Caledonian MacBrayne

I've just calculated that I've visited the Isle of Mull on no fewer than 44 occasions, plus Iona, Lewis and Coll, which means around 100 journeys on the familiar black, white and red Calmac ferries.  And I'm (now) slightly ashamed to admit that I've been a little critical of Calmac in the past - mainly to do with the fact that you have to pay 20p to spend a penny at the Oban Ferry Terminal, and at Fionnphort on Mull (I know, it's a grumpy old man thing).

So today I'd like to sing the praises of Caledonian MacBrayne because they have promised to carry not just me and the bike but also the motorhome on our journeys across the Clyde (Gourock - Dunoon & Portavadie - Tarbert West), and to and from Mull and Skye.  This saves us a considerable outlay on what is fast becoming a rather expensive venture, so it's a great relief.  Special thanks go to Karen Moreland at Calmac HQ for taking the trouble to arrange things for us.

All this Scottish hospitality (which after 40+ visits to Mull is not surprising but just as welcome as ever) restores your faith in human nature, and even puts a spring in your step!

I'm been working for several days on the detailed route which is actually incredibly complicated, particularly wheh you have to factor in where to spend each night.  So often what looks like a caravan site turns out to be a static home park, which is no good to us of course.  But once again I have been really heartened by the number of site owners who have offered a free pitch for the night - my thanks to them all!

Gift Aid

The previous article reminded me about the benefits of Gift Aid.  This is worth 28p for every £1.00 you donate, providing you are a UK taxpayer.  If you pay higher rate tax, you can then claim another 12p back for yourself when you submit your tax return (I think...  check this with your accountant, whilst asking him/her to send a donation to Cancer Research UK!). 
You can only do this if you are donating your own hard-earned money. 
So if you can, when you donate please do it in such a way that you can Gift Aid it - by using the CRUK My Projects web site at http://tinyurl.com/bill-cruk  or the JustGiving site at http://www.justgiving.com/Bill-Honeywell.  Don't forget though, if you donate via the first link nothing will be deducted, whereas JustGiving takes a commission so not all of your money goes to CRUK.

Drinka Pinta Milka Day

Just opened the milk bill for last month and my lovely milkman's wife has written "Don't pay us - put this into your charity fund!"  So thanks to Nicholas and Cathryn Bristol for not only supplying much better milk than you can buy in the supermarket, but for supporting Cancer Research UK.  Other dairy products are also available from NJ & CC Bristol of course!

No Going Back Now!

Over the last few weeks we've been to various motorhome dealers and been met with a fairly lukewarm reception to be honest.  Today we found Richard Baldwin Motorhomes at Halifax - http://rbm.co.uk/ and things suddenly got a lot better!  They are keen to support the ride and help Cancer Research UK (they have supported several other charities in the past including McMillan Nurses) and so did us a fantastic deal on a great second-hand 6-berth motorhome.  So here it is...!  Thanks to Gary Morgan and Paul Heeley at Richard Baldwin Motorhomes for their friendly welcome.

We'll take delivery at the end of March and hopefully there will be time for a short 'shake-down' trip before May.

Val looks pleased (well, she'll be driving it for about three weeks!).  And the 'garage' storage area at the back will literally carry a shed load of luggage (it's even big enough for someone to sleep in).

So now the motorhome problem is sorted - with thanks also to RBS (they don't know about it yet!) - but there's lots more to do.

Caravan parks and camp sites are being very generous, in many cases providing  accommodation overnight on an FOC basis - they will all get a mention.

And thanks also to Ken Kay and Nicola at the Kay Group, who have obtained support from both Shell and Texaco to help keep the costs down.

Nice One Ladies!

