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Thursday 15th June 2017

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By contrast to yesterday I woke this morning full of beans, Legs felt good and was looking forward to the days tough ride through the highlands of Scotland. After a good breakfast we all meet up in the centre of Ballater for the ride.

I set off near the back of the group after messing about with the bike bag straps. The sun was shining it was going to be a good day. All changed for me after 3 mile when I reach the first small incline in the road and ran out of breath very quickly. The next small incline confirmed that all was not as it should be and I stopped at the side of the road for a rest. The riding guide for the day, Hamish, come up and we talked for awhile and I made the decision to go in the brew van to the first brew stop at 12 miles.

Things did not improve with the result that I spent the whole day in the van and did not ride any further just helped at the brew stops. Every one has been very supportive and agreeing that I was making the right decision.

It has now become apparent to me that this is not going to get better over the next couple of days. As the tour is moving ever northwards to the wilds of Scotland I am going to leave the tour tomorrow morning.

This is not an easy decision but I think it is for the best in the long term. Who knows one day I may be back to do the last 3 days to John O’Groats. I am Immensely pleased with the way things had gone up to this point and think, that for an old geezer, I had performed very well.

All I can really add is “that it is better to have tried and failed than to never have tried at all”

 Todays stats:-

3 Miles

20 meters

14 minutes

Total for tour:-

780 miles – 219 short of John O’Groats.

14,139 meters climbed

68 hours 49 minutes in the saddle.

Wednesday 14th June 2017

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Day 11 was the day it nearly went pear shaped. For the first time I got up this morning without the sense of excitement that I had all the previous days. My legs felt heavy, my body felt heavy and my brain was some where else. As a result the first past of todays ride to the first brew stop was very slow. I picked up on the ride to lunch at Bridge of Cally after 38 miles.

After lunch things got really difficult. The ride from Bridge of Cally to the top of Glenshee is basically a 21 mile up hill slog. The first 18 miles are not too bad with a few down hill sections to rest the legs but the last 3 miles are just straight up in the air. The gradient varies between 10 and 13 % and does not go down at all. This sort of climb is beyond me even on  a day that I feel good but today it was even worse. By this time I was the  Lanterne rouge (tour de France term for the last rider on the course) and riding with Peter the guide for the day. I finally made it to the top of Gleshee  about 20 minutes behind the last rider and had to take about 30 stops on route. It was a great feeling to actually make it to the top and I owe a great deal of thanks to Peter. One of the best things about the climb was the fabulous views at ever stop that I made. Below is our celebration.

The only good thing about today was that following Glenshee was a 25 mile down hill / flat ride to Ballater. Managed to make a top speed of 41.2 MPH on the way down.

On the way I passed Balmoral and rang the door bell but whoever was in sent a white van out to shoo me away.

To nights guest house is very nice but my room is up lots of stairs which is just what I don’t need.

Speaking to some other riders this evening it would appear that a few have had bad days.

Lets hope I wake up in a better frame of mind tomorrow morning.

Todays stats:-

83 miles

1,604 meters

6 hours 56 minutes riding – excludes stops on Glenshee.

Average speed 11.94 mph

Totals to date:-

777 miles completed

14,119 meters climbed – some of them very slowly

68 hours 35 minutes riding

 

Tuesday 13th June 2017

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 10 days in and only 4 to go – where has it all gone. I am having trouble trying to remember places, hotels and sights we have seen into which day they occurred. Before I started I bought a small note book with the intention of writing down every thing each day. Unfortunately the book was destroyed in the rain on Dartmoor and I have not been able to get another.

A couple of things I forgot in yesterdays blog.

We had a great meal last night at the Star Hotel in Moffat which is in the Guinness Book of Records as the narrowest hotel in the world –  see picture below.

The second thing was a part of the road that went on for about 2 miles. It had a series of shortish, very steep declines with very steep inclines straight after. The games was to peddle as fast as you could down hill to see if you could get up the other side without peddling. This happened about 30 times and it felt like a fair ground ride.

Today was a long ride of 81 miles starting with a 6 mile up hill, not to steep then a great 6 mile down hill. The guides had said that this first part of today had fabulous views but all we could see was mist.

