Here I am back at work in a grey London and already I am really missing my bike (which did get the name of Lightning by the end of the trip). It felt weird to get on a different bike to go to work this morning: it is a very small and old mountain bike (largely to deter the London thieves) but it still felt like I was having an affair whilst Lightning languishes in the care of Royal Mail.
Rob's comment that I would be missing cycling fairly soon after the end is turning out to be very true: I am planning to go to the gym tonight to get a bit of a cycling fix but spinning in a small stuffy room doesn't quite compare to cycling across Scottish moorland or freewheeling down a Country Durham hill...
When my bike arrives I may have to go for a weekend explorer - Helen and I came up with the idea of trying to cycle 100 miles in a day (surely such feats of human endurance are beyond mere mortals such as us...unless we stop for a boost bar every 30 minutes) so watch this space.
All I need to do now is get some more sponsorship - I am up to £500 so that means another £500 to go...
Monday, 20 August 2007
Saturday, 18 August 2007
Aren't the people in Thurso lovely?
Well it wasn't really the end yesterday as we had to get to Thurso this morning and say farewell to Jet and Lightening...it was a long protracted good-bye which took place over about 2 and a half hours and was aided along by the nice man Sam in the Bike Shop and the lovely lady from Dunnet who works in the sorting office....
You may be slightly confused by the previous paragraph! As you may or may not know we were unable to get our bikes on the train so plan G was to send them via Parcel Force. We called Thurso Bike shop last week and they kept a couple of boxes for us...the morning then went as follows:
1) Cycle 20 miles to Thurso in lovely sun-shine
2) Go to bike shop - discover they have boxes but that we can't cycle our bikes holding boxes.
3) Leave boxes at bike shop and go to Post Office
4) It starts raining
5) We do a relay manoevure between Bike Shop and Post Office to get boxes and bikes in same place
6) Discover we have to go to sorting office to weigh bikes
7) Take bikes to sorting office leaving boxes in post office
8) Meet lovely lady in sorting office who is very helpful and rings post office with weight of bikes
9) We go back to post office in shifts to get boxes
10) I pay the grand sum of £36 something to send the two bikes back to Harpenden
11) We have bikes and boxes in same place (sorting office) and start trying to get the bikes to fit in boxes...realise the peddles won't fit without taking them off
12) Wheel bikes back to bike shop and the nice man Sam takes peddles off for us
13) Back to sorting office...we try again to get bikes inside boxes. After a while we manage (although they didn't look very box-like by the end)
14) Go out again on a mission to buy parcel tape and marker pen. Mission successful.
15) Finish packing up bikes and go and eat massive lunch.
Ironically we were probably more tired and sense of humour tested after all of this than any day of cycling but thanks to the lovely people of Thurso our spirits remained (reasonably) high!
We're now sat in a bizzare fish and chip shop/backpacker hostel/internet facility...While Yvonne filled you in on the last few days I went to buy the nice man Sam some chocolates (he seemed very surprised by the gesture!).
It's still raining....
We're off in a minute to get our train to Inverness - we look a bit odd as we are dressed in all of our cycling garb (with bright yellow jacket) and carrying pannier bags but have no bikes any more...oh well - we're used to looking a bit odd now!
Thanks for all the encouragement that you have given us and check out the blog next week for some photographic evidence of our journey.
You may be slightly confused by the previous paragraph! As you may or may not know we were unable to get our bikes on the train so plan G was to send them via Parcel Force. We called Thurso Bike shop last week and they kept a couple of boxes for us...the morning then went as follows:
1) Cycle 20 miles to Thurso in lovely sun-shine
2) Go to bike shop - discover they have boxes but that we can't cycle our bikes holding boxes.