I have just got to say a big THANK YOU to the ladies of Clitheroe Tangent who last night held an auction of bric-a-brac and quality home-made produce, raising £200 for Cancer Research UK.  Chairman Janet is an enthusiastic supporter of the bike ride and I'm grateful for all that she, and the Tangent ladies, have done so far.
In the meantime I'm spending this miserable weather getting details of all the campsites / caravan sites en route, trying to work out a schedule (not easy), finish off the driver roster (over-subscribed!) and loads of other planning jobs.
Of the caravan sites I've contacted so far, all the replies have been fantastic, offering overnight accommodation free of charge, for which I'm extremely grateful.  The personal cost of this challenge is already approaching thousands, rather than hundreds, of pounds, so all offers of this nature are warmly welcomed and very much appreciated!

It's been a busy week.

Well, it’s been a busy week. Monday evening was a planning meeting with Logistics Manager, aka brother-in-law Alan Breckell plus sister Pat and an excellent bottle of red – despite which (the bottle, not Pat) we got a lot of ideas sorted out.  The photo is of the only time our Logistics Manager ever got on a bike - on the car park in Tomintoul on Land's End - John O'Groats - perhaps the proximity of the distillery offers an explanation...

On Tuesday Val and I were looking at second-hand motorhomes, then in the evening I went to Clitheroe & District Motor Club (www.cdmconline.com/) whose members kindly raised £140 for Cancer Research UK.

Wednesday evening was Clitheroe Bike Club: Nick Dinsdale from NJD Sports Injuries (www.njdsportsinjuries.co.uk) informed us about all the things that go wrong with our feet, legs, pelvises and backs. I volunteered for an ‘MOT’ and wished I hadn’t! Bit like knowing you’re about to start the Paris-Dakar and the car’s about to fall to bits!

Meanwhile the Lancashire Telegraph published a piece on the ride, as a result of which an old friend contacted me with the possibility (nothing more than that at this stage) that a motorhome might be found on a loan basis – fingers crossed.

Thursday I finally got out on the bike, posting a time over Waddington Fell which was good for me and hopeless compared to all the other CBC times - :-( In the evening Frank Brown and I went to the annual dinner of the Rannock Sheep Breeders’ Society and a more jovial bunch of farmers and auctioneers you couldn’t wish to meet. Frank Wrathall, from Gisburn, entertained.

Today started well with another possibility – again, no more than that – of some fuel sponsorship, which would be a real boon. Fingers crossed again. If all the sponsorship deals come together the motorhome will look pretty good with supporters’ logos!

And lots more besides. This is getting to be a full time job.

Lancashire Telegraph

I made the Lancashire Telegraph yesterday...
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/homes/property_news_config/local_homes_news/8853282.Clitheroe_estate_agent_tackles_4_000_mile_cycle_ride/

Motorhomes 'R' Us

Today I decided that with time getting short and no sign of a motorhome to be begged, borrowed or stolen (well actually there are a few that could probably be stolen but a custodial sentence would interfere with my timetable) I made up my mind to go and look at some second-hand ones.
So Val and I went off to the Preston area and visited Todds, Campbells and Brownhills, to be met with a huge array of all types, sizes, prices and colours. Correction - virtually only one colour, white.  We need a 6-berth so that we're not too cramped with a full crew, and it must have an oven, some storage, and be reliable, so low mileage preferred.  The trick is going to be getting one at the right price so that when we sell it again in August we don't lose a fortune on it.
We've got a shortlist of three or four so later this week there may be some serious haggling to do.  No rush, we don't really need one until the end of March.
And if anyone reading this wants to lend us their 6-berth motorhome, or knows someone else who might - please let me know!

Out and About - at last

Since I posted the route timetable, lots of people have volunteered to be crew members but with all the driving, navigating, cleaning, cooking, shopping, brewing up and so on, there’s room for more! If you are interested, get in touch.


The kind weather this week has meant that it’s been possible to get out on the bike more – in fact it’s the first time this year I’ve been able to cover over 100 miles in one week. The ups and downs of the Hodder Valley were hard work on Thursday afternoon, and I apologise to Bill Barker and Philip Bailey who were moving the Life Education classroom from Slaidburn School when I approached down the hill past Dunnow Lodge at high speed! But the weather was gorgeous, unlike the unremitting rain today which meant more indoor jobs.

