We have Dinah Mason to thank for pointing out the fabulous name of one of our waypoints on the South Downs route. I was intrigued so googled to find out if there really was such a place.
Cheesefoot Head is a natural ampitheatre and place of outstanding beauty - wow, nice, they have a horse box parking area as well. However, it is also a place of special scientific interest (and not for it's name). It is, it seems, regularly the site of crop circles. The best bit is that, in 1989, there was the Cheesefoot Head incident involving the first ever crop circle investigation unit and UFO's. Google it if you dare - there were news paper articles and all sorts. The whole team experienced strange things - a feeling of force, an inability to break free, the head of a small ET, people moving at an angle or moving backwards and so on.
But, they ain't seen nothing yet - the Belles are on their way and UFO's have nothing on us. We have witnessed some UFO incidents ourselves - Alex on several occasions and has been known to land in unidentifiable circular objects (OK it was a patch of stinging nettles but it was strangely circular). Vicky and Sian have, what seems now, a suspiciously common denominator in the form of Isalda who was there to swerve and pick us up in our most dramatic of flights. Vix managed an unusual levitation from her bike on the Chilton road and Sian took to the air over Little London in Oakley. Isalda is, of course, an alien and on both occasions we felt the need to 'phone home'. It's all coming together now - Pat Delgado and Colin Andrews may wish to make a return trip in June for scientific interest as the Belles land at Cheesefoot.
In the meantime can anyone give us lessons in crop circle making - we feel the force!
It has been almost three years since the Belles set a challenge. We haven't stopped, we simply need to re-set and re-focus and find time to get ourselves back in the zone.
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
And the 2011 Pollicott Belles Cycle Challenge is....
The South Downs Way - another ancient route where we will ‘experience some of the finest countryside great views, attractive wildlife, visible prehistory, fine pubs and pretty villages.
The 160 kilometre (100 mile) South Downs Way follows the old routes and drove ways along the chalk escarpment and ridges of the South Downs, between Winchester, the first capital of England, and the white chalk cliffs of Eastbourne. It’s promising to be another Pollicott Belles classic event.
We have thought very long, and very hard, about our charity this year. Macmillan Cancer Support remains close to our hearts. We have all witnessed the wonderful care and advice their nurses have given to special friends. We know it’s a charity people are pleased and proud to support. We love our green T-Shirts and we very much like the fundraising team in Launton. And yet, though we will all personally continue to support Macmillan, we have decided to focus our joint energies this year on a charity that is close to home.
Why? Alex was the catalyst – she placed a leaflet on the table and told us about the man who had inspired her to think about supporting a local charity (more about him from Alex in a later blog).
And so, we have registered as fundraisers for Helen & Douglas House and we intend to raise £1000 for this fabulous local charity. We know it's going to be harder in many ways but we also know we can help to make a difference in difficult lives.
Coincidentally, I have supported Helen & Douglas House ever since I heard the founder - Sister Frances Dominica – telling her story and I was captivated by her (again another blog). Every Christmas Andy, Joe and I dress as Santa's and run round Oxford. We even starred on their 2009 Christmas card. So it wasn't a difficult decision for me to support them some more. And, guess what Alex and Vicky will be roped in to do this year!!
Helen & Douglas House provide hospice care for children and young adults. They provide respite and end of life care for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions, as well as support and friendship for the whole family. On their website is a list of useful resources - I looked at it thinking it would have a logo and it's not that sort of resource - it's a list of other charities and support groups for parents dealing with the horror of a very ill child. That brought home to me just how fragile life is and how lucky we all are to be fit and healthy enough to do the things we do.
There is a marvellous story to tell about the work at the 2 houses and we will tell it as our blog unfolds. In the meantime we ask you all to support us through our training, fundraising events and the challenge itself and help us to raise £1000 once again.
The 160 kilometre (100 mile) South Downs Way follows the old routes and drove ways along the chalk escarpment and ridges of the South Downs, between Winchester, the first capital of England, and the white chalk cliffs of Eastbourne. It’s promising to be another Pollicott Belles classic event.
