Retired Freelance Graphic Designer/Artworker. Rest: Reading – Ian Rankin and non-fiction. Painting – watercolours and pen & ink. Play: Keen cyclist – Tandem on road, solo off-road and track.
Bob Bending
Author's posts
Jun 26
Kirby Lonsdale to Appleby.
Bit of a late start as breakfast wasn’t till nine at The Snooty Fox, Kirby Lonsdale. Our exit from the town was across the old bridge, no longer used for traffic. It gives a great view of the tan coloured River Lune flowing briskly between the rocks below. Our route for the day could be …
Jun 25
Morecambe to Kirby Lonsdale
Short ride today. I meant to book somewhere to stay in Sedbergh but somehow managed to book The Snooty Fox in Kirby Lonsdale, 11 miles closer. No matter. We’re both quite tired so an early finish would be good. The ride was in two distinct flavours today, the first part being flat and easy and …
Jun 24
Preston to Morecambe
Another start under grey skies and in drizzly rain. Preston is not the easiest place to cycle in. Many streets are one way and the street our hotel was on was no exception. The way we wanted to go was against the flow but it was Sunday morning and there was little traffic here. Soon …
Jun 23
Liverpool to Preston.
We said our thanks and goodbye’s to Rita and crossed the Sheil Road before mounting the Beast for our next leg on it. Along through streets ever more neglected and abused, towards the Liverpool Leeds Canal. Getting down to the towpath was a real problem as all the access points were down or up steps. …
Jun 23
A day off in Liverpool
Breakfasted and togged up in our waterproof jackets we left Rita’s B&B and went round the corner onto the West Derby Road for a bus into the City centre. The Magical Mystery Tour started at the Albert Dock so we headed there. It’s pretty big and we thought we’d kill two birds with one stone …
Jun 21
Heswall to Liverpool
For the first time in our Lejog the weather got the better of us and we took a shortcut. The plan had been to continue along the Wirral Way from Heswall but the air was full of that fine rain that cuts visibility right down and we could see little point in prolonging the soaking …
Jun 20
Whitchurch to Heswall (on The Wirrel)
Another long day today with 50 miles added to our total. When we left Whitchurch at about 9.30, it was under a hazy overcast sky but the sun soon broke up the cloud cover and for much of the day we were in clear sunshine. So nice after all the time we’ve been riding in …
Jun 19
Ironbridge to Whitchurch
First port of call in once we were away was a little food shop called Bonnies of Ironbridge. We popped in the afternoon before to buy a couple of large merangues and the chap running it suggested we give him a call in the morning to place an order for a picnic. He had some …
Jun 18
Kidderminster to Ironbridge
An earlier start today from the Gainsborough House Hotel. The beast had been parked up overnight in a back room and I had to wheel it through the breakfast room and foyer to get it outside. Thought I might have problems but the breakfast waitress held all the doors open for me. Weaving through the …
Jun 17
Tewksbury to Kidderminster
Thanks Beeb! You promised sunshine with the odd shower. What we got today was shower with the odd sunshine. Left Tewksbury a little later than our usual start time. Sunday I guess. Later breakfast made more pleasant by having a birthday card from Hannah to open. Out of Tewksbury on busy roads was not so …
Jun 16
Almondsbury to Tewksbury
Continental breakfast this morning in Crossways House and the owners kindly gave us a reduction in the bill as a donation, so we’ll pass that on to Arthritis Research UK. The skies are stormy and the wind blowy again but in keeping with previous days, mostly behind us. We’re both riding with waterproofs as it …
Jun 15
Weston-Super-Mare to Almondsbury
6.30am and a tap on the bedroom door heralded another day plus two cups of tea. Later there was porridge with raisins and banana in plus more tea. Eventually, around 9.30, we were ready to be led out of WSM by Linda and David on their tandem. As we neared the fringes of the town …
Jun 14
Taunton to Weston-Super-Mare
A really good night’s sleep and porrige for breakfast set us up for the day. We chatted over breakfast with the other guests at Lower Farm, Thornfalcon, near Taunton. Karon and I had managed to sit and paint the farmhouse door the evening before so we had a mini painting show too. Knowing we had …
Jun 13
Exebridge to Taunton
Sat watching the River Exe flow past at breakfast in the Anchor Inn at Exebridge. Caught sight of a spotted woodpecker and there was a kingfisher darting around too. The kind landlady gave us a packed sandwich to take with us. We were climbing almost from the off and, as the lane got steeper, Karon …
Jun 12
Fremington (Barnstable) to Exebridge
Today saw us pass into Somerset and then back into Devon. We’ve been riding a week now and have clocked up 255 miles. The sky was pretty clear again so we ‘sunblocked’ before we left our B&B at Lower Yelland Farm by its own access to the Tarka Trail, then headed the few miles into …
Jun 12
Holsworthy to Fremington
Today was a good day. After a good night’s sleep at Forda Farm we chatted with the other guests and Val, the landlady, as we enjoyed breakfast. Val took a few photos of us as we were about to leave for the farm website. After a short sharp climb away from the farm the going …
Jun 10
Blisland to Holsworthy
After a good nights sleep, and being well looked after at Trewint Farm, we headed off under dark skies. Light rain fell sporadically but it never developed into the full works. A brief stop outside The Blisland Inn for a photo and then it was a stiff climb up onto Bodmin Moor. Cycling into a …
Jun 10
St. Newlyn East to Blisland
There are a few good things about hills. First, there are the views from the top. Stunning views across the Cornish countryside with the sea in the distance. Unfortunately it also affords a view on the next hill you’re due to encounter. The second good thing is the feeling of relief upon reaching the top. …
Jun 08
Gweek to St. Newlyn East
Damp but not raining when we left this morning. Gweek is at sea level, being at the end of a small inlet. So, the only way was up – and it was an up that climbed for four miles! It was the first of about four long, hard climbs today. But of course, what goes …
Jun 07
Gweek to The Lizard
Raining when we left but soon stopped. First stop – 50 yards down the road – the village shop for some snacks, just in case we couldn’t find a pub for lunch. A few ups and downs as we skirted the inlet then climbed up onto the headland. One hill had us off the bike. …