Photographs

I've put together a Picasa web album of some of the photographs I (and others) took during my 12 day trip.

I've tried to add a bit more about how it all went. There are locations for most of the photos.

There is a comment facility just below this posting, for you to say what you think of the trip, the blog etc etc. Let me know what you think, whatever it is. It's a bit lonely on this side of the login.

Rob

Day 12+2 (Saturday)

Deb came to meet me on Wednesday ( to take me home on Thursday) and we stayed at the Bridge Hotel in Helmsdale. If anyone is in the area and wants somehere great to stay and to eat, the Bridge Hotel was absolutely one of the most delightful places I have ever stayed. Everything was good; the room, the bed, the welcome, the service, the dinner (fantastic but you probably need to like game), the breakfast, the views, and the location.


So on Thursday morning I set off expecting similar roads to Wednesday: gentle hills and undulations. The road to Jo'G out of Helmsdale is a steep (about 1:12) 3 1/2 mile climb. Just the thing to get the blood flowing after a good breakfast. About 3 miles later there was a very long and fast descent into Berriedale (lovely). But inevitably followed by a 1:7 climb for about a mile. After those two little beauties the rest of the route to Jo'G was fairly easy.

Deb met me in Wick where we stopped for elevenses. The heavens opened just as I got there so the cafe was a welcome shelter. Again as I left the cafe I had to shelter under a tree for a five minute heavy shower. But after that the roads were a bit wet but no more rain before John o'Groats.

I tried to savour the last few miles to J o'G and when I got there Deb was ready with the champagne.




There seem to be plenty of other people who do this trip on bikes. I saw quite a few heading out for Land's End whilst I was riding in, and when I got there, three lads from Ross on Wye had just finished a three week ride, and another (supported) pair had done the journey in just seven days.


After a spot of lunch in the cafe I just had to ride the 15 miles to Dunnet Head (now in the rain but with no luggage) to get to the most northerly point on the mainland. There wasn't much there except the lighthouse there so Deb took a photo and we drove down to Kingussie, just south of Aviemore for an overnight stop before retuning home on Friday.









It has been one of the most satisfying and enjoyable challenges I have ever attempted and if you have ever even half considered such a thing, you will never regret doing it, but you might regret not doing it.





I would like to thank a few people for their help and support in making my dream a reality:
Roger for taking me to Land's End and making sure I started out ok
Deb for putting up with me during all the planning, for the B&B stop-over in Chesterfield, and for making the long trip to pick me up from the top of this island.
Eddie and family for looking after me in Newcastle (let me know when you are doing LE JoG yourself Eddie!)
John and Mike for traveling a lot of miles to meet me in Inverness
Everyone who has contributed (or pledged to contribute) to either Ashgate Hospoice or Macmillan Cancer Support. You will help to make others' lives better.
To all of you who have had such kind words and encouragement.

THANK YOU

Day 12 Helmsdale to John O'Groats

Day 12 52.2 miles Time 3:38:42 Average 14.3mph Max 45.6mph

I made it!!!

At 1:30 I coasted the last 2 miles savouring the ride into and through John O'Groats. I was a little bit sad to have come to the end but also satisfied having done it.

We're on our way back now so I'll update more tomorrow.

Day 11 Inverness to Helmsdale

Day 11 60.58 miles time 4:24:16 average 15.8mph max 37.5mph

Punctures 0

Had a great night last night with John and Mike in Inverness. That did however mean a lie in, a headache, late breakfast, and a late 9:30 start.

While John was waiting to wave me off he inspected the bike and fortunately noticed that my back wheel had a couple of cracks where the spokes meet the rim. I think the wheels probably don't have quite enough spokes in them for touring. I decided to risk it and try to avoid the worst of the potholes. The morning was lovely; sunny, and fast. But I kept stopping to check the wheel. Were the cracks getting bigger or not?? I think they were but they may not have been.

Anyway, Deb was on her way up to Scotland to meet me tonight and as she had left so early she arrived at lunch time. Rather than look a gift horse in the mouth, we decided to take the bike back to Dingwall where an excellent bike shop supplied and fitted a new wheel for me. A quick dash back to Tain where Deb had picked me up and I was off again.

I missed just about all the showers today but rode over lots of wet roads where there had been showers. Must be my lucky day.

The coast road has been a delight and the Bridge Hotel in Helmsdale (tonight's digs) is fantastic. I'm sat behind reception using the owners laptop to type this.

