The End

Whenever a family member goes away, we have taken to praying the above prayer from the Northumbria Community where I stayed for my post pilgrimage rest and retreat. Its about adventure; 'the wonders he has shown you.' Its also about connection, 'may he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.'
Wonders
The last couple of days cycling were simply awesome: Riding up the Northumbria coast as I waited for the tide and the causeway to re-open, peaceful and wonderful, castles and beauty.

Then of course I had 'my helper' arrive. One of my main coaches, who helped me to get to a point where cycling 40 miles a day was even possible. Chris arrived at the Causeway having cycled from Edinburgh that morning (we couldn't quite fathom the glowing hands, but he had cycled 90 miles!) His job was to lead me home rejoicing the following day. This he did even though the hills and the wind were formidable opponents! If you look hard into the distance you may catch Arthur's seat and Edinburgh as we crossed the fabulous Lammermuir Hills. (This was the place where a young shepherd boy St Cuthbert felt the call to ministry on the very night that St Aiden died on Lindisfarne. Even if I was following Chris, I felt I was in the company of Saints!)

It was simply a wonderful way to end my adventure. My sense of achievement to cycle over the Peak District, the Pennines to Leeds, to York, Whitby through Sunderland, Newcastle... to Holy Island and then after a rest on to Edinburgh... fantastic. I can't really believe that was me 649 miles and many 1,000's of feet up and down a real adventure! My bubble did burst slightly when after all those days of travel, sometimes over 8 hours in the saddle, 11 days of riding, the plane took just 55 minutes to arrive in Bristol! Bring me home rejoicing though, it did!

Connection and doors
 I don't think I ever lost connection. Of course nowadays there are mobile phones and email... but when you are riding you are always connected, the wind the road, the hills...the same wind, the same land that we all walk upon. I also felt the whole idea of a Pilgrimage opened doors that are often shut. Chatting to people, literally having people come over and tell their story to me, I felt I was on Holy Ground long before I reached Holy Island.  (If you are interested in this, I have just finished a wonderful book called: The Unexpected Pilgrimage of Harold Fry..a wonderful novel, not religious just delightful and powerful.) Of course the one who gained the most from this adventure was me, to be there was a privilege, even when it hailed briefly as we arrived in Edinburgh... I decided this was my ticker tape welcome for my longest ever ride in a day...eventually 82 miles. I am also delighted and proud to say that through your connection others will benefit, both of the charities I will visit in the summer will receive in excess of £1250, indeed I am secretly hoping that if a few more gifts come in like the £50 last night I may even make the £3,000 mark, just £300 more needed for that.

Good to be home
I have learnt a lot in preparing and now executing this pilgrimage. Walking with the Celtic saints, waiting for the tide to allow me to travel has reminded me of the beautiful rhythm that we have in life. Time to rest, time to work, time to sleep and time to waken. If everyday were 80 miles in a saddle over imposing hills then that would be no adventure. If everyday were resting other tensions would arise.(I noted as I passed particularly Middlesborough, just how many men I was suddenly seeing, walking dogs, or children or just walking.)  As I rejoice at being home, finishing of a wonderful sabbatical I am glad that there is a rhythm in life, an ebb and a flow. A time to give and a time to receive. I have received so much... now the end has come, which in my book will become a new beginning.
Thank you again for all your amazing support.

Fermentation

No pictures in the blog today, indeed not too much to say. I travelled yesterday to the home of the Northumbria Community... a mere 40 miles by bike...against the wind more or less I may add, as if to somehow justify that which should not need justifying. Today I rested and read, as the God book says there is a time for resting. So today was that day, a time to ferment the experience and the new thinking that is emerging within me: all of life as a journey a pilgrimage. An adventure if you will where outcomes are often uncertain and unexpected, roads are hidden.
Fermentation is a vital part of creating a good wine and a good beer, it needs the ingredients stirred in and then to be laid down for a time... now is that time for me, thoughts are bubbling through me, but they must await for another day
Stephen

Arriving

Truth is when I arrived on Saturday, I was exhausted and elated, but arrival really only occurred yesterday... my day of rest.

