"......At 15.34 on Saturday 29th August 2009 I finally arrived at John O'Groats. The weather and wind were favourable in the early part of the final stage but worsened significantly by Wick, and the last 16 miles were a real struggle. However, despite almost gale force gusts, driving rain and freezing temperatures, nothing could dampen my sheer elation at reaching my goal - what an incredible journey!! Distance 63.1, ride time 4:35, average speed 13.7, maximum 41.8. Overall distnace 856.1, ride time 60.58.25!!!..........."

 

See below for - Route - Daily targets - Daily Report (if I have the energy to send one)

DAILY REPORTS - (Thanks to my daughter Jess for transcribing and uploading my messages and photographs sent from the "front line")

DAY ONE - 20 August 2009

13:00 hours

First Report : Finally left Land's End at 10:30. Had a following wind and have already passed Redruth. Only 28 miles to Bodmin. Might overshoot. Must Bat on!

19:20 hours

This is the current state of play: Have arrived at a B&B in Launceston 80.4 miles, plus the 12 miles from Penzance to Land's End. Last bit was a grind, but done far better than I expected, only 5 hours 8 mins in the saddle on the main run after starting at 10:30. Great wind but bl**dy hills!! Average speed15.5mph, maximum speed 43.8. Currently on 10 day schedule.



DAY TWO - 21 August 2009

Bit of a grind out of Launceston for 40 miles or so through Okehampton and Crediton and half way up to Tiverton. Continuous hills, and many pretty steep requiring full use of the gears. Stopped at 12:30 at a beautiful spot to pay my respects to Louise. Able to pick up some pace out of Tiverton as terrain flattened out. Eventually reached Cross, north of Burnham on sea. Distance for the day 97.8 miles, saddle time 6:50, average speed 14.2mph.

 

DAY THREE - 22nd August

Finished in Leominster, just ahead of my 10 day schedule. Was a bit lazy today and only did 83.9 miles. Flat terrain was forecast by the locals, but i encountered too many energy sapping hills and too many places to stop and take pictures, Bristol, Severn Bridge, Chepstow, Monmouth. Ride time, 5.55 hours, max speed 37.1, average 14.1. Great B&B and good pub. Ended up being treated to a meal (and a pint) by a lovely couple i met who also chipped in to the fundraising. Think i need to be a little more focussed on day 4.

 

DAY FOUR - 23rd August

Left Leominster at 9:30, hadn't slept too well and was feeling a little under par. However had a big breakfast and was determined to rack up some miles. Was pleased with early progress, terrain flat and there was a slight tail wind. Soon at Ludlow. levels remained pretty plat and the next 30 miles to Shrewsbury were done in a couple of house. Decided, while the going was good, to push on to Whitchurch at 60 miles before stopping for lunch. Next target Warrington 94 miles by 5:15. Then with no accomodation booked and rain startin, dug in for a further stint to Wigan. Blagged a cheap hotel room, and started to load the calories after a satisfying day. Miles 109.0 ride time, 7:13, average speed 15.0, max 32.2

 

Day Five - 24th August

15:13 hours

By the way, just fell off my bike! Was stationary in Kendal Town Centre and forgot to unclip my shoe. Entertained 100 + people on the high street, only damage to my pride!

22:15 hours

Perfect conditions today. I have been so lucky with the weather. I don't expect it to last. Sunny but a cool tail wind. Reached the 60 mile point (Kendal) comfortably by 2:30 after a lazy 9:30 start. next after lunch, the Shap Fell climb. Turned out to be more than a "big hill" but views fantastic. Pushed on to Penrith and was finished at 6pm. Wasn't particularly tired, so felt a bit of a fraud to finish at 88.7 miles. Ride time 6:20. Average speed 13.9, max 38.1. Loving every minute.

Day Six - 25th August

From an overnight stop in Penrith and a late start (nearly 10am) on to Carlisle passing the castle, then across the border to Gretna. On to long straight roads with equally long slow climbs. Really beautiful scenery most of the way, particularly from Crawford to Lanark. I don't know what the Scots use to surface the roads with but it certainly isn't marshmallow, my bum took a battering today. Heavily discounted rates at a plush country hotel. Distance 97.7, ride time 6:59, average speed 13.9, max 38.1.

 Day Seven - 26th August

Only 62 miles today, I know what you're thinking. But I am still ahead of schedule its rained all day and I have planned to meet a friend who lives south of where i am, and I didn't want to cycle out of reach. Scenery drab today in this weather, hence only a couple of photographs (which Jess will upload at some point!! Oops!) Ended up in Crieff before 5pm. Plan to go on the attack tomorrow to strengthen the chances of a finish on Saturday. Distance 62.3 miles, ride time 4:46 average speed 13.0 maximum speed 30.7

Day Eight - 27th August

16:30 hours:

Had a really really difficult first 40+ miles some vertical and several 3 mile climbs. Batting along now though 73 miles done. Going to take a short break at Kingussie (one mile) then off to Aviemore. One careless "off" got foot caught in pedal clip - but no one there to watch - slight cut on arm and knee, but i should live!!

