On your marks, Get set, GO from Southport

Earlier this year, we stopped at Southport for a couple of nights and as we wandered along the seafront we stumbled across a sign and map of the Trans Peninne Trail, a 215 mile cycle route across the country that starts (or ends) in Southport and ends (or starts) in Hornsea. We immediately knew that it was something that we wanted to do. As a family we set ourselves a challenge to complete a Width of GB Triathlon. Having already completed the Great Glen Canoe Trail by kayak last year and walked the Hadrian's Wall National Trail earlier in the year, this then became the third leg of journey.

 

We arrived at Southport Caravan Club site a little after 12 on Bank Holiday Monday. This is not a time we usually arrive at a site, often preferring to arrive later in the afternoon. We joined a queue of other people waiting to get it. Thanks to efficiency of the wardens we soon got pitched up and, keen to get started, made the most of our early arrival by beginning the trail (a day earlier than planned). Tim and the girls jumped on the bikes and headed south towards Liverpool. I drove to meet them on the outskirts of Liverpool and then we drove back to the site, clocking up a few miles towards the big total and warming up the legs for the days to come. This was how we planned to do it; each day we'd drive to where we stopped, Tim and the girls would begin cycling and I'd meet them at a designated finishing point for the day.

 

Southport Caravan Club was our base for the first three nights, providing warm showers upon our return each night. As we progressed across the country we then stayed at various other sites, according to how far the cyclists could travel in a day. As the legs got stronger and the determination to complete the challenge became more resolute, the miles were quickly ticked off and after 8 days of hard work the third leg of our Width of GB triathlon was complete.