LEJOG Day 4 - to Slaidburn, (Lancashire)

This day was to be very long and a day of 2 halfs. 

After a massive 10hr solid sleep I was raring to go ....

Waking up in the beautiful Wilderhope Manor with the sun shining through the window I could not be more impressed with my surroundings. 

This place is beautiful, holds around 100 people and there was ....4 staying. Had a full room to myself. Luxury showers etc so I took good advantage before nipping down for another hearty breakfast as fuel for my onward journey. 

Was ready to go for 9ish. As I type this should have left earlier. What lay ahead was 115ish miles and the longest on this LEJOG. The journey would take me through 5 counties passing Sheswbury, and Whitechurch first. Stopped for the 11ish coffee and cake (Daily now) before plodding along the A49 some really nice scenery and rolling flats. And traffic reasonably light. - first 65 knocked off very quickly. 

Now the 2nd Half. - my route was to take me through Warrington and Bolton. By this time it was nearly 5pm and this also included Blackburn. Start Stop. Start Stop. Brake. Meh. Non eventful and ate into the time of my journey. 

For almost 20 miles, before I knew it it was 7pm before I was out in the country, this was after at 95 getting diverted onto a canal path that prob did not do the bike any good. But when back on the main road things improved. 

Phoned ahead to ensure some1 was there to take me in, and everything was fine. I knew at +100 I had done hills to contend with. 

Now 105. 110. 115, I passed through some epic scenery. The sun was shinning and with legs getting sore I just wanted to get to Slaidburn, but before that 2 almighty hills which at 117 miles on the clock made VERY hard work, but I was rewarded with a great 2 mile decent at the end, before a smaller similar hill and decent into Slaidburn. 

I had arrived. At 915pm. 12hrs after leaving Longville. ! - Booked in, grabbed my wallet and phone and went across the road to the pub to see if I could get anything to eat. So dinner was a Worthingtons and 2 bags o crisps sadly.

 

But enjoyed some great chat next to the roaring fire with sone locals, as I recalled today's

 adventure and enjoyed a chat with a guy over from Germsny for the Fly Fishing. ( sadly didn't get his name ). 

In bed by 11pm to reflect on the biggest day yet. .... And snoring by 11.10pm ! Lol