It's Done - Day 7 (reprise)

Today the missing miles, 104 from Calthwaite (Lake District) to Glasgow, were done and the full LEJOG is complete!!. The original schedule had this as Day 7 but a careless fall forced me to replace that day with a trip to A&E (see earlier posts).

Today's ride was in glorious sunshine but into a headwind/crosswind. That, combined with a range of aches & pains , made this the longest stage at 7 hours.

The route took in Gretna Green, where I was a witness to Hope and Lawrence's wedding!... and later the satisfaction of the genuine end of the End2End!

Day 11 - The John O'Groats 'finish'

The final stage was 56.5 miles to John O'Groats and a further 2 miles to Duncansby Head (which is the actual north west tip of mainland UK), there was another headwind but nowhere near the strength of yesterday's. After 5 miles I hit what I think was the longest constant climb of Lejog and after another 10 miles, at Berriedale Braes, a great downhill blast that gave me a new fastest speed of 44.2 mph followed by a real stinker that I had been warned about. I passed the Cancer Research team here and (in my head at least) the race was on! - juvenile I know. The rest of the stage was fairly hilly but with some long flat sections and the headwind, I expected the group of 7 to pass me before the finish. After Wick (with 15 miles to go) I was passed by their back up van and, with their driver cheering me on, I increased the effort but expected the riders at any time. As yesterday... they never showed up! As on Day 2.. they had unknowingly helped. I later heard that, although the group had regularly split on previous days, they had decided to stick together (thereby slowing some) for the final stage to John O'Groats.

At John O'Groats, confusion reigns... no clear markings, no Finish Line (although I've seen one in older pics) and no signpost - until some tourists, who were prepared to pay, rang the local photographer. My pics were snatched whilst they were setting up! I also met up again with the trio of NSE riders who had been reunited and finished earlier.

So now it's back to the Lakes to complete the missing stage (to Glasgow). I'll add a note once that is done, though I'll add the detail into the section for Day 7. I'll also be adding the nerdy details re routes, etc. to each of the daily posts - so that the blog can be used in the way that I used others' when planning LEJOG.

Day 10 - Into the wind from Drumnadrochit

Today was reminiscent of Day 2 - i.e. tough! For the majority of the day I cycled straight into a head wind and for the first time really missed the rotation/shelter that would have been possible as part of a group (... sorry but Hope just doesn't cut it). I saw the Cancer Research support van go by at about 25 miles and for a while was preoccupied with their arrival behind me.. hoping that they'd catch me whilst I had enough energy to 'join the train'. Aching limbs, and a possible desensitizing to the pain killers, left me hurting as I climbed and descended hills in low gears (I've never previously had to get out of the saddle to pedal downhill!) and the one mile bridge over Cromarty Firth was the hardest flat mile I've cycled. The end result was my slowest average speed to date; 83 miles at 14 mph to Helmsdale... and No, the Cancer Research guys never arrived. I did however see two of the NSE riders near Brora - but no sign of the third??
I'm told that the scenery was ruggedly spectacular... I think that translates as overly exposed and hostile (though I admit the views from the B&B ,Culgower House, are impressive). Tomorrow may be more of the same as I head up the East coast to John O'Groats.. but I'm guessing that I won't mind as much and that I'll take a more positive view.

Day 9 - Glencoe to Drumnadrochit (The Great Glen)

Day 9 took in Glencoe, Ballachulish, Fort William, Fort Augustus, the Nevis Range, Loch Ness and Drumnadrochit... all in glorious sunshine. The early part of the ride had great views but, for the most part, the Great Glen didn't quite match the magnificence of the previous day. One high spot (in more than one way) was just after Spean Bridge where a monument to the Commandos of the second World War looks out across the Great Glen to the Nevis Range.

I met a few of the Cancer Research guys again today and had the opportunity to chat. Apparently there are seven riders in the team and they'd remembered seeing me in Devon and at Crianlarich. They are also scheduled to finish on Tuesday and so I could potentially meet up with them and the three NSE riders (seen originally in Liskeard) on Tuesday afternoon at John O'Groats.

Day 8 - Back on the road (Glasgow to Glencoe)

Day 8 started in Glasgow, on road surfaces as bad as those by Ullswater.. so the wrist took a pounding early on but with a combination of pain killers and improving scenery I headed north to Loch Lomond, Crianlarich, Tyndrum (where I could have stopped at the B&B), Bridge of Orchy (where I was due to stop) into the Highlands and to Glencoe (chairlift not village). The extra miles were an investment in case Day 9 was tougher on the wrist and it was easier to continue as the scenery was the best yet by far; after the loch, snow capped peaks, bubbling rivers, a piper in the layby...etc.

I passed a couple of resting riders that looked familiar and they could have been two of three Cancer Research riders that briefly, and unknowingly, helped me on Day 2 when I joined them for 'turn taking' and shelter for a half-mile hill.

In all, nearly 84 miles at nearly 16 mph before the rain came down and I was ready to be taken back to Tyndrum.

Day 7a - A Change of Plan

This morning began with a trip to the Cumbrian Royal Infirmary A&E Dept. in Carlisle, as I was (apparently) 'royally infirm'. My wrist had continued to swell overnight despite the best efforts of frozen cauliflower and 'Dr.' Kevin's ice pack and riding would be difficult; changing gear (and therefore some climbs) seemed impossible. Conversation had turned to splint contraptions to wrestle the required levers into position and the feasibility of moving the chain ring gear change mechanism to the right (i.e. ending the need to do anything, except hang on, with the left hand).

A broken wrist would mean a cast and so even hanging on would be tough. Luckily therefore, after half a day and 5 x-rays, I was told that I had soft tissue damage and that riding was not recommended until after a recovery period of 10 - 14 days.

