Year Round Commuter, Cyclist and Adventure Seeker.

This was by far the toughest day of the lot as I woke with no energy what so ever. It was a beautiful morning in Fort Augustus and the sun was shinning. I woke early again after a better than average sleep. Well before 6am.  A couple of coffees and again the porridge, half of which got binned was consumed. Left at 615am into blazing sunshine and onto the A82.  Reason I left so early was that I knew this was going to be a long day and that I would need to pull off around a ton to keep my return travel plans on track.  Loch Ness was cloudy and there was an eery mist hovering over it as I mowed down the first 30 or so miles on the run up to Inverness.  First village was Drummnadokit, where I stopped for a quick piddle lol... and chatted to the girl in the service station. The only advantage of the A82 at this time is it is very quiet. Most of my devices hardly had any power like my mood, as I forgot to charge the spare battery pack.  Very quickly I found myself in ...

This was going to be my favourite day of the trip as it takes it some of the best location and scenery Scotland has to have.  Woke before 7am, went to the kitchen for a couple of coffees and the now boring random porridge.  Got my stuff together and left Tyndrum bound for Glencoe around 830am. There was a big difference in the weather compared to 12hrs earlier. The sun appeared, and though a tad windy was already quite warm.  Climbed out of Tyndrum and passed the Oban junction where I should have been on my road bike 24hrs earlier. But hey ho. - got a good nice pace going and then the scenery hit me, amazing. Next thing I was at the now familiar Highlands sign (I've done this route a few times now), and coasted along at a nice pace until I was into Glencoe. - this is my favourite place. Beautiful scenery.  Eventually in the village I stopped for a cake n coffee and it wasn't even noon yet. As I left Glencoe I was zapped by a police officer with...

After yesterday's rather catistrophic malfunction I awoke very early in my bed having pretty much a sleepless night.  I have been overwhelmed with the support on this trip for Cancer Research. After what happened on Arran, people had offered to get bike parts to the ferry. To be brought over and after I was home I was offered about 6 different bikes to finish the job. - Amazing.  Part of me being honest thought that this trip was over, and as I sit typing this at my digs in Fort Augustus, I'm glad to report I got alone of a 2nd bike through some Glasgow  contacts.  On Sunday morning I repacked my stuff and headed up to Glasgow and picked up a Ridgeback Hybrid. Converted back to the pannier, and got myself ready and I was off.  Headed out the familiar cycle path by the union canal, out towards Balloch. - by now it started raining. Heavy. And it took me a little while to get used to the new bike. Mental. Felt so slow as Im used to a road bike.  Took the Loch ...

Well after a days rest at home I was raring to go. Plan was to leave at 7am and rattle 25 miles to the ferry for Arran. And then up to Lochranza and ferry onto the Kintyre Peninsula. - Well so it was supposed to be before a fatal mechanical malfunction sorted that.  Nice run up to Ardrossan and I bought my 2 single ferry tickets and boarded a very packet Caledonian Isles ferry. - the Goat Fell race was on. And going by the resultant weather I did not envy them.  I left the ferry at 1045am bound for Lochranza, along with every other millionth cyclist. The rain had started and didn't look like stopping.  Up through Corrie and Sannox, I've come to love this Island having cycled it many a time. There is a sore climb up to Lochranza but your rewarded with a fantastic 2 mile decent. -.... But I wasn't to be rewarded with that.  On the 2nd slope up I heard and almighty bang and near came off. Rear hanger had snapped - and I came to a sudden stop. ....  An almighty numb...

Up and At them- Today, Day 6 I would cross the border, conquer England by 2 wheeler, and meet up at the sign 13 months ago I said would happen after JOG to Gretna in 2013. Left the digs after quite frankly a disturbing breakfast provided by the farmhouse. a nice saunter up to Gretna, skipping outside of Carlisle and to the England Scotland border. Was overcome with a sense of achievement. Some 526 miles after leaving Lands End on May 10th, 28500ft of climbing and countless hours in the Saddle I had crossed the English border and entered GOD's country. - Took some photos with a big simle on my face, looking back on an adventure where no mechanical faults, punctures etc had occurred..... Then 2 miles outside Gretna,, snap, spoke went... LOL Diverted into Dumfries Halfords for guys to fix, which the did, thanks for that and continued on the very familiar A76 up through Thornhill, Sanquhar, Kirkconnel and onwards to Mauchline, home and to see the Family and...

After an average nights sleep I awoke to blue skies and sun blasting in the window. My digs were in the village of Slaidburn in Lancashire, near the border with North Yorkshire. - To any1 I could have been in the Village of Emmerdale, LOL. Staring out the window I could see the bustling small shop with people coming and going, clearly the local focal point. The pub across the road well closed up, well it was 730am. -! Got dressed and headed over and got some stuff for a breakfast of kings. Well - 2 rolls n bacon, 2 coffees a banana and orange juice. During this time I had a great chat with a guy called Paul, retired, just returned tpo the UK after 30 years in Canada. He was up to go on a Map reading course. - At age of 68. - Good on him. We exchanged stories of how we came to be here and he kindly cleaned up my dishes and helped me with the stuff to my bike and wished me luck on my journey.. As I left the village at 930am, straight into some hills. - And this was to b...

