Set off again today to start the Scottish leg of my tour after a nice 4 day break. Swapped my bike to my cycle cross bike and left all my camping gear at home - must be going soft. Rode with Joe Brown to near alston under blue skies but a brisk nw breeze. I then rode to Brampton with a guy called Iain who I met at a sportive earlier in the year, nice to ride with them both. I entered Scotland to a rousing rendition of Flower of Scotland! I soon reached Annan w...

Just a quick up date to say I got back to Barney this afternoon after quite a tough ride due to the easterly breeze. I had 2 jam sponge's and custard - sweet and sickly, fantastic. I need feeding up as I've lost about 10lb. I'm now looking seriously at all the gear I'm carrying to ditch as much as i can. Hope the rear end feels a bit better by Sunday!

At last I've managed to upload another photo - sorry I can't get them the right way round. This was the compost toilet at the site near Tiverton. I said I wanted an adventure and I'm getting it. For the record I stayed day 13 near Bodmin and day 14 about 10 miles from Tiverton. Since the last blog from Cheddar I've pushed north using a few more A roads than intended. Day 16 I stayed on a nice site on the river Wye near Hereford but got bitten to pieces, my r...

At last I've managed to upload another photo - sorry I can't get them the right way round. This was the compost toilet at the site near Tiverton. I said I wanted an adventure and I'm getting it. For the record I stayed day 13 near Bodmin and day 14 about 10 miles from Tiverton. Since the last blog from Cheddar I've pushed north using a few more A roads than intended. Day 16 I stayed on a nice site on the river Wye near Hereford but got bitten to pieces, my r...

Here I am in Cheddar youth hostel at the end of day 15. I am pleased to be in a proper bed after the last 2 nights under canvas freezing cold. It was only 4 degrees when I set off this morning wearing a buff, leg warmers and long finger gloves - what happened to summer? ? Been on some great little lanes but all the climbing has made it tough - over 2500 meters yesterday for the cyclists amongst you. Last night's camp was as near as you can get to wild camping. ...