DAY 1: Land's End to Newquay
We arrived in Newlyn at two o’clock in the morning and camped in the fish market; an interesting small working fishing port. Then off to Lands End to start the journey.
At the start
Camper van parked on Pentire Esplanade.
We had supper with Mervyn and Rachel Mitchell (Ruth's parents). Thanks to Rachel for the delicous soup! We looked at the lovely views across the bay from their house and had a very nice time.
Trying to get the hang of the new smartphone camera ... it seems to want to take pictures on its own!?
A typical breakfast for Julyan in the camper van.
Testing out the camera on the new smart phone. Support team is already looking sumhwat bleary-eyed!
Trying out the comforts of the camper van - a serious business?
Discussing the route and the traffic with Peter before setting off.
On day 1 we kept in touch with Julyan as he went along and the layby we chose to stop in happened to have rather an interesting archaeological site right beside it called Perran Round. In Ireland or the Isle of Man this would look like an early medieval ring-fort.
This is the entrance to Perran Round. Philippa spotted a Rosa spinossissima growing on the top of the bank to the right.
Described as the best example of a Plen an Gwary or Cornish medieval amphitheatre; re-use of an earlier site?
We celebrated Julyan's birthday with a beer in the hotel up the track from the campsite at Carnewas, St Eval.
DAY 2: Newquay to Launceston
Juyan was negotiating the coast and heading for the Camel Trail that runs along beside the Camel Estuary, and heading for Launceston. We met him at the end of the Camel trail near Wadebridge and then we had a brief look at Launceston before meeting him at our campsite at Tregadillet. No photos from this day which was rather wet!DAY 3: Launceston to Bampton
Whilst Julyan was tackling Devon we went to the northern edge of Dartmoor, walked up from the Meldon Reservoir and found this lovely valley with a cooling stream ...
... a nice bridge and plenty of interesting plants, including ...
Narthecium ossifragum, Bog asphodel, on a rock in the middle of the stream.
Black-a-Tor copse SSSI ... a narrow ravine with relict oak and hazel, which reminded us of Glen Mooar going up to Block Eary.
DAY 4: Bampton to Winford
Whilst Julyan was heading into Somerset we went north to Minehead and spent the day with Peter's old school sweetheart Di and her husband John. This is part of the splendid view from their house.
They were surprised when Peter said we would LIKE to visit their local sewage works ...
.. which was having an open day. Here are Philippa with Di and John Martin at the start of the tour. De-generators?
Some intense discussion.
After the tour we did have a wistlestop view of the more traditional tourist sites of Minehead. Thanks Di and John!
Bampton on an early Sunday morning was an exellent place for us to set Julyan on his way to Somerset and up the Cheddar Gorge. Sometimes parking the camper van was a bit of an issue! We had no mishaps with the driving for the whole 2,585 mile round trip. Phew!
DAY 5: Winford to Tewkesbury
Off he goes!
DAY 6: Tewkesbury to Ironbridge
The Caravan Club site lies just beside the Abbey which Peter and Jem explored. I enjoyed shopping in the town. Then we met up with Sue Perry for breakfast which was lovely. We should have taken a photo!
An impressive pile retaining its original apsidal plan
This must be one of the highest Romanesque openings in England!
Apart from the pinnacles a completely Romanesque tower
DAY 7: Ironbridge to Little Budworth
Our next overnight stop was a fishin', shootin' and campin' site ... set out in the grounds of Holmston Hall, Little Budworth (shown here). In the foreground is a not quite convincing mill wheel assembly. The owner collected her fees from the driver’s seat of a Porche convertible – yes we had arrived in Cheshire!
The pet’s cemetery – is the name 'Porscha' significant?
Philippa setting off to meet Julyan as the campsite was difficult to find... any excuse!
DAY 8: Little Budworth to Aigburth
No photos! Philippa went to the launderette and did various chores. Julyan cycled to Aigburth (the joys of Runcorn Bridge!) where Jenny and Geoff welcomed us all not least the van parked in the road.
Peter went with Ivor to his cousin Lawrence's funeral in Bristol; very sad that we were too late to meet him on this journey as we had planned, but good to meet his family.
DAY 9: Aigburth to Alder Hey
Half the support team with Julyan on his press photo shoot.
Julyan posing for the camera in front of the new Alder Hey hospital building site. Design based on a patient's drawing!
DAY 10: Rest Day in SW Lancashire
Resting, and catching up with text messages, at Rufford Old Hall ...
... a splendid house and garden.
Admiring the building
This shows the exterior of the old hall at Rufford
Farmyard campsite at Tristrams Farm, near Halsall.
There is always something interesting to look at!
DAY 11: Rest Day in Southport
Support team checking out "Southport Cycling Town".
The Eco Centre wasn't open but is an interesting design, ?cf Culloden below.
The campsite nestles alongside the sand dunes and there is a lovely nature reserve with masses of Filipendula! Spot the Rose!
Yes, that was Rosa rugosa in the middle ground.
DAY 12: Alder Hey to Sedbergh
The campsite at Low Park Wood south of Kendal is at the gateway to the Lakes and is situated alongside the lovely river Kent but we were a bit surprised to see that it is also an archaeological site ...