End of the day:

So after partaking of a delightful hot chocolate in Kingussie I quickly sped off to Aviemore where i enjoyed a Guinness and a Caledonian bitter and a good meal before bed. Distance 86.0 ride time 6:25, average speed 13.3, maximum 35.4 and Happy Birthday to my Mum and Well Done to Josh on his GCSE results!

Day Nine - 28th August 

This started off like the day sent from hell! A ten mile climb from Aviemore to Slochd Summit in a really strong head wind and driving rain. It was a fight to keep the bike on the road with heavy lorries speeding by. Progress was painfully slow. with the wind, it was necessary to pedal hard downhill to make even 10 miles an hours. Less than 20 miles achieved in the first 2 hours, extreme cold, and half the food supply used up as an energy resource. The battle with the wind continued beyond Inverness, but the rain had stopped and the terrain became easier. Lunch stop postpones in favour of achieving more miles. Wild winds on crossing the 3 Firths. And the heavens opened again. Last 30 miles to Brora at last brought sunshine and a tail wind. Arrival at 6:30. By 8pm the wind had gone and there was a beautiful calm in the tiny harbour. Only 65 miles to JOG!! Distance 87.2, ride time 6:42, average speed 12.9, max 32.0. For those waiting to see if i would finish - GET YOUR HAND IN YOUR POCKET - DIG DEEP! THANKS!!

Day Ten - 29th August (Final Day)

12:50 Am in Lybster. About 32 miles to go. Weather had been fine, but is beginning to close in. Should finish sometimes between 3 and 4.

15:40: YES YES YES YES YES!!! (I think he might have just got there!)

 

"......At 15.34 on Saturday 29th August 2009 I finally arrived at John O'Groats. The weather and wind were favourable in the early part of the final stage but worsened significantly by Wick, and the last 16 miles were a real struggle. However, despite almost gale force gusts, driving rain and freezing temperatures, nothing could dampen my sheer elation at reaching my goal - what an incredible journey!! Distance 63.1, ride time 4:35, average speed 13.7, maximum 41.8. Overall distnace 856.1, ride time 60.58.25!!!..........."

ROYCE's  LEJOG 2009 (in association with Radcliffe Olympic Football Club) - "An Uphill Struggle"

Thank you for visiting this very hastily constructed website. I'll add some bits as soon as I can, but thought I ought to get it up and running as soon as possible given the proximity of my "event".

Many of you will be familiar with the sight of me in lycra. For the majority this will be connected with my preference for two wheel, pedal powered commuting, which dates back to a fitness regime I started in 1995.

I get a bit fed up with seeing the same 7.5 mile route back and forth to work, so occasionally I think of something different. A decade ago it was 25 miles around the docklands as part of the London Triathlon, when I raised over £1,500 for Whizkids, and 3 years ago it was 215 miles to Poole to join the family on a ferry to . This year it was going to be "tip to toe" for charity, but that fell through.

I have often said that I would like to do the Lands End to John O'Groats "thing", but only if I had a support crew. That isn't going to happen sometime soon, so I thought at 54 years of age I had better go and do it solo and unassisted. I CAN, SO I AM!!!!

So equipped with a really, really small tent, the addresses of a few B&Bs, some Youth Hostels (how do I qualify???), two pairs of socks and a change of lycra, I set off on a 970 mile route from Lands End on Thursday 20 August 2009.

I know that loads of people have done it before, some riding non-stop and no doubt some riding backwards and blindfolded. But that doesn't make it easy does it? I think it is going to be an uphill struggle at times. I've met some pretty fit people who have done it and some of them swore they would never do it again. 

I am aiming to complete the route in 10 -12 days, but I will keep going as long as it takes (the doctor to certify me). I am planning to post the route somewhere on this site for those who like the detail.

My training is underway, increasingly circuitous routes to and from work, and even later than usual in arriving at my destinations. I end up smelling like a tramp and eating all I can get my hands on. I feel that 50 miles a day is well within my range, but I won't be doing my target of 100 a day until the real thing.

As the potential nightmare draws ever closer to becoming reality, more and more people have asked me if I am doing it for charity. To be absolutely honest, that wasn't something that I had really thought about, but not to do so seems a really wasted opportunity to help towards a good cause.

I am one of those people who get pretty embarrassed about asking people for money, but I know that there are a lot of good people out there who are only too willing to give to a good cause.

