Before attempting Snowdon we decided to go for a trial walk.

We stopped at a small empty carpark a few miles from where we had been camping. The walk through a the woods also hid several tunnels, now home to bats, that have an interesting past.

The tunnels were formed by the extraction of the stone which was used in building both in Bath the surrounding area and London. During the war these workings were used as a large underground ammunition store.

We found several entrances during our walk but these were all barred and locked.

The walk was pleasant and an easy stroll and it seemed we were all alone. However on return to the carpark we found that it was full with people waiting to park.

I’m not sure if this 2.5Km walk will prepare us for Snowdon but at least it’s a start.

Now we have made the decision to cycle to Dover along the NR2 and then onto Northern England or Europe there are just two small things to do.

1. Pack.

This is not going to be easy, shall we take this or leave it behind?

How much more can we pack into the bags?

That can be loaded onto the rack.

Can I move my bike with all that weight?

2. Tidy our room

WIth all the panniers (6), ruck sacks and a various assortment of bags, clothes here, there and everywhere, tidying the room is not going to be a simple job.

Also being at Emma’s there is always another 3 rooms we can spread into while tidying our room.

Got on our bikes again today as the sun was out for a while. We decided to head east towards Hengisbury Head as the wind will be behind us to start off.

We headed for Bournemouth prom to have a nice easy flat ride to start, unfortunately there was sand all over the road. This would not normally have bothered us too much, but we have just had our bikes seviced and they are running so smoothly we just don’t want to risk damaging them before we start in earnest.

So we cycle up the zigzag path to the cliff top. We are soon zipping along with the traffic when I look at the sign on the lamp post. We have managed to find the NR2 cycle way,. this route follows the South Coast all the way to Dover. However not  having any clothes packed we decide that Hengisbuy Head had better be the turn round point and we’re not going to try to get to Dover today.

A quick stop for refreshments at the Head and its back home. This is not quite so easy with the wind blowing straight into us, but it still hasn’t put us off starting our trip asap.

So it will be pack, weigh,  re-pack, re-weigh untill we have reduced the contents of our 6 panniers to a weight we may be able to carry. Then it will be off along NR2 untill we get fed up.

Route of our trial run

Sat waiting for a break in the weather and today is bright and sunny. un-prepared for this event we are unable to take advantge and set out on our bike ride.

Instead today I have replaced Mich’s car door and installed  a new radio into her car.

Jo and I also decided to extend our daily walk to include Bournemouth sea front.

The sun is out, the sky is blue and it’s still ***** cold. The beaches at Bournemouth are nearly empty and everyone except us are wrapped in winter coats and scarfes.

This wouldn’t be so bad if we weren’t only a matter of days from the mddle of summer.

Oh well this is England after all and the sun has finally shown its face.

Fed up with waiting for a break in the weather and bored with staying in we have decided to go and get our bikes out of storage.

To try and get a bit fitter Jo has decided we will walk to Poole, so we started walking up through Bournemouth Gardens to Coy Pond.

We then had to walk along the roads and Jo soon changed her mind about walking all the way, so we hopped onto a bus for the remainder of the trip to Poole.

Then it was back onto the bikes, after a few meters we were both ready to go off on a new cycle trip. All it needed was to get back into the saddle.

Today to escape the Butlins crowds we decided to go for a walk. At the exit to the camp we turned right and headed along the sea front, picking up the costal walk path. This took us past the golf course and on to Blue Anchor.

As we neared the village the level crossing gates closed and a train went up away from Minehead. Thegates however stayed closed and we quickly ran to the station to see the down train waiting to go. We didn’t have time to get a ticket and jumped aboard just before it left.

I had forgotten what Butlins was really like and to escape the hordes Jo and I decided to escape from the camp and take a walk into Minehead.

As the weather was overcast the beaches were deserted except for one family dressed in there thickest winter clothes and hiding behind a wind break. After all they have taken a trip to the seaside and they WILL enoy the beach.

We walked on by and ended up at the small harbour, sheltering behind the sea wall to eat our sandwiches

Sheltering from the wind to eat our sandwiches….

before returning to ‘The Camp’

Todays the day.

We have now ended our visit to Matt & Sonia’s and will be travelling in convoy to Minehead in preparation for Sheila’s 60th birthday party.

We have been given a 10:00 deadline for leaving and true to form we are ready right on time.

Jo checked her phone for problems on route and showed Matt some red spots alog the route. The red spots show where traffic is moving slowly or as brother John in Australia found out  it is a cyclist using google navigation on his mobile.

Travelled from Banbury to London with Matt and Sonia. The route below shows the detour the train took on the way back. Think I’d prefer to drive and park.