Jameses' LEJOG (Land's End - John O'Groats)

Pictures

2009-08-15T11:16:00.003+01:00

Click on picture below for the 'Best Of' album...

Dr James' final musing

2009-08-07T11:55:00.000+01:00

Getting back to Bristol has made me pause for thought. I’m slightly disappointed that our little adventure is over but not entirely reluctant to stop sitting on a bike saddle. Particularly striking for me have been the generosity of friends and the kindness of strangers – I’m delighted with how much you have raised and have been very grateful to those who we met on our trip who have helped us out in ways great and small. From Dave and his camping barn (probably my favourite), to the Highland farmer who stopped us to ask us about the ride and gave us money for Age Concern, we’ve encountered people who have been only too keen to help. I know that the money raised will make a significant difference to the work of Age Concern in Bristol.

My bike has now been reconstructed but it may have a little rest before the next trip. Where that will be I am not sure but perhaps other modes of transport could be investigated. The Cairngorms and the Highlands are certainly higher on the list than they were. Cowdenbeath however, has slipped a little.

Thanks once again to all of you who were kind enough to contribute.

Day 11

2009-08-05T14:06:00.001+01:00

100 miles to go. Earlier start than usual and another lovely tailwind. Dramatic skies of dark clouds and blue skies. We flew along for 20 miles before finding a perfect spot for a quick pie overlooking a highland loch. From there we followed along a valley, dropping slowly towards the sea and the north coast. It would seem to be the hay making season in Scotland and we too were making hay while the sun shone, and more importantly, the wind blew on our backs.

We arrived at Bettyhill (married to Graham), at around 12 with 40 miles behind us, and were generously donated a round of scones from the hotel for our efforts. The finish line was not quite in sight, but round the corner and over the hill, so we made a few calls to bring forward our travel arrangements home to Bristol, committing ourselves now to the final 55 miles.

Suitably refreshed and anointed with increasingly essential creams, we pedalled off eastwards into a 20mph south easterly wind and some rather lumpy terrain. Ahhah! Some lejoggers have to put up with headwinds for most of their trips, but we had been blessed up to that point. I crouched down, hands on the drops of the bars and pedalled as hard as I could - it read 8mph on my GPS!

The next 35 miles were a real slog but very exhilirating with the beautiful coast line and the battle with the wind - at least the sun was still out. We reached Thurso 20 miles short of JOG, and refuelled at a seaside café, smashing a vase, Greek style in celebration. One last essential application and then we set out to complete our ride. We diverted inland to avoid being blown into the path of a German camper van and toiled once again into the teeth of the wind.

We spotted the lighthouse on the horizon and counted the miles down, extremely slowly, on the GPS. Not so soon it was measuring the distance in hundreds of feet, not miles and we arrived at Duncansby Heads lighthouse. Not the tacky John o'Groats tourist sign for the two Jameses, we opted instead for the extra mile and the exposed lighthouse. We snapped a few self timers and then disturbed a bird watcher from his Archers fix to take the finishing line picture.

The previous 10 miles or so, I has been dreaming of what the finishing line prize might be, however my continental style touring coach with on board toilet did not materialise. Instead we team time-trialled the further 18 miles into Wick with yet more headwind. Wick-ed! 117 miles today, 99 miles to finish the lejog route. Average speed 12.6 mph. Job done. More reflections perhaps later. Right now I am tired...
Love and more peas (I've missed them), J

Day 10

2009-08-05T13:58:00.001+01:00

A blur at the mo

Job done

2009-08-04T21:29:00.001+01:00

Finished at 7pm. Celebrated with a 20 mile ride into the teeth of the wind to Wick. James and James

Day 9

2009-08-04T07:23:00.001+01:00

Woke up feeling rubbish. Bizarre disturbances in the middle of the night - a woman screaming at her husband whilst walking up and down the road adjoining our campsite (read farmers field). I think there may have been alcohol involved. Said au revoir to Mikey who headed back to Perth. Sad to see him go, but frankly his fresh legs were showing us up, and it was back down to the two Jameses for the final thrust. The Cairngorms were the day's challenge.