It's hard to say exactly what happened...I went to prayers and then to Church...after all I am on pilgrimage, and this is Holy Island! The service was nice but quite ordinary really, I went forward for communion, the organ started to play, "He is Lord" and that was it, I was gone...overwhelmed with emotion. Tears just streamed out of me. I felt really embarrassed but ,managed to keep my head down so that not too many noticed. What was it? An overwhelming sense of relief, accomplishment? Perhaps, but also for me a real sense that I was totally not alone.It came on me as a wave when I was not expecting it. The word I will put here are that I felt overwhelmed with the love of God...of course if you do it believe that is possible, you will need to find other explanations, I cannot and for me that answer fits the bill. 

So to the rest of the day... wonderful pub fish n chips, with the Marathon in the background....hmmm, 3 or 4 hours running and all that celebration. Still I picked up some amazing stories... the man running with Motor Neurone Disease the illness which took my Mother! While I was nearing Lindisfarne, and struggling, I did once think, cor it would be nice to have someone to cheer me home. (Now I realise I am in fantasy land now!) As I rode over the last hill, a flock of sheep sensed me approach and set the baa baaas off...to me, very exhausted as I was it was the applause I needed to get over the line. 

And so I did arrive, in many ways yesterday...and the applause went on. Was it mine to God or his to me? I sat looking at the sea...(picture below) and their were ducks... and then seals, bobbing around, I swear playing hide and seek with me! Hallelujah.

Then there was the early evening walk across the receding tide to Cuthberts Island (below) As I descended a beautiful barn owl, swooped around me...for me more hallelujah's. This truly is a holy wonderful place. I simply hope and pray that as a results of my visit, I too may become more in tune, more holy more free, more of what and who I like the owl, was meant to be.

To Lindisfarne and beyond!

Well I made it...all the way to Lindisfarne by bike! Today was a fantastic days cycling, again 

Lovely weather, beautiful scenery...not too hilly, lovely coastline... only 1 puncture....but it was really hard. it was mentally hard, to be so close and yet so far. it turned out to be the longest ride I've ever done 68 miles... (I'll add up my totals later!) 

The real problem was that I got really excited yesterday....I was nearly here, I got really really excited today...when I saw the Island....BUT...so close and yet so far...I had to cycle past the Island practically before I could come across...my brain struggled, my legs struggled...my heart ached for the end of the journey. 

Today was all about arriving..not about the journey...I got to the A1..! Just a few miles north and I'd be there...But I have not built this pilgrimage on speed, or A roads, I've pottered along, sensing, enjoying wondering. Yet my mind really fancied the quick dash up the A1..! And once my legs realised that the picturesque route involved hill after little hill...my 

Legs were with my mind....take the A road...get it over with...we are tired out.  I won't even tell you what my bottom was telling me!

My heart however resisted....on a journey, a pilgrimage, you do not just throw in your principles right at the end, or when things get tough...It was right not to rush this, to practically cycle past Lindisfarne...to go beyond and then to turn back to arrive at a place of peace...peacefully. 

The cycle across the causaway was so peaceful...and now my heart rests.

More pictures and reflections will follow...but for now my legs and my stomach are winning....time to eat. Thank you for all your prayer and support.

Stephen

Total Mileage: 478

Teeside, Wearside, Tyneside..2 Punctures and a Ferry

I am in a very elated state this evening... I am now in Northumbria...I have to pinch myself to realise it.

(Pictures to prove it will be posted later, as internet still a problem!)
yesterday to give a few more details nearly did for me... Whitby fish n chips riding with two old mates, beautiful scenery across the moors...wonderful. Visiting the Abbey, the sight of one of the first places to spring out of Lindisfarne.... an alternative community, that offered hope all those years ago.... it was wonderful ..the piccies prove it.

However when you are out on a bike, you always need to be sure you can get home. Well yesterday I was not the navigator...an old friend Jamie had this role......He picked a fabulous route, and we would have been home and dry, all tucked up for bedtime.... if it had not been for the wind...a strong wind, sapping strength and energy. It came from the west, and my B&B.. aptly named travellers rest...was in the West. I did arrive, I can't help but hope God was 'refining' me or something. I was reminded of a phrase from St Brendan, a proper epic traveller. 'STORMY seas make for weathered seaman.... those who have proved God in the deep." I must admit to feeling a bit like a weathered cyclist!
Still another day another challenge.... I was apprehensive...Middlesborough, Sunderland Newcastle...not necessarily my image of a glorious day out. But ..

