Day 13. Rest Day?

Got a day off today, so me Sally n Georgie did a lap of Kirroughtree's
red mountain bike loop. Pretty sweet flowing trail. Frantically trying
to dry gear and re stock food for the week ahead. Meeting Doug Monday
lunch time around Maiden, just accross from Arran, so got a 40 km
paddle tomorrow to stay on track. Hopefully the wind is kind..... Pete x

More....

Sally made it and saved me from tent fever... Just biked 27 kms from
Luce Bay to Stranraer. Ready to paddle some more when the wind turns!!
Pete xx

Day 12. Tent fever... It's pouring down!!

Dave has gone home. Got a lift off a great chap from Blyth called
Davy. He's into kayaking and has a caravan at Auchenmalg Bay. He's my
first sponsor. Gonna raise money for the RNLI, will set up a just
giving page when I'm done, so donations will be greatly appreciated.
Had a lazy morning in the tent drinking tea, then a couple of amazing
breakfast baps at the Cock Inn. Nice.... Got all my dry clothes n
shoes soaked walking to the top of the Mull of Sinniness to get an O2
signal to update the last two days blogs... Now back in the tent
brewing up again. Sally should be here soon, then I'll make a plan to
get to Lendalfoot by bike and kayak for Monday to meet Doug to paddle
six days up to Fort William.

Day 11. Change of plan..

The plan was to paddle accross Luce Bay today, then up to Port Patrick
to meet Sally tomorrow, so Dave can get back to Nottingham for work on
Saturday. Problem is the tide times mean that we wouldn't make PP
until 8 or 9pm which is too late for Dave to make it back. Also head
winds are north westerly force 5, so progress will be slow. So we
headed around a choppy Burrow Head then 34km into the wind, all the
way up to the head of Luce Bay to Auchenmalg Bay, try telling that to
the coast guard!!! Use of the phonetic alphabet would be useful, if I
could remember it !! Alpha uniform Charlie hotel etc.... Another long
day on the water. 7.5 hrs into the wind. Going backwards if you stop!!
On the os map it showed a camp site, well os was wrong, trailer park
only so another night with no shower!! Luckily we met a nice chap from
the local pub, the Cock Inn. he kindly let us camp in his garden. He
has ice cold beer and great steak n ale pie too. Wicked.. Pete xx

Day 10. 8hrs paddle into the wind!!

Just paddled 43km from Rockcliffe to Isle of Whithorn, including a
28km open crossing, all into force 4 / 5 winds. Took 8 hrs... Figured
the 3.5knot tidal stream would help us but the headwind cancelled that
out. A great day on the water though. Made it into Isle of Whithorn at
8pmyk and went straight to the pub for fish n chips and you'll never
believe it... A couple of pints of my favourite Timothy Taylors!!
Wicked.. This place is a really un spoilt little fishing village,
great place to explore.. If only we had time. Gotta be back on the
water at nine... Cheers for the Timmy's Pete xx

Day 9. We're in Scotland

Made it out of Scary Maryport in one piece. Getting water was quite a
job. A tandorri restaurant helped out in the end. Paddled accross the
Solway Firth today. 26km open crossing. Set off a bit early so didn't
have much tidal help for the second half. Took four hours as planned.
Camping in a pile of braken in a little bay called Rockcliffe. Just
off to get water and a beer perhaps... Love pete x

Day 8. On the water at last.

Leafy Dave arrived late last night to join me up to Port Patrick.
Great day on the water. Paddled 40km from near Sellafield to Maryport.
Light tail winds and no significant tides. Set off in the rain and
terrible visibility. St Bees head went by in the fog. Weather improved
and now drying gear at our camp. Gotta find water and some beer as
it's my birthday.. Big cross to Scotland tomorrow. Love n beers pete x

Day 7. Sellafield is stunning this time of year!!

Made it to the sea. 25km bike ride down from Wasdale. Camping beside
Sellafield, typing this blog in a caravan park for nuclear power
spotters!! Drinking the best pint of Carling ever... So the guy at the
bar tells me. Bev n Trev have gone to pick up Dave. He's joining me up
to Port Patrick. Sal n georgie have headed home after sorting all the
gear, food and logistics, will see them on friday again. Championship
darts on the tv and another great pint of carling coming up... On the
water tomorrow. Can't wait... Pete x

Day 6. Made it up a very rainy Scafell Pike

Ten of us minus Georgie as she's cut her foot had a great start in
pretty nice conditions to just short of the summit. Then the
forecasted patchy drizzle began, roughly translated, patchy drizzle
means pissing down all day!! We made the summit and yet again couldn't
see a thing.. Then headed quickly down to a hot shower and a well
deserved pint in the pub!! Only one more peak to go... 12 days
paddling before I get there though, patchy drizzle permitting!!