No aches and pains at the moment so its looking good for the final push tomorrow.

I'm trying to raise some cash for Ashgate Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support. If you are reading this and haven't yet sponsored me, please do. There are links to my Just Giving sites in one of the very earliet posts below. Or if you're in Ransom Wood there are sponsor forms in the kitchen. Thanks.

I should get to John o'Groats by about 2pm tomorrow all being well. I'm getting excited now!!!

Day 10 Inverurie to Inverness

miles 88.79 time 6:07:02 average speed 14.5 mph max speed 35.2 mph
punctures 1

The night life in Inverurie was quiet. I made do with a really nice spaghetti in an Italian, and golf on setanta in the pub.

Todays ride has been easy to navigate. A96 to Inverness.

It's been a ride of two halves (well 2/3 & 1/3). The first 2/3 to Elgin, across country were rolling hills, fairly quiet, and good surfaces. I stupidly picked up a puncture when I ran over a smallish (half golf ball size) stone whilst doing 30mph on the hardstrip of the road. Fortunately it was sunny this time as it was all morning. Coffee and scone in Keif for elevenses and lunch in a scottish sounding restaurant in Elgin, Mc Donald's. I went "large".

After lunch the road was very busy, narrower, rougher and not much fun at all. On top of that I caught 3 or 4 heavy showers between sunshine.

I've just met up with John and Mike from Achintraid on the west coast so we might have a couple of halves tonight.

Off to Helmsdale tomorrow.

Nearly there now!

Day 9 Dundee to Inverurie

Miles 82.83 time 5:50:37 average speed 14.1 mph max speed 34.3 mph
puncture! 1

Whilst the B & B in Dundee was good, the promise of pasta at the local eatery never materialised ("we have just sold out Sir!").

I set off this morning kitted out in my water proofs as it was pouring down. The roads were in an awful state and after 5 miles I got my first puncture from a shard of glass. It was the front tyre so a bit easier to fix (15mins), so I was a bit *** off this morning.

But as I progressed out of the urban bits and further north, the road, the scenery, and my mood all improved vastly. Arbroath looked nice, Montrose for coffee and cake was good, and lunch in Stonehaven by the harbour was very pleasant.

This afternoon the rain all but dried up, it was relatively warm, and I got some very welcomed help from a tail wind.

The ride over the hills from Stonehaven to Inverurie was fast, smooth, and navigation was good today so I really enjoyed the second half of the day. The very heavy shower when I was within 5 mins of the B & B didn't spoil anything.

So an early finish at 4.55 pm means I can check out the Monday night Inverurie night life (when I have mended the punctured inner tube).

Day 8 Dunbar to Dundee

Miles 94.78 time 7:38:53 average speed 12.3 mph max speed 33.4 mph

It’s not been the best of days today but it’s had its high points.


“Navigational issues” caused a few problems:
1.Getting out of the centre of Edinburgh
2.Getting over the Forth Road Bridge when cycles are banned from A90 road it carries.

The headwind has been back and was particularly savage on the front at Kircaldy “I’d rather go to Berwick”.

The highs have been:
1. The Northlodge B & B in Dunbar was excellent.
2. The generosity of the Scots – donations from Jane & Gordon at the B & B, Susan & Gordon (fellow guests) at the B & B, and a chap in the street when I asked for directions gave me directions and £10 for Macmillan.


Edinburgh was pleasant for coffee and croissant on the Royal Mile, and the bridges have been good (Forth Rail, Forth Road, Tay bridges).

The sun has shone all day.

Oh, and the injured Achilles and soreness seem to have stabilised.

Day 7 Newcastle to Dunbar

Miles 105.18 time 6:54:05 average speed 15.2 mph max speed 42.9 mph

Last nights sport leg massage by Sam (antha), Eddy’s tri-athlete sister, made my legs seem much livelier this morning.
Eddy rode with me for the first part of the day and we first had to ride 2 ½ miles back to the Angel of the North to pick up where I left off.

I took some photos at the Angel and the Tyne Bridge.
We avoided the A1 as much as possible as we headed towards Wooler on the A697. We stopped for coffee and butties after 30 miles then Eddy turned around and cycled home “he didn’t want to do too much today as he has a triathlon competition tomorrow”.

A huge thankyou to Eddy, Sue, Sam, Jessica, and Nicholas for putting me up, feeding me, and generally looking after me.