3) Leave boxes at bike shop and go to Post Office
4) It starts raining
5) We do a relay manoevure between Bike Shop and Post Office to get boxes and bikes in same place
6) Discover we have to go to sorting office to weigh bikes
7) Take bikes to sorting office leaving boxes in post office
8) Meet lovely lady in sorting office who is very helpful and rings post office with weight of bikes
9) We go back to post office in shifts to get boxes
10) I pay the grand sum of £36 something to send the two bikes back to Harpenden
11) We have bikes and boxes in same place (sorting office) and start trying to get the bikes to fit in boxes...realise the peddles won't fit without taking them off
12) Wheel bikes back to bike shop and the nice man Sam takes peddles off for us
13) Back to sorting office...we try again to get bikes inside boxes. After a while we manage (although they didn't look very box-like by the end)
14) Go out again on a mission to buy parcel tape and marker pen. Mission successful.
15) Finish packing up bikes and go and eat massive lunch.
Ironically we were probably more tired and sense of humour tested after all of this than any day of cycling but thanks to the lovely people of Thurso our spirits remained (reasonably) high!
We're now sat in a bizzare fish and chip shop/backpacker hostel/internet facility...While Yvonne filled you in on the last few days I went to buy the nice man Sam some chocolates (he seemed very surprised by the gesture!).
It's still raining....
We're off in a minute to get our train to Inverness - we look a bit odd as we are dressed in all of our cycling garb (with bright yellow jacket) and carrying pannier bags but have no bikes any more...oh well - we're used to looking a bit odd now!
Thanks for all the encouragement that you have given us and check out the blog next week for some photographic evidence of our journey.
We have ridden 500 miles and we have ridden 500 more...
Yip yip yippee its a cyclists life for me...actually I would rather not do any major cycling for a couple of days if that is OK. By the end we had got to 1155 miles or so. That'll do pig, that'll do.
We arrived in John O'Groats yesterday and were jolly happy to have finished. More on that later.
We left Pitlochry on Wednesday on the national cycle trail that the lovely people at Escape Route bike shop told us about. And a top tip it was too!! Almost all off road all the way to Schlod along some really well maintained tracks and the old A9 road. It felt slow going at first but that was due to our old friend a strong headwind. Then we were whizzing along, often next to the A9 (but happy not to be on it). We stopped for a microwave toastie at a garage after Pitlochry (nothing but gourmet cuisine on this trip) and then carried on all the way to Aviemore via a rather nice cafe in Duchmonster/Dormenster I can't remember the name. We tried to stop for lunch in Kingcraig but they didn't have anything edible or drinkable (boo hiss). Off to Schlod and came across the hostel as if by magic. The hostel was really really nice, the kind owner chappie had a check over of our bikes for us, we watched the BBC weather forecast with interest, chatted to a German vet who had been travelling around Scotland on holiday, and then retired to bed.
Thursday - Schlod to Rogart. Day started well after a breakfast of potato cakes (suprisingly good for breakfast). Continued on the national cycle route via Culloden fields all the way in to Inverness for coffee and tea at Mr Tesco's. Unfortunately the trolley-driver must have taken a disliking to Helen's bike as he rammed the trolleys up against our bikes which lead to Helen's break and handlebar being trapped in the trolley stack. Ignoble end for poor Jet? We managed to free it after some mild-moderate swearing and not a little brute force. Then onwards, over the Moray via the road bridge. I had never experienced the joy of pedaling as fast as I could just to stop going backwards. The wind over the bridge was not the most pleasant of experiences, but at least there was a cycle path so we were a bit protected from the cars. Got over the bridge and admired each other's wind blown faces and mad Bridget Jones style hair. Onwards with yet more strong headwinds. Crossed another bridge into the wind with less of a space between bikes and cars - wind slightly to the side now which was even less fun.
Lunch at Invergordon (scampi and chips after a wind-blown morning on the bike is always good). Yet another massive bridge and I think Helen caved to the wind pressure and walked this one. I got to the other side and couldn't even see her, and then saw an ambulance driving my way to go onto the bridge. Luckily I then saw the still luminous glow of Helen's yellow jacket heading towards me at which point I got out the Jelly Babies for a celebratory sugar boost.
Onwards to Rogart and the Sleeperzzz backpackers. We were staying in a converted train carriage - one of the old fashioned style carriages with individual compartments. Quite an interesting place, and still an active station. Went out for dinner at the local pub and I refueled with Venison Rob Roy followed by a toffee lumpy bumpy. Tasted as good as it sounded.
