherland. Carole was just the best host ever. Very warm and just the best nights sleep ever. 338 miles.
Day 4
Ben Raey to Dunoon, Argyll.
Thick fog when we woke up so thought to ourselves here we go again. Another mad weather day in Scotland. But how wrong were we. The ride was just fantastic. Stopped off at Loch Ness as well as Ben Nevis. Through some lovely Glennâs with the warm sun. Made it into Dunoon and guess what. It fell down again. Dot at Invereck Holiday park to us to pitch tent near the trees as they suck up the water well. And how right she was. Pitched my tent. Chris didnât have as much luck. His tent poll broke and at just wasnât happening so he decided to bugger off and leave me. And return at a later date. Great nights sleep with no snoring from the tent which was occupying my friendâ¦. 325 miles
Day 5
Argyll to Ulverston, Cumbria.
Left Dunoon and headed up towards the ferry. Was able to see some sea lions and also what looked like a Dolphin or something like that. Was fantastic and made being on my own all ok. Ferry from Dunoon to Port Glasgow. Down near the Galloway Fofest onto Dumfries then Carlisle and into the Lake District. Again the sun was out and I was enjoying the ride. Made it to Grizedale capsite. 203 miles
Day 6
Cumbria to Tywyn, Gwynedd.
Woke up at 4am and thought lets get going into Wales. Was going to pop in and visit my Sister who was staying near Prestatyn. Flew down the Motorway in to wales and again the weather turned against me. Got to my Sisters and found out that her Husband had been admitted into hospital the week before. As it was raining and she was on her own I decided to spend the day with her and look after the sofa bed. Visited her Husband in Hospital then back to her Lodge. It was so nice to dry my gear off and have a few pints a decent meal and put the world to rights. Thumbs up to that day. 152 Miles
Day 7
Prestatyn to Brean Sands, Somerset.
Left Prestatyn around 5.30 am. And guess what. The weather was fantastic. A nice plod through Snowdonia down to Llanrystud to meet up with Rich from one of the Forums Iâve joined. He took me down through the Brecon Beacons on the A40. What a wonderful road, Stopped off here and there for a cuppa and a Bacon Sarnie. Into Abergavenny to a Bikers Café. Had a chat and off he went back home and off I went back into England and to meet up with Chris again in Western Super Mare. Warren Farm Holiday Centre had again another warm welcome for me. I pitched tent, got the kettle on and I recon Chris must have smelled the Coffee because he arrived just as the kettle was boiling. 332 miles
Day 8
Somerset to Truro, Cornwall.
Left Somerset and made our way into Exmoor National Park. Was good to have my mate back with me. But then again, this was getting boring. The weather turned again and it was a complete was out again. This time my Camera died and again the riding was turning into a chore. Lands end was just mad so we didnât even bother to take a photo. What was the point. Never made it to John OâGroatsâ¦â¦.
Headed towards Truro and again the site was swimming so again another B & B beckoned us. The Townhouse in Truro helped us out and all was fine in the world of Long Way Home 2010. 245 miles
Day 9
Cornwall to Lymington, Hampshire.
Left Truro and headed to Dartmoor National Park. The weather was great for a change. It really makes a difference. Carried on and made it into Bournemouth then into Lymington. And at the Campsite I had a mad idea. I was only about 120 miles from home. So as the weather was nice, Thatâs exactly what I did. I needed to see my Wife and get a pint into my belly. 315 miles.
Verdict.
So far raised £1600 with roughly £200 promised to me for Cancer Research UK.
Marie Keating Just shy of £1500.
2557 miles of smiles and fun even with the rubbish weather.
Watch out for the next Long Way Home.
Regards
Russ
Long Way Home 2010 UK is now all done and dusted and life is getting back to normal. I hope you enjoy my ride report and a few photos. Iâm not the best at story telling and Iâm no David Baileyâ¦â¦ I hope you find it mildley interesting.
Day 1
Cheam, Surrey to Craster, Northumberland.
Left home at 6am. Felt nervous and excited all at the same time. Meeting Chris at the Motorway service station. A quick blast into Norfolk then up the east coast to Northumberland and into Proctorâs Stead camp site. 352 miles.
Day 2
Northumberland to Turriff, Aberdeenshire.
The weather was again ok for this day. Great riding along the eastern coast road. Edinburgh has far too many traffic lights. Lovely part of Scotland indeed. East Balthangie Caravan Park had the warmest of welcomes for us indeed. 295 miles.