We have thought very long, and very hard, about our charity this year. Macmillan Cancer Support remains close to our hearts. We have all witnessed the wonderful care and advice their nurses have given to special friends. We know it’s a charity people are pleased and proud to support. We love our green T-Shirts and we very much like the fundraising team in Launton. And yet, though we will all personally continue to support Macmillan, we have decided to focus our joint energies this year on a charity that is close to home.
Why? Alex was the catalyst – she placed a leaflet on the table and told us about the man who had inspired her to think about supporting a local charity (more about him from Alex in a later blog).
And so, we have registered as fundraisers for Helen & Douglas House and we intend to raise £1000 for this fabulous local charity. We know it's going to be harder in many ways but we also know we can help to make a difference in difficult lives.
Coincidentally, I have supported Helen & Douglas House ever since I heard the founder - Sister Frances Dominica – telling her story and I was captivated by her (again another blog). Every Christmas Andy, Joe and I dress as Santa's and run round Oxford. We even starred on their 2009 Christmas card. So it wasn't a difficult decision for me to support them some more. And, guess what Alex and Vicky will be roped in to do this year!!
Helen & Douglas House provide hospice care for children and young adults. They provide respite and end of life care for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions, as well as support and friendship for the whole family. On their website is a list of useful resources - I looked at it thinking it would have a logo and it's not that sort of resource - it's a list of other charities and support groups for parents dealing with the horror of a very ill child. That brought home to me just how fragile life is and how lucky we all are to be fit and healthy enough to do the things we do.
There is a marvellous story to tell about the work at the 2 houses and we will tell it as our blog unfolds. In the meantime we ask you all to support us through our training, fundraising events and the challenge itself and help us to raise £1000 once again.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Phoenix from the Ashes
The warm weather back in the first week of June seems, and is, a long time ago. Mid-September and the cold nights are drawing in. Some things are a distant memory, some are not!
"Oi you lot" screamed 'Military Miller' "are you ready for another challenge"? Being the Pollicott Belles is pretty explanatory, we all live in Pollicott which means dear old Sian is never too far away.
Vicky and I were intrigued and before we knew it all three of us sat to reflect on the great fun we had back in the hazy days of Summer doing our little bit for the great team at MacMillan.
Sure there were cuts and bruises, but there was generosity and support in far greater proportions, as we recalled our favourite bits of those gruelling months of training it became a certainty that the Belles would 'ride again'.
I find it difficult to recall a single favourite memory, I do know the commitment, that Sian showed me I possessed, has changed my life forever - I pushed myself into achieving things that I never thought possible.
There was already friendship long before The Belles was born, but simple friendship was brushed aside as even deeper relationships were forged. We were there to support each other when the going got tough: for every mile further Sian convinced me I could go, Vicky was there with support and a shoulder to collapse on when the need arose.
Today is Friday 17th September and tonight is a rather special occasion because the Pollicott Belles are about to rise again - like a phoenix from the ashes.
Watch this space good people - time to hose the bike down and get the chain grease out!!
Alex xx
"Oi you lot" screamed 'Military Miller' "are you ready for another challenge"? Being the Pollicott Belles is pretty explanatory, we all live in Pollicott which means dear old Sian is never too far away.
Vicky and I were intrigued and before we knew it all three of us sat to reflect on the great fun we had back in the hazy days of Summer doing our little bit for the great team at MacMillan.
Sure there were cuts and bruises, but there was generosity and support in far greater proportions, as we recalled our favourite bits of those gruelling months of training it became a certainty that the Belles would 'ride again'.
I find it difficult to recall a single favourite memory, I do know the commitment, that Sian showed me I possessed, has changed my life forever - I pushed myself into achieving things that I never thought possible.
There was already friendship long before The Belles was born, but simple friendship was brushed aside as even deeper relationships were forged. We were there to support each other when the going got tough: for every mile further Sian convinced me I could go, Vicky was there with support and a shoulder to collapse on when the need arose.
Today is Friday 17th September and tonight is a rather special occasion because the Pollicott Belles are about to rise again - like a phoenix from the ashes.
Watch this space good people - time to hose the bike down and get the chain grease out!!
Alex xx
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
£1500 - Ya Hoo...
