Year Round Commuter, Cyclist and Adventure Seeker.

Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas, now we turn our attention to New Year and the usual New Year resolutions... 2014 marks a special year for me personally.- Starts in 3 days time, with a celebration on the night I met the wife, Maryann, and mum to our 2 kids Andrew and Euan. 20 years ago... - Ill expect a sare heed on 1/1/14 like 20 years ago. We are heading back to the place we met, with a few surprises along the way. :) - In November I'll be 40.. - so 4 things for 2014 and my 40th-  - Cycle Lands End to John O Groats - Walk West Highland Way  - 3 Peaks Challenge - 2 Week Family hol in the Sun.  Happy New Year to You ALL!  The Hammy ..

Just a quick post. Would like to wish all I know, friends family, readers, Twitter, Facebook a Merry Christmas. As I type, I can hear the wind battering the window along with the rain. - Storm force gales tonight apparently. I am just home, after another busy Christmas at work. Retail really is the worst job at this time of year, but when you are in it, you know whats expected and deliver what you can and more. - Be safe, enjoy and have fun the mora. Right now, Im enjoying a beer, glad the Christmas retail rush is over, and prob going for a long nap. - My Christmas break lasts 34 hrs. - Working 10hrs on Boxing day to do it all over again. So have fun team A x

So time to blog the big charity effort for 2014. - And it does not come any bigger than this. From May 10th 2014, Myself and Neil -shall be attempting to cycle from Lands End to John O Groats in the space of 10 days. I will allow longer if required. We did the Scotland run last year 404 miles in 4 Days, so this is more than double it. After Christmas, and new year, I plan to up the aunty on what I do. Train hard, lose more weight, and prepare for what will be the biggest single achievement in my life. - I hope I can do it. Will take commitement, dedication and stamina, and I know I can do this..... We have a Facebook Page - We are on Twitter We need your follow. We need your like. - As we build a good social media foundation for our future charity run for Cancer Research UK. Charity Address -  www.justgiving.com/lexjah2014 Thanks for the Support

Scots will go to the polls on September 18, 2014 to decide whether to become an independent country. If Scots vote to leave the Union, Scotland will become an independent country on March 24, 2016. Today - SNP unveils White Paper outlining vision for independent Scotland http://news.stv.tv/politics/250331-live-coverage-scottish-independence-referendum-white-paper-unveiled/ This article caught my attention. And has got me divided right down the middle. - but why change what's not broken ? What ever I decide to vote (prob decided), I will make sure I caste my vote in what will be the most important decision in a generation ..... -Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

After staying the night at the Berneray hostel, we were up at 630am for the short 2 mile cycle to the ferry port to catch the ferry to Leverburgh on Harris that takes around 1hr. As I left the hostel it was pitch dark, and after I managed to get the sheep to move, we were on our way... The ferry was on time and pretty quiet. - Boarded and 1 hour later we were on the isle of Harris. Today's cycle was to take use to Stornaway and I was keenly watching the weather. When we left I was a bit annoyed that my bright light had pack in, tried charging over night but clearly its broken. - rather irritating but hey ho it will go back.. We left Levenburgh and first port of call was to be Tarbert. - Some 30 miles away. We cycled around some really windy roads, mostly up hill and then the weather took a turn for the worse. - Freezing and wet we got to Tarbert pretty quickly, as you seem to pedal faster when its cold... We looked for a coffee shop or something to warm up, but christ...

Tues ..... So we were ready to head for Berneray, some 74 miles from the south end of Barra. - and the start of an epic journey. Obviously part of me was keenly watching the weather. - Gail force winds, rain, sleet and hail was forecast. - you know, perfect November normal weather. ... With teeth gritted we said goodbye to Mike over a coffee then left at 8am for the short 8 miles across Barra to the ferry port for the boat trip to Eriskay. Arrived there quickly. Nice view with sun appearing behind some clouds. A few cars parked and the odd local waiting for the ferry which was at 925am. Ferry took 40mins to get to there. - as we arrived the wind picked up and this would be a common theme for the next 67 miles. We went into the local shop and stood out like 2 sour plooms lol - breakfast was a chicken curry pie. Boak. - we left Eriskay via the adjoining causeway and was quickly into South Uist. - following the route we planned on the garmin's - the roads were q...