The weather has been very kind today with sunshine and a tail wind to push up the average speed. And the Northumbrian scenery has been a delight making the whole days ride extremely enjoyable. I visited Berwick Upon Tweed “ at least I now know what its like!” and arrived in Dunbar at 17.30.

As ever when I visit Scotland it rained, from the border to the B&B. I just hope this has not set the scene for the rest of Scotland.

Day 6 York to Newcastle

Day 6 80.22miles time 5:46:37 average 13.9mph max 33.5mph

Started out from York at 8:15 and arrived at The Angel of the North at 16:00ish

Last week I odered a pair of breathable waterproof trousers from Wiggle.com for the trip (a bit late I know). The package arrived on Thursday ready for the Saturday start. Unfortunately they sent the wrong kit which I promptly sent back as they won't replace it until they get the first lot back. The right trousers arrived at home on Wednesday just in time for me to pack them in my panniers on Thursday morning, just in case it rains. And boy was I grateful for them today. It has rained every pedal of the way. The trousers worked well, the coat worked well but the waterproof breathable gloves were just like a sponge. I had to keep wringing them out. But they worked like a wetsuit and kept my hands warm.

But the ride today has been anything but a chore. The A19 from York has been flat and mostly smooth so I've managed to keep up a good pace for most of the way here. I thought the rain would make it a miserable ride but it didn't really make much difference. But the max speed for the day has had to be kept down because even raindrops are hard and painful on your face at 40+mph

My aches and pains were quite a bit better this morning (that might be down to the Ibuprofen I took at breakfast) but at least I didn't have any pain or soreness problems all day. I think I might try that again tomorrow.

Elevenses in Northallerton. Lunch was a very nice lasagne in a cafe in Darlington (nice town). I even took a minor detour to see Durham in the rain as I've not been there before. It was a great ride in, but the climb out was the longest and steepest of the day.

I arrived at The Angel of the North at about 4:00, just a few minutes before Eddie arrived to pick me up. The only other people there were two chaps killing time after the cricket had been rained off. That Angel is a pretty impressive bit of art; especially close up.

So now Eddie has serviced my bike (in his garage where he keeps his 8 bikes) and cooked spag bol for tea. Massage is later (that's not Eddie).

We're looking forward to a drier day tomorrow. And its a long one to Dunbar, about 105 miles.

Day 5 Chesterfield (home) to York

Day 5 64.33 miles time 5:12:47 Average 12.3mph Max 36.4mph

I set off a bit earlier (8:15) today as the B&B staff were much better organised. And I have to say the place I stayed was just like home. Perhaps even a bit better somehow. The food was great. Thanks Deb.

This morning (and yesterday too) my legs were like jelly for an hour or so. I don't think it was anything to do with the Woodside beer last night. It was a bit of a struggle to get going and one or two nasty little steep climbs didn't help the situation. Saddle soreness is starting to become a bit of an issue. And my right achilles tendon has started to get sore... not quite sure how that's happened.

Lunch was in Selby (quite a nice little town) and then its been just a very short hop to York. The A19 was lovely and smooth and flat

So as you can see its been a bit of a lazy day with only 64 miles on the clock and I was in York by 2:30pm. I'm feeling a bit guilty. I think I should have stretched myself a bit more. But it has given me an opportunity to go somewhere I've never been before... an internet cafe. They are obviously useful places to have around but I don't think I want to make a habit of using them. The first cafe was full of "colourful" people and the machines were just so slow and it wouldn't even connect to this site, so I've come to another one. The first mouse and keyboard had some sticky liquid on it. Lovely. The keyboard I'm using dosen't have much of the alphabet left on it.

But back to the ride. The weather started out a little bit damp but no rain. About midday there was even some hazy sunshine but now its just cloudy and cold. The wind has been mostly from the east so hasn't affected me too much today.

I'm looking forward to tommorow's ride to Newcastle as Eddie is picking me up at the Angel of the North to take me to his place for the night. Eddie is a keen cyclist so he's going to service the bike, feed me, give me a bed for the night and ride with me to Dunbar (or part way) on Saturday. But the best bit is he has booked me a massage at 5:30. I'll let you know what it was like.

