2011 Cycle Ride and Pilgrimage to Canterbury

2011 - The 2nd Ludlow - Canterbury Bike Ride Pilgrmage

2011-05-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

Here we go again, yes I'm going to cycle to Canterbury again. To raise the profile of our Vision Project and to raise much needed funds for The Conservation Trust for St Laurence. Thsi time I;m joined by Fr Richard Green, who will be raising funds for his parish Ashford Carbonell. We will be supported as ever by our back up team Canon Jeffry Wilcox.

You can follow our progress on the Facebook group Ludlow Cycle Ride, Twitter to follow shortly, as well as Just Giving account, where you can support us financially. All proceeds go to the conservation of the magnificent building.

You can also sign up for email updates from this blog.

Keep tracking us.

Shaun

2009-08-02T03:59:00.000-07:00

270 miles Pilgrimage Complete!

Thank you to all those who gave us hospitality, those who sponsored and particularly Canon Jeffry who kept me in check!

Shaun

PS If you are wondering what is in the black box Canon Jeffrey is carrying, it is the results of the public consultation about the re-ordering of St Laurence's. I made a promise to myself that I would take these results on pilgramage, underpinning the project with prayer; also that I would repeat the pilgramage when the plans and designs are published and also when the project is complete.

2009-08-02T02:49:00.001-07:00

Maidstone - Canterbury

After the best nights sleep in 12 months and a good breakfast we set out for Canterbury. Unfortunately, I got lost finding the A20 in the centre of Maidstone and therefore a detour of 10 mile via Leeds castle. My mobile was in the car charging and so no communication with Jeffry, total absence of pay phones until Charing, and as if by magic Jeffrey appeared. One huge last hill and on the home straight! Lunch in the beautiful village Chilham, arrived in Canterbury at 2pm.

I felt pretty euphoric seeing the great towers of the cathedral. Sadly a pedestrian got in the way passing through town, I came off cutting leg and ankle on my chain, blood and grease, mmmmm. Security guards at the cathedral were great, I washed my wound and met by Canon Christopher Irvine. Bumped into Clive and Ann Richardson from Ludlow, great to see familiar faces, they were escorting the visiting choir.

Chris took us into evensong, an experience after such a journey to walk up the crossing steps and enter the magnificent choir, which explodes before you with Romanesque arches, opulent coloured glass and the throne of St Augustine. A little glimpse of how the medieval pilgrims must have felt. A very large congregation, they offered me the surveyor of the fabrics stall, tempting proposition, how could I refuse! Let’s not talk about the visiting choir, the fourth time they had sung Wilan responses that week, sounded very ropey. The Dean personally welcomed us in his introduction, pilgrims from Ludlow. We stood at the shrine of St Thomas with the results of the town survey, and then presented Dean Robert with greetings from Dean Michael, quick photo, quick cup of tea from Canon Irvine and headed for home.

My second pilgrimage in two years, a great experience, really blows out the cobwebs, burns some calories (3% of my body fat to be precise) and rekindles the mind.

2009-08-02T02:48:00.002-07:00

Westminster - Maidstone

Early to rise, I skipped matins, but attended Mass at 7.30am, breakfast in silence after. Then we said our thank yous and farewells and headed for the Abbey. Dean John greeted us at 9am at the west door, we paused for a photo, and exchanged greetings from the Dean of Hereford. The abbey was not yet open to the public, a great chance to see the splendour of the building, we then made our way via the sanctuary to the shine of St Edward. I'd mentioned to Jeffry that I hope we had chance to see the great 13th century sanctuary pavement now being restored. Well I got my wish, we actually stood on it, I had great conversations with the head of conservation and had a completely breathtaking site of the pavement at close quarters. The shrine of Edward is just behind the high altar. Here we paused, Dean John led us in prayer, thanking God for Pilgrimage and praying that we may as a church be willing to grow as he would have us do. A very poignant moment, particularly with Ludlow in mind.

We also stumbled across an old friend who was head verger when I studied the organ at Bristol Cathedral as a boy, Martin is now Head Verger at the Abbey, and looking very well! We also checked out Housman's memorial, so many enquiries from torists to Ludlow; it is only a memorial at the Abbey, he is buried at Ludlow.

A quick coffee with Ellie, Jeffry's daughter, as well as a trip to Watts to buy new altar linens, oh how the sacristan will be pleased. We also had a long discussion with one of Watts staff about the Ludlow altar frontals, he identified many of the fabrics, their designers and manufacturer's and we managed to focus some approximate dates.

We left at about 11 and headed for Blackheath, gosh there was a lot of traffic. I then lost the a20 and Jeffry for a while, a phone call to Peter and I was back on track. The rest of the journey was pretty uneventful, arrived in Maidenhead about 5, a long journey.

Following the advice of a great chap in Westminster bike shop, I purchased some white spirit and degreased my chain and gears, which were full of gunk. I found a hand car wash and these really enthusiastic guys from Kurdistan, scrubbed it clean and jet washed all the gunk off. I adjusted gears, applied lubricant and all was well of the last leg. The guys refused to charge me, but I insisted they have something, they had a touching generosity.