today has been glorious... fabulous route, if I say so myself, beauty is always just around the corner, even through the roughest cities. I did see especially around Middlesborough  loads of men out walking, be it on their own, or with their children or with their dogs. I can't help reflecting, they didn't look lazy, just I suspect for many of them rather dissilusioned looking for work.
And so to the coast.... after thinking that I really had done very well to get all this way..now in excess of 400 miles I think, without a puncture, I proceeded to get two in 1/2 an hour.... like London buses! Anyway I managed and set of to follow the coast road through Sunderland and Tyneside...it was absolutely stunning....a real privelidge to be out here. Crossing the Tyne by ferry ...and then the Northumberland sign

....I have cycled from Bristol to Northumberland. in truth I can barely believe I've done it. I am not just North of Birmingham, or Sheffield or Leeds or York....I'm North of Newcastle.... in my book that doesn't exist....and yet all the way I've had wonderful conversations and discussions..a real adventure....and tomorrow..Lindisfarne...so long as I don't misjudge the tides!

Whitby & Wind

Sorry no post yesterday no internet! More details later but in summary a lovely beautiful day with 2 old colleagues..whitby abbey the North York moors & lots of winds...against me! (60mph?)
Anyway today through cities of NE...

Fit for a king

On a pilgrimage... there are times when you need guidance, sometimes we think a church building is the place to discover that guidance..... But there are signs everywhere...I took the above sign very very seriously... having tested and tasted the evidence I believe strongly Bennett's were right!

Today was a wonderful day, after de-rigours of yesterday I took it easy...lovely chat with my colleague Dave before setting out at about 11am... for an unhilly ride to York. On the way a deer chased past me:
I passed through beautiful towns and villages..The picture shows Tadcaster, famous for its three breweries.

I also had the bizarre experience of cycling through a castle...

would be fair to say I felt fit for a king today! especially when I arrived in Pickering and was given the warm welcome I received from a friends aunt and uncle. One of the Celtic prayers urges us to put "bread in the eating place." this has certainly happened for me.I've been treated like a King...tomorrow it is Hild's abbey at Whitby, and fish and chips on the front with old friends..Jamie and Dave....Fit for a king

(PS this strange castle was 

Where they filmed Brides head Revisited!)

Long slow march in a single direction

Today was the day when I realised quite what I was doing, I was in the saddle for nearly 8 hours, all for just 60 miles gain. I had chosen to avoid the industrial/built up areas of Burton, Derby, Sheffield, and Wakefield and instead to traverse the Peak district and the pennines in one.... Oh dear! 

The day started well, the B&B owners were into bike maintenance and fixed a glitch on my bike, so I set off in good heart. The views were incredible... so were the hills. I had plotted a route following little roads...1/2 way up a very steep hill, the ROAD ran out...so I was either back down the hill and up it again by road....I remembered my mid day prayer (It practically was midday before I finished this!)...Let nothing disturb thee...patient endurance attaineth to all things! I plodded on, off road with a bike laden with two panniers.... The day was beautiful the weather wonderful, I saw 2 hen Harriers, but the riding was hard....very hard. 

Still I did have one thing on my side.....the wind, in the picture above, which was the "high point" of the day, I was literally blown up the hill. This whole pilgrimage is slightly strange, even I'm not too sure what I'm doing, and yet it has been great to be out here on my own...even sometimes struggling... and then to ,meet Dolly's cafe, when I needed it, or to have the wind blow..when frankly my legs were gone...What have I proved, nothing...but although I am alone, with no real idea where I am going, I don't feel alone. I have begun this "Long slow ,march in a single direction" and I am getting there... will get there, withmy helper close at hand. 

Tour de Anglais

Best most beautiful day's cycling, real joy and privelidge to be doing this, so beautiful.

Short blog for now, just to say I got to Buxton, the highest market town in England...managed quite easily...perhaps that's the calm before the storm, as today has 5,000 feet of climbing.... so let's see how we go.

Birmingham by boat?

And it was all going so well. yesterday I managed to cycle right into the heart of our 2nd city, barely seeing a car. I genuinely saw more horses than vehicles....anyone would think I am walking in the footsteps of Wesley or something!

There was one hill which probably ought to have persuaded me to avoid the peak district (which I am attempting today!) ...but the sponsorship didn't say....to Lindisfarne (mainly) by bike! 

