Day 17

Miles completed today 49

Total Miles 1172

Stunning - that is the word for today’s scenery ... pretty easy day cycling from Lairg to Bettyhill which gave us time to stop and take in our surroundings. Feeling very lucky to have got this weather today. First landmark was Crask Inn publicised as the most remote inn in the UK but sadly closed on a Tuesday morning. Great excitement over the road from it though, when we saw our first JOG signpost with 90 miles on it (is that all!). 

The ride continued through amazing scenery with views across the hills, lochs and heather then leading down the to sea. Lovely cafe near Tongue for lunch looking out towards the Atlantic. 

Final stretch a bit trickier with quite strong side winds and one big hill where I plodded and Adam cycled like Geraint! 

Day rounded off with a really interesting museum about the Clearances - a period of Scottish history I knew nothing about - when poor families were cleared off the land to make way for more profitable sheep farming - resulting in many Scottish families emigrating to the US, Canada, Australia and NZ .. culture and exercise, a well rounded day! 

Mixed feelings about tomorrow being our final day - legs and bottom will be pleased but I shall miss our adventure when it is over .. 

Day 16 

Miles completed today 87

Total Miles 1123

Lovely day from Carrbridge to Lairg via Inverness - this morning began with a fantastic undulating ride into Inverness that we blitzed in only 2 hours. Struggled to find somewhere nice for lunch but eventually struck lucky with a hotel beside the Moray Firth.

Afternoon began with a poor few miles alongside a very busy A road but things soon improved as we climbed up higher and were rewarded with some amazing views of the Firth of Sutherland. The heather was lovely and purple and it did feel a bit isolated - I suppose what I expected this far north!

The final section gave us great value from the climbs with long and scenic downhills eating up the miles and some lovely woodland sections near the river.

Adam had salad again at lunch (still wrong!) but was back on top cake form later in the day.

Special thoughts today for Vicky our much missed hockey colleague and her mum Pat who has kindly sponsored us after hearing about our ride. Penultimate day tomorrow but still no John o’groats signs yet ... hoping that changes soon!

Day 15

Miles completed today 71

Total Miles 1036

A good day from Pitlochry to Carrbridge passing through Drumochter pass and Aviemore. The pass was a gradual climb through about 12 miles to the highest point on a cycle path in Scotland. Scenery was lovely if a little clouded in mist for much of the time.

Stopped at a great cafe in Dalwhinnie for hot drinks and scones before another Adam puncture and a heavy downpour for 30 mins slowed our progress - but we were able to stop at Kingussie for chips and to regroup and dry out.

We passed 1000 miles at this point so tried this arty photo of 1000 (thinking of Anya as we did it!) .. not quite as good in retrospect as we thought it was at the time!!

Route was then easy and undulating through Aviemore to Carrbridge. Aviemore is just too touristy for my taste but we did find a cafe doing fab sandwiches. Just had a lovely evening at the pub with a girl from Holland who was delighted to have some company - or so she said!!

Tomorrow is our last big day in terms of mileage - just hoping my legs will cope - before 2 more shorter and more hilly days to the end ... I am wondering when we will see the first signpost for John O’Groats ... beginning to believe we can do it ... after all who would have predicted a Welshie winning the Tour ..!! 

Day 14 

Miles completed today 69

Total Miles 965

An unexpectedly enjoyable day as we managed to cycle 69 rain free miles from Queensferry to Pitlochry. 

Early breakfast meant we set off from Queensferry ahead of the weather and managed to reach Kinross via Dunfermline in the dry. I still don’t like the route through Dunferminline (remembered from last year) but the descent into Kinross is still fabulous.

Lovely coffee and cake stop followed by a dash to Perth - riding through the valley surrounded by heavy showers on either side on the hills. We arrived just ahead of the clouds! 

We were then into full “rain avoidance” mode - having lunch in Perth for 2.5 hours during the most torrential downpour ... we saw many painted penguins and Adam had salad and no cake for lunch (just wrong!).

We then made our escape and cycled through huge puddles but still in the dry to Dunkeld. Buoyed by Geraint Thomas’s Time trial performance and a cake we then powered onto Pitlochry along a beautiful path along the river Tay. Far fewer hills today than we were expecting .. are we really in Scotland?!! 

Day rounded off with a lovely evening having steak with Catherine and Gordon Baird - Adam also loved the old fashioned sweet shop in Pitlochry that was still open as we arrived and couldn’t resist some blackcurrant Bon bons. 

Another day of dodging rain beckons tomorrow but we definitely saw Inverness on the signs today so we can’t be too far away - Less than 250 miles to go!! 

