Day 3 - 6 Sep 11

Today started with a team breakfast in the WOSR mess, many thanks to the Mess President WO1 Drew, on completion we departed Plymouth at 9.15 for Taunton after a PR photo at the base.  The ride up onto Dartmoor was wet however the wind was mostly from behind lending a welcome helping hand.  After a quick coffee in Princetown we started the long descent Mortonhampstead.  After 60 miles the quote of the day was: ‘don’t worry that track doesn’t last for long’, 20 miles of muddy country lanes and two punctures later we finally arrived at Norton Manor Camp at 6 o’clock.  Group 1 enjoyed a nice set of 15 minute “Holywood showers”, not realising there was a finite supply of hot water in the boiler which left Group 2 taking charter-building cold showers, oops!! Stats: 83 miles, 2200 meters, total time 7 hours 54 mins.  Highlight descent from Princetown, low point getting stung by a wasp and near death experience crossing a wet cattle grid uphill.

Map of completed route Day 2

Day 2 - 5 Sep 11

A mixture of sunshine and showers today but we managed to avoid most of them.  Today’s route took us through picturesque and significantly hilly Cornish countryside.  There were steep climbs after each of the 3 ferry crossings today.  The climb out of St Austell was particularly challenging with a 12 % incline, the climb out of Looe was quite cheeky too. We rode in two groups of six with a support van for each the second group coming in slightly later after a puncture delay. Many thanks to King Harry and Fowey ferries for free passage.  Stats: 77miles, 6hrs 45mins, total ascent 3022ft, ave spd 14mph (not including ferry crossings and breaks). The training over summer appears to have paid off and feeling ready for another hard day over Dartmoor tomorrow (I may feel different in the morning though, particularly with the heavy rain forecast!!). Tomorrow could be one of the hardest days with plenty climbing and adverse weather. Two photos above, one on the King Harry Ferry and another during a quick pause in Looe.

Day 1 - 4 Sep 11

A frustrating start to the day as it made sense to wait for a weather front of heavy rain to clear as we only had a short ride to RNAS Culdrose (Helston) this afternoon.  The feeling of anticipation as we drank our coffees in the cafe was palpable as the reality of starting the End to End challenge was finally upon us.  Once the rain cleared we cycled in broken sunshine along quiet Cornish roads; the highlight was passing along the coast at Newlyn with some great views of St Michael’s Mount. Stats: 28 miles, 2 hours, Ave Speed 14mph, total ascent 2430ft. Today was very much a case of getting down to the start line and getting on the bikes ready for some serious riding tomorrow.  Day 2 Helston to Plymouth, 77 miles, expecting it to be challenging with some seriously undulating Cornish countryside to navigate.

Kit issue

Looking smart in our brand new FOST cycling team kit, let's hope we look as fresh after a 1000 miles!

Follow me on twitter!

You can follow me on twitter @ de_limey. As well as documenting all my training rides via 'map my ride' I will be using twitter to give regular updates throughout the event. CG

FOST Families Day Fundraising

Chris, Kate, Mike & Rocky out in the sunshine at FOST families day for 4 hours of fundraising in the sunshine.  I just hope that isn’t the support wagon in the background!