8 and 9 October 2025 (cloudy and cool) 28km

 8.10.25

Cold and clear

14 degrees

17kms 


Up at 7am, cleared the dishwasher, grabbed a drink of water with a cup of tea and settled into pre breakfast conversation.

That continued throughout breakfast and it wasn't until 10.30am that I realised that my phone was on “Do not disturb" and I hadn't received a call from Lecky. 

I left phone inside and went outside to alter both sets of handlebars, which we didn't set properly at John Lennon Airport.

Also, pumped up the tyres with Peg's large stand up pump, so hopefully, that will be the last time we'll need to on the trip. 

Tomorrow I'll clean and lube the bikes for the final time over here, with our ride to Ian's in Chester on Friday.

Lecky had made contact with Julia whilst I was outside, so we mounted up and rode to Heswall, where she was dog sitting two little Chihuahuas, in a very nice, rather large house, overlooking the river Dee.


Two nice jags in the driveway, one an F8 sports. Julia only noticed that one was white and one was black.

Spent a good two hours with Lecky and two dogs, who initially were wary of us, but by the end were playing with us.

It's been great catching up and I'm sure it won't be another seven years before we see her again.

She's even mentioned coming out to NZ.

We'll wait and see...!

Ride back along Wirral Way was cold and next week's ride to London will see the gloves and warm cycle pants being utilized.

Have to say, both of us are very much looking forward to the journey.

Amazing how much we miss not riding everyday, but this family and friends episode has been fantastic.

Back at Peg’s, something to eat with a coffee, before starting the blog and Julia got stuck into the photos.


9.10.25

Cloudy and cool

15 degrees

11km 


We both grabbed a shower followed by a cup of tea and then into breakfast.

Stu was the third person to show, followed at 8.30am by Peg, who had been talking to Eileen, in New Zealand.

At 9.30am Julia and I began the short ride up the Wirral Way to Hadlow Road station to meet the two Janes and Joanne, for the final time on this trip. We had our longs on today as the temperature was cool.

Nice ride which eventually saw us pull up in front of this beautifully renovated station.


Jane and Joanne were there and we moved inside, where little Jane soon met us. For the next two hours we reminisced about life in the Wirral over forty years ago. Jo even had a photo I hadn't seen since that time. Had a great time and soon it was time to head back to Little Neston.

Picked up some flowers for Peg, some chocolate and a nice card. Back at camp, had some lunch and spent the rest of the afternoon talking and also threw in a workout.

Peggy's friend Sylvia has got sciatica, so we did four short exercise videos for her and shipped them off. Trying to get Peg's iPad to send them had us all in fits of laughter.

Had dinner and then a chat with Andy Francis, who still isn't well. Don't fancy our chances of catching up with him this time around.

Called Toffa and enjoyed a catch up with him. Funny to think that in two weeks we'll be back home.

Finished the day watching the last twenty minutes of England v Wales 3- 0.

Wrote up the blog and turned in at 11pm.

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