The first high light of the day was to ride through Edinburgh which took us past lots of the famous sites. Concentration was the key point here as there were cars every where, traffic lights and tourists just walking out into the road. The cycle lanes and off road routes were very good.

The second high point was the Forth Road Bridge. After some confusion about how to get onto it I found myself about to cross the bridge. Ahead was a lunatic on a mountain bike heading straight for me. At the last moment I realised it was Craig, our  nephew, who had come to show me the new way across the bridge. So we rode together and waiting for us at the brew stop was his middle son Christopher and Christopher’s girl friend Niamh. This evening all three, plus youngest son Sam, joined me for dinner which made me feel very happy.

Thank you all for the comments to the blog – it’s nice to know it is being well received. I have had  some complaints about speeling and gramma but in my defence I am writing this after a long day of riding, just before bed time and my English has always been rubbish.

 

Todays stats:-

81 miles

1,098 meters upward

7 hours 01 minutes riding

11.54 average mph

 

Ride to date:-

694 miles

61 hours 39 minutes

12,515 meters climbed.

 

Monday 12th June 2017

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Well this has been a tough day. Before we started it looked to be one of the easier days with just 2 climbs, one at each end of the day,  that are both long but not very steep.

After breakfast we all meet up and were introduced to a new rider, Ros, she had done the ride before but was injured near Penrith so has joined us to complete her LEJOG now.

All was good up until lunch at Gretna. Progress was good and the weather was good – even shining at times. After lunch is was a different story as the winds got up and were generally blowing from the directions we were travelling in. All of sudden even gentle climbs become monsters in fact at one time I was struggling in a low gear and looked at my satnav that revealed that I was actually going down a quite steep slope. It also rained on and off for most of the afternoon, so it was rain jackets on then off then on again. All in all we were pleased to reach Moffat.

Tonight we are all going out to eat together at a local hotel which will give an opportunity to talk to some riders that I have yet to speak to.

 

I had this picture taken to quash any suggestions that I was not actually doing this ride. Some have thought that I am staying in my office at the end of the garden and pretending to do this trip and writing the blog from there.

To days stats:-

71 miles

786 meters climbed

6 hours 31 minutes

Average speed 10.83 – strong head winds.

 

Ride totals:-

613 Miles

11,417 meters climbed

54 hours 38 minutes ridden.

Sunday 11th June 2017

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Yet another great day of riding a bike.  The UK has so much beautiful scenery and one of the best ways to see it is from on a bike.

Todays ride started well with a 9 mile ride along the banks of the Lune river on a cycle/walkers way. Peak Tours  route planners most have though we needed a day off from big climbs first thing in the morning.

The inevitable happened straight after Lancaster with todays first big climb. This climb was 200 meters over about 3 miles but produced the first of what seemed like hundreds of wonderful views.

It was gentle up and down until we reach the edge of the Lake District and at 25 miles an even bigger climb with a lot of long steep sections that required a couple of stops to admire the views – that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

The route planners got their revenge for the gentle start to the day with the biggest climb of the day straight after a very nice lunch in the Cross Keys pub in Tebay. M6 users may have been to the services at Tebay which are, I think, the best on the motorway system. This final climb was a monster and probably the longest and steepest of the tour so far – lots of view stops.

It seemed that every time we turned a corner there was another photo opportunity but I was either struggling up a hill or, the best bit, flying down one.  One more picture from today.

The weather forecast this morning had been for heavy showers after lunch. Fortunately the showers kept away though we could always see then around us. It only rained a bit for the last 5 miles of the day.

Tonight I am in a boarding house near the centre of Penrith. Had a quick walk round the town centre and it looks very nice.

Did not fancy a meal tonight so just bought a sandwich and a drink. After a big breakfast and eating often during the day it is sometimes hard to face a full dinner.

I have not spoken about the other people on the ride in the blog so far. There are 26 riders and 3 guides in all. The riders are a mixed bunch though they largely fall into the age group of 50+. I am not the oldest, that falls to Tubs (he only likes to be called that) who is 70 and this is the second time he has done LEJOG but had to give up last time in Edinburgh because his wife was unwell. Others include 5 blokes from Newbury, 2 couples from York, 1 couple from the USA, 4 blokes from Leeds, one Canadian chap that lives in Abu Dhabi, 2 Scotsmen, 3 chaps from Norfolk and one Italian.  During the day at breaks and on the road you get to chat away to different people which adds a great deal to the experience of riding across country. There are 5 of us who generally seem, though not always, to be riding at the same pace – a little peloton. Me, Tubs, Graham from Aberdeen, Simon from Newbury and Dario from Italy. There are still some riders that I have not had an opportunity to chat with but I am working on this.