So lunch in Birmingham followed by a potter along canals out to Lichfield in time for evensong......so I planned. Well you've heard of Roadworks, this was towpath repairs.... the diversion was definately designed for walkers, involving carrying my pannier laden bike up 12 flights of canal stairs. I thought about taking a picture, but was frankly too knackered! So I set of in the wrong direction, got renavigated  away from my chosen route, and learnt a few more lessons...my favourite from the midday prayer...patient endurance attaineth to all things. I did make it to the Cathedral...just before they closed up, but at this place where they have worshipped for nigh on 1400 years...I was too late! 

All in all, even though I definately saw less horses than cars in the afternoon..a good day, a route refound, and I must have crossed about 7 motorways.... My best encounter was with a sort of hippie/ down and out...who looked at my bike and simply said.... "I hope that's lighter than it looks." Fortunately this was before the 12 flights of stairs, so I didn't swear! I hope by the time I get to the sweet taste of Buxton, I will have avoided swearing today! 

Lichfield, the ancient capital of Mercia, one of the first centres of Christian worship after Northumbria...is now behind me...I press on, and today...up!

Who pays the ferryman

Day One to Per shore....

I arrived, my longest ride so far..... but to be fair, I had and needed help.
First there was the three musketeers:

1. thanks to the Riches and James... and quite a few support staff, supplying me even with sore bottom cream..I made it to Gloucester...and as I pootled on north of Gloucester I was feeling pretty chuffed with myself....what a wonderful quiet route I have planned I thought....all along the river Severn..wonderful. But then as I tootled down a quiet lane...a dead end...well actually a river...the Severn a big one. my sat nav gaily told me to cross the river and pick up the road on the other side and wholah Tewksbury! Who did the Sat Nav think I was....Moses.. I know some people have Faith in me but this was ridiculous. Hmmmm how to get back on the main road, this road less travelled stuff had got me nowhere...it was then I saw him, the little ferryman. Can I get the bike in that I asked, sure he said as he docked the boat (a bit wobbly I thought!) How much? £2 he called..a steal I thought, £2 or another 10 miles.... Then he asked me what I was doing, and as he whisked me across the Severn... he refused to take any money....what a wonderful bloke..Colin was his name.

 

So on a day that was meant to be all about Abbey's...Pershore, Tewkesbury and Gloucester (cathedral...well nearly an Abbey) suddenly my day was different. No longer was I reflecting about the past glories of Christianity..as I journey towards the place where it 1st established itself in our country... rather my question was..."Who pays the ferryman?" A small act of kindness, reminds me that all is not lost... God's goodness...is still very much alive in the Colin's of the world. so if you are so inclined do pray for Colin. if you are not so inclined, thank you that you are probably the kind of person who does the sort of little things that people like Colin do.

who pays the ferryman?

A great first day...thank you.

Nearly there... well nearly at the beginning

The old saying goes that every journey starts with the 1st step. Well mine starts with the first peddle....and although I've done 100's of miles of training....my pilgrimage starts on Saturday. I must admit to being very nervous... can I really maintain 50-60 miles a day, over hill down dale, in the country or city come rain or shine. (I for one am well chuffed with a wind change to a SWesterly.)
  Still every change, every pilgrimage must begin somewhere, and mine begins Saturday... wish me good fortune and perseverance and as the Irish celtic blessing says...

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand

Can I say a big thanks to all those who have got me to this point. Of course the URC for giving me this break... my friends for training me and teaching me how to peddle and navigate, and of course my family.. for laughing at my craziness. 

I have raised over £2,000 I believe, but if anyone would like to put some more in... here are the pages for my two charities again:
http://my.give.net/lindisfarnebybike
 this goes to a little charity called Romans 1.11... it is a charity set up to create links between the church in Uganda and the church in the UK... Romans 1.11 says, we should be mutually encouraged. This summer my family will visit one of the schools/orphanages/churches that I have supported for years....I am well encouraged!
http://www.justgiving.com/stephen-Newell2
This is for a charity called Mission Direct, my daughter visited the Dominican Republic with them, and was inspired. As a family we will work for them this summer in Uganda and help to build part of a school for children with disabilities...particularly the deaf...hard work but rewarding.
you can also give the money to me and I will split it equally.  Thanks for all your support
Stephen