Well done to Paul Sanders, the Times Picture Editor on his End to End Ride, 964 miles in 10 days:

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/ women/diet_and_fitness/article4538636.ece

I'm relieved to see that I wasn't the only one to suffer from the wind and rain this summer!

But looking at his pictures, where's his kit and luggage? All he seems to be carrying is a bike computer and a couple of water bottles, with a hint of a day pack on his back in one of his pictures. How did he manage that?

I was really inspired by this story. I can feel a bike goal coming up. Last year my husband and I completed a challenge to walk in every county in England and Wales - great fun and started the road to fitness.

Wow - well done Paul - you deserved the steak and champange!

Sue, that's a really fun idea. Did you and your husband complete it over the span of the year?

Yes, I think I read somewhere before about your county challenge, Sue. It sounds great as it really gets you around the country too. Go on, tell us the place you liked best!



Another one of those things that I just can't imagine how people manage: terrific effort and energy, Paul.

It took us 2 years and actually we have not yet finished - we haven't done merseyside, greater London and somewhere else (can't remember where)

I kept a diary of the whole thing, with loads of photos. It was quite sad as we lost our old dog half way through, but bought a new puppy before the end.

High points:

The waterfall that you could walk behind in Glamorgan.

Walking all day over Dartmoor and seeing no one.

Seeing red squirrels and salmon jumping a weir in county Durham

The River Tees in Northumberland

And best of all High Cup Nick in Cumbria

But we didn't find any counties that disappointed us and had loads of lovely surprises. Like what a beautiful town Hastings was. Loads of beers we'd never heard off and lots of lovely pub grub!

Paul's THC login unfortunately isn't working, but he asked me to post this reply:

Many thanks for your messages of support. The ride was without doubt a highlight of my life and a bigger challenge than when I first starting talking about it in the pub. I did ask a few friends to help out but one by one they pulled out, and to be honest I am glad they did as it was something I needed to prove to myself that I could do. I had no support on the ride at all and everything was carried in a small back pack. It contained: 1 extra change of cycling clothes, 1 pair of long trousers and T shirt for the evenings a pair of flip flops, wash kit (minimal) first aid kit, tool kit and six inner tubes. I also carried a mobile phone a small digital camera and my iPod. Everything was trimmed down to save weight - the bag weighed about 5KG. Although some days it felt about 20KG. Thanks again for the messages.

That would make a great book, Sue!
Sounds like a lovely idea - Hastings is lovely isn't it.

Maybe when I retire I'll try the Bill Bryson approach! But seriously, everywhere was lovely. It was just the way you looked at it. I used to think that if somewhere was in the South East, by that I mean South of Watford Gap and East of Somerset then it was flat and boring. How wrong was I!