the proud owner of an excellent delicatessen in Leek

Cycling and food are closely tied. our cafe stops are very important to us and some routes are favoured because of there excellent lunch time facilities. Bradfield post office, The Elton cafe - The Peak District, The Eureka cafe on the Wirral or the evening meal opposite the Youth Hostel in Slaidburn - Forest of Bowland. The Delicatessen in Leek is right up there with the best.

There are not many places in England especially close to Manchester where it is quiet on a sunny day at the weekend. The Forest of Bowland used to be one of those places. When I was cycling the summer before last I stayed at Slaidburn Youth Hostel and thought at the time it would be nice to go back there when the weather was nice.

lythe Fell Road - North of Slaidburn

I cycled up the this road with a man of a similar age who was getting a 50 mile ride in before lunch and before his grandchildren arrived for the afternoon. Makes you think….

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The advert for next year, the 2008 version covered the same course
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A timeless photograph
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Our house in southern Brittainy it was very smart!
It was very close to a village that had been preserved as a tourist attraction - Poul Feton village.

See some photographs

A warning to be taken seriously

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When you go for a pee in the forest you have to tell the inhabitants you are there. Lynne did and then asked me to go in to the undergrowth to take a photograph of the adder.
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La Roche aux Fees

For my last ride before going to meet Lynne I wanted something pretty, long but not too hard. From a colouring in point of view, yellow highlighter on map. The Alpe du Grd –Serre combined with the Col d’Ornon which I have done previously looked the best option.
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The end of the road 1874 meters

This was the area we had had two successful family holidays many years ago. I left the car at Les Vigneaux.
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The Alp d’ Huez from the road leading up to Villard Notre Dame

Sun 3rd of August

I thought I would rest today but looking up at the hillside from the campsite I could see the road that had been recommended to me by an English cyclist that connects to the road that comes down from the Col d’Ornon.
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