UPDATE - I made it!

Lands End to John O'Groats (May 28th - June 6th 2010)

On Sunday 6th June at 5pm I made it to the finish line at John o'Groats.  What a welcome site that finish line was.  It had been the most amazing 10 days and I still can't believe I've managed to cycle from one end of the country to another.

Setting off in glorious sunshine on Friday 28th May - I was fortunate enough to be setting off at the same time as a couple of other intrepid explorers!  Photos done and signing the official end to end book - it was time to set off on the journey.  Not expecting to have company on the ride - we set off with only 900+ miles to go.  To my great surprise the other two decided to stop off for a coffee in Penzance only 10 miles into the journey - i thought I better keep going or I'd never make it!

The first today continued to be sunny with even a slight tail wind to make things better.  It wasn't long before I decided that my route may have to be changed.  I was trying to go via all the back roads, but with no GPS and a great shortage of road signs this wasn't going to be as easy as I thought.  Locals didn't seem to have heard of places beyond the end of their street - so wasn't getting far!  Getting lost twice and adding an extra 10 miles to the journey - I started to use more of the B roads and occasionally an A road if I was a bit short of time...

Cornwall is unbelievably hilly - just constant up and down and never in one gear for more than a couple of minutes.  A few stop offs for bites to eat and I eventually made it to Tavistock.  Bad planning Tavistock didn't have a single Italian restaurant - so no pasta for me today.  Next best thing - had a curry and a pint!

Day 2 - headed across the top of Dartmoor - bit of a misty start and very quiet roads up there - but really wonderful to cycle through.  In fact the descent off Dartmoor coming into Dunsford was probably the best descent of the whole trip - reaching a top speed of 47mph.  First (and only) puncture of the trip just north of Exeter - had clearly been taking it to leisurely when at 4:30 realised I still had nearly 50 miles to go!  Well head down and off to Glastonbury and then Wells for another stop off for some food.  Eventually made it to the hotel by 9.30 and still had time for a bit of a swim!  That was always intended to be the longest day of the journey - so it should get easier after today!

Day 3 - lovely ride into Bath - only held up by a few driver obeying the speed limits!! Stopped to take in the sites and then it was more hills and out into Gloucestershire and the Midlands.  Another sunny day and could see for miles - could even see the Severn bridge at one point.  Eventually got to Stourport around 6ish.

Day 4 - The hotel kindly gave me a free packed lunch to get me on my way - which had mostly gone by about 11.00!  Not the most picturesque of days cycling through and around a lot of towns today - but expected that.  Managed to call in on a few Uni friends I hadn't seen for a few years and then headed off to Manchester.  After living here for 4 years in the 90's it was good to see a few recognisable landmarks.  Popped in to an old friends for a beer and a catcfh up then it was back to the hotel for more sleep.   

Day 5 - I'd only booked in room only at the hotel - but after telling the manager my story - he opened up the breakfast bar early and let me have whatever i wanted - why didn't i try this approach before??  So after the fifth full english breakfast in a row - I was all set for the day.   No surprise it rained the whole day - I'd been lucky so far,  but Manchester = Rain.   A familiar ride for me to begin with as I used to cycle this part of the journey every day when I was at university. Through Manchester and off up the A56 to Bury and Clitheroe.  probably the worst part of the journey in terms of traffic - as i had to keep going on to quite busy sections of road with a lot of spray and big lorries!  Once out of the other side and into the Forrest of Bowland - things started to improve.  Stopped off at a pub in Slaidburn for a drink and some food.  A lovely part of the country - probably missed by most as people head for the lakes instead.  Lots of climbing today - not a good day for my gears to start playing up - chain falling off and not being able to change gears for quite a while....The first shop i see coming off the hills is a bakery - so a sausage roll, flapjack and a couple of cakes later I'm ready for Kendal.  My earliest finish of the whole trip - got into kendal at 3pm where I met all the family waiting for me.  It was lovely to meet up - as i'd missed them over the 5 days.  Now I had a support crew for the rest of the trip - which will hopefully make the trip even more enjoyable...Quick pitstop at cycle shop to check gears out - few adjustments and all sorted...