Day 4 Stratford-upon-Avon to Home (Chesterfield)

Day 4 90.65 miles time 6:46:09 Av speed 13.4mph max speed 39.5mph

Set off at 8:30 (starting to get into a routine here) and got home at 16:44

The pizza in Stratford last night was quite sublime (garlic, double olives, spinach and cheese...mmmm).

This morning I woke up to less wind but some rain so I had to get out my waterproof jacket and overshoes. Fortunately it was only really spitting for an hour or so before it dried up. But I kept the wet weather gear on until lunchtime to keep warm. It was a bit parky.

Todays ride was very urban with Stratford, Warwick, Kennilworth Coventry, Nuneaton, Burton, Derby, Ripley, alfreton etc. The roads in the urban areas are not good (except for the very good bus/cycle lanes in Coventry) so I have to concentrate on spotting the potholes (as well as watching the traffic and navigating my way) to avoid damaging my very flimsy wheels.

Lunch was in Willington at Anne and Roger's place (thanks for the butty and biscuits Roger) and that was the only proper break today.
David Mason spotted me in Kilburn on the A61 and stopped to say hello. That picked me up a bit late into the days miles.

The terrain today has been relatively easy with only minor hills and not too many of those. Hence the faster average speed. But it took until about 11am before my legs were working properly. They seem to be a bit jelly like now after every break. Hopefully that will pass as I get a bit stronger.

Deb has kindly typed the bog for the last two nights but now I'm home I thought I would upload a few photos:

Arriving at Lands End with the bike on Roger's Lotus













I had stopped about 20m earlier to take a picture of the sun glinting on the sea, set off again and Mount St Michael came into view




County Boundaries
















I'll upload all the photos to Picasa later. Meanwhile my dinner is now ready and we are then going to the Woodside (local) to meet a few friends for beer.

Day 3 Wookey to Stratford-upon-Avon

Day 3 101.8 miles time 8:12:07 av.speed 12.4 mph max speed 43.0 mph

Set off at 8.30am finished 19.05.

Although I'm enjoying being able to eat as much as I like as I'm burning it all off, the quality needs to improve a bit. Last night's steak at the Ring O'Bells in Wookey was very tough and "full english" is starting to lose its attraction. Scrambled eggs and beans on toast tomorrow!

The day started well with a nice flat 2 miles ride to Wells. I hadn't realised that Wells is at the foot of the Mendip Hills so the next bit was a hill. Very steep and 2.5 miles long. It just went on and on.

And the wind was there again. Full in my face. But the sun was shining and has done all day.

The rest of the day has been a mixture of some nice flat bits and some rollercoaster bites on the Fosse Way(check out 43mph).

Elevenses was at a street cafe in Bath outside the Roman Baths and The Abbey. Lunch was again outside in the sunshine at a deli in Cirencester and my afternoon break was in Bourton-on-the Water. Very picturesque but full of coach loads of pensioners.

Thumbs up for the cyclist I flagged down to take my photo by the "Welcome to Gloucestershire" sign. He wanted my details to make a donation. Also had a chat with a chap in Morrisons "bike park" who did LE JOG on a bike in 1991.

I really enjoyed today.

Day 2 Launceston to Wookey

Day 2 101.3 miles time 8:27:31 average speed 11.9 mph max speed 41.7mph

We had a really great curry in "Spice Room" in Launceston last night. Got sponsored by the owner of the restaurant and a couple of fellow diners.

Yesterdays hills got progressively longer in the afternoon and that trend continued this morning to Devon. There were only hills this morning, not a single flat piece of road. The strong headwinds forecast yesterday appeared with a vengeance so its been a long hard day. Fortunately the hills calmed down after lunch at Tiverton, so I just had the wind to battle with. I left Launceston at 8.36am and arrived at my B&B in Wookey at 6.55pm.

I've got a couple more sore bits than yesterday but hopefully they will be okay in the morning.

Only 91 miles to Stratford Upon Avon tomorrow.

Day 1 Land's End to Launceston

Day 0 Saturday 9 May 2009
Well the bike and luggage fitted onto Roger's Lotus Elise ok and it was still on when we got to the Commercial Hotel in St Just. Strangely the bike had a flat rear tyre though, which it didn't have when we set off. It turned out to be a failed repair in the inner tube so I put a new tube in and all was well. A few beers, a meal, a couple of whiskys and early to bed at midnight.