We enter Scotland tomorrow – must find out where to change our money and where I packed my passport.

Todays stats:-

63 miles

1,293 meters upward

5 hours 43 minutes in the saddle

Average speed of 11.02 mph

 

Ride so far:-

542 miles – well over half way now

10,631 meters skyward – nearly 8 times up Ben Nevis

48 hours 08 minutes of riding – two whole days out of the last 8 days.

• Saturday 10th June 2017

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Half way to John O’Grotes, I can’t believe it and more importantly still feel so good.

Today was another long day at 75 miles of up and down riding with one very big climb at about half way. The day started wet then dryed up to the lunch stop but then rained all afternoon. Would you believe it I am sitting here doing this blog and it is wall to wall blue sky’s.

The most exciting part was the fan club that came out to see me finish todays stage.

It was great to see Andrew, M J, Neve and Flora. I don’t know who was most excited them or me.

A few pictures from the ride:-

Not as impressive as I thought it would be.

This is the view from the top of todays long steep hill. Would you believe it the local marathon run was today and they had to run up and down this hill – madness.

I don’t know how the good people of Preston knew I was coming but they set up a special cycle route just for me. I followed it and got very lost.

Tonight I am staying at the Stork Inn in Conder Green which is very nice. Had a great meal with the fan club this evening.

 It has been great that all the grand children have been part of my adventure – Neve & Flora today and a great send off from Ailsa & Rosie last Saturday.

Today’s stats:-

75 miles

967 meters of climbing

6 hours 25 minutes riding

11.71 average speed

Total after 7 days:-

479 miles

9,338 meters of climbing

42 hours 25 minutes riding

Had a few problems with internet this evening so have to go to bed now.

Friday 9th June 2017

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This had been a fabulous day. It was the longest to date but the weather was just right and the hills (still lots of them) were not to steep. By now, most of you regular readers, must have noticed a growing obsession about the weather and the % gradients of hills. For this I make no apology as within our group these are very high priority topics – mostly exaggerated.

Once again Peak Tours had selected a stopping town that has a long climb to get away first thing in the morning – 150 meters over 1.5 miles. But after that all the climb were gradual (less than 6%) and not overly long. In fact the steepest climb of the day were canal/railway bridges of which there seemed to be lots – the same canal seemed to a crossed at least 6 times.

Weather was perfect with just the right amount of sunshine and lighter winds than of late. Just to show how good the weather was see the photo below.

   Lunch was in the Burlton Arms near Loppington & Wem. The place names that pass through just keep getting better and better. During lunch  Richard, from deepest Norfolk, got so tired of remarks about him being a carrot eating yokel that he blocked his ears with carrots.

The afternoon ride was much of the same but I have to say the last 10 miles were hard, not because of the terrain, but increasingly weary legs.

Staying tonight in the Hollybush Inn in Northwich which is very nice. Just had a very good fish pie and have caught up with my washing.

Thank you every one for the nice comments being left on the blog, it helps a great deal to know that people are interested in my little adventure.

 

Todays stats:-

82 miles

1,256 meters climbed

6 hours 25 minutes riding

average speed 12.77 mph

 

Total to date:-

404 miles

8,371 meters

36 hours of riding the bike.

Thursday 8th June 2017 

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The route notes from Peak Tours said today will be “Easy/moderate”. In terms of mileage it was the shortest yet at 60 miles but there was still 1,256 meters of climbing – not sure were the easy came from.

The weather forecast for today was wet in the morning and sun/showers after lunch and it was more or less what happened.

The route also reverted to some past days with a big climb straight from the off. Out of Monmouth is a 200 meter climb in the first 3 miles, what joy. The route to Hereford was up and down but nothing to trouble some. Hereford was a problem as I got lost and when round the same housing estate twice and missed the morning brew stop. All you could hear on the way out of Hereford was machine gun fire and bombs going off, this was a bit worrying until I remembered the SAS live here.