We knocked off an early 30 miles, and a wicked climb up to Glenshee ski resort, before hunger and a worsening bad knee saw us pick up bacon sandwiches and drugs in Braemar. My knee repaired by ibuprofen, Dr James then led us up to a very exposed Lecht ski centre. Banana cakes were then stowed at a local highland rug shop and café, and it was all I could so to stop Dr James adding to his old man reputation by buying some excess luggage.

I got a jump on Dr James on the last chevrons of the day and we rolled down through the Glenlivet estate to Grantown on Spey. After some debate where we knocked a few ideas around and then decided I was right all along, we opted for a night in a guest house in the town rather than a night of wild camping further on. Suffice to say we lucked out again finding fantastic hospitality at the Kinross guest house and even more at the Craig Barn pub down the road.

The landlady there, 68 year old Beryl Macrae, turned out to be a whole evening's entertainment. She was like Janet Street Porter on acid telling us her life story whilst serving pints to the local RAF trainees and cooking us pies (Dr James had 2), bizarrely imported from Pieminister in Bristol! Her most generous act was to give us a fiver for our fundraising, another random donation from a generous stranger.

Before retiring to bed I had a lovely 20 mins throwing a ball for a pleading dog in the next door's garden whilst on the phone to my mum. So it was 80 miles today and an early finish, at 11.6 mph, not bad with all the hills, I mean moutains!
Love, a steak and ale pie, and a pint of sheep shagger, J

Day 8

2009-08-02T22:53:00.001+01:00

Saturdays mornings are made for lie-ins, and that's what we enjoyed chez Mikey and Lucy in Edinburgh. The night before Lucy knocked up a wonderful lasagne and Mikey showed his hosting skills, by serving it up, mostly into my lap. We washed it all down with a few glasses of wine and a wee dram before bed. Dr James' sister Heather came over for dinner too, and supplied us with large quantities of millionaire's shortbread for the next leg.

Dr James enjoyed solitary confinement in the loft that night and all slept well. Saturday morning involved a pillow fight, blow football and a bundle with Henry and Eddie, and then Mikey laid on a parcel packing challenge for us - generously use the time off our bikes wrapping up a pushchair. A trip to town for some provisions and coffee then left us rushing to meet our 1pm departure deadline, but we managed another bacon sandiwch first.

We said a fond farewell to Lucy and the kids. Mikey, who was joining us for the day, and night, then led us through the estates and industrial parks of Edinburgh, to the airport. I finally took over navigation, and promptly ended up in Cowdenbeath, not nice. Eventually we settled in to having a new team member and Mikey gladly paced is up the hills, perhaps a little too fast. But we cracked on well and before too long found ourselves in Blairgowrie with 75 miles under our belts.

Finding a campsite was the most stressful part of the trip so far, I'll skip that bit. We then had a 3 course meal, including a pudding assiette each - a choice of 4 deserts on a plate! So all in all a great day with good friends of both Jameses, and not a bad mileage too. For the record, 75 miles at a handy 14mph - that tail
wind keeps favouring us.
Love and two strips of whole nut dairy milk every ten miles or so, J

Keep it up lads!

2009-08-02T21:48:00.000+01:00

Dearest James sq.,

A guerilla entry from the west Wales crew, holding you in their thoughts whilst reclining on a sunny beach, wishing you all the love and buns in the world for your remaining days of fierce pedalling.

You're doing so well, a real inspiration. Well, well done!

Love the OGs & co. x

Day 7

2009-07-31T22:45:00.001+01:00

Och aye Jimmy(s). Left our adults only campsite (oddly quiet) just north of Carlisle at a record early 7.50. We then schlaped it 20 miles down the road to the border for tourist pictures - my eyes like the perverbial holes in the snow. Immediately, we bumped into a Scottish policeman with our first Scottish accent. Head down in the saddle for 2 hours can result in almost an entirely different dialect.

Langholm followed in close order. It was good of the local community to turn out en masse on horseback with the local brass band to celebrate our arrival. Then it was the Borders. We were literally flying at this stage, propelled up, and down, 3 long but steady hills, by a welcome south westerly and sunshine. We hit Peebles with 70 miles under our belts at around 2.30. Cakes and coffee were stowed on board and we belted down to Edinburgh!