Tues night .... I'm writing this from the hostel at Berneray - North Uist. With no phone signal. (Or very little). - I'll add photos later as I get a better signal ..... Yesterday I was up at 430am, with the mad idea of cycling to Glasgow Queen Street to meet Neil for the 0821am train to Oban. Left home at 0520am, headed for Kilmarmock, up western road then up auld A77 through Newton Mearns and then Giffnock, Shawlands and the city centre. Got to Queen Street for 730am, nice and early and 32 miles clocked already. Was a bit wet on the run up. Met Neil, and train left on time. - 3 hrs later we were in Oban. Got chatting to a guy called Mike, who said he was staying at same hostel as us on Barra. .... (More on that in a bit). After arriving in Oban we had a couple hours to kill. A light lunch, then purchased the Hopscotch Number8 that would be our ferry guide across the Western Isles. We were fully aware weather wasn't to be great later, which seemed rather w...

Cheers. !! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Arrived in Oban. Up at 430am. Cycled 32 miles in pissing rain to Queen St and met Neil. Then 0821 train. As we departed train in Oban the sun is kind of shinning. Longing that this will continue. - quick bite to eat then it's Cal- Mac's 1340 sailing to Castlebay, Barra. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone Location: George Street,Oban,United Kingdom

So another year older on Monday, the last of the 30's. - All set to start our trip to the Western Isles and the #WesternIslesEpic with @aerobic247 , aka Neil. Pack stuff up the mora night, after work, then looking forward to a week aff work. - hoping weather is kind for our islands cycle to Stornaway then Inverness . - yes you read correctly in November ;) Train tickets. bought. -IF weathers ok, I ll leave early and cycle up to Glasgow... if not its the 630 from Ayr. Train to Oban is at 0821 from Queen St.

Day off on thurs. - busy lots to do. as always. lol. work meh. next week im on hol and guess what - lots on. Oban to Inverness via Stornaway. Mon- Thurs. Hame fri/sat the Cumbria sportive on Sun/ Sheffield on sunday for work- back with a boom.

I have been telling a few people of our plans for this run, and I am often greeted with 'Yer Mad at this time of year' lol. - And well they are probably right.  We are doing this run over 4 days, 3 nights. Head to Oban on the morning of the 11th November, to get the ferry to Castlebay, Barra at 145pm. We buy Hopscotch No8 for a respectable 35 quid which will get us to Ullapool via Stornaway.  Staying at the Dunard Hostel in Barra on Monday night, we are up early to cycle across Barra to get the ferry to Eriskay Our journey then continues up through South Uist, Benbecula, and into North Uist, and up to Berneray , at the north end of North Uist. This is where we stay on Night 2 , - could not be more remote, and this is the appeal ;) By the end of that day, mileage is around 60-70 miles. Timing is everything for the Ferry. At Berneray the next morning we get the ferry to Leverburgh , Harris, and then its the cycle to Stornaway. - another 60 miles ish ! ...

Over last few days Scott said come doon for a Sportive. ... I - upgraded him to the 89 mile version. Start finish from Silverstone. Great day despite weather. See Strava for detail. Great 38 hrs. Back knackered. Thank god AFF mon. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Left home at 425am on Sunday morning. Dark and pissing of Rain. 3 hours later I entered the village of Coniston in the Southern Lake District. Registered and then the rain started. I thought that yeah it will go off, did it hell. - Rained for all 59 miles, some torrential. Just let myself get wet obv lol, sometimes it was refreshing but got s bit irritating and slowed me down massivley. Some nice sights on route, would have been much more enjoyable if the rain was left but thats your luck. Great day, went back via Keswick, a great day out. Next weekend Silverstone and an 84 mile bolt around Northamptonshire with Scott !