The Ridgeway Challenge seems a bit dim and distant now: our legs and bums have recovered, our bruises and cuts are healed, and yet still the money rolls in. Today a pledged £20 was given to me at work and it means we finally hit £1500 - 150% of our target.
Over the next few weeks Alex, Vicky and I will blog our personal recollections of the Ridgeway experience and then we will be announcing our 2011 challenge. I tell you it's well worth watching this space!!
Thank you all - your support will have already made a very real difference to people who need it now.
Over the next few weeks Alex, Vicky and I will blog our personal recollections of the Ridgeway experience and then we will be announcing our 2011 challenge. I tell you it's well worth watching this space!!
Thank you all - your support will have already made a very real difference to people who need it now.
Thursday, 1 July 2010
A warm welcome and fine send off
So Saturday evening saw us cycling into the centre of Nettlebed to try and find our B and B called 'Somerset', it was on the high street and we soon found it, we cycled around the back to some garages to be met by Nan, we had hardly surgically removed our bodies from our bikes when Nan offered us a very much needed cup of tea. We walked through the garage into the most stunning garden, small it may have been, but it was an oasis of tranquility and a landscape and horticultural masterpiece, truly delightful and a real tribute to Nan's hard work. We were presented with 3 matching tea mugs and sat in the shade to reflect with Nan and her husband, John, on our days adventure!
We were shown to our sleeping quarters on the top floor of this lovely town house and as we climbed the 2 flights of stairs we were drawn to the many lovely photos of Nan and John that adorned the walls. We decided that Sian should continue the tradition and have the double bed again and Alex and I would share the twin room. Following a good bath we went and had a sumptious meal at the pub accross the road, we even allowed ourselves a few glasses of wine as we felt deserving of them!! As our eyelids started drooping we decided it was time to retire to our beds and following a good sleep we were met the following morning by Nan cooking a breakfast for us.
Meanwhile Steve was on his way to pick up our luggage so Alex was loitering outside on the high street on the look out for the 'Batmobile' AKA Steve's vintage Escort!!!!! Well it was a good job it was 8 in the morning and not the evening as people might have got the wrong idea!!!
After our fry-up we waved our goodbye's to Nan and John, waht a couple of gems!, and set off to re-join the Ridgeway just outside Nettlebed. It was quite a tough start to the day, probably made worse by our heavy breakfast!! and Alex found it hard to 'sort her breathing out'!! The terrain was mud tracks across vast arable fields mixed in with woodland paths with tree roots and sheer drops to contend with.
Finding ourselves on Oxfordshire soil signaled that we were indeed nearing the end of our challenge and as we approached Chinnor I knew Princes Risborough was only around the corner, we arrived at the end of our Ridgeway track at the top of the hill down to the car park in Risborough and as we wanted our support crew to actually witness our completion we hastily made phone calls to tell them to hot-foot it over. This gave us time to sit down at the top of this hill and wai tfor them to arrive. Mounting our bikes to start the ceremonious descent, Alex chose this moment to fall off her bile AGAIN, what timing?!! but in fits of giggles we flew down the hill to the welcome of our crew with glasses and pink fizz. A truely amazing experience xx
We were shown to our sleeping quarters on the top floor of this lovely town house and as we climbed the 2 flights of stairs we were drawn to the many lovely photos of Nan and John that adorned the walls. We decided that Sian should continue the tradition and have the double bed again and Alex and I would share the twin room. Following a good bath we went and had a sumptious meal at the pub accross the road, we even allowed ourselves a few glasses of wine as we felt deserving of them!! As our eyelids started drooping we decided it was time to retire to our beds and following a good sleep we were met the following morning by Nan cooking a breakfast for us.
Meanwhile Steve was on his way to pick up our luggage so Alex was loitering outside on the high street on the look out for the 'Batmobile' AKA Steve's vintage Escort!!!!! Well it was a good job it was 8 in the morning and not the evening as people might have got the wrong idea!!!
After our fry-up we waved our goodbye's to Nan and John, waht a couple of gems!, and set off to re-join the Ridgeway just outside Nettlebed. It was quite a tough start to the day, probably made worse by our heavy breakfast!! and Alex found it hard to 'sort her breathing out'!! The terrain was mud tracks across vast arable fields mixed in with woodland paths with tree roots and sheer drops to contend with.