Day 1 87.99 miles time 6:35:21 average speed 13.3mph Max speed 41.72mph
A great breakfast in the hotel and then just 6 miles to Lands End in the Lotus. We got there at 8:30 but unfortunately the famous signpost doesn't open ubtil 10:30 on a Sunday so Roger took my photo under a fingerless post.
I set off at 9am and the weather has been perfect all day; sunshine, coolish and only a light headwind. It's been fairly incident free except for a road closure which threw me a bit because I'm using notes rather than a map. It took me a while to find a way round the diversion which didn't have a "trigger" sign to say where to go. I only lost about 15 mins though.
Lunch at Morrisons in Newquay was ok. Roger has bought me three spare inner tubes now but he's off back to work tomorrow and I'll be on my own heading for Wells in Somerset into a 20mph headwind.
Sarah at the Eagle House Hotel has kindly let me use her laptop to update the blog so a big thank you to her; and a big thank you to Roger for getting me down here and making sure I got away ok.
Its 104 miles tomorrow so I may feel a bit more tired tomorrow night but so far so good.

A bit of practice was called for!

Well I got round to putting the rack and the panniers on the bike ready for some serious training last weekend. I thought I had better get used to carrying a big lump of weight (11kg luggage) around with me. So I rode to Shrewsbury from Chesterfield (82miles) on Saturday and then back again on Sunday to see if I would be able to get on the bike OK after the hard Saturday ride.

I was a bit worried about the extra weight, the consecutive days, and getting up Farley Hill in Matlock after 70 miles of cycling on the second day.

Fortunately I found the weight was quite a burden to start with (I thought quite a lot about how I might manage on just one set of lightweight clothes for 12 days) but then I just got used to the weight being there and stopped thinking about it.

The second day was not uncomfortable at all (except for a slight twinge in my left knee). I did stop to raise the saddle a bit and that seemed to help.

Farley Hill is steep. I managed a chuncky KitKat in Matlock before the ascent. It seemed to work and I managed the whole climb from the river onto the moor without stopping. It took 15 minutes less to get back (14.35mph)than to go (13.63mph)so I was really pleased with the "test".

I've now fitted two new tyres, cleaned and oiled stuff, and trued up the back wheel, so the bike is now "good to go" on Saturday. We just need to find a way to get the bike, me, Roger (who was supposed to do the ride with me but is now taking me to Cornwall), and my 11kg of luggage to land's End in/on a Lotus Elise!!

Planning the route

ast week I picked the bike up from JE James in Chesterfield as they have given the bike a few more gears. Mainly low ones. I've just had chance to try it out today and it seems to be just what the doctor ordered; the top gear is a wee bit higher than before and the bottom gears are 25% lower than before. I'm sure there will still be a few hills I have to get off for; especially on the first two days in Cornwall and Devon, before I get a bit of strength in my legs.

I've been planning my journey today. well the first three days of it anyway. I can see me getting lost as I try to avoid the A30 through C&D. I will have to use very minor roads in some places so I just hope the local County Council has done a half decent job with the road signs.
Day 1 Land's End to Launceston
Day 2 Launceston to Wells
Day 3 Wells to Stratford

Setting up sponsorship website

I've spent the last hour or two setting up the JustGiving web pages (one for Macmillan Cancer Support and one for Ashgate Hospice) to enable very kind people to sponsor me on my little trip. It's fairly easy to do (setting up the web page and donating). I now have to recruit my wife into being my publicist so she will take some photos of me and my bike to add to the JustGiving sites.

The bike should have been given an extra 10 gears today so I can ride rather than walk up the worst of the hills in Cornwall, Devon, and Scotland. For the cycling anoraks, i have a 12-27 rear cassette and now a 30/39/50 chain ring.

Just trying out this blog to see how it works

This is my first blog so bear with me for a while.

I've decided to ride my bike from Land's End to John o'Groats in May 2009. It's probably a daft idea (as some people have already told me) but I have this tremendous urge to do it.

I was inspired to do the trip a few years ago on a visit to Land's End. Over the past couple of years I've put a few days holiday aside to use this year on the trip. I've decided to try to raise some cash for charity and I've decided to help Macmillan Cancer Support. If you will be kind enough to sponsor me, you can donate at my JustGiving website (it really is very easy).
Just click on this link

I'll be catching a train to Penzance (if I can get the bike booked on) on 9 May 2009 ready to set off on 10 May from LE. 12 days later I should arrive at the top tip of Scotland .

Wish me luck. I will need some.

Rob