I found it very hard to favour a particular charity, but I settled on Leukaemia Research because I know several people connected with my football club, who have had, and continue to have a terrible time with this indiscriminate and merciless disease. The devastating effects of this disease upon these people and their loving families are quite unimaginable.

Whilst a "few quid" might be a drop in the ocean, eventually Leukaemia will be drowned out. All of us will have helped in some small way.

I haven't set a wildly optimistic target for my fundraising because I've only just started the ball rolling 16 days before I start, but it would be great to see the target exceeded. So, can I beg that you give generously and ask others to do the same. Remember, that just a penny for each "ball aching" mile will cost you less than a tenner.

If I don't make it to the finishing line for anything other than medical reasons, I'll even volunteer to refund your donation out of my own pocket!!!

For the avoidance of any doubt, no part of your donation will be applied towards any of my expenses in undertaking this venture.

I'm intending to ride "in association with" Radcliffe Olympic Football Club, of which I am a member, so that it can take the credit for the fundraising in addition to its other charity fundraising activities in recent years through which it has raised nearly £20,000 for various national and local charities.

That's about all you need to know really before you stump up! Simple really, you send the money, and I put on the lycra! You will be able to view the pictures on this site.

PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE THIS SITE WITHOUT DONATING SOMETHING (I have your name and number, there will be a reckoning!!)

Thank you so much

Andrew

ROUTE

Lands End 0 – Penzance – 12 - Hayle – 8 - Redruth - 9.4 – Victoria -24.9 – Bodmin - 8.6 – Okehampton – 42 – Crediton – 21 – Tiverton - 14.4 -North Petherton      - 30.9 - Cross Village - 20.6 - Bristol Airport - 11.8 -Severn Bridge -20.6 - Tintern Abbey -8.7 – Monmouth - 13.5 – Hereford - 20.9 – Leominster - 14.7 – Dorrington - 33.4 Shrewsbury - 7.5 – Whitchurch - 22.3 - Stockton Heath - 36.4 – Warrington - 4.3 Wigan - 12.6 - Standish Village - 4.1 – Euxton – 9 – Preston  - 8.1 – Barton - 5.6 –Lancaster - 20.8 – Carnforth -      7 – Kendal - 12.8 – Shap - 17.7 – Hackthorpe - 5.8 –Carlisle - 26.6 – Longtown - 9.8 – Gretna - 3.7 - Kirkpatrick Fleming - 4.6 –Ecclefechan - 7.5 – Crawford - 43.2 – Abington - 3.6 – Lanark - 19.3 – Carluke -  5.9 Airdrie - 13.8 – Cumbernauld - 6.6 – Dunblane - 23.4 – Braco - 9.8 – Crieff - 10.8 –Amulree - 12.5 – Trinafour - 30.2 - Drumochter Summit - 14.3 – Dalwhinnie - 4.8 –Kingussie - 17.3 – Aviemore - 14.9 - Tomatin Services - 14.2 – Inverness - 17.4 – Tore - 7.6 - Cromarty Firth Bridge - 5.6 – Alness - 5.6 - Dornoch Firth Bridge - 18.1 –Golspie - 12.3 - Brora Village - 4.8 – Helmsdale - 12.6 – Berriedale - 9.1 – Dunbeath - 6.9 – Latheronwheel - 2.9 – Thrumpster - 14.4 – Wick - 4.8 – Reiss - 2.9 – Keiss - 4.9 – Auckengill - 2.7 – Freswick - 3.9 -  John O’Groats -3.1

DAY END TARGETS

10 DAY

1 - Thurs 20 – Launceston - 83

2 - Fri 21 - Burnham on Sea area - 170

3 - Sat 22 – - 267

4 - Sun 23 – Northwich - 367

5 - Mon 24 – Carnforth - 453

6 - Tue 25 – Ecclefechan - 541

7 - Wed 26 – Bonnybridge - 640

8 - Thur27 – Dalwhinnie - 739

9 - Fri 28 – Dornoch - 840

10 - Sat 29 - John O’Groats - 925

12 / 13 DAY

1- Thurs 20 - Bodmin- 63

2 - Fri 21- Tiverton -140

3 - Sat 22 - area - 210

4 - Sun 23 – - 282

5 - Mon 24 – Whitchurch - 345

6 - Tue 25 – - 419

7 - Wed 26 – Penrith - 500

8 - Thur 27 – Crawford - 584

9 - Fri 28 – Dunblane - 657

10 - Sat 29 – Dalwhinnie - 739

11 - Sun 30 – Alness - 822

12 - Mon 31 – Latheron - 889

13 - Tue 01 - JohnO’Groats - 925

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