Day3
Aberdeenshire to Durness, The Highlands.
Left Turriff and headed northwards towards John Oâ Groats. Made it to Golspie and the rain absolutely fell down. Iâve only ever seen rain like that in Sri Lanka. My Sat Nav died and we had to hope Chrisâ kept on going. We had to forget going to John Oâ Groats. It was just far too bad. Later found out there was a severe weather warning. There sure wasâ¦â¦ Headed off to Durness. All the way the weather was the worst Iâve seen. Made it there and the Camp Site was under water. No good at all. Lets find a B & B. We gave up after and hour of riding around. No Vacancies was everywhere. We ended up in Ben Raey, Sutherland. Carole was just the best host ever. Very warm and just the best nights sleep ever. 338 miles.
Day 4
Ben Raey to Dunoon, Argyll.
Thick fog when we woke up so thought to ourselves here we go again. Another mad weather day in Scotland. But how wrong were we. The ride was just fantastic. Stopped off at Loch Ness as well as Ben Nevis. Through some lovely Glennâs with the warm sun. Made it into Dunoon and guess what. It fell down again. Dot at Invereck Holiday park to us to pitch tent near the trees as they suck up the water well. And how right she was. Pitched my tent. Chris didnât have as much luck. His tent poll broke and at just wasnât happening so he decided to bugger off and leave me. And return at a later date. Great nights sleep with no snoring from the tent which was occupying my friendâ¦. 325 miles
Day 5
Argyll to Ulverston, Cumbria.
Left Dunoon and headed up towards the ferry. Was able to see some sea lions and also what looked like a Dolphin or something like that. Was fantastic and made being on my own all ok. Ferry from Dunoon to Port Glasgow. Down near the Galloway Fofest onto Dumfries then Carlisle and into the Lake District. Again the sun was out and I was enjoying the ride. Made it to Grizedale capsite. 203 miles
Day 6
Cumbria to Tywyn, Gwynedd.
Woke up at 4am and thought lets get going into Wales. Was going to pop in and visit my Sister who was staying near Prestatyn. Flew down the Motorway in to wales and again the weather turned against me. Got to my Sisters and found out that her Husband had been admitted into hospital the week before. As it was raining and she was on her own I decided to spend the day with her and look after the sofa bed. Visited her Husband in Hospital then back to her Lodge. It was so nice to dry my gear off and have a few pints a decent meal and put the world to rights. Thumbs up to that day. 152 Miles
Day 7
Prestatyn to Brean Sands, Somerset.
Left Prestatyn around 5.30 am. And guess what. The weather was fantastic. A nice plod through Snowdonia down to Llanrystud to meet up with Rich from one of the Forums Iâve joined. He took me down through the Brecon Beacons on the A40. What a wonderful road, Stopped off here and there for a cuppa and a Bacon Sarnie. Into Abergavenny to a Bikers Café. Had a chat and off he went back home and off I went back into England and to meet up with Chris again in Western Super Mare. Warren Farm Holiday Centre had again another warm welcome for me. I pitched tent, got the kettle on and I recon Chris must have smelled the Coffee because he arrived just as the kettle was boiling. 332 miles
Day 8
Somerset to Truro, Cornwall.
Left Somerset and made our way into Exmoor National Park. Was good to have my mate back with me. But then again, this was getting boring. The weather turned again and it was a complete was out again. This time my Camera died and again the riding was turning into a chore. Lands end was just mad so we didnât even bother to take a photo. What was the point. Never made it to John OâGroatsâ¦â¦.
Headed towards Truro and again the site was swimming so again another B & B beckoned us. The Townhouse in Truro helped us out and all was fine in the world of Long Way Home 2010. 245 miles
Day 9
Cornwall to Lymington, Hampshire.
Left Truro and headed to Dartmoor National Park. The weather was great for a change. It really makes a difference. Carried on and made it into Bournemouth then into Lymington. And at the Campsite I had a mad idea. I was only about 120 miles from home. So as the weather was nice, Thatâs exactly what I did. I needed to see my Wife and get a pint into my belly. 315 miles.
Verdict.
So far raised £1600 with roughly £200 promised to me for Cancer Research UK.
Marie Keating Just shy of £1500.
2557 miles of smiles and fun even with the rubbish weather.
Watch out for the next Long Way Home.
Regards
Russ
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