Route - Planning!

So the route has been decided ... many hours on the pc, checking options, downloading maps, deciding what sights to take in on the way ( Like we will have time!! Fat chance!! But we can hope!) the stops have been decided and I total up the days to realise that we are planning to cover 980 miles or so, and over 36,000 feet of hills to climb including the famous Kirkstone Pass, Long Mynd amongst others, not to mention apparently cycling against the wind coming off the atlantic !! Madness!!! I think so!

Now the small issue of where to stay each night, looking at the route profiles I know there are some days where I will want a good bed and a bath , so many phone calls and much writing of emails takes place for us to arrange accommodation in the height of summer season. Sometimes we strike lucky and find a reasonable room rate for all 6 of us and then other days ‘we can only fit 2 of you in’ is the response – frustrating.

I have booked my train ticket up from London to Edinburgh and booked a space for my bike – an important thing to do as bike spaces are limited and the last thing I will need is a delay to wait for a bike space to become available. So the plan is to meet my team mates in  Edinburgh – they are driving the support van up from Southampton, then from Edinburgh to drive together to JOG for the start on Sunday Morning. Sounds easy so far doesn’t it? haha