November Plans – On the Road Again!

The threatened train strikes have been cancelled and the weather, for several days at least, looks favourable. My bike has been in to see the lovely people at Alpkit in Hathersage and had a thorough overhaul. My brakes are working again! I have another new chain and more new cables. Everything is pointing towards restarting my adventure.

And so, tomorrow, 9th November, I will begin another leg of my journey. I may not quite finish the whole thing this time either. But I will be getting very close. The weather, more than anything else, will determine what happens. In the meantime, here are my plans for the rest of the last of my long coast to coast crossings, that began back in Bude, in OS map 190, on 31st October, before Storm Claudio hit.

Tuesday 8th November – Depart Hathersage. Slightly convoluted journey using various trains (to secure bike spaces) via Sheffield, Doncaster and Kings Cross, then cycle across London and another train to Honiton, Devon, where I last left my adventure on 31st October. Stay in Wilmington, 3 miles east of Honiton.

Wednesday 9th November – cycle from Wilmington to Stourpaine, neat Blandford Forum.

Thursday 10th November – cycle from Stourpaine to Lymington, then ferry to Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. Then ride across island to West Cowes, then fast passenger ferry to Southampton. Rendezvous in Southampton with contact from Ordnance Survey.

Friday 11th November – visit to Ordnance Survey HQ. Cycle afternoon loop ride in Hampshire with OS cycling group.

Saturday 12th November – cycle Whiteley to Brighton, all along the south coast.

Sunday 13th November – cycle Brighton to Rye, completing crossing of OS map 199. Train from Rye to London. Stay with cousin Luke.

Monday 14th November – train home London to Hathersage (unless the weather forecast changes and is so good that I feel compelled to continue).

That should leave me with just 5 maps to ride, plans for which remain a mystery at this point! I am still very keen to get the trip finished this year if I can. The next 5 days will be an indication as to how likely that could be. The sun will be setting before 4.30pm this week. The days will only get shorter, and colder. But I will be very close!

While I am here, let me relate a slightly bizarre experience at Sheffield station today. In approaching my Northern train to Doncaster, as other passengers were getting out of the incoming service that terminated in Sheffield, I was unable to immediately board at the doors where the bicycle spaces were clearly indicated. For a very good reason: there was a chap in a wheelchair waiting to alight and – as we all know – there is a gap to be minded. Presently a sturdy looking female conductor appeared from within carrying a large, heavy looking portable folding ramp, which she duly put in place, allowing the wheelchair to roll out of the train on to the platform. I waited my turn patiently and then made to push my bike up said ramp, as you would. Before I could get there, the sturdy conductor had lifted it high into the air and begun folding it up again. ”Could I just take advantage of that, please?” I asked. ”Sorry, we’re not allowed!” was the reply, and she was off before I could say any more. Now it isn’t like I was unable to get my bike with its heavy bags over the gap and up into the train. I am lucky enough to be able to manhandle it without assistance (although I won’t pretend it is easy). But I couldn’t help wondering what possible reason there might be why I was so categorically not allowed to use a perfectly good ramp for my awkwardly heavy wheeled object. Hmm.