I write from a pub near Mikey and Lucy Teall's house awaiting their return. Dr James' sister Heather joins us too later for some mid journey celebration. The plan is being hatched but may involve a few drinks tonight, and a lie in tomorrow as we make the most of anticipated excellent hospitality. The rain that has just followed us here may influence us a little. The hail that Hanky tells me is on its way for the next few days should be fun...
Love and tablet (Scottish shortbread apparently), J

Day 6

2009-07-31T17:12:00.001+01:00

Phew. Again. This is relentless. What we don't do for charidy..! 99 miles today to Carlisle. Didn't have enough energy to ride round the campsite for centurian status again. A good day all round. Perhaps due to the exhuberant send off Mrs Stevens gave us by tying baloons to our bikes - made a good picture and an interesting few miles. The ride started wet, of course, and we hit some very long and hard climbs early on.

But we made 30 miles before our first Full English of the trip. FEOB (FE On Board), as an old friend Mike Frain used to say, we then hit a lovely rolling valley before another beautiful monster. The route then took the old A6 road between the lakes and the dales, crossing the M6 about 10 times. We then turned into Fabian Cancellara and Bradley Wiggins timetrialling our way through to Penrith (with a double cake stop) and to Carlisle where we called it quits.

A few observations today. I look as though I have been through 10 rounds with Mike Tyson, the bags under my eyes are growing by the day. I have finally found a rattle on my bike after the last 200 miles! Cafés are better up north - independent ownership, table service, friendly staff, and quality cakes and flapjack, I had Guiness and chocolate cake today! So there we have it. 99 miles at an average of 11.6mph. Over half way.
Love and a rather thirst quenching can of coke at J38 services of the M6, J

Day 5

2009-07-30T19:25:00.001+01:00

Thanks to everyone who has commented on the blog and sent support, it's great to have your support from afar, and expert advice! Keep pedalling your comments this way... Huge day today - 111 miles. And most of it in the right direction! Sadly we have to report the loss of cheery dangerous Dave Pearce. He clocked a cracking 160 plus miles with us since Bristol but peeled off at Crewe for a train back home. His chirpiness, bird recognition and pastie eating skills will be all missed.

I am using so much energy cycling that my face has given up pushing out facial hair every day. I put life and death questions like this to Dr James but they don't seem to cover the impertant stuff at medical school any more. Today's riding geography split in two. From Telford to around Manchester was pancake flat, wind from the south east (good) but wet. We did 70 miles before delicious lunch at a Victorian tearoom.

After lunch it dried off, but got lumpier and windier. Once in the true north Dr James found these hard miles easier and has now properly shaken early lejog ailments. Once we hit 100 miles, our centurian status was strangely acknowledged by a lady rider passing the other way, displaying a little more than her admiration! We found a lovely camping barn near Clitheroe with an exceptionally generous proprietor who allowed us to use the shower in his house, and waived our charge for charity. Nice!

We were also welcomed by Dr James' mum with a fresh support and cheer. She even joined us for dinner and bravely stayed in the barn on a couple of rugs and within earshot of the interminanable snoring! For the record we did 111 miles at 13.5mph. Bums and plums as good as can be expected.
Love and flapjack, J

Day 4

2009-07-29T07:17:00.001+01:00

Blogging takes time! And we don't have much of it. There are still 24 hours in a day, but when we're not cycling we're eating, sleeping, packing, unpacking or fixing bikes! I'm trying to get a day back on the blog by writing this late at night actually ON day 4! Today was mostly a blast. Things we're looking good at Sue's tea house and bakery at 12 o'clock with 40 miles under our belts. Wind behind and largely flat terrain helped. Then, guess what...?

Dr James' rear tyre split. We diverted quickly to a bikeshop near Ironbridge and another lovely pastry shop. New tyres, a loss of around an hour and a half and we were back en route, this time in rain. 20 miles later and soaking we rocked up at a campsite, saw the muddy field and I promptly enquired about the self catering accommodation! We got sorted with a cheap cottage in mid rennovation and life felt
good, very good.

