Day 10 Weston Longeville to great Yarmouth 42 miles

Due to the weather forecast we cut the route meaning we missed out our last bcq.but we did 16 on total so still good. Dark clouds for much of the journey into the Norfolk broads. Quick lunch at Acle some horrible main roads and we're at our final destination :)
After taking photos and having an ice cream we head of to Marys parents caravan where we're staying for 2 nights.
The rain stated started on our way so we got a bit wet but as we got in the rain and wind stepped up a gear!  Phew. Nice relaxing evening with wine and trivial pursuit!

We made it

After 10 days and approx 440 miles we are in great Yarmouth :)
We have avoided the worst of the rain so far today. Now off to the caravan to batten down the hatches before the heavens open :)

Day 9 Shouldham to Weston Longeville 53 miles

The penultimate day !
Started off grey and drizzly into Swaffham.whilst we had a tea and tea cake it cleared up. We did the quest and set of for the next one. What followed was a fruitless quest to find an open pub or cafe for our lunch (about 20 miles! ) so we did the second quest in Stibbard then it poured with rain and finally Reepham came up with the goods with "V's cafe" it was now 4pm!
Decided to move tomorrow's first quest to today as it was only 3 miles away and the weather forecast for tomorrow looks pretty bad.
We've been fairly lucky with the weather so far compared to lejog but tomorrow looks very bad so we are probably gonna cut the route short and forgo the final quest and just get to great Yarmouth.

BCQs # 14, 15 & 16

Sanj Sycled to Swaffham, Stibbard & Swannington

Day 8 Newborough to Shouldham 53.5 miles

Should've been a 45 miler today but we detoured a bit too pop into Downham Market for food and postcards.

Left Peterborough via the green wheel cycle route across the millennium bridge. Fens was, as expected flat and windy with some incredibly long mind numbing  (and hands feet and bum numbing! ) sections.

We were lucky with the weather started grey then the sun came out then when we stopped at March Tea Parlour (note interesting tea timer!) for elevenses it rained. We got caught in a bit of rain coming out of March, then more sun and finally as we stopped in Downham Market for dinner it chucked it down.  Final ride to the bnb was sunny :)

Staying in a converted old schoolhouse, supping some Norfolk beer. ..

BCQ #13

Friday bridge war memorial / clock tower

Scarecrows and crochet

Two villages yesterday had a scarecrow competition and today in Oundle they seemed to have a thing for crochet!

Day 7 Rushton to Newborough 43 miles

Nice ride through Northants countryside and ended up in the fens.
Passed an interesting site of a wartime American airbase.
Also experienced a challenging part of the Peterborough green wheel cycle route to get over the train line!
Meet up with sandras family at ferry meadows/nene park for lunch.
Staying with sister Wendy tonight. Looking forward to some lovely home cooked food tonight :)

BCQs 11 & 12

Geddington was cunningly hidden behind some roadworks  signs! !

Fotheringhay was #12

Day 6 photos

Last post should've been day 6! Problems with post so am putting photo separate siblings

Day 5 Buckingham to Rushton 50 miles

Our longest distance but the weather was kind to us and the going was easy so we made it in good time and feel good.
It started off drizzly but we had only got as far as Silverstone before the waterproofs came off.  We resisted the urge to race and headed for Towcester to meet Marys sister Angela for tea and cake (sorry no photo we were busy nattering! ).
Next Stoke bruene for a bcq then onto salcey forest to meet Marys brother for lunch. 
After that another bcq and miles of easy hills.
We only had 3 miles to go and we turned into a country lane and I turned to Mary and said "careful down here it looks like the farmer had been trimming his hedges" then I got a puncture!  Quickly fixed and we arrived at our lovely bnb.

BCQs 9 & 10

Our first quest was at Stoke bruene at the canal museum. I was hoping for childhood memories but the place was extremely busy with a "village at war" day with bombs and sirens and everything!
Second one was at Castle Ashby.

Nibblings

We visited our Buckingham nibblings yesterday one of our nieces met us with cakes, the other meet is with hugs and little Joseph entertained us by dancing and singing,  all very much appreciated :)

Day 5 - Uplands to Buckingham 28 miles

Today was meant to be a 42 mile S shaped route with 2 BCQs but we decided to do a shorter route and forgo one of the quests. Weather was sunny and the roads were undulating and we had a lovely ride.  Stopped at a pub for coffee which had an old sundial on the wall. Did the quest at Sulgrave then lunch at a farm shop cafe where some wasps irritated the hell out of us so we ate or sandwiches very quick.
The shorter route (via a lovely straight road from Stowe ) meant we could get into Buckingham earlier for a waffle and ice cream at the cow gelateria. Apologies again for lack of photo but it was delish.
Getting changed then going round to Marys brothers to see our nibblings.
WE ARE HALFWAY THERE :D

BCQ #8

Sulgrave manor was closed but we found some nice people that informed us the plaque we were looking for was outside the estate. Plus a friendly black met us for a bit of fuss.

New photo of us

While we had the opportunity here's an updated "Sanj & Mary tour for tea" photo :)

Day 4 Worcester to Uplands 43 miles

Well it started crabbee but got better as the day went on.   Sun came out we had some marvellous cycling once we got onto the cotswolds.lunch was at a very old pub in Honeybourne.
When you have a destination called "uplands " you get an idea what awaits you at the end of your day!  It was a lovely 14%-er! But we were rewarded with more that one delightful view at the top! ! At the b&b we were greeted with tea and cake - marvellous - happy bunnies all round :)

Day 4 Worcester to Uplands 43 miles

Well it started crabbee but got better as the day went on.   Sun came out we had some marvellous cycling once we got onto the cotswolds.lunch was at a very old pub in Honeybourne.
When you have a destination called "uplands " you get an idea what awaits you at the end of your day!  It was a lovely 14%-er! But we were rewarded with more that one delightful view at the top! ! At the b&b we were greeted with tea and cake - marvellous - happy bunnies all round :)

BCQ #7

The sun came out as we did our 7th quest in Evesham :)

Crabbee start

This morning carol weather woman promised sunshine but it was a cold and misty start so I was feeling crabbee.
But brightened up when given the choice of cycle route or chip shop!

Granny dance!

Just had a really painful cramp in my hamstring whilst waiting for our puds, which made me hop about and do a granny dance trying to get rid of it,  much to the bemusement of Mary! !

BCQs 5 & 6

We have done 6 now :) Tenbury and Worcester. All 3 today were either bridges or near so no steep hills hurrah!

Day 3 Shobdon to Worcester 44 miles

We thought today would be easy ish but it was quite hard. Not sure why maybe 3rd day blues. After the quest at Eardisland we cycled to Leominster lovely little town then Tenbury Wells, ditto. Met some other mad people like us who were cycling London to Wales at "Tabs Cafe". Then a long dullish ride to Worcester bit hilly bit chilly as the sun failed to stay out.  Had a cuppa and slice of cake at Stanford Bridge, no photo sorry I was to hungry. Heavy traffic in Worcester but finally arrived at our bnb delighted to find a pub opposite :) supping a pint of Bountiful waiting for some homity pie. Phew. Oh yes Mary found her own Vale - wonder where sandravale is. ..