My 30 Things: July 2013

When I was given the challenge of doing a coast to cast cycle ride by (@SparkysBaymarco) I immediately thought about cycling around the Isle of Wight. In my head, it seemed, at the time, the shortest and easiest route I could do. How wrong I was. I love the Isle of Wight and had visited it on many occasions and so it was decided that this would be the coast to coast challenge. So I enlisted my sister, Hayley, who lives on the island and my friend, Shane, to join my team.

Pre- trip preparation

Now for most people attempting a cycling challenge, I am sure training is key to pre-trip preparation. Well I can tell you that there was none of this for us, in actual fact I hadn't rode a bike for at least 2 years before this challenge! Our pre-trip preparation came in the form of 'ok let's cycle around the Isle of Wight 1 day after we break up from school. Ok, I'll look into ferry prices and book. Have we all got bikes? Let's borrow them!' These were the conversations we were having. None about planning a route, none about preparing for the physical test this was going to be. In the days leading up to the challenge, I really couldn't have been more mentally and physically tired. I had played 9 games of stoolball in one day, slept at the school for year 6 sleepover getting 3 1/2 hours sleep, spent my last day at school an emotional wreck and then playing stoolball again the night before. Not really what I call resting and preparing the body for two days worth of hell.

Day 1: Early start

We had decided that the cheapest option to get over to the island was an early morning car ferry so when my alarm clock went off at 4:20 am on Thursday morning, I awoke with a half smile on my face, showered and packed and headed off to pick up Shane at 5:15 am. Now it is here, I will share the bike situation. All of use used bikes that did not belong to us, ones we had never ridden. Hayley was going to borrow a bike from her boss, which we later picked up. I borrowed Hayley's old mountain bike. Whilst Shane borrowed his housemates, Rob. Somehow we managed to squeeze his large road bike into the boot of my Peugeot 206 and we headed to the ferry. As the roads were clear we arrived in plenty of time and managed to squeeze on an earlier ferry, 6 am, much to Hayley's surprise when I text her!

We soon arrived at Wooten, where Hayley lived, and this was to be our start and end point. It was here that we choose our route around the island. We decided to head in an anti-clockwise direction heading up to Cowes first, the northerly tip of the island before heading west to the Needles. We would then follow the coast to Chale where we planned to sleep on the beach, another of my challenges. It was decided that a hearty breakfast was in order and so at 8am we headed to the Sloop for a hearty full English to fuel our bodies.

After this, we left Shane to attend to the bikes whilst Hayley and I drove to Sainsburies for supplies, before crossing the island to Chale to leave all our over night gear and tent before heading back, picking up her bike on the way. By the time we made it back, I felt tired already.

Day 1: Off we go! A troubled start

At 11:20 am we headed out of Hayley's back garden ready to begin our epic challenge, not really knowing what the trip would entail. It would be fair to say we got off to a slow start! All of us took a while adjusting to our bikes. Shane seemed concerned about his lack of brakes. I spent most of day one trying to figure out how the gears worked and then broke them! Hayley's start was the funniest! She spent the first 5 minutes cycling nowhere fast as she was unable to locate the gears on her bosses very expensive bike! Eventually, with a little help, she located them and we were off! We followed Palmers Road before turning left into Brook's Copse Road where we met the first of out many hills. Now I set off wearing my hoodie, as it was cold. By the time we reached the top of the hill - I was hot, red and very sweaty and the hoodie was off!! The whole route towards Cowes seemed to be uphill. We passed through Whippingham and my legs were already feeling that burn as the lactic acid began seeping into my thighs! It suddenly dawned on me that this was going to be a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be. Thankfully, we soon discovered that with every hill climb there was the most exhilarating, if not a little terrifying, decent. It wasn't before long that we arrived in East Cowes and boarded the chain ferry over to Cowes, a thankful early rest point.

Day 1: Cowes to Yarmouth

I had never been to Cowes before and was struck by it's quaintness and charm. Beautiful cobbled streets and side roads. Hayley led us up one way streets, the wrong way and down narrow roads before we made our way out on to the Esplanade before posing for a picture and the north-est part of the island.we then headed along the coast road, along Gurnard Bay to Gurnard. Sadly it was rather hazy so the view over the water towards the mainland and Southampton wasn't very clear. From Gurnard we headed inland slightly along Rew Street and then Rolls Hill. The clue is in the name to how tough this stretch was. At every turn seemed to be a hill to climb and my knees were beginning to feel the strain. At times, I had to get off my bike and walk. I remember thinking how I really should have trained for this!!