Finding ourselves on Oxfordshire soil signaled that we were indeed nearing the end of our challenge and as we approached Chinnor I knew Princes Risborough was only around the corner, we arrived at the end of our Ridgeway track at the top of the hill down to the car park in Risborough and as we wanted our support crew to actually witness our completion we hastily made phone calls to tell them to hot-foot it over. This gave us time to sit down at the top of this hill and wai tfor them to arrive. Mounting our bikes to start the ceremonious descent, Alex chose this moment to fall off her bile AGAIN, what timing?!! but in fits of giggles we flew down the hill to the welcome of our crew with glasses and pink fizz. A truely amazing experience xx
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
A Picture Paints a Thousand Words
Here are a few photos to illustrate our experience and to fill time while Vicky creates her Saturday Night masterpiece!!
DAY 1
Vicky was our first faller - no photo of the event but this is the aftermath:
Alex was next:
Then deep joy for all (including me as it was very funny) I joined in the falling:
Just after the White Horse at Uffington on the chalky track.
Picking up a hitch-hiker!
And made it to our quality accomodation - this says it all!
DAY 2
We found a smoother track and celebrated with a photo.
And some open space:
Picnic delivered by our day 2 support team - Roger, Georgina and Rebecca.
We cycled through woods.
Then relaxed as we arrived at The Thames:
Next came the Kissing Gate challenge - this is one of many:
We were exhausted and just had to take a break:
Vertical was necessary as we arrived at our lovely night 2 accomodation:
DAY 3
There were some very tough bits:
But finally we finished in 'not just any car park'
Sunday, 20 June 2010
A Day of Endurance and so much more...
Our full day (Saturday) ride started uneventfully and, at one point, we wondered when the action would begin. Then over the horizon came a horse. We pulled over to let it pass and spotted the rider's map - we had come across an endurance ride. Another horse appeared, then another and another (and so on). So Vicky got her horse fix and we, in turn, got supporters as many of the (mainly women over 40) riders cheered us on with comments like "oh MacMillan I for one appreciate you" and "where would I be without them?" etc.
At a junction with a road we came across a 'travellers' camp. Now, ordinarily, we would have cycled on by - without judgement but without feeling the need (or able?) to mix. One of the campers had seen us coming though and jumped out and stopped us. 'Are you cycling for MacMillan?' he asked (we were wearing our green T-shirts) and, on our confirmation, went on to tell us he had been diagnosed with cancer and was determined to raise funds for MacMillan by running. He wanted advice on how to go about doing this and we found ourselves engaged in conversation with him, and his family. This was a poignant moment. Here were the Belles mixing, on the one side, with well wishing wealthy women and, on the other, sharing our ideas and experiences with good solid down to earth travelling folk - hey cancer knows no bounds.
After Vicky helped a, frightened of tents, horse past the camp we waved our farewells and peddalled onward. Our progress was so impressive we had to stop and rearrange with our super support team of the day (Roger, Georgina and Rebecca) so that they could meet us further on than originally planned.
At the Wantage Monument we met a fellow cyclist - Kevin - who happily took our photo and passed the time of day with tales of steep hills to come! Kevin lives near Avebury and was impressed at how far we had come so far (sure, yeah he was bearing in mind our average age!!!).
Lunch was delivered by the support team at the Ridgeway car park above Streatley on Thames. Cheese and chutney sandwiches with crisps and a cup of tea were hugely well received. Followed by a pudding stop at the ice cream shop in Goring on Thames. Nice ice cream (Rebecca, aged one, got to try her first) and even nicer people who were keen to find out about our mission and to 'contribute' financially. We left the cafe feeling like super hero's and with additional fund for our cause.
One lady (Marge) and her daughter invited to stop at their home as it was on route (in South Stoke) if we needed anything so we stopped for water bottle top ups. Marge had just lost her best friend to cancer.