Awoke to a sunny morning (ish) on Thursday, and decided that we should try and make it all the way to John on Groats (just over 80 miles). Helen sealed the deal by booking and paying in advance for the Youth Hostel at John O'Groats. No pressure then. Set off along the A9 which is always a bit scarey at the best of times. Stopped off for a bacon sandwich en route before the serious business of the day began. Made good progress until we started going a bit inland from the sea at which point some more serious hillage began. An Indian family told me they 'really appreciated my effort' as I cycled up a hill past their parked car, and then they offered to email Helen the picture they took of her as she puffed her way up the hill too. I have a feeling that my toffee lumpy bumpy gave me speedy wheely power today as I was storming up some of the hills (that or the knowledge that we had to get to John O'Groats and it was our last day). Lunch at Lybster before a big push on to Wick. Stocked up with some dinner for the evening (haggis, tatties and neeps to be followed by treacle sponge and custard), plus a celebratory bottle of cava and a mini bottle of whiskey to toast our arrival at John O'Groats.
Some fool went and put a big hill just before John O'Groats - bad planning I say. Then a breeze down into the town for a series of photo calls. Firstly at the signpost welcoming you to John O'Groats then and the post which marks the end of the route (but you have to pay to get your photo taken and for them to put a sign into the signpost...we made our own signpost with our arms). Drank the whiskey, danced around a bit, chatted to the small crowd of passers by who were intrigued as to what two nutters were doing with bikes and t-shirts worn over their waterproof coats (our charity t-shirts which we felt we ought to wear). Got our forms stamped, bought some postcards, generally pondered on the enormity of it all and then set off to the hostel.
WE DID IT!!!
We arrived in John O'Groats yesterday and were jolly happy to have finished. More on that later.
We left Pitlochry on Wednesday on the national cycle trail that the lovely people at Escape Route bike shop told us about. And a top tip it was too!! Almost all off road all the way to Schlod along some really well maintained tracks and the old A9 road. It felt slow going at first but that was due to our old friend a strong headwind. Then we were whizzing along, often next to the A9 (but happy not to be on it). We stopped for a microwave toastie at a garage after Pitlochry (nothing but gourmet cuisine on this trip) and then carried on all the way to Aviemore via a rather nice cafe in Duchmonster/Dormenster I can't remember the name. We tried to stop for lunch in Kingcraig but they didn't have anything edible or drinkable (boo hiss). Off to Schlod and came across the hostel as if by magic. The hostel was really really nice, the kind owner chappie had a check over of our bikes for us, we watched the BBC weather forecast with interest, chatted to a German vet who had been travelling around Scotland on holiday, and then retired to bed.
Thursday - Schlod to Rogart. Day started well after a breakfast of potato cakes (suprisingly good for breakfast). Continued on the national cycle route via Culloden fields all the way in to Inverness for coffee and tea at Mr Tesco's. Unfortunately the trolley-driver must have taken a disliking to Helen's bike as he rammed the trolleys up against our bikes which lead to Helen's break and handlebar being trapped in the trolley stack. Ignoble end for poor Jet? We managed to free it after some mild-moderate swearing and not a little brute force. Then onwards, over the Moray via the road bridge. I had never experienced the joy of pedaling as fast as I could just to stop going backwards. The wind over the bridge was not the most pleasant of experiences, but at least there was a cycle path so we were a bit protected from the cars. Got over the bridge and admired each other's wind blown faces and mad Bridget Jones style hair. Onwards with yet more strong headwinds. Crossed another bridge into the wind with less of a space between bikes and cars - wind slightly to the side now which was even less fun.
Lunch at Invergordon (scampi and chips after a wind-blown morning on the bike is always good). Yet another massive bridge and I think Helen caved to the wind pressure and walked this one. I got to the other side and couldn't even see her, and then saw an ambulance driving my way to go onto the bridge. Luckily I then saw the still luminous glow of Helen's yellow jacket heading towards me at which point I got out the Jelly Babies for a celebratory sugar boost.
Onwards to Rogart and the Sleeperzzz backpackers. We were staying in a converted train carriage - one of the old fashioned style carriages with individual compartments. Quite an interesting place, and still an active station. Went out for dinner at the local pub and I refueled with Venison Rob Roy followed by a toffee lumpy bumpy. Tasted as good as it sounded.