We headed through Porchfield before stumbling across this beautiful lake, which I later discovered was called Clamerkin Lake just outside of Newtown. It was beautiful, so peaceful and serene. We stopped for a much needed break to take in the scene and pose for a few pictures on the bridge.

It became a theme that I was always at the back. My bike and legs just didn't want to go anywhere. Because I had problems with the gears, it constantly felt like I was cycling through water or treacle. I was going nowhere fast so hence I was always last. So from the lake, the others gave me a head start and I enjoyed the flattish route down towards Shalfleet, where we took the A3054 into Yarmouth, one final big hill before heading down towards the seafront.

Day 1: Yarmouth lunchtime

We had aimed for Yarmouth as our lunch break so we found a lovely pub called the Bugle and fell in to the beer garden. Legs were starting to ache and Hayley, particularly, was having a horrendous time with her saddle causing her bum to ache. The rest and topping up on fuel supplies (beers and ciders all round!) was much welcomed and seemed to give us an added boost.

On arriving to Yarmouth we had spied people eating lush ice creams and we located the shop by the entrance to the pier. Now this is something I must mention and share my disgust. It costs you 30p to go along the pier at Yarmouth - 30p!!! Now seriously, what is this country coming to when it charges people to walk along a pier! What ever next?!

Day 1: Yarmouth to The Needles, Alum Bay

Now we knew this part of the journey was going to be tough as previous experiences reminded us how hilly this area was. So with full bellies we headed out of Yarmouth along the A3054 through beautiful Totland towards Alum Bay along the B3322. I have never been so relieved as I was to eventually reach Alum Bay, where we had a break to buy much needed sugar supplies from the sweet shop. These purchases were to be most useful in providing us with energy boosts along the way. It was here that Hayley looked up and pointed to the celtic cross, miles above us on the cliff and exclaimed that is where we were heading for. My heart sank. There were two options of reaching this destination - straight up through footpaths and fields or along a winding road with a gradual incline. We went for option two and I am really glad we did. The road led us first up to the Needles Battery where we had a stunning view of Alum Bay and the Solent towards the mainland. This was my westerly point of the island. So far I had hit the north and west coast, now to hit the south.We then headed up higher to a viewpoint, where they used to test rockets from! From here we had a fantastic view of the Needles. Stunning.

However, we were still not high enough. So dragging our bikes up a chalky steep footpath we headed up on to Tennyson Down. It was euphoric up there. Hayley said the air was meant to glitter up there and you feel energised. It must have been as it was my favourite part of the trip. We cycled over the grassy terrain, free and inspired. It was magnificent. Reaching the Tennyson Monument was tough and all of us ended walking up with our bikes (600m above sea level). However once we reached it, the view was stunning once again. The monument was erected in the memory of Tennyson the poet who had lived just below in Freshwater bay. From this point, it was a bumpy down hill glide into Freshwater bay. Hayley and I loved the decent, as our bikes were fully equipped for the overland route. However Shane took a more tentative approach in his road bike and dodgy breaks. Eventually we all arrived in the bay safely.

Day 1: Freshwater Hill

Hayley had pre-warned us that Freshwater Hill was going to be tough, but I did not realise how tough it was going to be. We were back on the A3055 and heading along the coast road to Chale. This was to be the more gruelling and hardest part of the whole journey. Looking back now I really don't know how I made it up. I cycled the whole way up Freshwater hill, it was slow - very slow, but I did it. Maybe I was distracted by the beautiful view or the two paragliders just above me, but I did it. The hill was well over 400 m and I felt every metre. The glide down was a much needed rest for the legs and I met Hayley at the bottom congratulating ourselves on the tough climb.

Day 1: The Military Road - the longest road ever

Freshwater Hill had just about finished me off. My legs were tired and my bum was sore and yet we still had miles to go before reaching Chale. Now my mum had said to me, that after Freshwater hill it was all downhill to Chale. Mum was wrong. The Military Road is one of the straightest yet up and down roads ever that seemed to just go on and on, draining every last bit of strength and energy from you. I had memorised some of the names of the villages that we would be passing near such as Mottistone, Brighstone, and Atherfiield yet it seemed to take us ages to get to them. My legs were burning constantly now and I was beginning to worry that I would not be able to get off my bike through the pain in my derrier. At one low point, tears welled in my eyes and I honestly looked up and prayed! Sounds dramatic and extreme but up to now our journey had been extreme, especially for someone that had not rode a bike for 2 years.

