Its OVER!

Thursday 4th October 2012

I made it to Fishgaurd (no idea how) in horrible gusting headwinds at about 1630 yesterday (Wed).
I made my way along to the RNLI boat house expecting to do a self-timer shot of myself looking miserable and tired. How wrong I was!
Training night
I timed it well as it turns out......I was invited to tag along on the weekly training exercise on the AWB!
I'm going to write a proper diary when I get home, but this was a truelly awesome end to the week. Amazing, such a privelage - many thanks to all the crew.
If your reading this, unless you see how hard these volunteers have to work on these noisey and cramped machines then you will never truely appreciate there hard work.

Consider sponsoring me if you havn't - I'm not far off my goal of £500 - links at the bottom of the previous posts.

Look out for a proper write-up over the next few days.

Martyn - tired.

The view from the cockpit

Ive got a wifi connection so I thought I'd add a link to my sponsorship page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=holyheadtofishgaurd

Heres what the view ive had for the last 4 days, and probably the next 3.

A sunset to watch!

Just a quickie toight, bad connection.
Had a good day. Made it to Aberywstwyth. No rain lots of wind oh and SUN whatever that is?

Never under estimate the power of clean socks!

Just about to get dressed ready for a day of action. The thought of putting the thick 'keep ya feet n ankles warm' socks for the fourth day in a row is putting me off.
On the brightside, Ive rested good in a comfy bed, got a kettle, and the view from the window.....promising!
Aberdovey here I come.

Thankyou to all people who have donated

Including gift aid, I'm at about £360 . I want get to £500 so if you havn't yet, please give what you can.
Thanks today to Jayne Potter in Barmouth for her help & advice in find somewhere to stay, and for her donation. If you need somewhere to stay in-season then check out her caravan www.barmouthcaravan.co.uk
Went for a walk earlier, and met the RNLI mechanic, and couple of the guys from the Isle of Man flood rescue team. If you've never had a chat with an RNLI volunteer, then next time your near a station drop in for a chat, always freindly and happy to explain how things work - oh and don't forget to donate!

A little damp today

This morning i wore the biking jacket plus the waterproof, i was redhot and rather err, sweaty after the first hour.
I've found I'm not eating and drinking as much as i should, so today I rested on each hour for ten mins. I've really gone off chocolate since i started this, infact, ive carried a Mars with me all the way so far without being tempted once! Thats a record for me!
I've booked myself into a guest house tonight, it was always my intention to have rest day, tonight and tommorrow are going to be just that plus drying out some kit.
Ive done approx 95 miles so far, if the speedo thing on the bike is accurate. Today was hard, into a head wind, and apparently ive only done 25ish miles.
If the weather is better in the morning, I'm going to aim for Aberdovey, another RNLI station there, and I'm hoping to hop on the train to get me across the river Dovey estuary, I know its a bit of a cheat, but it will save me a good 20miles, and a good chunk of a day.
Lets hope for good weather.

Moving closer to the dark-zone

Ive got a wifi connection at todays campsite, but thats it-no signal othwerwise.
After a late start after the wheel issues, i got going along the cyclepath that would take me South to Criccieth.
My instant, 'just add water' porridge didn't hit the spot this morning, so i foung myself eating a full cioked breakfast at lunch time. Got few donations whilst i was there-awesome!
The next section was horrible, long and almost all flat, all pedally, made the old knees hurt - a result of wearing the long cycling tights yesterday.
Arriving at Criccieth, I found the life boat station, had a good chat with the mechanic and then headed to the pub for a well deserved pint.
I had marked a possible camp site at Black Rock Beach. When i got there it was full of caravans - all towed by pick up type, white transits. I needed a re-think negotiating for the return of my bike out of the back of a van isn't high on my priority list.
So, after the worlds steepest hill, I arrived at Tyddyn Llwyn caravan and touring park. A lovely place. My mum will approve of the 18 month old facilities here!
Just eaten really nice chilli and chips, having a couple of drinks and then its off to hit the sack.
Got a day of pedalling inland and around an estuary tommorrow - all in the rain (apparently)

New day, a new wheel!

Awoke to sunshine this morning.
Managed to get a new wheel, and have reached Criccieth a bit early. Having a cheeky pint, then going to find a camp spot.
Might come back to sample the night life later then an early night, want an early start tommorrow.
Got to learn to pace myself better, average speed still well over 10 mph and ive been up some massive hills!

I'm having a wheelie good time....

Err, well. Its really interesting riding a heavy bike, it accelerates (downhill) like mad, and thats just what I was doing when a guy came around a bend in the opposite direction. I panic braked, and heard a loud crack! Thought i'd ran over a conker, sadly not, it was the hub flange breaking, 2 spokes out = wobbly wheel :(
Not to worry, theres a bike shop down the road, will check them out in the morning and see if i can get a cheap wheel from them.
Just had a hot shower, and dried my gear in a tumble drier (posh camper me Taran).
Going to get fed now, might try wetherspoons down the road - i'm sure they'll welcolme a tired englishmen in a bright orange pac a mac on a Friday night!
See ya all tomoz!

Amazing start!

