Pedalling for Parkinson's

  I enjoyed a fabulous cycle across country lanes today; no HGVs trying to run me over; the only risk was that the Spring lambs are really distracting and I might fall off whilst laughing at them gambling about! I enjoyed an alfresco lunch in Longridge, where my mother and I looked particuarly ridiculus wearing wooly hats & down jackets, singing along to the music playing on the terrace, it would have been normal in a ski resort, but I'm not sure Longridge's residents knew quite what to make of two ladies singing along to Diana Ross! I have also really enjoyed the road names I have cycled along today, Birdy Brow, Twitter Lane; as you can imagine there are a fair few birds about here in Lancashire's Forest of Bowland, I think I may have even heard a curlew!! I can definitely tell I am cycling Northwards, it is freezing! And Spring seems a little farther behind here, lambs are younger, and the spring flowers and leaves are like they were down in Dorset a month ago; so I a...

I was fortunate to have the change to see an old family friend before I set off, Tristan, We grew up together and have enjoyed some cycles in the past, alas his work commitments precluded joining me this time, but it was lovely to catch up if only briefly. The day started with an off-road route across Telford, which rather reminded me of Basingstoke, a host of housing estates and roundabouts. Finally reaching the countryside I was able to pick up a bit of pace for which I was grateful as it had turned cold. A little geek speak now relating to cycle route planning; my partner kindly gave me a Garmin GPS device for this trip, to help with navigation, as whilst using our mobile phones on previous trips we realised how they ran low on battery and struggled with the rain. The issue I had not envisaged with the one relating to uploading routes to the Garmin; as GPX files. It transpires that my friends more au fait with these devices, spend hours planning their cycle routes and GPX files usin...

Having enjoyed a delightful stay at an Airbnb in Kenchester at a stud farm, the cycle across Herefordshire began; beautiful countyside with lots of farming along the way, alas no spring lambs to share my lunch with! I took a mostly country lane route, first to Leominster. Feeling a little low in energy I took the opportunity of a little bakers to grab a doughnut, and whilst sitting on the bench outside a lady called Hazel asked me whether I was on holiday in the area; I suppose there are not many lycra clad cyclists with panniers frequenting Leominster! I mentioned my cycle for Cure PArkinson's Trust and she kindly donated £20 to CPT! Thank you HAzel! Onwards to Ludlow, and as I cycled into the town I spied my mother's VW van, and managed to bump into her on the street there, so we enjoyed a delicious al fresco lunch at Harp lane cafe, whilst a classical guitarist busked on the street! It was wonderful! https://harplane.com/ Onwards then across Herefordshire and into Shropshire...

I must confess I enjoyed a rest day yesterday; visiting my godchildren at Dyffrn gardens near Cardiff! It was such a treat to see them as I have missed them horribly with the COVID restrictions. We enjoyed a wonderful picnic, purchased from Cocorico in Cardiff - winners of the BAke off Professionals series! I can highly recommend them! Apparently they will be teaching patisserie workshops from the Autumn.. I cannot wait! https://www.cocoricopatisserie.co.uk/ And so the cycling resumed; and today my friend Beth Bennet Britton joined me, and Loz returned for a second helping of cycling with me!! Glutton for punishment!! More Loz Browning route planning took us on the newly opened Greenway from Chepstow to Tintern Abbey, complete with a tunnel over 1Km long! Signage is a little vague and the track may not suit super slick tyres but we all coped fine on our road bikes.  https://greenwaysandcycleroutes.org/wye-valley-greenway/ Beth's parents live along the Wye valley and very kindly off...

    I cannot recommend our Shapwick Airbnb highly enough, The Potting Shed, hosted by MAtthew and Karin; super comfortable bed and a home cooked & home grown breakfast to set me on my way across the levels to Cheddar. The somerset levels rather reminded me of the marshland , Le Marais, at the Southern end of the Cherbourg Penisnsula, and so may Tour de France in a day began! Alas no patisseries however the views were specacular as I cycled across the flat waterlands, interspersed with straight dykes, willow orchards and cattle grazing. Today my dear friend, Loz Browning, was joining me to cycle; we met at Cheddar and enjoyed some alpine climbs up Cheddar Gorge, reminscent of a previous epic cycle we enjoyed up the Col du Lauteret! We then returned to Cheddar and cycled a route beside the Cote d'Azur of Cheddar, the local resevoir! Before heading out through pretty villages to then join the Strawberry Line, again, thank you Mr Beeching! Apparently in the day this was the ro...