Awoke to a sunny morning (ish) on Thursday, and decided that we should try and make it all the way to John on Groats (just over 80 miles). Helen sealed the deal by booking and paying in advance for the Youth Hostel at John O'Groats. No pressure then. Set off along the A9 which is always a bit scarey at the best of times. Stopped off for a bacon sandwich en route before the serious business of the day began. Made good progress until we started going a bit inland from the sea at which point some more serious hillage began. An Indian family told me they 'really appreciated my effort' as I cycled up a hill past their parked car, and then they offered to email Helen the picture they took of her as she puffed her way up the hill too. I have a feeling that my toffee lumpy bumpy gave me speedy wheely power today as I was storming up some of the hills (that or the knowledge that we had to get to John O'Groats and it was our last day). Lunch at Lybster before a big push on to Wick. Stocked up with some dinner for the evening (haggis, tatties and neeps to be followed by treacle sponge and custard), plus a celebratory bottle of cava and a mini bottle of whiskey to toast our arrival at John O'Groats.
Some fool went and put a big hill just before John O'Groats - bad planning I say. Then a breeze down into the town for a series of photo calls. Firstly at the signpost welcoming you to John O'Groats then and the post which marks the end of the route (but you have to pay to get your photo taken and for them to put a sign into the signpost...we made our own signpost with our arms). Drank the whiskey, danced around a bit, chatted to the small crowd of passers by who were intrigued as to what two nutters were doing with bikes and t-shirts worn over their waterproof coats (our charity t-shirts which we felt we ought to wear). Got our forms stamped, bought some postcards, generally pondered on the enormity of it all and then set off to the hostel.
WE DID IT!!!
Friday, 17 August 2007
They have finished ! !
Celebration in the Youth Hostel!
Helen has just rung us, ( her Mum & Dad ), to say that she and Yvonne finished LEJOG at about 6:15 this evening, Friday. They pushed on a bit more yesterday than they originally planned and have finished a day a head of schedule having cycled 1150 miles - each !
Helen asked me to post something for them, as they havn't got easy access to T'internet at John 'O Groats. They are both well and sounding very excited, Helen said they will write about wind, rain, hills, Drumochter Pass, the A9 and other trials & tribulations as soon as they can get access to the internet.
Signed on Helen's & Yvonnes behalf by one very proud Mum & Dad.
PS They aren't even anywhere near a pub tonight to celebrate, that will have to wait until tomorrow, but they have to cycle a trifling 20 miles first.
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Things are better now...
Yvonne sporting her new shoes!
....Well they were until I lost the post I'd just written when I'd nearly finished it!
We finished our 'day's' cycling at about 2pm...it was a planned short day of 45 miles. We're now in Pitlochry - a touristy town in Perthshire. Had a great cycle today - fuelled by a bacon roll from a bakery in Crieff we set off...there were great views and the hills weren't too evil. The weather even held out as well and we were spared the rain and wind of yesterday. We stopped en-route at Aberfeldy where Yvonne's shoe broke (again). Sense of humour was maintained as we found a great cafe in which we had the best hot chocolate and cake of the trip. That then kept us going until destination Pitlochry.
We've got to give a special mention to 'Escape Route' and the lovely Peter. Escape Route isn't us giving up the ride - it's a bike shop which saved us...well saved Yvonne by selling her some new shoes. They even gave us free coffee and water bottles and told us how to avoid the A9 on tomorrow's ride to a place called Slchd which takes us over Drumochster Pass - the highest point on the National Cycle network apparantly.
We're now in the Youth Hostel and about to go for a wander before finding a pub...not long to go now!
....Well they were until I lost the post I'd just written when I'd nearly finished it!
We finished our 'day's' cycling at about 2pm...it was a planned short day of 45 miles. We're now in Pitlochry - a touristy town in Perthshire. Had a great cycle today - fuelled by a bacon roll from a bakery in Crieff we set off...there were great views and the hills weren't too evil. The weather even held out as well and we were spared the rain and wind of yesterday. We stopped en-route at Aberfeldy where Yvonne's shoe broke (again). Sense of humour was maintained as we found a great cafe in which we had the best hot chocolate and cake of the trip. That then kept us going until destination Pitlochry.