Up ahead, Hayley and Shane had stopped for a break and my frown turned to a smile and I slowly approached them. The smile didn't last because the pain as I eased myself off my saddle was unbearable. I sank to the floor and lay down in the grass by the side of the road. It was a much needed break. Hayley had said we were aiming for the pub 'The White Mouse'. Now in the distance I could see a white building and foolishly believed that this was the pub, why not of course?! So we headed off, me at the back again. Motivated by this white building in the distance as being our end point. As we passed the Atherfield road I knew Chale was next, my spirits were lifted. The white building got closer and closer and as I approached I looked for the pub sign - it was not to be. It was just a house!! My heart sank again, but I carried on. Up ahead Hayley and Shane had stopped to talk to a motorcyclist, who turned out to be Hayley's boss. He confirmed that the pub wasn't that far away and he would meet us there, so as he sped off into the distance we carried on. The final small hill was just too much for me. Shane and I both walked along the road for a bit, he too was no suffering. Once we saw the pub, a smile spread across both our face and we cycled in triumphant yet exhausted. After setting off at 11:30am we reached Chale at 8:30pm exhausted.

Day 1: Dinner at the Whitemouse

I think we were the most miserable party at the pub that evening. All of use tired and sore. Legs were beginning to stiffen. We even struggled to drink our pints!! It was here that we made the decision that there was no way we could sleep on the beach tonight. Our bodies needed a good chance of recovering for us to be able to continue to cycle tomorrow. We enquired about guest rooms at the pub, to no avail. Thankfully, Chicky came to our rescue and said we could stay at her mum's house up the road in Chale Green. This meant another mile or so of biking.

By the time we left it was dark and we had no lights on our bikes. The road was up and down hill again, and all of us cycled standing up refusing to put out bums back on the saddle. It was a cooler ride and the downhill glides were so welcomed. Eventually we arrived in Chale Green at gone 10pm, thankful for beds and sofas to sleep on and much needed rest.

I had reached the South of the island - north to south, coast to coast. I may have gone around the edges but coast to coast I had achieved. I worked out we had cycled approximately 40 miles today- crazy! If we couldn't move in the morning at least I had achieved the challenge. However we had always said we were going to cycle the whole island, all coasts included in the coast to coast. We decided to see what the morning would bring.

Day 2: A short cut

I was surprised how good I felt in the morning after a sleep. My legs felt ok, a bit achy, it was my bottom that still felt sore and I was dreading getting back on the saddle. What we soon realised was that the pain didn't last for long though.

We had two options to continue our journey. Option 1 was to head up over Blackgang hill towards Ventor, the biggest hill and hills on the island, over 600 m above sea level. Or option 2, head inland towards Godshill and cut over to Shanklin, going around Blackgang hill. We decided on option 2, agreeing that Blackgang ill would indeed kill us and we would never make it back in time for the ferry. It was such a good choice. It was definitely a warmer and muggier day and the heat really added to the cycle. The route to Godshill was a nice one, with some tough little inclines followed by these great chute runs downhill. We got to Shanklin in an hour - a really good start.

Day 2: Shanklin for Brunch

Because we started later, we arrived at Shanklin for lunchtime and fuelled up in a seafront pub called the Steamer inn. I think I ate my food and drunk my cider way too quickly as I felt rather sick afterwards with terrible indigestion. Thankfully it didn't last long and I could enjoy the beautiful coastal ride along the esplanade to Sandown and then to Yaverland.

At Yaverland, we threw off our shoes and went for a paddle in the sea. Hayley deciding to jump in completely. So far this journey was going a lot better than day 1 and I was beginning to enjoy myself.

Day 2: Yaverland to Bembridge

From Yaverland we headed uphill on the B3395 and cycled around Bebridge and Culver Down. It was a beautiful route and we stopped by the airfield to check our route in to Bembridge. Eventually we weaved our ways down into Bembridge and stopped at Bembridge point to make the Easterly part of our journey. The final coast. Now all we needed to do was follow the coastline round to Ryde and we were almost home. It looked so easy.