I really needed to sleep on the train this morning - the 'hard as nails' irishman sat opposite was having none of it as he proceeded to talk me to boredom!
On the other hand, its not raining, and ive just had the most amazing tour if Holyhead Lifeboat from the coxwain - thanks fellas.

And.....I'm off!

At the station at silly o'clock this morning. Hope they let me on with the bike!

8,905 Launches in 2011

Wednesday 26th September 2012

8,905 Launches in 2011 - Thats an average of 24 launches per day!

7,976 People rescued - Thats an average of 22 people per day!

In 2011, 51.2% of launches were to leisure craft users, BUT 31.4% were to people not using any kind of craft, (thats swimmers, climbers walkers etc). 9.8% were to merchant or fishing vessels and 7.6% to other sea users.
Food for thought there, its not just kayakers then!

Last night I packed one of the panniers. I have placed all the sleeping gear, mat sleeping bag, warm dry fleecy clothes etc. This means I shouldn't need to go in this bag at all during the day.
I havn't weighed it, its sort of irrelevant anyway - I need it all!

I've been thinking about how to break the journey up into sections. My train should arrive in Holyhead at 1430hrs, this gives me about 4 hrs of riding time and time to put up the tent before darkness arrives. I'm thinking, if the weather is foul when I arrive, what do I do? Sit around for a while? (bus shelter, Pub?) Or go and put the tent up on Angelesey, and see what monday brings?
Maybe sit it out for a while, and ride through the night? Decisions, decisions.
Looking at the forecast - Its going to be wet until Wednesday - the wind is generally under SW and less then F4 - Right in my face all the time then!

Anyway - you can sponsor me HERE

Lets get this foul weather finished with by the weekend eh?

Tuesday 25th September

After all the rain yesterday it reminded me that we don't just need to be near to the coast here in the UK to be in difficulties in water. Remember 2007 here in Sheffield?
The RNLI also has a network of 300 Flood Rescue Teams (FRT), these are specially trained volunteers and staff ready to carry out search and rescue operations in severe flooding situations throught the UK and RoI.
As the week ticks on by, I have been busy each evening gathering my kit for the bike ride together.
My tiny one-man tent arrived yesterday, when I told the delivery person what was in the package he didn't believe me! 'Thats not heavy enough to be a tent!' - Encouraging news for me.
Ive got the bike completed now, and have done trail runs with weight in the panniers etc - it rides OK, I can't do much more in the way of training now, but will need to squeeze in a couple of short runs I think.

Fully Loaded (+a small backpack on me)

 

Sponsor me here

1 week to go!

With just 1 week of final preperations to go before riding three miles to the train station that will take me over to Holyhead next week,  I'm sitting here at home in comfort wondering where I will atually be this time next Sunday evening.

By Tuseday I hope to have got everything together and packed and unpacked, re-packed and tried again to get all my kit into the panniers.

I have a tent, but its still in the post! I want to spray it with waterproofer before I go, and put it up and down a few times, but that looks increasingly unlikely due to the crazy wet weather we're about to get.
I've been testing various things, the last thing was 'just add water' porridge for breakfast - its OK!
My biggest worry at the moment is how cold it feels in the evenings, just about the time I will be erecting the tent and thinking about laying on the floor in a lightweight sleeping bag! All in clothes I will have been cycling in all day! - nice!

Anyway, I will get some piccies of the bike with all its gear hanging from it tommorow. Should be interesting riding it, but more so, trying to speed from train to train during the 3 changes I will have to make!

Dont forget to donate!

The new steed is almost ready

A quick test ride

I've been really busy for a couple of weeks getting the bike ready for the long ride.

I wanted mountain bike strength and agility (I may end up off -road at some points) and the comfort of road bike handle bars. So I have combined a frame I already had with other bits from the garage, just needed to buy the bars.

I took it for a quick test ride on Thursday night - rode it to the pub 9 miles. It feels really fast  and smooth. Could do with being a little higher at the front. I was leaning on my arms a bit too much.

Need to get some new brake levers and then add the grip tape.

.....................and beyond!

Next job is to sort out panniers and other storage.

My Virgin Money Giving page:

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A personal challenge

Raising funds for the RNLI

31st August 2012

A few weeks back, Mike Mayberry posted on facebook that 2 popular cycle routes ended in Fishgaurd, South West Wales. It had me thinking........
A short time later I had a plan: To cycle from Holyhead RNLI Station on Angelesy (North Wales) all the way down the coast to Fishgaurd in the South.

Some of you out there will know that I am a keen sea-kayaker, and that a number of us were (are) planning to cross the Irish sea this summer, a combination of things (poor weather conditions to name but a few) have put that on hold. So leaving home on the 30th of September 2012, I will catch the train with my bike, and hopefully arrive at Holyhead station around mid afternoon to start my challenge.
Most RNLI crews are made up of volunteers & as a user of the sea I really appreciate the selfless efforts these guys give to keep this vital emergency service in action. I hope I never need to make the call, but am very happy knowing that, if needed they will drop what they are doing, and launch!

I am currently finishing building a bike fit for the job, training, and gathering equipment etc needed to travel light & make this all a success.

I have just printed mapping, 18 A4 sheets! My next job is to get details together for RNLI stations, bike shops, campsites and places for other supplies en-route.

So..............PLEASE sponsor me!

My Virgin Money Giving  page:

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