The cold weather in December has led to so many potholes that road cycling now demands top concentration. I’ve had two punctures in under 200 miles – and I normally average one about every 1500 miles. As well as the potholes, there are long stretches where the road surface is just plain worn out, and rough as hell. I’m sure we can expect lots of that on the route around the coast.

I’ve had two speaking engagements this week – Bacup Ladies’ Guild on Thursday night and Burnley Probus on Friday. The Probus fee went to the Rosemere Cancer Foundation as I was talking about the 214 Wainwright Challenge (see blog link), while the ladies’ fee has gone to the Cancer Research UK (see CRUK link).

Provisional Timetable

Here is my first attempt at a provisional timetable, which I hope is of some help to the people who have asked where I am likely to be and when.  Several people have expressed an interest in joining the ride at some stage - so if, after looking at this timetable, you would like to be involved, let me know by posting a comment or sending me an email.

Cycle Round Britain’s Coast for Cancer Research UK

Route Summary (by weeks)

Week 1: Tuesday 10 May – Saturday 14 May: Clitheroe – Wigtown

Week 2: Sunday 15 May – Thursday 19 May: Wigtown – Lochgilphead (weekend off)

Week 3: Monday 23 May – Saturday 28 May: Lochgilphead – Ullapool

Week 4: Sunday 29 May – Saturday 4 June: Ullapool – Aberdeen

Week 5: Sunday 5 June – Saturday 11 June: Aberdeen – Hartlepool

Week 6: Sunday 12 June – Saturday 18 June: Hartlepool – Winterton-on-Sea (Norfolk)

Week 7: Sunday 19 June – Saturday 25 June: Winterton-on-Sea – Hythe (Southampton)

Week 8: Sunday 26 June – Saturday 2 July: Hythe – Penhale (Lizard)

Week 9: Sunday 3 July – Saturday 9 July: Penhale – Pilton (Gower)

Week 10: Sunday 10 July – Saturday 16 July: Pilton – Gyrn Goch (Lleyn Peninsula)

Week 11: Sunday 17 July – Tuesday 19 July: Gyrn Goch – Clitheroe


Day           Date                       Overnight Halt      Approx mileage   Total mileage