We've got to give a special mention to 'Escape Route' and the lovely Peter. Escape Route isn't us giving up the ride - it's a bike shop which saved us...well saved Yvonne by selling her some new shoes. They even gave us free coffee and water bottles and told us how to avoid the A9 on tomorrow's ride to a place called Slchd which takes us over Drumochster Pass - the highest point on the National Cycle network apparantly.
We're now in the Youth Hostel and about to go for a wander before finding a pub...not long to go now!
Sense of humour testing...Edinburgh to Crieff
Well after an amazing breakfast at Anne's house on Monday morning, the day went somewhat downhill...
Firstly we found that there were no trains available with bike reservations until next Wednesday to get us back to London, so we spent 2 hours looking into the options to be able to get us and our bikes all the way home. After looking at flight options out of Wick, car hire from Inverness and trains from Glasgow, Helen found the Royal Mail postal service which should be able to take our bikes from Thurso back in a box to London...so we booked our train tickets back from Thurso and hope that our bikes will get there as well.
We eventually set off at 11 in the morning feeling a tad stressed after phoning rail companies, car hire places etc, and then got ourselves a bit lost. This wasn't due to Anne's directions (which were extremely clear) but due to us seeing an off road sign which took us onto the Union Canal. After nearly falling in a couple of times, and dismounting to slip and slide across an aqueduct bridge, we realised we hadn't a clue where we were. Eventually we came out to an industrial estate and managed to get back on track. There was a rather over-excited cheer from both Helen and I when we saw the Forth Bridge (which I posed in front of with my can of Iron Bru) which quickly turned to a whimper as Helen nearly got blown off her bike a combination of cross winds and large lorries. The Forth Bridge itself was a doddle as there is a really good cycle lane with barriers protecting you from the traffic. We got through to Dumfermline and then headed on towards Crieff.
As we left Dumfermline, it tipped it down with rain - luckily we had just decided it was time for lunch so to shelter at a bus stop, ate our lunches and dug out the waterproofs. It started to ease off a bit as we set out. A tad chilly at this point, but I managed to find some great local wild raspberries which helped the day along. Fell off at one point as I couldn't get my shoe to unclip, but landed onto a soft verge and lay there laughing until Helen came to help me disintangle from the bike.
Cycled through Glen Devon against a very strong head wind - sense of humour stretching a bit at this point as it was like cycling through treacle. Took it in turns to follow in the slip-stream of each other, but seemed to make very slow progress. Got to the top of the hill and then had a chocolate break before coasting down to Glen Eagles and on to Crieff.
Just outside of Crieff my biggest sense of humour test happened when the cleat from the bottom of my shoe got stuck in the pedal minus the shoe - equivalent of limping on a bike all the way to the hostel. May have been a few swear-words uttered whenever my foot slipped off the peddle. Big cheer when we got to the Comrie-Crieff hostel. Very nice chap at the bike hire/reception place called Andrew managed to prise the cleat out of my pedal and eventually I screwed it back onto the shoe. Hurrah.
The hostel was rather nice, with some lovely views. Went out for a post dinner walk and found a sheep stuck in a fence - wandered around trying to find a farmhouse, but eventually someone came along from the hostel and pushed it out again (my attempts at pulling it out backwards didn't work).
All in all a bit of a testing day...if our sense of humours could survive that, they should be able to hold out all the way to John O'Groats. I dreamt of sheep whose hooves had become stuck on bike pedals and cycling through very thick Irn Bru...
Firstly we found that there were no trains available with bike reservations until next Wednesday to get us back to London, so we spent 2 hours looking into the options to be able to get us and our bikes all the way home. After looking at flight options out of Wick, car hire from Inverness and trains from Glasgow, Helen found the Royal Mail postal service which should be able to take our bikes from Thurso back in a box to London...so we booked our train tickets back from Thurso and hope that our bikes will get there as well.
