Southport

31/3/15

Today we were in the domestic domain of the professional footballer.

The sun shone for us on the last day of March but the strong winds made staying up-right quite difficult!

We arrived in Formby and found our way down Victoria Road, we passed all the large houses, allegedly owned by soccer players, but our sights were set on the forest and dunes at the end of the avenue. We sat with flask and snack and were greeted by our first red squirrel within a couple of minutes.

We picked up NCN 81 route unexpectedly and enjoyed a short cut through the woods via the golf course.

We then met the Trans-Pennine cycle route (NCN 62) which swept through and in to Southport via a rather exposed route through the dunes. Ten minutes out of town the sky darkened and we had heavy rain added to the strong wind, a rainbow over Southport resulted but our minds were firmly fixed on getting indoors!

We actually could not comfortably walk on the sea front in Southport so walked the shops which all seemed to be closing at 5pm so we retreated under cover of the Victorian cover of the Wayfarer shopping arcade.

After a pot of Yunnan tea in the Westminster Tea Room, we headed off to the Warehouse restaurant which is owned by Liverpool player Steve Gerrard. there was no sign of Wayne Rooney, who is said to frequent the brasserie, in fact there was only one other couple eating and sadly it is due to be closed down next week when Gerrard moves to America. Good food though!

Figures:

Distance:- 29 km

Cycle Time:- 2 hours 37 minutes

Average speed:- 11.2 kph

Total Distance:- 1047 km

Rest Day 5 in Liverpool

30/3/15

We took the short train ride into Liverpool  Central and went straight to Albert Dock.

A brief tour of the Tate and 2 scenes caught my eye:

Simon Starling's reconstruction from the parts of 20 vintage bikes which got us  wondering if a few more people on the back of our machines would help a bit on the hills!

The view from a window out at Liverpool nearly up-staged the Jackson Pollock and Henry Moore!

A soup and bread in the Tate cafe gave us the strength to then walk up to Hope Street and visit the Phil we just had a coffee so we could sit in the wood panel rooms and visit the famouse gents loo.

The Thai food at the local Ayutthaya restaurant was so good, we went back and had som tam, moo ping, nua dat deao and tod mun pla.

Crosby

29/3/15

We left Ness with full waterproofs that stayed on all day and picked up the NCN 56 in Neston. This combination of disused railway and promenade kept us off road and perfectly outlined the Wirral all the way to the Seacombe ferry. We arrived 5 minutes before the ferry and finally got to sit down for flask and food serenaded by Jerry and the Pacemakers! It always prompts a smile to arrive in Liverpool.

It had been 30 years since I have seen the famous skyline of Liverpool, the familiar Three Graces were flanked by new developments so plenty to explore on our day off tomorrow. This famous crossing was a great first ferry on our journey and a gateway to the North.

After the Mersey crossing we worked our way into the city and found the cycle way north along the Leeds-Liverpool canal- not without difficulty.

The rain subsided and was replaced by strong, onshore winds. We stuck to the promenade on arrival in Crosby so as to catch a first glimpse of Anthony Gormley's Another Place.

This turned into an epic crux to our day with horizontal sand blasting and track disappearing into the dunes. Time for a quick picture before retreating inland and the comfort of Blundell B&B. After a warm welcome from Debi with a mug of tea and having hosed down the bikes all was well again.

Having just completed our first 1000 km we finished the day with an exceptionally good Thai meal at Ayutthaya restaurant. We had the great company of Frank and Cath on the next table who, celebrating their 50th Anniversary, waxed lyirical about their city.

Figures:

Distance:- 53 km

Cycle Time:- 4 hours 32 minutes

Average speed:- 11.7 kph

Total Distance:- 1018 km

Neston- Wirral

We lingered over breakfast and left Prestatyn in sunshine. Re-joining the NCN 5 with a tail wind and smooth tarmac through the golf course gave us a nice farewell to Wales. After a stiff climb inland we had a brief stop at Pantasaph Franciscan Friary, the tea shop was closed for refurbishment but it was nice to finish our flasks and breakfast there.

Once we returned to the sea front at Bagillt we were back to the horizontal. The section of cycle way through Flint was not good the narrow high street and nowhere for bikes was a bit of a stress but by the time we got to the Wharf at Connah's Quay, it was all better again with information boards about local history and a bit of civic art.