95 miles today, but not all in the right direction. A speedy 13.1 mph. Dangerous Dave has been a stalwart, supporting us with his cheery disposition and monster climbing legs - he has gears for the flat only. His food intake has been similarly impressive today - 7 pasties, 2 bananas, 2 cakes, chocolate, lasagne and a pudding, at least! Dr
James is looking like Keith from The Prodigy when his helmet comes off and I walk like John Wayne.
Love and banoffee our with custard, J

Day 3

2009-07-28T22:28:00.001+01:00

Today's early morning mishap - Dr James snapping his chain 1 mile in. His bike is characterful and old but a little prone to breakages. Eventually made it over the Quantocks and into Bridgwater where we both got new brake blocks and the Dr a new rear derailleur. Heads down across the Somerset levels then and blown up the Cheddar Gorge with a lovely tail wind. No rain jackets required Phil Collins).

A quick blast around the south and west of Bristol, making up time. Then a big moment, our first guest rider, the one and only Dave Pearce - yes the famous Bristol legend. He turned up resplendent on his Canondale from the same era as the two Jameses bikes and immediately fitted into the team. In fact Dave played a loyal team domestique role to team James and broke wind all the way across the Severn Bridge.

Bouyed by the newboy we hotfooted to a lovely Forest of Dean campsite near Coleford. Mileage today 86 miles (good but still short of required). Average 12.4mph. Nature watch has picked up since Dave Pearce arrived recognising buzzards through their calls - great to have him on board.
Love and a nice steak pie, J

Day 2

2009-07-28T07:01:00.001+01:00

Alarm didn't go off. Woke up to sound of rain instead. Packed up an even heavier than usual wet tent and set off. Wrong turn early on and a nice detour over a large hill - the first of many. Devon is not flat by the way. And Exmoor is even lumpier. Remember that. Up and down all day and so were our spirits. Dr James' brakes wore through leaving him with only fronts - he is cautious at the best of times!

I bonked towards the end - a cycling term for losing all enegy - but was saved by flapjack. As well as hilly, our route was devoid of all civilisation, so when it came to filling our bellies and finding somewhere dry we had to crack on another 10 miles or so to a little village called Bishops Lydeard. And good things come to those that cycle hard with a warm welcome in a friendly local pub.

We ordered tea, a room, a log for the fire and settled in! The roaring fire and local steaks made all the hard miles seem worthwhile - retrospeative enjoyment. Mileage today 75 miles. Average 10.8mph. Need to catch up tomorrow. Still no celebrities spotted although Dr James' elbows are looking more and more like Frank Schleck's every day.
Love and sticky toffee puddings, J

Day 1

2009-07-26T20:08:00.001+01:00

Day 1 complete, phew. Reached Bude, 98 miles of rolling b-roads from Land's End. It's 11pm now and James is snoring. Bellys full of curry - the athletes choice.
What a day! Sunny, low twenties and a perfect SW tail wind. A few minor disasters early on - no 'lands end' signpost present for the pictures, a wrong turn, lack of coffee shops on nodmin moor etc - and Dr James' jacket fell off his rack. He was helpfully informed by the lady at Penzance police station that 'Lance doesn't lose his jacket'.

I too had indispensable advice from a passing top level cycling coach... 'keep pedalling'! Spirits are high and banter supportive. Nature is key to keeping morale up, azelia spotting in particular - there's lots in Cornwall and I insist they are rodidendronds. No celebrity sightings yet, or even lookalikes. Too much roadkill to report. Average speed 12.7mph. Tomorrow... Devon, crossing the beast of Exmoor and into Somerset.
Love and peas, James P

Brief Interlude

2009-07-25T15:25:00.000+01:00

Apologies that this post comes slightly out of sync. I promised james2 I would post some photos of the day they waved goodbye to Bristol for their epic voyage - or at least, I was waving, they were gripping really slippy handlebars and fidgeting on soggy saddles!