1      Tues 10/05/2011              Carnforth                             80                 80
2      Wed 11/05/2011             Dalton-in-Furness               80                 160
3      Thur  12/05/2011    Kirkbride/Bowness on Solway  80                240
4       Fri    13/05/2011        Southerness (Dumfries)           80                320
5      Sat    14/05/2011                 Wigtown                           80                 400
6      Sun   15/05/2011                Portpatrick                         80                 480
7      Mon  16/05/2011                     Ayr                                80                 560
8      Tues  17/05/2011                Portavadie                        75                  635
9      Wed  18/05/2011     Southend (past Campbeltown) 55                 690
10    Thur  19/05/2011            Lochgilphead                        72                 762
11    Fri     20/05/2011        Travel to Lancashire                  0                 762
12    Sat    21/05/2011           Chris's Wedding                      0                 762
13    Sun   22/05/2011      Travel back to Lochgilphead     0                  762
14    Mon  23/05/2011                Ardgour                            57                  819
15   Tues   24/05/2011             Tobermory                          48                  867
16    Wed  25/05/2011          Armadale (Skye)                    70                  937
17    Thur  26/05/2011               Torridon                             69                 1006
18    Fri     27/05/2011                    Off                                    0                  1006
19    Sat    28/05/2011               Ullapool                               85                 1091
20    Sun   29/05/2011               Durness                               67                 1158
21    Mon  30/05/2011               Thurso                                74                  1232
22    Tues  31/05/2011       John O'Groats / Off                   20                 1252
23    Wed  01/06/2011               Brora                                    60                1312
24    Thur  02/06/2011                Nairn                                   82                1394
25    Fri     03/06/2011             Macduff                                 70                 1464
26    Sat    04/06/2011            Aberdeen                                80                1544
27    Sun   05/06/2011                 Off                                       0                  1544
28    Mon  06/06/2011            Carnoustie                             80                1624
29   Tues   07/06/2011             Kinghorn                              81                 1705
30   Wed   08/06/2011           Coldingham                            80                 1785
31   Thur   09/06/2011            Warkworth                            80                 1865
32    Fri     10/06/2011                  Off                                      0                  1865
33    Sat    11/06/2011            Hartlepool                              66                 1931
34    Sun   12/06/2011                 Filey                                  76                 2007
35    Mon  13/06/2011            Patrington                             80                 2087
36    Tues  14/06/2011           Mablethorpe                         78                 2165
37    Wed  15/06/2011                 Off                                      0                  2165
38    Thur   16/06/2011          Kings Lynn                            84                 2249
39    Fri     17/06/2011       Winterton on Sea                       82                2331
40    Sat    18/06/2011                Off                                       0                  2331
41    Sun   19/06/2011            Felixstowe                             79                2410
42    Mon  20/06/2011             Basildon                              80                 2490
43    Tues  21/06/2011              Margate                             86                 2576
44    Wed  22/06/2011                  Rye                                  69                 2645
45    Thur   23/06/2011              Off                                       0                  2645
46    Fri     24/06/2011          Littlehampton                         75                 2720
47    Sat    25/06/2011               Hythe                                  65                2785
48    Sun   26/06/2011             Weymouth                           77                2862
49    Mon  27/06/2011                Off                                      0                  2862
50    Tues  28/06/2011              Exmouth                            75                  2937
51    Wed  29/06/2011             Dartmouth                          50                 2987
52    Thur  30/06/2011              Bodinnick                          73                 3060
53    Fri     01/07/2011                 Off                                     0                  3060
54    Sat    02/07/2011          Penhale (Lizard)                    62                  3122
55    Sun    03/07/2011             St Agnes                           73                  3195
56    Mon   04/07/2011               Bude                                70                  3265
57    Tues   05/07/2011         Combe Martin                      76                  3341
58    Wed   06/07/2011                Off                                     0                  3341
59   Thur    07/07/2011       Weston Super Mare               77                3418
60    Fri      08/07/2011              Barry                                   84                3502
61    Sat     09/07/2011              Pilton (Gower)                   80                 3582
62    Sun    10/07/2011                Off                                     0                  3582
63    Mon   11/07/2011              Tenby                                77                3659
64    Tues   12/07/2011           St David's Head                  75                 3734
65    Wed   13/07/2011             Aberaeron                          75                3809
66    Thur   14/07/2011              Barmouth                          73                3882
67     Fri     15/07/2011                Off                                      0                 3882
68    Sat     16/07/2011          Gyrn Goch (N Lleyn)             68               3950
69    Sun    17/07/2011               Prestatyn                           75               4025
70    Mon   18/07/2011              Southport                           72              4097
71   Tues    19/07/2011              Clitheroe                             38              4135

Winter Blues?

Well, Christmas and the New Year have come and gone, and much of the original good intentions as regards training are proving hard to keep alive!  Still, after the long cold spell I did manage to get out on some training rides during the first week in January, and then had a week off for a Nile Cruise with Val, plus our good friends (and hopefully motorhome pilot(s) on the big ride) Frank and Bernadette. 

All that good cycling weather - low to mid 20s during the day - and hardly a bike in sight!  Still, the Egyptian temples were amazing and the people in the small group we were with were great fun.

The afternoon after I got back (yesterday) I went for another ride, and just as my cold hands were starting to seize up I got a puncture. Boy, it felt cold changing the inner tube, especially as you have to take off your glove to feel inside the tyre, to make sure there isn't a thorn sticking through to burst the new tube straight away. 

Positive Solutions at Nelson (Graphic Design, Advertising) very kindly designed and printed some business cards for me so that I can hand them out to all and sundry as a remider of the ride - so thank you guys!  http://www.positiveonline.co.uk/

So for the next few weeks/months I need to be carrying on training and looking for more sponsors.  As soon as there is any news you'll be the first to know!

Now for the detailed route...