We crossed the Howarden rail bridge and were the treated to brand new cycle way NCN 568 which cut about 5km off our journey and launched across marsh land on new boardwalk. We left Wales and entered Cheshire on the Wirral.

The Old School House B&B in the small village if Ness south if Neston was very comfortable, we had great value pub food at the Inn at Ness- £5.45 for two courses!

Figures:

Distance:- 49 km

Cycle Time:- 4 hours 15 minutes

Average speed:- 11.5 kph

Total Distance:- 964 km

Prestatyn

27/3/15

The short spin along the prom was followed by a climb around Little Orme's head before dropping back to the sea front for a pleasant and flat journey next to the shoreline.

We paused at the church of St Trillo, which is said to be the smallest in Britain and has the accolade of always having a full congregation, six small chairs line the small chapel and we had a nice chat with Peter and Margery who tend to the grounds every Friday.

The route around Colwyn Bay through Rhyl to Prestayn was good, there must be enough caravans in this bay to house all of Wales!

We stopped at the Bike Hub tea shop and took the oportunity to buy a chain as mine was dragging on the chain-stay! The new bike hire, tea shop and bridge over the Clwyd were all just a year old and were breathing new life into a rather run down frontage.

Below are more local heros in the world of football and music together with scientist Sir John Houghton who was co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

We arrived for our last night in Wales at Plas Ifan B&B which is very much geared for the walker as well as cyclist. Prestatyn is the start or finish of the 177 mile Offa's Dyke path which would be quite a short cut to our three week journey from Chepstow!

Figures:

Distance:- 33.6 km

Cycle Time:- 2 hours 36 minutes

Average speed:- 12.8 kph

Total Distance:- 915 km

Tea Shops and Trams- Rest Day 4

26/3/15

Llandudno is said to be inspiration for Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, it's oversized streets and the scale of the sundaes in The Looking Glass ice cream parlour help to support this theory!

We achieved a total of five ticks in the 52 Weekends by the Sea book.

The Marine Drive walk around the Great Orme, the Haulfre Gardens and tea shop, Great Orme Tram, the longest pier in the UK and the Fish Tram Chips restaurant.

We took a bracing walk over the summit of Great Orme and saw the resident goat as well as good limestone pavement and spring flowers.

The St Tudno church which dates back to the sixth century is what gave Llandudno it's name which means 'lands of the church of Tudno'

Llandudno is not a fading sea side town, very few shops are closed, it has not one but two M&S shops (not sure why) and has enough tea shops to keep countless coach parties happy. The Grand Hotel looks spectacular from a distance. It commands the pole position in the bay but closer inspection from the pier shows rather a lot of rot and rust!

Llandudno

25/3/15

We left Beaumaris in sunshine and a low tide but that didn't help Sue's nervousness at re-crossing the Menai Bridge!

We detoured through Bangor and re-joined the NCN 5 which will escort us out of Wales in the next few days.

The route in and out of Bangor live up to our great experience of Welsh cycle ways.

Passing Penrhyn Castle with a tea shop at about 11:30am and the fact that it was a National Trust property resulted in an unexpected couple of hours stop.

The rooms looked potential for the sort of accommodation Sue has started to aspire to as our choice of B&B becomes more extravagant.

The route from Bangor to Conwy is quite amazing, bridges have been constructed that launch high above the central reservation of the motorway-like A55.

Then fine views towards Conwy on the old cliff road while all the noise of the traffic is buried in the tunnelled mountain.

On our approach to Conwy, we came to the a portrait bench constructed by Sustrans which depicts Prince Llywelyn, Thomas Telford and Margret Williams (the late owner of Britain's smallest house and local journalist and author)

Llandudno, "The Queen of Welsh resorts" was carefully crafted by the Mostyn family  who's estates company still keep a strong control over building developments to this day.

Our cosy room is about 20 minutes walk from the main centre but we had a delicious sea food feast at the Sea Horse.

Figures:

Distance:- 50 km

Cycle Time:- 4 hours 0 minutes

Average speed:- 12.5 kph

Total Distance:- 881 km