Turning up shortly after 10am with one final nice coffee, I stood with james2 in James P's doorway and we watched really fierce grey clouds stomp angrily overhead, stop, open, and dump truckloads of water on their shiny new bikes. What are those small white things? Hailstones?

"But I've got a leather saddle!"

Some discussion over strategic pannier packing ensued, with a last waterbottle check, but frankly, they could have saved crucial space and weight by ditching the water and just packing some straws.

Whilst James P was trying out his new waterproof camera underneath the neighbours broken drainpipe, Dr James looked rightly apprehensive and re-rearranged his panniers. I watched in disbelief as JP's head disappeared under a cascade of water from the pipe, which resulted in throwing in of towel quite literally, tho' a little too early in the trip. But stoicism ruled, and JP (not to be outdone in competition) matched Dr J's pannier re-rearrangement and posed cheerfully for the camera. Realising this shot hides the whereabouts of his hands:

...james2 were called together for a couple of final group shots:

...and then were off:

...taking the wrong turn right out of JP's drive.

Good start boys!

There will be much more interesting shots of the journey unfolding, so keep a look out for those over the next 10 days. Happy cycling fellas - peddle for your life, vas up well in all this rain, and eat more buns!!

[posted by lizzie in a very rainy Bristol]

Dr James' final week musing

2009-07-23T09:04:00.000+01:00

The final week’s preparation has been predominantly dietary and mechanical. Sunday saw an extensive bike rebuilding programme (James P) and degreasing session / removal of layers of grime (James S) which has resulted in bikes that both of us are very pleased with ... so far.

After a certain degree of contemplation, I have removed my old gear cassette and replaced it with one with an large ‘get out of jail’ gear – in case of emergencies. I am hoping the emergencies will not consist of ‘cycling uphill’.

I have also bought one or two more bits of cycle clothing which were much admired by my work colleagues. Their remarks concerning my lycra tights in particular were, I am sure, meant in a positive way. Nonetheless, I think I will reserve them for the less populated sections of the ride.

I also made my last visit to the supermarket to take advantage of the 2-for-1 offer on fruit and nut, but I am not sure it will see Devon.

Looking at the just giving site, we are struck by friends’ generosity which will be great encouragement during the harder days.

Just a few final bits to tie up – campsite reservations for Friday, oh and James P needs to sort the route - that's all. Back to it.

A new steed is born

2009-07-19T11:15:00.000+01:00

I don't have a name for her yet - suggestions? - but here she is...

I should say 'reborn' rather than 'born'. Underneath all that gleamy stove-enamled paintwork is a 1982 ARGOS Racing Cycles frame...

Getting this bike together has really been a labour of love. I bought the original bike second-hand and having ridden it for a few months in its tired old state I decided to treat it to a make-over. I went back to its original builder, ARGOS Racing Cycles. They are one of the last few hand built bike builders in the country and are based right here in Bristol. They sand blastered it back, added a few new rack mounts and bottle mounts and gave it a gleaming new stove-enamled coat of paint. For anyone with a love of old steel bikes and retro beauty, here's a few pictures of the build. Enjoy....

Raising money for Age Concern Bristol

2009-07-09T18:27:00.000+01:00

From Jameses' LEJOG (Land's End - John O'Groats)

I've just sent out my first emails telling friends and family about this little jaunt is all about - raising money for Age Concern Bristol and having fun. I've added a button over on the right hand side for Blog reader to link directly to the Just Giving site. Here's a reminder of why James and I chose Age Concern Bristol.

Nearly one in four pensioners are in poverty. James and I agreed early on in our planning that we wanted to raise money for older people and during our research we came across the excellent work of Age Concern Bristol. The mission of Age Concern Bristol is to improve the quality of life for older people. Their work involves schemes such as providing advice and information, housing support, befriending and community development (www.ageconcernbristol.org.uk). James and I feel happy and privileged to be supporting them. Please dig deep, your contribution could make a real difference. Cheers, James and James

Logo

2009-07-08T18:10:00.001+01:00

Here's the logo I designed for our new cycling tops. I am now offering graphic design services....

From Jameses' LEJOG (Land's End - John O'Groats)