ABC Towns and Villages

[EltonFrog]

My P&Q were like that, attached to each other back to back.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I will get Z at some point but no rush!

 

[13 rider]

I'm stuck on U . Nearest V is a 150 mile ride away but there is a V 10 miles from my holiday destination in Cornwall so V and W will be done in July . Unless I find V in Wales when I do a three day event in June .

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Me and part of a bike earlier this week, at the start of a short camping break in Cornwall:

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Interestingly, the campsite we stayed at was in a small village just outside Camelford, not the sort of place which usually has a boundary sign, but they seem proud of their name:

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As this is firmly on many people's LEJOG route, it may be useful for some.

The campsite, Cherry Cottage, welcomes many LEJOGgers and, judging from the many messages of thanks, the owners may give a free night's accomodation as a contribution to the rider's charity . Not something I can guarantee on their behalf obviously, but their rates are generous enough anyway.

You trying to derailleur this thread?

 

[Vantage]

The easiest one of them all so far, less than a mile. U.

A few photos of the Dawes Kingpin around the village of Upton.

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Outside the pub.

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A couple of thatched houses.

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The church memorial gate.

I’ve done at least one trip on all five of my bikes now.

Nora Batty wants her bike back.

 

[Houthakker]

Got I today but am struggling for a J.
Am away in a couple of weeks so will wait until after that before deciding whether to use a bye or not.

 

[Aravis]

You trying to derailleur this thread?

Note that I didn't try to claim I'd finished the challenge. I still intend to do it properly. Although it could be argued the original rules didn't require us to be on a ride. That stipulation snuck in on page 5, and who's likely to find that?

But several weeks after reaching Y I was starting to feel left out. And we were asked to be inventive...

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Note that I didn't try to claim I'd finished the challenge. I still intend to do it properly. Although it could be argued the original rules didn't require us to be on a ride. That stipulation snuck in on page 5, and who's likely to find that?

But several weeks after reaching Y I was starting to feel left out. And we were asked to be inventive...

I was just making a joke of the item you used, I too am waiting to grab a Z as nothing local.

 

[Aravis]

I was just making a joke of the item you used, I too am waiting to grab a Z as nothing local.

Don't worry, it was much appreciated. I'm only sorry I couldn't find a way of working "mech" or "changer" into my response. Believe me, I did try.

 

[TheDoctor]

Now that I'm back from a few weeks away, time to get on with the challenge!
A quick recap - I've got Aston, Benington, Cromer, Datchworth, Earith, Fen Drayton, Gosmore, Hitchin, Ickleford, Jacks Hill, Knebworth, Letchworth, Moulton, Newmarket, Ousden, Prickwillow, Queen Adelaide, Redcoats Green, Stevenage and Titmore Green under my belt so far.
Starting from Biggleswade this morning, I went through Broom and Southhill.
Southhill has an excellent tea shop in the old village stores, that does very good home-made cakes and scones. I didn't stop there this time, but I've been there before with various people of this parish.
I then went through Old Warden.

But - oh noes! - the W is in the second word, so it doesn't count.
I continued on through Ickwell Green and turned off towards Upper Caldecote.

Sadly, I'm going to have to leave V for a little while - I'm not going all the way to the Isle of Widget just to go to Ventnor again, and I'm not going to Vauxhall ever.
That gets us onto W.
Now, Walkern, Weston, Whitwell, Welwyn and Wallington are all nearby and I've ridden to them at least a gazillion times.
When I worked in Letchworth I cycled through Willian twice a day.
But I bet no-ones bagged Whakatane...

It's in the Bay of Plenty, in NZs North Island. It's got a river that looks like this:-

and Whale Island just offshore, that's a wildlife refuge.

I couldn't get a decent shot of White Island, which is an active volcano (!!) about 20-odd miles offshore. There are boat trips, giving you a chance to look at lots and lots of steaming fumaroles and pretty pools of concentrated sulphuric acid. You can go paddling, but only the once...
Other local attractions include hot pools and train rides at Awakeri, on the way to Rotorua. There's bush walks too, an observatory, and excellent beaches at Ohope (about 5 miles away). It is a 24-hour flight away, so don't all rush at once.
Back in this country, I recently bagged a load of letters over near Newmarket, including X-ning.
It was starting to rain, so I just bagged the sign and then retreated.

 

[TheDoctor]

I will get Z at some point but no rush!

Have you bagged a Y yet? I'm thinking I might have to go to Yaxley or Yeldon, either of which is a biggish ride.
Or I could go over to Belgium and get Veurne, Ypres and Zeebrugge...

 

[uphillstruggler]

Finally had time to bag this one on an out and back, I think someone got this a while back but my options are few and far between.

I’m on the lookout for a K, that could be as much a challenge as J but we’ll see

 

[EltonFrog]

View attachment 466232 Finally had time to bag this one on an out and back, I think someone got this a while back but my options are few and far between.

I’m on the lookout for a K, that could be as much a challenge as J but we’ll see

T’was me!

 

[uphillstruggler]

T’was me!

Same sign? I didn’t ride around looking for another

 

[EltonFrog]

Same sign? I didn’t ride around looking for another

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Famous for being the birthplace of Flora Thompson.

Yup, Feb 12.