... a lovely woodland but also the remains of a dynamite factory ... so reminiscent of Cornaa. Torrential rain!
DAY 13: Sedbergh to Langholm
Convenient Spar shop in Sedbergh for the pick up and drop off.
Relaxing beside the River Eden in Wetheral.
Rail viaduct over the Eden, this is the Newcastle to Carlisle line.
We also managed to visit Wetheral Priory Gatehouse, probably would never have seen it if we hadn't been doing LEJOG!
After meeting Patience off the train in Carlise with her bike we met Julyan at Langholm and had a meal in the Douglas Hotel garden.
Relaxing at sunset at Under Millsteads, Canonbie campsite. The owner works on an English Nature red squirrels project (in Scotland!).
Watching the sun set and the bats coming out... but we missed the red squirrels as our stay was so short.
DAY 14: Langholm to South Queensferry
We were very lucky to be able to meet up with Ivor, Pam, Alice and Chris, here with Peter, in Crawfordjohn while Julyan was pedalling through the Borders into Midlothian.
in the churchyard at Crawfordjohn ...
Ivor and Peter trying to phase the house ...
... Patience and Chris chatting ...
... and exploring Chris and Alice's lovely temporary abode.
Patience and Philippa joined Julyan on the cycle into Edinburgh. This view of the Pentland Hills reminds Philippa of cycling and riding there in the late 1970s when she was working at the HFRO in Bush, Penicuik in two university vacations.
It had stopped raining; Prince's Street was busy ...
... time for a quick rest and a few photos.
Negotiating the Cycle Diversion to get to the start of the Bridge.
On the Forth Road Bridge with Philippa and ...
Patience
View of the Forth Rail Bridge
DAY 15: South Queensferry to Pitlochry
Sightseeing in Dunkeld.
The Hermitage Pleasure Ground, Dunkeld, containing Ossian’s Hall of Mirrors and other 18th-century follies constructed by the Duke of Atholl – then owner of the Isle of Man. It does have an amazing collection of ancient trees especially the giant Douglas firs.
... as well as another lovely boulder strewn river that you cannot keep Philippa out of. This was the Strath Braan.
DAY 16: Pitlochry to Inverness
Our camper van parked at the super Invernahavon campsite with the Black Craig forming a dramatic backdrop.
The site had been planted with aspens (Populus tremula) at different times; they all have a rather regular pyramidal appearance. Is this the result of breeding or management?
Saying goodbye to Patience at Pitlochry station.
Broken stem of Rosa sherardii near Invernahavon; unlike the Manx examples this Scottish race is pure white.”
Julyan setting off for another long cycle.
We drove ahead to Culloden Moor campsite and spent the afternoon looking at the new Scottish National Trust visitor centre and the battle site.
A restored building on the site
The Visitor Centre is cleverly melded into the landscape.
The battlefield is laid out with blue and red flags to show the position of the two armies at the start of the battle.
DAY 17: Inverness to Brora
Crossing the Cromarty Firth.
Very pleasant campsite as it was possible to have a quick paddle in the sea before bedtime and convenient spot for the van adjacent to all facilities!
DAY 18: Brora to John O' Groats!!!
Rearing to go after a good night's sleep at Brora.
A walk on the beach a Brora as the cloud gradually lifted ... but not much further north.
Pouring rain at the finish! We were glad to see the John O'Groats ferry setting sail from the harbour as a nice backdrop.
DAY 18 cont.: Driving south to Crawfordjohn
Lots of photos from the van as we whizzed back south. Notice the raindrops too!
Cloudscape view as we crossed the Firth.
"Heavy Rain Forcast" ... we do not care anymore. And we have even got away before the Commonwealth Games started!
DAY 19: Crawfordjohn with Alice and Chris
We were lucky to be able to go out with Chris and Alice doing their work...tracking young curlew on an RSPB project. Here one has been caught ..
measured
and photographed before being carefully re-released.
We also did lots of botanising ...
... and discussing the landscape.
Later we climbed up a grouse moor managed hill with fantastic views in evening sunshine. Including the Paps of Jura! The earthwork in the middle ground acted as the boundary between the old counties of Lanarkshire and Ayrshire - date unknown.
... and we found a fine Rosa rubiginosa bush in a garden hedge on the way back to Crawfordjohn.
The shooting buts were acting as small mammal and amphibian traps, sadly, but one frog was still alive and rescued.
DAY 20: Back to Aigburth
A baking hot, midday botanising walk on a limestone pavement at Great Asby as a break from driving.
Re-united with Juyan, who had come ahead by train yesterday for his Oncology appointment at Alder Hey with James Hayden, who "was pleased to report that Julyan remains very well and there are no on-going concerns". Thank you Dr Hayden. We had a lovely Tapas supper with Jenny and Geoff in Lark Lane.
DAY 21: Setting off home for the Support Team!
Ready to board the Manannan at Pier Head. We had enjoyed our cycle along from Otterspool Promenade.
Geoff and Jenny seeing us off (thank you for bringing all our heavy luggage!).