As some folks will know, I reserve the right to disagree with the medical opinion of some doctors and, although I have no doubts about the expertise of Mr Fox, the revised plan (below) is not quite as recommended.

So, Today (Stage 7a) is a forced day off the bike and, because B&Bs are booked we travelled (by car - "fear not, read on") to Glasgow tonight -ready for Day 8 and a ride to Tyndrum/Bridge of Orchy. Days 9 - 11 will then be as originally planned with a 'finish' in John O'Groats on Tuesday. BUT THEN.. the epilogue; a trip back to my sister's from where I will complete the missing Stage 7 (I'll call it 7b) to Glasgow by bike. This way, we can use B&Bs as booked and complete all mileage/stages of LEJOG (though Stage 7 is out of order). So if pain and restricted movement allow - that's the plan. The change is particularly frustrating as my legs and fitness seem to be holding up fine.

Day 6 - Kirkstone Pass and a crash!

Today was Garstang to Kirkoswald via Kirkstone Pass. Accompanied by brother Sean (remember, he's a sibling not a monk) we set off in the sunshine and headed for the Lakes.

Hope had gone on ahead to meet up with Lawrence, who lives near Kendal, and we picked her up on the way.

The hills started after about 25 miles and, with Sean on a mountain bike with no training under his belt, the climbs started to take their toll. After Windemere..., Kirkstone Pass. Shortly after the 40 mile mark, Sean was done (great effort and the longest ride he'd done for years, by far) and I continued on up the pass. The wind and rain kicked in and having made it to the top, I started the rapid descent and the route via Ullswater, heading towards Carlisle. At the turn for Dacre, and a late release of the brakes, I was down and sliding downhill with one foot still clipped to the bike. [A little damage to both bike and me -here's hoping that I'm typing one-handed due to a sprain and not a break!]

Journey's end (for the day) was near Kirkoswald and after 76 miles and an eventful day; I was done- legs OK (small bash to the knee) and wrist pretty painful (I know, what a wimp!).

Day 5 - To Blackpool (well, Garstang)

A largely flat day today shouldn't have had the thighs burning... but it did. Nevertheless I maintained a 17 mph average (despite the sprawling urbania of Warrington) and got to family in time for tea (well, evening meal). Not surprisingly (apologies for maintaining a stereotype, but..) the only serious hassle I've had from drivers thus far... was in Preston.

Earlier in the day, Hope met a friend that she seems quite struck by. He's a dandy sort of chap called Lawrence and he joined us for the evening in Blackpool.... watch this space!

Day 4 - Byron on a bike?

For Carl & Tom: Byron on a bike (c. 2009)


Today April's showers and sunshine
fell in equal measure,
on all amidst the countryside
be purpose toil or leisure.


So thought Ron as he cast an eye
having cast in search of Pike,
and there upon horizon's hill
a man upon a bike.


And I astride that Giant sat
protection luminous yellow,
my eye, cast aforeward then,
set upon that fishing fellow.


Came I passed furrowed fields
by hedge and ditch and dyke,
passed I aside the river bank
'by Ron' upon a bike!



Day 4 was the first of the stages that run pretty much directly North, so this took me (with a few aches) from Monmouth/S. Wales to Wem/Shropshire.

Day 3 - Cheddar and the LLR

After Day 2, Taunton to Monmouth promised to be a better day... and so it proved. 'Halleluiah Somerset' (after Lancs. and Hampshire this has got to be my favourite county - temporarily at least).

There were a few 'downs';- the inability to load my route to the GPS, getting lost and adding about 15 miles to the day, the first rain of the ride and my first puncture (on the Clifton Suspension Bridge, having detoured and climbed specifically to cross it). Despite all that, this was the best day so far. Somerset is FLAT-ish, I rode with Geoff, met up with Richard & Simon in Wales (representatives of the Lord Loverocket), climbed Cheddar Gorge (on the bike not a rope) and averaged 16 mph.

D - Day. (Day 2)

Day 2 started well with donations from folks at the B&B and then a meeting with three 'end 2 end'ers; riding for the National Society for Epilepsy. Once the riding started it was tough!!! There are a 1000 reasons why the ride was longer (nearly 6hrs 20) than planned, and nearly all of them are... Hills.

The others are;

• the fact that the mapped route finds a scenic path.. avoiding traffic and the gentler climbs that also have a downhill side that you can blast down - unlike the gravel covered, pot-holed descents that need you to apply your brakes and weave down slowly before starting another climb! (My top tip; get on the A & B roads).


• my legs... that being said, I was determined to stay on the bike and managed it. Here's hoping that this was the hardest day.

So that was Devon in a day. Hope enjoyed a trip to Diggerland - but then she hasn't done any pedalling yet!

They're Off; cyclists, horses and handbrakes.

The lejog started a bit later than planned due to the lack of a post and the need for a 'pic' at the tourist trap and business that is Land's End... so cynical, so early. That said it was a great day with virtually no traffic in the first third of the route... the price you pay is Hills! And Day 2 is supposedly worse.

Once in Liskeard (after less than 4hrs 45.) we were locked out of the B&B as the owner had gone to the pub to watch the Grand National - having won, she was of course required to stay and celebrate. Later in Liskeard, whilst checking out the menu in the window of a restaurant (on another very steep hill) I noticed a car reversing at speed towards us.. accelerating, it ploughed into the cars parked beside us! A quick check, to see if the driver was OK, revealed that there was none! It turned out that this was one of a frequent series of handbrake failures.

Thanks to all that sent messages wishing me well.. they worked on Day 1.