Lunch was at a 12th century pub in Pembridge which did us a great lunch of soup and a roll, sandwiches then a pecan sponge with cream.

Afternoon tea stop was in Brampton Bryan which has longest Yew hedge in the country.

This is only part of it as it goes right round the corner.

I am now in Clun at the Old Farmhouse B&B which is about 2 miles out of Clun so the vans are coming to take us into town for tonight’s dinner.

 

Tomorrow is going to be a very long day with an 82 mile ride to Northwich.

Todays stats:-

60 miles

1,258 meters climbed

Time riding – 5 hours 32 minutes

Average speed was 10.89 mph

 

Total to date:-

322 miles

7,115 meters

29 hours 35 minutes riding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 7th June 2017

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One tale that I had forgotten to put in yesterdays blog was a meeting I had a couple of miles before Street. Cycling across the levels I passed a young chap with a large rucksack. The note on the back said “Walking from Lands End to John O’Groats”. I stopped and talked to him, this was day 13 of his trip and he expected to take 2 to 3 months. I gave him a donation and wished him well.

Today started well nice weather and a nice breakfast. It was a little sad to say farewell to Kirsteen until Sunday week in Scotland.

For once todays ride did not start with a long steep climb. The first 10 miles to Wells passed Glastonbury Tor and were relatively flat.

Wells is a lovely small city with cathedral and Bishops Palace.

 

Then the fun began with a monster climb out of wells that went on for 2 miles and climbed 150 meters with some really steep sections. Then it was on to Bristol with lots of small climbs and a trip over the Clifton Bridge. Fabulous views from the top.

Lunch was after 39 miles on route to the Severn Bridge. The ride over the old Severn Bridge was hard as the still strong winds were directly a head of us.

 Then the second long climb of the day up to Chepstow race course. Not as steep as the first climb but very strength sapping.  Afternoon brew stop was at Tintern Abbey which is in need of a bit of restoration.

Arrived in Monmouth at about 4:45 then spent some time finding the hotel I am in.

Todays stats:-

65 miles

1,142 meters climbed

Time in the saddle 6 hours 3 minutes

Average speed 10.8 mph (wind did not help this)

Totals to date:-

262 miles – over quarter of the way

5,859 meters – over 3 times up Ben Nevis

Time in saddle 24 hours 3 minutes

Tomorrows ride is only 58 miles with I hope lower hills.

Tuesday 6th June 2017

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 After yesterday nothing was ever going to be worse. On this mornings local news weather report she said that yesterdays rain fall on Dartmoor had been 3″ – the heaviest in 13 years – why did it have to be the day I cycled across Dartmoor?

When I opened the curtains this morning all I could see was blue skies but then on closed inspection every thing apart from the part directly in front of my window was black. The forecast was for showers but still the very strong winds so we just had to dress accordingly.

Breakfast was good again and we were ready to leave Morton Hampstead at 9 o’clock. As with yesterday the very first part of the ride was one of the two really big climbs of the day. No time to warm up just straight up towards heaven. The first 11 miles to Exeter was all up and down with a nice down into Exeter. The Garman satnav got us through the city without any problems in contrast to yesterday when the Garman remained silent for the trip through Plymouth and we got lost. After Exeter it was more up and down but nothing to hard. We had lunch in the village of Broadhembury (don’t you just love the place names here) which has the most thatched cottages in a single village in the whole of England – no pictures as the camera battery is flat and my phone is playing up. True to form the second major climb of the day started outside the pub where we had lunch (chilli and rice) so once again no warm up.

It had rained on and off, more off than on all morning but the sky looked much better after lunch. After the second big climb it was up and down along a high ridge for about 10 miles with great views (no pictures) then a wonderful down hill to the Somerset levels. The last 10 miles were across the levels which was a great relief after the 3 days of hills.

Kirsteen and Janet were outside my hotel with a banner and some cheering as I got to Street. It was very good to see them both and we had a good meal out this evening.

Todays stats:-

70 miles

1,195 meters climbed

6 hours 8 minutes of riding

average speed 11.95 mph

Total so far:-

197 miles

4,717 meters

18 hours 0 minutes of riding.

Looking forward to riding over the Severn bridge tomorrow.