It was here that we were due to leave The Ridgeway and use the Swans Way for a while (this being the Bridlepath). But, despite directions from the locals, we failed to find the Swans Way so returned to The Ridgeway knowing that it would become footpath. Luckily there were no Nether Winchendon landed gentry there to hinder our progress - just a field of cows with a bull (we braved them - yeah) and hundreds (perhaps thousands) of kissing gates. AND we had to lift our bikes over every kissing gate - jeepers blooming creepers that was hard!
The final section was a mix of bridlepath and footpath but all very narrow. We picked our way along, over tree roots and rocks and down steep hills. Oh yes, steep hills - on this section Alex had her first very steep, off road, 'you've GOT TO cycle it' experience. She did really well to pluck up the courage to launch off the top (with lots of encouragement from fellow belles and the crop spray machine driver) and we are NOT going to call the stop part way down a fall. It can be classified as a technical 'off'. The next 2 or 3 similar downs were 'water off a duck's back' for Alex - today she became an off road pro.
3 very tired belles left the Ridgeway just above Nettlebed to find our B&B for the night. I am going to leave it to Vicky to tell you about our experience here - suffice it to say it was a huge contrast to last night and started with a fabulous welcome. Read our next blog to find out more.
At a junction with a road we came across a 'travellers' camp. Now, ordinarily, we would have cycled on by - without judgement but without feeling the need (or able?) to mix. One of the campers had seen us coming though and jumped out and stopped us. 'Are you cycling for MacMillan?' he asked (we were wearing our green T-shirts) and, on our confirmation, went on to tell us he had been diagnosed with cancer and was determined to raise funds for MacMillan by running. He wanted advice on how to go about doing this and we found ourselves engaged in conversation with him, and his family. This was a poignant moment. Here were the Belles mixing, on the one side, with well wishing wealthy women and, on the other, sharing our ideas and experiences with good solid down to earth travelling folk - hey cancer knows no bounds.
After Vicky helped a, frightened of tents, horse past the camp we waved our farewells and peddalled onward. Our progress was so impressive we had to stop and rearrange with our super support team of the day (Roger, Georgina and Rebecca) so that they could meet us further on than originally planned.
At the Wantage Monument we met a fellow cyclist - Kevin - who happily took our photo and passed the time of day with tales of steep hills to come! Kevin lives near Avebury and was impressed at how far we had come so far (sure, yeah he was bearing in mind our average age!!!).
Lunch was delivered by the support team at the Ridgeway car park above Streatley on Thames. Cheese and chutney sandwiches with crisps and a cup of tea were hugely well received. Followed by a pudding stop at the ice cream shop in Goring on Thames. Nice ice cream (Rebecca, aged one, got to try her first) and even nicer people who were keen to find out about our mission and to 'contribute' financially. We left the cafe feeling like super hero's and with additional fund for our cause.
One lady (Marge) and her daughter invited to stop at their home as it was on route (in South Stoke) if we needed anything so we stopped for water bottle top ups. Marge had just lost her best friend to cancer.
It was here that we were due to leave The Ridgeway and use the Swans Way for a while (this being the Bridlepath). But, despite directions from the locals, we failed to find the Swans Way so returned to The Ridgeway knowing that it would become footpath. Luckily there were no Nether Winchendon landed gentry there to hinder our progress - just a field of cows with a bull (we braved them - yeah) and hundreds (perhaps thousands) of kissing gates. AND we had to lift our bikes over every kissing gate - jeepers blooming creepers that was hard!
The final section was a mix of bridlepath and footpath but all very narrow. We picked our way along, over tree roots and rocks and down steep hills. Oh yes, steep hills - on this section Alex had her first very steep, off road, 'you've GOT TO cycle it' experience. She did really well to pluck up the courage to launch off the top (with lots of encouragement from fellow belles and the crop spray machine driver) and we are NOT going to call the stop part way down a fall. It can be classified as a technical 'off'. The next 2 or 3 similar downs were 'water off a duck's back' for Alex - today she became an off road pro.
3 very tired belles left the Ridgeway just above Nettlebed to find our B&B for the night. I am going to leave it to Vicky to tell you about our experience here - suffice it to say it was a huge contrast to last night and started with a fabulous welcome. Read our next blog to find out more.
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