This is a bit more complicated but if you follow the instructions you should be OK.
I’ve plotted the route on an on-line programme called bikehike which is at http://www.bikehike.co.uk/. The whole route uses about 30Mb of memory so I’ve divided into 17 sections which are saved as .zip files. You can download these individually by going to www.honeywell.co.uk/Cycle_Britain. The route titles are a bit abbreviated but they are numbered 1-17 in order around the country and once you get the idea that pool-jog = Poolewe to John O’Groats and mont-sun = Montrose to Sunderland you shouldn’t have any problems! Select the section of route you want, click on it and then select Save in the box that pops up. You can then save the .zip file anywhere you like on your computer.
If you aren’t already familiar with how to unzip files, it’s pretty straightforward – double-click on the file and in the box that pops up, select Extract all Files: this takes you to the Compressed (zipped) Folders Extraction Wizard, after which you should have the route file ready to use on your pc or laptop.
Now go to http://www.bikehike.co.uk/ and go to the Course Creator page. From the choices in the lower right quadrant, select Upload Route, then in Browse… choose the file you’ve unzipped and away you go! It may be a little complicated but it’s easy once you know how!!

If you're keen enough to do this, let me know how easy or difficult it was.  You can play around with the route on your PC but you can't alter the original unless you are an expert hacker, and why would you want to anyway.  BUT - if you have any suggestions as to how to improve the route, or if there is anything en route that you think I should visit (including you, if you like!), feel free to let me know.

The Route - but in not much detail..

If anyone is interested in the route I've produced some maps which will give you a brief outline. Obviously it's going around the coast of Great Britain, but you'd be surprised how many different alternatives there are.

I decided not to cycle around islands, except... just to be awkward I thought I'd nip over on to Walney Island at Barrow-in-Furness.  Then in NW Scotland, in order to keep to the coast as much as possible, it makes sense to go from Loch Aline to Mull, then from Tobermory to Kilchoan on the mainland Ardnamurchan peninsula, and also from Mallaig to the Isle of Skye and back over the Skye Bridge, thus avoiding a considerable distance far from the coast.

There simply isn't space for the maps on this blog - they would run to several pages - but if you are on Facebook then you can find them at
http://tinyurl.com/3x4qfde

I will shortly post some instructions so that if you do want to see all or part of the route in the finest detail you will be able to, using an on-line program called http://www.bikehike.co.uk/

Christmas Cracker Cancelled

...or rather postponed until early next year.  Pretty inevitable considering the current weather conditions.  What a shame - over the last few days I've been looking forward to dealing with freezing cold, numb feet and hands, 'orrible snotsicles and general severe hypothermia.  Seriously though, it's not easy to keep fit in this weather unless you go to the gym, which is OK - just deadly boring compared to speeding (?) through the countryside.  I have an old bike set up on rollers in the spare bedroom; I could always try pedalling away on that whilst watching DVDs of the Tour de France. But not yet!

Why I'm Supporting Cancer Research UK

Whilst there are many really worthwhile charities providing palliative care for cancer patients – Macmillan Nurses, Marie Curie, the Rosemere Foundation, and many more – I think it is also vital to support ground-breaking scientific research which will lead to lasting benefits both in terms of treatment and preventing cancer in the first place.

That’s why I am supporting the excellent work being carried out by Professor Margaret Frame at the Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, which will help cancer patients now and in the future throughout the UK and beyond.

A lot of planning needs to go into the Cycle Round Britain’s Coast Challenge: the start of the ride is still five months away and I’m going to be kept busy the whole time between now and then. But if you don’t want to wait and would rather help this vital work by Cancer Research UK right now, go to

http://myprojects.cancerresearchuk.org/group-giving/cycle-britains-coast,

where there is lots more information and an easy way to make a donation. Unlike the JustGiving web site, every penny of your donation will go directl to Cancer Research UK. (Even if you don’t want to donate now, it’s worth looking at the site!)

If you put my Giving Group page in your favourites you can keep up to date with progress before, during and after the ride around Britain. And if you have any queries or can offer any help, all you need to do is post a comment and I’ll get straight back to you.