Day 2: Bembridge to Ryde - the unconventional way

Hayley was convinced that there was a wall we could cycle across as a short cut from Bembridge to St Helens. At first we thought she was going crazy and this wall did not exist but further cycling round Brading Harbour led to our discovery of this wall as part of the coastal path. Now this was a narrow wall, that we shouldn't have really cycled on - like many paths we had been along, but we still did. I am so glad we did because it was beautiful and it brought us out at The Duver seafront, St Helens where we stopped for an ice cream and a map check, We decided that we would follow the flatter coastal path rather than head inland on the roads, this was to be a terrible decision.

As soon as we headed on the the coastal path, we immediately had to dismount our bikes and walk along a stretch of beach hopeful that at the other end would be a cycleable path. This was not to be. What we were faced with was steps leading up into the woodland above. we had no choice but to carry our bikes up these steep steps and what was the start of a narrow, bumpy and difficult journey through the woods. Hayley and I managed to cycle a bit of the route however Shane, with his thin tyres, could not and pretty much carried his bike the whole route. The woodland path seemed to go on for ever with civilisation to be seen at all. Eventually it led us down some very steep steps to another small secluded bay, which was full of flying ants. Looking at the map I think this was Priory Bay. Again we walked our bikes along the sand, hoping that at the end of the bay would be a route back to civilisation. At the end, a couple on holiday from Scotland, directed us up a steep path that would lead us back to the roads. The man kindly offered to carry my bike for me up the steep bank whilst I retrieved his girlfriends flip flops that had got stuck in the mud. Their kindness was amazing and he carried my bike and up and over the incline. I couldn't thank him enough. Human spirit and it's best.

Thankfully we arrived in Seagrove Bay and after a conversation with a local we headed along a paved coastal path towards Seaview and along to Puckpool beach, a beautiful sandy beach. The view back towards the mainland was stunning and Portsmouth and the Spinnaker was so clear. This was another of my favourite stretches of the route. The sun was shining, the view was stunning and the route was flat. Amazing. At Puckpool, I spotted Ryde pier and in my head that was my goal. As we cycled along the coastal path it got closer and closer. Finally we arrived at Ryde pier, our detour making us slightly later than we hoped however we had arrived.

Day 2: The final stretch - Ryde to Wooten

It would only be apt that our final stretch home was to be full of hills. The route out of Ryde itself was tough and many a hill I had to dismount my bike and walk a bit. We left Ryde along to A3054 and up some one way streets along the pavement. There was some lovely downhill glides however they were quickly followed by some harsh uphill climbs. Binstead hill was tough and my legs were beginning to feel that familiar burn again. We soon passed the turning for the Fishbourne car ferry and I knew we were getting closer. The decent down to Wooten Bridge was welcoming as we passed the Sloop Pub where we had breakfasted the day before. It was here where I realised we had one last hill to climb as we entered Wooten. Almost at the top of the hill was the Cedars pub and a little bit further was Hayley's house - our end point. Digging deep I attempted to start cycling up it but shooting pains in my knees hindered this and I walked most of it. However 3/4 of the way up, I mounted my bike again and without even stopping at the pub I cycled the final stretch and finished triumphantly. We had done it!! a 70 mile round trip in two days, with far too many hills to count. Adrenaline pumped through my body as we all celebrated in Hayleys back garden. WE DID IT!!

Thank you

My sincere thanks must go to my fellow team mates, Hayley and Shane, without whom I would never have made it all the way round. Thank you for stopping and waiting for me and for making me laugh! What started as a whim, let's cycle around the Isle of Wight, became an epic two adventure. We sweated, we laughed, I cried and we saw some amazing sights and it was all worth it.We did the NORTH, WEST, SOUTH and EAST coasts! Amazing! I don't think I will do it again although I am sure Hayley and Shane will do. Shane cycled up every hill, god knows how he did it- amazing and I am sure he could do the whole island in one day. That's your challenge Shane. Thank you to Chicky for putting us up and bringing all our stuff from Chale. And thank you to friends and family for all your words of encouragement as we went round, they really gave us a much needed boost.

So if you have been inpsired, please donate to my chosen charity Arthritis Research UK on my JUSTGIVING page above. Or perhaps I may just have inspired you to get on a bike and go cycling yourself or attempt the same trip we did. Good luck if you do! I think I may actually now buy my own bike! Happy cycling! :-)