The weather cannot take away the fact that we are now over half way to John o'Groats!  

It was always going to be a tough day due to lots of climbing but the weather made it a real challenge. Sunshine and showers was the forecast - we got torrential rain for the first two hours and then what felt like ice storms. Still enjoyed the moors above Ladybower reservoir and the view in the rain from Monsal Head. Had my first Bakewell pudding - thanks Laurence - in Bakewell. A bit of an early stop so then cracked on for 30 miles to the Bank Cafe - it's a famous cycling spot and is painted in king of the mountain Jersey colours.  The road to it goes across Strines Moor - it was used on the Tour de France a couple of years ago and has a beautiful road surface.  It also has two serious climbs one steep and very long the other long and very steep - up to 20% (1 in 5), just about made it and celebrated at the cafe with Parkin.  Overnight stop in Outlane just outside of Huddersfield.

Stats: 58 miles today, total miles 525, climb 4500 feet.

Moved on from Staffordshire to Derbyshire today to Matlock Bath - amazingly we are in the same hotel Ann and I visited on honeymoon in 1983.  Mostly managed to dodge the rain - just a couple of light showers but the roads were filthy with mud. Quite a lot of what cyclists call rolling countryside - means you are always going up or down, no nice easy flat bits. Crossed the M6 motorway today - weird seeing a road I have been stuck on many times from above on my bike! Spectacular descent down into Matlock Bath complete with rainbow over the town - couldn't stop doing 30+ mph.

Stats: 62 miles today, 467 total, climb 3268 feet, total 29,439 feet or 5.57 miles!

Once you have finished pedalling for the day there's still quite a bit to do. For a start stretch those tired legs. Washing cycling kit so you have something for future use is pretty important. Drying is an issue so need to think a couple of days ahead. Shirley taught me how to use a towel as a giant blotter to help things dry - involves folding and standing on the towel and it works. Clean bike if it has been a wet day - they get absolutely filthy.  Then clean yourself as you get absolutely filthy cleaning the bike. Wash out water bottle with really hot water so you don't get poisoned or infected by stuff growing in it. Check out the route and weather for tomorrow and decide on suitable clothes. Eat. Phone home. Stretch legs again - it really helps. Collapse and do it all again tomorrow.

Amazing wide open green countryside on today's ride from Ross on Wye via Leominster, Ludlow and Ironbridge to Shifnal (near Telford). Cycling along the Wye valley this morning was lovely.  Bit cold but dry - rain was forecast for later but I reached the hotel before it. Never been to Ironbridge before and it is a bit special to cycle across it - worth the steep descent down and inevitable steep climb back out.

Stats: 71 miles today, total miles 405, climb 3727 feet

Have now cycled for six consecutive days totalling around 334 miles - which is pretty close to a third of the way. There's still plenty of pedalling to do though with the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and Scotland still ahead of us. Not tempting fate and saying anything more!

Longish day from Weston Super Mare to Ross on Wye today but the sun shone from time to time and it didn't rain - marvellous. The hotel in WSM was a bit Fawlty towers this morning with breakfast only starting at 8:15 and having to be served - not a buffet. Everyone was keen to be in the road so not a great start.  I decided on an easy day cycling at my own pace rather than in a group and it worked well - much less speeding up and slowing down - saving energy. Couple of biggish hills one south of Bristol and a long but not steep drag out of Chepstow.  Met up with 3 others along the way and we were the first group at the hotel - it's not a race but nice after an easy day. Cycled over the Avonmouth Bridge and the Severn Bridge which was ever so windy - had to pedal to go downhill!

Stats: 68 miles, climb 3,500 feet

Our longest ride so far brought us from Exeter to Somerset and Weston Super Mare.  A rainy day - we avoided two downpours at coffee and lunch stops but a third caught us in the Somerset Levels and we were well and truly soaked. Then the sun shone and the wind blew for the last few miles so mostly dry when arrived at the hotel. Hotel is rundown seaside style but they provided a hosepipe and somewhere to clean the bikes which was nice. First puncture of the trip but only as we arrived at the hotel so excellent timing.

Stats: 73 miles, climb 2441 feet.

Details of the climbing on today's ride. There were 7 categorised climbs - that's hills that are steep enough and go on long enough to qualify as climbs as graded by the professional cycling federation.

We have left Cornwall behind and are now in Devon.  The Cornish hills seemed bad at the time but Devon has taught us better.  Today was a stiff climbing day going up more than 6000 feet - that's basically an Alp!  There was a 6 mile climb up more than 1100 feet onto Dartmoor from Tavistock that tested the legs and we couldn't even admire the view as it was foggy (but at least it wasn't raining). Cycled the last 15 miles with a couple in their mid sixties - Shirley blasts down hills and then blasts right back up the other side - made for a beautifully quick last leg. Overnight stop in Exeter before tackling the Somerset Levels tomorrow - after today levels sounds really good.

Stats: 64 miles, climb 6368 feet

A short day from Reduth to Lostwithiel but the weather made it quite challenging.  We started in the rain and finished in fog - I'm sure the views were stunning but we didn't see much of them. Lots of up and down on roads made filthy with debris after all the rain - glad I changed my brake pads.  A super nice lady in a cafe in Charlestown gave me a steak slice for lunch as they were just closing.  And I have a hotel room rather than a prison cell - all good.

Stats: 38 miles, climb 3800 feet!

Relaxed day cycling to the Lizard and back via a generally quiet country lanes.  The GPS on the bike makes finding your way almost child's play - once you have navigated through the truly awful UI to set things up. Cycled with a nice couple from York who have the heaviest most loaded bikes on the tour but they keep pedalling up the hills.

Stats: 47.7 miles, 3170 feet of climbing, half pint of beer and a cheese sandwich at the Lizard

On time train, sunny weather and made it to Land's End - all in all a pretty positive start. Pleasant 15 mile ride from Penzance station with one challenging hill out of Mousehole. Then 30 miles or so to the hotel at Redruth much of the way into a cold headwind.  Quick swim and bitter shandy to recover.  Looking forward to dinner.

Stats: 44 miles, climb 3165 feet

It starts tomorrow with a taxi to Paddington Station at 5:45.  Having a pre-ride G&T with Ann shortly.  New mudguards on bike, let's hope they are not needed.