We eventually set off at 11 in the morning feeling a tad stressed after phoning rail companies, car hire places etc, and then got ourselves a bit lost. This wasn't due to Anne's directions (which were extremely clear) but due to us seeing an off road sign which took us onto the Union Canal. After nearly falling in a couple of times, and dismounting to slip and slide across an aqueduct bridge, we realised we hadn't a clue where we were. Eventually we came out to an industrial estate and managed to get back on track. There was a rather over-excited cheer from both Helen and I when we saw the Forth Bridge (which I posed in front of with my can of Iron Bru) which quickly turned to a whimper as Helen nearly got blown off her bike a combination of cross winds and large lorries. The Forth Bridge itself was a doddle as there is a really good cycle lane with barriers protecting you from the traffic. We got through to Dumfermline and then headed on towards Crieff.
As we left Dumfermline, it tipped it down with rain - luckily we had just decided it was time for lunch so to shelter at a bus stop, ate our lunches and dug out the waterproofs. It started to ease off a bit as we set out. A tad chilly at this point, but I managed to find some great local wild raspberries which helped the day along. Fell off at one point as I couldn't get my shoe to unclip, but landed onto a soft verge and lay there laughing until Helen came to help me disintangle from the bike.
Cycled through Glen Devon against a very strong head wind - sense of humour stretching a bit at this point as it was like cycling through treacle. Took it in turns to follow in the slip-stream of each other, but seemed to make very slow progress. Got to the top of the hill and then had a chocolate break before coasting down to Glen Eagles and on to Crieff.
Just outside of Crieff my biggest sense of humour test happened when the cleat from the bottom of my shoe got stuck in the pedal minus the shoe - equivalent of limping on a bike all the way to the hostel. May have been a few swear-words uttered whenever my foot slipped off the peddle. Big cheer when we got to the Comrie-Crieff hostel. Very nice chap at the bike hire/reception place called Andrew managed to prise the cleat out of my pedal and eventually I screwed it back onto the shoe. Hurrah.
The hostel was rather nice, with some lovely views. Went out for a post dinner walk and found a sheep stuck in a fence - wandered around trying to find a farmhouse, but eventually someone came along from the hostel and pushed it out again (my attempts at pulling it out backwards didn't work).
All in all a bit of a testing day...if our sense of humours could survive that, they should be able to hold out all the way to John O'Groats. I dreamt of sheep whose hooves had become stuck on bike pedals and cycling through very thick Irn Bru...
Sunday, 12 August 2007
We're in Scotland!
It was a very exciting moment crossing the border yesterday....and even more exciting to arrive at our destination for the night - in Ratho just outside Edinburgh. We are staying with a VSO friend of mine from Zambia - Anne, and her friend Doris down the road..we had such a lovely evening with them and a gorgeous meal (much needed after two 80 mile + days in a row!). Not been quite so lucky with the weather the last two days and got decidedly damp - the fluorescent yellow jacket has had to come out of the bag!
The night after Corbridge we stayed in Wooler youth hostel...we did a fantastic ride around the Northumberland coast seeing all the castles before heading inland to Wooler. We were very lucky that the Flemings drove our pannier bags up to Wooler so we were able to go a bit quicker than normal! The evening was then spent planning our Scotland days and booking hostels (I don't know anyone North of Edinburgh!).
Today we are crossing the Forth Road bridge which I'm looking forward to. We've also rewarded ourself by a 'short day' of about 50 miles. We're staying near Crieff tonight for those of you that know Scotland. Keep up the messages of encouragement - we are getting closer!
The night after Corbridge we stayed in Wooler youth hostel...we did a fantastic ride around the Northumberland coast seeing all the castles before heading inland to Wooler. We were very lucky that the Flemings drove our pannier bags up to Wooler so we were able to go a bit quicker than normal! The evening was then spent planning our Scotland days and booking hostels (I don't know anyone North of Edinburgh!).
Today we are crossing the Forth Road bridge which I'm looking forward to. We've also rewarded ourself by a 'short day' of about 50 miles. We're staying near Crieff tonight for those of you that know Scotland. Keep up the messages of encouragement - we are getting closer!
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