WEDNESDAY,15TH MAY and they are on their way leaving Berkhamsted at 7 18 on a dank, cold, cheerless day BUT these two are tough and will take whatever life throws at them. As mentioned before Pam and Diane are cycling from Berkhamsted to Slough and back along the Grand Union Canal to raise money for TEAMS and in particular a school in Gulu Uganda
Why not take a look at the TEAMS website and Pam's Blog from her recent trip
with Diane to Uganda.
.http://www.teamsonline.org/
http://paminuganda.wordpress.com/about/

An hour after starting they are at bridge 153 (nr Sainsburys at Apsley) and going well.

 By 9.15 they are on the outskirts of Watford near Lady Capel Bridge and about to enter Cassiobury Park aiming for the Coy Carp at Harefield by 10 30.
The sun occasionally shows its face but is a tad shy today. Shy! It should be hanging its head in shame for not shining on the two valiant fundraisers.
Good progress till they reach the Slough Arm where the towpath is closed for maintenance and no diversions are marked so over an hour and at least 8 miles added to the trip. A bowl of soup at Mark and Diane's in Slough and heading back accompanied by Mark on the return leg,by a different route to pick up the Grand Union mainline at Cowley.Pam has a bit of a tumble but nothing was going to stop her now.
The weather is improving greatly but the strength is waning and after a womanful effort the weary threesome arrive back in Berkhamsted about 9 30 pm.Too tired even to visit the Lamb! Over 12 hours since they left and at least eleven of them in the saddle. A brilliant and brave effort.

AND WELL WORTH SPONSORING IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE YET!

A hearty meal a bath and a good nights sleep complete the day.

Well done, Pam, Diane and M

ark

With St George's behind us and the sun out at last it's time to get thinking about the outside of "Independence", the planning of the trip to Llangollen and Pam's forthcoming bike ride to Slough and back to raise money towards her target 500 quid for the school in Uganda.This is a total of 53 miles and sponsorship/donations would, of course, be welcome

http://paminuganda.wordpress.com/

plus a video from Uganda on  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMIsxDM_bMs

A training run today, Sunday. The plan was that Pam would cycle from Cowroast to The Grand Junction at Bulbourne with me following on with Independence. We had not bargained for about 700 boys and girls walking from Tring (Station) Bridge southwards. Not a good idea to cycle against the flow especially on a bike on which one is inexperienced.

Pam and bike came on the boat as far as Tring Bridge and then jumped ship and cycled on ahead.

Moored up right by the pub (where else?) and had a couple of beers and a roast dinner. Marvellous.

All back on the boat and back to Cowroast from where Pam cycled back to Berkhamsted..

The highlight was the sighting of two Kingfishers on what I call Kingfisher Bend just south of Tring Station Bridge. They both flew along the canal and alighted on a branch within six inches of one another. Needless to say my camera was at the other end of the boat. 

Work has started on sanding down the outside of Independence-it was so hot today I couldn't touch the roof-what a difference from a fortnight ago but apparently not so different from what's coming tomorrow.

Heavy rain overnight and a dank day so back to normal weather-wise but we press on and Geoff  from the Lock Bungalow does stirling work with a sander whilst looking just a tad camp.

Monday 13th and the forecast for the week is not good either for boat painting or sponsored bike riding. Boatwise I will concentrate on lots of little inside jobs and keep praying for a reasonable day for Pam and Diane on Wednesday. More anon.

The sponsorship is going well and I have no doubt Pam will make her £500 target. More is always welcome. of course, and the weather this evening is so atrocious that if the ride is completed tomorrow both Pam and Diane will deserve a very big round of applause/drinks.

ST George's Day and the week around it.

 Lyme Regis with my fellow missionaries (shown below with the exception of Ted whom we are off to meet).

Peter, Mike P, Geoff, Adrian, Me, Kevin

And here he is, with  Roses presented by Kev, fresh off a bus from Exmouth.

We are staying in a big house near the sea in Lyme Regis but today, wearing our roses to celebrate St George's Day we are off to the Swannery at Abbotsbury

followed by a celebratory pint and Roast Beef with all the trimmings.

The tie regarded by some as tasteless looks rather good on Peter

Does this remind you of the film "The Odd Couple"?

Nice to see a bit of class about

Elevenses at Abbotsbury

A sparkling day as the lads pose looking
 like an ageing tribute band

Kevin, cluthching our guide to the Swannery is
 confused as he has never heard swans go "Baaaaa"

The swans that aren't nesting take up position on the path
This one is waiting for Peter.

Geoff showing some "stile"

The Swannery is beautiful and well worth a visit at this time of year during the nesting season. Try and pick a day with weather like ours though.

The Beef-30 quids worth and worth every penny

Apart from one bloke in the supermarket car park who was flying the Cross of St George the English as usual are totally ignoring their Patron Saint's Day. Not us. We are off to Lyme Regis to celebrate in style.

Whoops! We nearly forgot Ted
who has fallen in love with a swan

Ted does his Idiot Gnome impersonation-very good too

The following day we go to Branscome-lovely village with good walks and an excellent pub, The Fountain Head- http://www.fountainheadinn.com/-which was flying the St George Cross from yesterday

Followed by a walk round the Cobb at Lyme Regis

The French Lieutenant's Solicitor

Out in the evening for an Italian in Lyme Regis. It wasn't cheap but it was good

The following day (Thursday) after a Mackerel Breakfast

off to Sidmouth where we met Geoff's brother Brian (who taught me to ride a bike over 50 years ago!)

After a planning meeting in the Anchor a walk along the River Otter

I knew Ted shouldn't have had the second one in the Anchor

and nor should Adrian

 A Faewell to Ted Pint then a Chinese Take-away and copious draughts in the evening.
Home in the morning.