Brad bikes from John O Groats to Lands End (JOGLE)

Day 8 – Blackpool to Shrewsbury (100 miles)

July 18th, 2010 | 1 Comment | Posted in All, Route

Saturday 17th July 2010

I woke up quite early around 6am, a good sleep, but the cleanliness of the place made me want to leave ASAP. I set off at 8 after getting what breakfast I could stomach in this place. I’m not a snob, but the breakfast was the cheapest value basic range and tasted like it.

The weather was overcast with spots of rain, but good riding weather. Within the first 2 hours I had made nearly 30 miles by staying on the main roads.

I stopped off at a cafe just before Warrington at Standish where I grabbed some more food. A guy called Dave walked in and asked what I was up to and I told him my charity and website. I set off again and about an hour down the road I heard a ‘Ker-Ching’ which came from my JustGiving iPhone app. Dave who I spoke to in the cafe had donated £10, what a gent. Thank you.

I got a little lost in Warrington, completely my fault as I decided to follow the route calculated by my bikes gps, not a good move, taking me along some dirt tracks, but I did see some amazing houses (how the other half live).

I made my way to Whitchurch by 4pm, 80 miles already completed, I only had 20 more to get to Shrewsbury. So I set off in high spirits, the sun was shining and feeling ready to complete the longest ride of my challenge so far, 100 miles.

At a junction a lady waved me out of a junction, checking the traffic in the opposite direction while balancing on the the peddles, I lost my balance and crash! I didn’t get my feet out in time and ended up on the deck in front of about 8 cars. I wasn’t hurt just more embarrassed, for any cyclist it happens occasionally. It had been on my mind most days, wondering when it might happen. I blame it completely on the woman trying to let me out. Nothing to do with the fact my achilles are killing me and I didn’t want to keep twisting my feet out of the clipped peddles. So I’ve been dosed up with paracetimal and ibuprofen all day. It also helps just sitting down on the saddle going up hills. I hope they improve before Devon and Cornwall.

I stayed in a pub in Shrewsbury, it was handy as they had plenty of ice to put on my achilles, had a quiet evening just trying to get fit for tomorrow.

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One Response to “Day 8 – Blackpool to Shrewsbury (100 miles)”

Brad Middleton Says:
July 19th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
BRAD GO GO GO ANOTHER TON TODAY SHOULD BE GOOD WELL DONE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY

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