On Sunday morning, very early probably a 430am departure I am heading for another Sportive, 2nd last 1 of 2013 to Coniston in the South Lake District. Looking forward to a short joint over the border and enjoy some scenery near Lake Windemere - I will let you know how I get on.. :)

On Monday 11th Myself and Neil leave Oban and head for Barra on the Western Isles. Over the next couple of Day's we cycle to Stornaway, before getting Ferry to Ullapool. Purchasing a very reasonable Hop Scotch No8 on the Day for 35 Quid will allow us to do this. Ferry from Stornaway is at 7am on the Thursday before a 40 mile cycle south of Ullapool to the train. Just to figure out how to get back to Oban to collect car. Home Thursday night! Acc to be sorted. Ferry leaves Oban at 1340 on the Monday. What a better way to spend a Birthday ! lol Detail in the planning.... More Follows... An Epic curtain to 2013

4 ish day trip - Glasgow to Oban cycle to get the ferry - From Lochboisdale To Stornaway across the Western Isles. then ferry to Ullapool.. then 40 mile cycle to nearest railway station. Nice early winter 2013 run aboot. EEEEK - Challenge Accepted ?

Planning in progress for a 2 wheeler from Oban across the Western Isles. Arrive in Stornaway, then ferry to Ullapool. This will be my peak for the best years cycling Ive crambed into 2013. That Boardman Hybrid will have covered nearly 5000 miles in 12 months and this is a great way to finish 2013 !. Planning as I type !

Test

Other day I moved this blog back to blogger as the widgets and apps are alot easier to use than in wordpress. The domain  www.me.lexjah.com  is the exact same, but now the side widgets like strava and flickr are alot clearer. This has always been a source of fun to post what I find interesting and achieve with myself and my family, and has been on coming up close on 4 years. Sometimes I blog rubbish, mostly lol, use my iphone to do it, this was where wordpress was in a league of its own, but tonight I tried Googles blogger app and Blogpress on my phone or Ipad and the keep crashing. First world tech fanatic problems LOL Maybe I should just get a life haha! 

Been giving some thoughts to the 2014 Hit List - To Start - Kinross Sportive: http://www.sportive-kinross.co.uk/route.php?id=blk 26/4/14 - 89 Miles Etape Caledonia: http://www.etapecaledonia.co.uk/ 82 Miles Perthshire May ish Etape Pennines" http://www.etapepennines.co.uk/ Pennies Oct 2014 2014 Pedal for Scotland 110 Mile http://www.pedalforscotland.org/ Sept 2014 First Week Lord of the Lochs http://www.nofussevents.co.uk/event/Lord-of-the-Lochs-Sportive/2902/ Sept 2014 - End Galloway Recycle sportive if its back 102 miles http://www.gallowayrecyclesportive.co.uk/ 2014 version of this Cairgorms/ June ish http://www.handsonevents.co.uk/?page_id=22 and a most challenging UK 1 day yin -  http://www.handsonevents.co.uk/?page_id=20 plus a 4 day trip to cover the western isles (3 nights) and John o Groats to Lands End 

1 word - hilly !!! Nearly broke me. ESP at 55 miles. Cramp both legs. Bike being a bastard. Pissing of rain. But the stubborn lump came through. By far the hardest 1 yet. 7000 FT of overall climbing 👍👍👍👍

Left work just after 4 for the 250 mile drive north to Ullapool. Good run up via Inverness, with no real problems. Under 5 hours. Not like Skye 4 weeks ago lol. Dinner. 1 beer then bed. Up early for the +90 and no7 of the last 2 months. Last time I was up hear was 1996. - the route looks fantastic. Hope weathers kind ;).

Just finished 3 days off, and at weekend I decided at last minute to grab some stuff and head down towards Glen Trool for some exploring hill walking. The weather was not great. Though it wasn't raining at ground level but climbing the Merrick on saturday was a different matter. Very cloudy, I set off around 1030am, and started the climb. I passed 3 guys and a lassie on their way up on mtbs. - deepest respect to them. When I got to the top, I could not see 10m in front of me, -did no hang around long lol. After I got back down I headed around Glen Trool loch, the walk at the 7stanes. Great day out.