This day was to be very long and a day of 2 halfs.  After a massive 10hr solid sleep I was raring to go .... Waking up in the beautiful Wilderhope Manor with the sun shining through the window I could not be more impressed with my surroundings.  This place is beautiful, holds around 100 people and there was ....4 staying. Had a full room to myself. Luxury showers etc so I took good advantage before nipping down for another hearty breakfast as fuel for my onward journey.  Was ready to go for 9ish. As I type this should have left earlier. What lay ahead was 115ish miles and the longest on this LEJOG. The journey would take me through 5 counties passing Sheswbury, and Whitechurch first. Stopped for the 11ish coffee and cake (Daily now) before plodding along the A49 some really nice scenery and rolling flats. And traffic reasonably light. - first 65 knocked off very quickly.  Now the 2nd Half. - my route was to take me through Warrington and Bolton. By this time it was n...

Day 3. First day flying Solo. And the sun came out. I got a crap sleep. 5 hrs if lucky but after a shower and a hearty breakfast I was wild awake.  Left the Digs at 830am and headed out of Bath, up hill naturally. Lol  Bit of a scary 3 miles on the main A46 with lots of traffic obv going to work, but it soon quiet ended down. The odd bit of rain would occur, but nothing drastic.  I was heading towards Gloucester., and made some good timing. Light wind and the sun came out. Then I passed through 2 other counties following A49. Nice scenery but a bit bland. And just Tarmac. Passed Ludlow and into Shropshire.  After 85 miles I was back on the farm roads. A lot of climbs and decent descents and before long I was in Longville in the Dale and my digs - Wilderhope Manor, a 16th century grade 1 listed building. Stunning. In middle of know where.  This place can sleep up to 100 people.  There was 4 staying so I had place or room to myself. Lol.  Not content wit...

After a decent kip Myself and Scott had breakfast at Betty Cottles where we had been staying, then made things ready and we were off. Destination Bath.  It was cold, but the sun was out and ground was wet. Rain was forcast in places but what I've found out over the last 3/4 days lol, is rain on. rain off. So now I just keep the jacket off.  We both had routes in our garmin's incase somehow we got lost. But things progressed well. ..... Getting a good pace along we were heading towards Tiverton, the I'm indicated by my side kick the garmin to turn left. It's a dirt track into a field. Lol. Erm naw! - so we seen signs for said Town that was going to be a coffee stop and continue passing through some very scenic Devon Villages....  Cake and Coffee for 11'enses. (This is becoming a trademark as I write this on the morning of day 4 laying on my bed after a hearty breakfast. Chillin for 10 mins before the off. ) We joined the A3295 and pushed onwards the town of Taunton a...

After a good nights sleep myself and Scott were up at back of 7am eager to go. After a hearty breakfast of Porridge and toast, and some chat with 4 other guys doing the same, we made our way down to the famous Lands End resort and sign.  At 8am on a Saturday place was deserted. All closed up. It was very grey, and windy but not raining. As we were there a large group of cyclists pounded in so we decided to rattle some photos and then get going.  Garmin's set (thanks to Steve for new route) we were off. First was short cycle back to Penzance, and onwards to Okehampton our first destination some 104 miles away hopefully.  Route took us out of Penzance, avoiding the infamous A30 and onto Hayle. Setting a good pace after 30 miles we stopped at Blackwater for a coffee, and had made some good timing. - weather had been kind, light showers and wind in our backs.  Pushing on we were fairly near the north coast of Cornwall and by 50m we were only some 4 miles from Newquay....

So after leaving home at 4am, finally arrived at the digs 1 mile from Lands End at 540pm.  Quite a good journey down. Got to Scott's in Hinckley at 10am then after a catch up we were on the road.  A few stops then we got into Penzance at the back of 5pm, took hire back then had a scoot aboot Penzance before nipping back to the 'First and Last Inn' for a bit of dinner.  Heading back to the hostel the rain started lashing down on the mile walk back. Both of us soaked. ! - Hope that's not an omen ! Wobbler ref day 1 route which was a30. Not realising it was so busy a road. Kindly someone who is doing what we are doing has given us a slightly different route.  That's it. Kip. Starts mora. 

Right. Heading to bed. - All packed. - Leaving 4am (van needs to be in Penzance for 5pm) Wish us luck. 👍 Get a quick moment with a quid. Please donate. 👍 - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone Location: Welton Road,Mauchline,United Kingdom

Today is my normal day off from work. Went a gentle run this morning, now just making some final packing for fri. Any 1 that knows me I am a bit anal to detail, listed stuff, - and going by anything like the Scotland run last year taking a 3rd of the stuff.. 'Ruffing it for a week I think they call it.'or 'Wash as I go' lol. Minimal clothing, some spares for the bike, only need to get a spare chain. Shopping list at work the mora. Got all the tools and spare inners, hoping that I don't need many. Sad but better to be prepped than NOT. As Ive been told ;) Couple calls made, acc booked near Carlisle before the stop over at home on Night 6 all going well. Will be free bed and breakfast at the 595 mile mark ! ;)