Day 5 - From Exmoor hills to the Somerset levels      Awaking in Exmoor to the sounds of bleating lambs was a delight. I had slept particularly well last night following a Sri Lankan Curry supper on Baricane Beach in Woolacombe, courtesty of Carey and Peter, a real treat!  Ready to hit the Exmoor hills the route did not disappoint, although my front wheel only left the ground once today, so things appear to be easing off... or so I thought until I reached the Qunatocks!! I climbed across the Southern ridge of Exmoor from Winsford towards Raleigh's Cross; enjoying a picnic lunch en route accompanied by spectating lambs. I also enjoyed my second county crossing, from Devonshire into Somerset. It was then a gloirous descent towards Bishops Lydeard, before a long steep climb atop the Quantocks.  The scenery  I realised was familiar;  anyone who knows me will know that my car has long been treated as a mobile bicycle locker, and it is often that following a...

 Day 4 - Great Torrington to Countisbury Hill I was very excited to be heading to even more familiar territory today; cycling to Exmoor; since I was a baby I have been coming to Exmoor regularly and I love it! Again, also being hill obsessed there was a particularl nemesis I was keen to cycle up, Countisbury Hill; a hill so steep that I was once the passenger in a friends car whislt they drove, and they requested I alight the vehicle as they were struggling to drive up the hill with me  in it!! It was an old morris minor, but still, the feeling sticks! Prior to reaching Countisbury, there was a farther stretch of the Tarka trail to enjoy, cycling down a valley on a disused railway, fabulous wild flowers abounding, a few people out walking, jogging or cycling along the way. You then reach the estuary and follow it out to sea near Bideford and Instow, where I delighted in discovery a coffee shop, and was terribly healthy and abstained from cake! From Barntstape I headed inland a...

 Day 3 Trewint to Great Torrington A delightful day of cycling largely on country lanes with seldom another vehicle or house in sight, bliss!  I also discovered a little village shop selling coffee and baked goods; as anyone who knows me will attest I am rather a fan of tea & cake, and strong coffee at 10am, so this was perfect and I managed to acquire a Cornish speciality, safrron buns! Onwards to Holsworthy where Filter Through provided the coffee and toasted saffron buns! What a day this was turning out to be!! Onwards and upwards, And my first county crossing of the trip, from Cornwall to Devon, Woohoo! I then realised I was on familiar terrain, the Tarka Trail, that I had previously cycled in 2018 with a friend, and fellow personn with Parkinson's , Alison Anderson, when we cycled the Devon Coast to Coast! I was glad to arrive at Great Torrington, where we also enjoyed a treat for the support crew, a trip to the Royal HOrticultural Society gardens at Rosemoor; my moth...

 Another glorious day and we cycled out to Wadebridge, finding a lovely cross country route, avoiding the A39! Gambling lambs, high banked lanes flanked with violets, primroses and discovering moors we did  not know existed was ample recompense for the hillier route ( I hope michael agrees!!!) The team rendezvous point was beside the Camel trail at Wadebridge; Mummy had also enjoyed a cycle during the morning, albeit slightly flatter!  At this point Michael departed as he had to return back for work and so the solo cycling began, I cetainly felt more vulnerable as I headed out on the A39, drivers certainly seem more aware of two cyclists than one, maybe I should attach a cardboard cut out to my bike! It was lovely cycling in terrain a little more familiar, from surf trips with friends and family holidays; familar village names popping up, Polzeath, Port Issac, Tintagel. Feeling a little fatigued from  yesterday I made an executive decision to avoid the hillier route,...

As a GP when I was d iagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2017 at the age of 37 it was a massive shock; shattering my sense of self and my future plans. I was fortunate to find Cure Parkinsons who provided me with the greatest treatment, hope! Through their commitment to funding research to find treatments to slow, stop or reverse this disease I have found hope, as have many others. Having worked to support the COVID response during the pandemic, I am thrilled to now be supporting Cure Parkinsons to help assuage the impact COVID has had on their income this year. Anything you are able to donate would hugely appreciated! https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=ClaireLehman1&pageUrl=2 I shall be cycling over 1070 miles in the next month to raise funds for more of their work; cycling from Land's End to John O Groats! Several friends and family requested I share updates along the way... so here we are with a blog to follow me, Claire Leh...

We were blessed with wonderful weather on Saturday 17th April as we set off to Lands End; my mother driving the support van, with myself and my partner Michael, who had volunteered to cycle with me for the first weekend. From the outset Cornwall let us know it was a hilly county, and we were soon shedding layers as we climbed short sharp stealth inclines!  I was incredibly tempted to stop en route for a swim at the Penzance Sea Lido but alas the miles beckoned and I shall have to return another day! Working up a hearty appetite we enjoyed lunch overlooking St Michael's Mount, and again resisting the allure of the azure blue water we headed inland towards Hayle. From there climbing further inland to Camborne and Redruth, where we learned how to use Komoot to help us route find on the cycle! This provided a beautiful cross country, very hilly country, through a hidden village of Bolingey to find our place to stay for the night! Being so close to the coast I couldnt resist the beach, ...