I know it's naughty, but we had fish n chips in a classic local family fish restaurant; my excuse I needed the salt, Jeff's he couldn't resist the puddings, well it was good!

2009-08-02T02:48:00.001-07:00

Reading - Westminster

Well we left Reading at about 10am, very busy roads, but fairly easy terrain wise. A slight shower started at Slough, which turned into torrential rain, really torrential until Chiswick. I just settled down to a hard pace and went for it, soaking wet. A quick change of tops once we got to Chiswick and headed for central London. Crazy traffic, you have to be mad to cycle in London. A great feeling when I arrived at the Wellington Arch, and saw St Stephen's tower in the distance, quick skirt around the palace and into Westminster.

We stayed in St Edward's House, a small community SSJE of just two now, living in the monastic house designed by Bodley adjacent to church house and the Abbey grounds. The building is beautifully cared for and a welcome break, chapel pictured above. Jeffry's first priority the tobacconists in Westminster, second Streatham to see St Leonard's. We took in Westminster Cathedral along the way, incredible atmosphere there, and also a quick drink at the Fetsival Hall.

St Leonard's Streatham, rebuilt after a fire in 1978, truly innovative in its liturgical design. cleans lines, well thought out layout and beautiful materials left an interior worth seeing. Also a superb walker organ from 1978, a joy to play. The picture shows the Icon in memory of Laura Wilcox RIP and the Streatham window.

A desperate need for salad leaves, relieved by Pizza Express!

2009-07-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

Oxford - Reading

Good nights sleep, great hotel in Oxford, breakfast in town next to Queen's. Left 11ish and arrived 3pm. Stopped in Dorchester to see the Abbey, once the centre of England's largest diocese, now a very small village. Great building with interesting wall paintings and wonderful Jesse window. The later not stained glass, but the figures depicted in the stone tracery of the window. The organ looked as though it had recently been restored, but no information! Usually amount of Anglican rubbish cluttering a otherwise beautiful and very large space. 14th century bells were a joy to hear, apparently legend has it that they drive the snakes away........

Lunch at a lovely pub in Woodcote, just an omelet and salad! Then a rainy leg to Reading. Trip to the laundrette, also some ear plugs, Canon J is quite audible at night!! Off to explore Reading.

2009-07-28T09:24:00.001-07:00

Gloucester - Oxford

Left at 10ish after a lovely breakfast and arrived 3.3opm via cycle shops, motorbike accidents and all sorts. All safe and well, my chain became tangled, whilst I was sorting this out there was an accident about 200 yrds from me. I saw a bike and a man literally flying through the air. The bike ended up in a tree, the lad on the verge. Amazingly he got straight up, police and ambulance came. Very lucky to be alive.

Just heading into Oxford to soak up some architecture. Had a good walk around, blagged our way into Magdalen, great chapel. Supper at Quad, great food mmmmmmmmm.....

End of 2nd Stage

2009-07-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hereford - Gloucester

Early to rise attended 8am Eucharist and the Dean saw us off from the Shrine of St Thomas, with cards of greeting to the Deans of Westminster and Canterbury. Eventually left Hereford at 1.15pm. The back up bike we were going to take, Peter's, had rotten tyres. Well after a trip to the cycle shop I had a new helmet, new huge pump, two tyres and loads of inner tubes!

Lunch at Dymock and arrived at Gloucester at 3.45pm, not bad for 30 miles or so. Headed for the Cathedral and then to St Paul's Vicarage, where our friends Ricarda and John are putting us up. Heading out for supper.

End of 1st Stage

2009-07-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

Ludlow - Hereford

After a busy morning, last Sunday of term, valedictions, promotions and two services, including blessing of Canon J and I, I left Ludlow at about 1.15pm. Feeling brave I headed straight down the A49 over Dinmore hill, not as bad as I had anticipated. Had a spot of lunch with Canon Jeffry (my side kick and tech support) at Dinmore services. The heavens opened with vengeance, not the outpouring Fr James had prayed for! Slightly scary moment after descending the other side, driving rain, actually slightly painful on the eyes, an on coming car overtook at high speed and poor visibility, headed straight into my lane and the moved over to try and knock me off the bike!! Was he drunk? I don't know, but it was scary, missed me by a few feet.

Arrived at about 4.15pm, enjoyed Gin, Roast Lamb and one or two glasses of red.

I need your money.... please....

2009-07-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

One of the main points of this pilgrimage is to raise funds for the Vision Project at St Laurence's. You can find out more about this on the church website. If you'd like to sponsor me, cheques can be sent to the Treasurer of the PCC (payable to Ludlow PCC) in an envelope marked 'Cycle Ride to Canterbury'. The address is

Parishes office
2 College Street

Ludlow

SY8 1AN

Thanks

Not long now!

2009-07-23T01:46:00.000-07:00

This is what it's all about really. A beautiful church, in the heart of the Shropshire countryside. First day is on Sunday. After the morning services, I'll be biking from Ludlow to Hereford. Wish me luck!