Day 6 - Heading for Scotland.  After already adding 20 miles to my trip I decided to keep to the straight routes and avoided any unnecessary diversions.  Took the route out over Shap - which was a lovely ride and a lot less busy than i expected - I guess everybody takes the motorway!  Waved goodbye to my sister who had also arranged a holiday in the area at the time I was passing through..  Headed further and further North and made it to Scotland for Lunch stopping in Gretna Green.  They even had the bagpipes playing just for me (or were they for the wedding that just happened to going on at the same time?).  Roads improved considerably after this, with dedicated cycle lanes that led all the way up to Glasgow and very quiet roads.  Stopped off in a lovely B&B in Moffat and was starting to feel quite fresh after 6 days in the saddle.  Couldn't count my chickens as anything could happen over the last 4 days..

Day 7 - Heading for the Lochs.  Another quick day heading up to Glasgow and over the Erskine Bridge over to Loch Lomond.  Stopped on the shores of the Loch - and another really sunny day - can't believe how lucky I've been.

Day 8 - Followed the shoreline of Loch Lomond and then headed up to Fort William.  Stunning mountains in the area.  Even a bit of snow on the top of a few.  For the first time since Penzance - met up with another couple doing LeJog - chatted briefly but narrow roads made it a bit difficult to talk for long...  They were a lot more laden down than me - fortunately I'd managed to offload my rear panniers in kendal - which made the bike considerably lighter...

Day 9 - Where's Nessy.  Big Mountain Bike World Cup in Fort William today - shared our B&B with the family of the top UK rider.  Didn't have time to stop and watch unfortunately - maybe next time!  Stopped off in Fort Augustus - which is a lovely spot - much nicer than Fort William and met up with the family for lunch.  I'm amazed how much food I can eat - 4 or 5 sandwiches , a large tub of pasta salad, a couple of doughnuts, a mars bar....certainly not having a problem keeping my energy levels up!  Thanks to Lisa for this - she kept making sure I ate enough!  Didn't spot Nessy unfortunately, but was feeling good as I only had another day to go....Then my knee went - Ahhhhh - I was in agony and still had another 20 miles to go.  Weather had started to cloud over, my speed had halved and every turn sent a shooting pain in my knee.  This was probably the lowest point of the trip..Surely I can't get this far and not make it??  Then I saw the sign - my first sign post which read John o'Groats 106.  Called Lisa who went off to find emergency supplies - pain killers, bandages and deep heat!  I have to make it now.....

Day 10 - Just short of a 100 miles to the end.  Strapped the knee up and dosed myself with painkillers.  Couldn't even feel my knee after an hour or so...Met another chap on his way to the end - there aren't many alternative routes for the last leg - so more likely to see End to Enders today than any other day.  Thinking it was going to be a flat day for some reason - i was wrong - got to Helmsdale - and there was some great climbs to try and finish me off.  Think my legs had got used it - just settled into a gear and up it in no time.  Shame the weather wasn't great today - as there was a fantastic coastline.  I could start counting the miles down now - each signpost - I was getting closer and closer.  On the final bend I could see Lisa, Ellie and Hattie waiting at the John o'Groats sign.  Yehhhh - I've made it - hard to believe but almost 950 miles later I reach the finish line....What an amazing journey.  After thinking about it for 20 years - I went out and did it - and you know what - one of the first things I thought - what shall i do next time???

 

Thanks to everybody who has sponsored me for the journey - every mile I pedalled I'd raised some more money for charity and  I've even managed to exceed my goal of £1000.

Thanks to Ellie, Hattie, Pauline & Nev for their support and endless Mars bars and Bananas over the final 5 days.

And most of all to Lisa - for putting up with my training over the last 6 months, for me not doing all the usual jobs (just in case I injured myself!) ,for supporting me during the trip and for being there at the end.

 

Day 1 - Friday 28th May - Lands End to Tavistock - 101 miles

Day 2 - Saturday 29th May - Tavistock to Radstock - 110 miles

Day 3 - Sunday 30th May - Radstock to Stourport - 94 miles

Day 4 - Monday 31st May - Stourport to Manchester - 99 miles

Day 5 - Tuesday 1st June - Manchester to Kendal - 85 miles

Day 6 - Wednesday 2nd June - Kendal to Moffat - 91 miles

Day 7 - Thursday 3rd June - Moffat to Balloch - 89 miles

Day 8 - Friday 4th June - Balloch to Fort William - 85 miles

Day 9 - Saturday 5th June - Fort William to Invergordon - 95 miles

Day 10 - Sunday 6th June - Invergordon to John O'Groats - 96 miles

 

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