Day 5. Made it to Wasdale Head

Lazy morning resting, eating and catching up with my folks. Set off
after lunch riding from Bowness to Wasdale Head. Over Wrynose and
Hardnott passes. Pretty steep but managed them both in a oner... Had
Beryl's scones as a reward at the top. Great views of Wastwater and
it's scree slopes on the final straight. 52km. 940m climbing. Ended
the ride with a pint and plate of chips at the Wasdale Head Inn... off
up Peak 2 tomorrow...

Day 4. Made it to the Lakes...

Made it to the lakes. At my mums in Windermere now getting fed n
fussed. 86km 1100m of ups... Got hit by a 50mph transit mirror within
the first five mins!! Fortunately I stayed on and the mirror bent in,
so all good still. The driver was pretty worried though!! Apart from
that a pretty good ride with great views of the Dales, Howgills and
Lake District Fells. Resting now before the big passes tomorrow over
to Wasdale and a well deserved pint in the pub.... Time for a bath.
Pete x

Day three. Through the Peak, Manchester and beyond...

Good day on and off road today. 115km with 1400m of climbing! 8 hrs..
Great views through the dark peak. Road blocks to climb through fences
to get through the Goyt Valley. Great off roading to Whaley Bridge
then a big climb up and over to Glossop. Manchester sucked especially
Ashton and Oldham, Rochdale was not much better.... The climb up the
South Pennines was long but views North well worth it. Burnley etc
sucked, but the youth hostel in Earby is pretty nice. Off to the pub
now for dinner with Wendy n Phil who live pretty close... Should make
the Lakes tomorrow. Pete xx

Day 2. Sore legs and bum, Llangollen to Wincle

Tough day on the road. 98kms with 800m climbing. Rained on and off all
day. Heavy back pack gave me back ache, but after a re shuffle of
heavy stuff into my bike bags things improved. Had lunch in Crewe with
Matt which was cool. Long climb from Congleton to my bnb in Wincle,
just inside the Peak District national park. In the pub now, steak
ordered and strawberry beer for desert.... Pete xx ( chack duckio )

The challenge is on. Day 1

Started the three peaks on foot, by bike and kayak challenge today.
Strong winds, torrential rain and poor visability didn't stop Sally,
Georgie and I getting up and down Snowdon from Pen y pass, via the
miners track. I then cycled 70kms to PJ's place in Llangollen again
through torrential rain!! What a day... Wicked... More soon. Pete xx

Plans Have Changed....

My plans have changed a bit... because of a bad cold and the weather... So I'm gonna bike the first week... Here's my rough itinerary...

Mon 19th Snowdon and cycle to Llangollen

Tues 20th Cycle Llangollen to Buxton

Wed 21st Cycle Buxton to Earby. Lancs

Thurs 22nd Cycle Earby to Windermere

Fri 23rd Cycle Windermere to Wasdale Head

Sat 24th / Sun 25th Scafell Pike

Mon 26th Paddle Seascale to Maryport

Tues 27th Maryport to Southerness

Wed 28th Southerness to Isle Of Whithorn

Thurs 29th Isle of Whitthorne to Drunmore

Fri 30th Drunmore to Portpatrick

Sat 31st Portpatrick

Sun 1st Portpatrick to Ballantre

Mon 2nd Ballantre to Kildonan ( or Ballantre to Southend )

Tues 3rd Kildonan to Lochranza ( or Southend to Machrihanish )

Wed 4th Lochranza to Ardrishaig ( or Machrihanish to Isle of Gigha )

Thurs 5th Ardrishaig to Crinan ( or Isle of Gigha to Crinan )

Fri 6th Crinan to Oban

Sat 7th Oban to Fort William

Sun 8th Ben Nevis

More news soon...

Great day training

Just paddled 15km in still calm conditions around Point Lynas
Anglesey. Amazing sunset and seal friends...