Day 13

Miles completed today 75

Total Miles 896

This is definitely the bike ride that just keeps on giving - we have had a fantastic ride today. Temperatures lovely without the heatwave of the  south of England. Spectacular coastal views as we worked our way across from Berwick through Edinburgh to the area just below the Forth Bridge.

We particularly liked Coldingham (thanks for recommendation Mum!), Dunbar and Haddington. Great lunch stop at Dunbar, liked the harbour and the bloke in the bike shop who adjusted Adam’s gears for a fiver!

The route through Edinburgh is fantastic - an old railway and hardly any traffic - Edinburgh was unbelievably busy - I have never seen it anything like that full as we went around Waverley St and Haymarket - so happy to be staying out at Queensferry.

Great that adam was really on it today especially after the Milkshake shack we found in Musselbrough where he had a vanilla shake with literally everything in or on it!

Tonight I am going to try and find the curry house I went to with dad in 2000 on our way to see Tiger win the British Open so I think I will dedicate today to all of us who no longer have our dads around - raise a glass and have a happy memory about them!

Day off tomorrow so until Saturday ... adios!

Day 12

Miles completed today 98

Total Miles 821

What a wonderful day even if it was a little long! Northumberland did us proud from the Roman wall through Wooler to just north of Berwick - this stage was magnificent (I am biased!)

We managed 42 Miles pre lunch - before stopping at a very strange place which was an idyllic mansion on the outside but more like a haunted house inside! We then pressed on along fantastic country roads to Wooler (apart from one short off road section that was totally impassable on a road bike so we had to find a way around). Adam then sniffed out an outstanding cafe in a nondescript garden centre (best scone of the trip award) which refuelled us for the final push to Mordington. Encouraged in this part by the great views out to a really blue North Sea.

Amazing route, great road surfaces and beautiful cycling weather. Rounded off with fab fish and chips at Eyemouth with Mum ... one more shorter day to Edinburgh and then a well deserved rest on Friday ...

Day 11

Miles completed today 71

Total Miles 723

Another lovely day from Tebay to Once Brewed. Day off to a great start with breakfast with Nicky Till who was full of beans as usual. We then had a rather damp ride through the beautiful undulating country around Appleby in Westmoreland, Duftom to Melmerby where we stopped for lunch. The scenery was slightly obscured by the drizzle (no heatwave here!) and High Cup Nick was in cloud but it didn’t spoil a lovely ride or our spirits. 

After lunch we hit the hills around Renwick and up to Hartside - our highest point so far. Sad that the cafe has burnt down and hasn’t been rebuilt. Very grateful to whichever council has resurfaced the road to the summit as we then had the most sublime descent from Hartside to Alston and beyond - road racer heaven! 

The day finished with an Adam puncture near Haltwhistle and a slightly bigger hill than we wanted to Once Brewed. Great accommodation tonight right on Hadrian’s Wall and lovely meal with Mum. 

Here’s to tomorrow’s adventure .. 

Day 10

Miles completed today 61

Total Miles 652

What a treat today - cycling through the Yorkshire Dales. Two huge climbs between Slaidburn and. Ingleton and then again from Ingleton to Sedbergh. Both rewarded with amazing downhills and some lovely views at the top. This rivals Devon and Cornwall as the best area in England to cycle in - all the ingredients apart from sunshine today!!

Highlights - the scenery, the cafes and cakes at both stops and the lack of any mechanical issues (long may that last!). Also not having the record temperatures of down south which would be too much for us on these hills .. we stayed at 21 all day. 

We are now in Tebay (yes the place not the services) and looking forward to heading north east tomorrow ... hilly day but legs feeling ok at the moment. 

Day 9 

Miles completed today 67

Total Miles 591 

Up and down day from Northwich to Whalley - fairly nondescript start into Manchester in grey cloud and drizzle, stopped near where I used to live in Whalley Range where Adam enjoyed some cricket from his deckchair .. then some mechanical issues that were sorted at Harry’s Bikeshop before a slightly bitty ride through Bury and Accrington through various parks and old railway routes. Ride improved immensely once we made it to the Leeds Liverpool canal and the start of the Yorkshire Dales. 

Highlight of the day was our welcoming committee at Whalley - thanks girls for making us feel so special ... it made that last hill worthwhile!! 🙂

Lowlight was losing Adam for 20 minutes near Accrington as we took different turnings ... note to self make sure he has his mobile and it is charged! 

Sad to have missed meeting both Amanda Hutchins and the Jarvis’s in the last 24 hours - times and locations just didn’t work but your kind thoughts were with us on our way. 

Glad to finally be north of home .. roll on the hills and scenery to Tebay tomorrow .. and passing our half way point (at last) ... 

Day 8

Miles completed today 64 miles

Total miles 527

A much more relaxed and shorter day today riding through the rolling fields of Cheshire. A special guest appearance from Rich and Naomi which made it a really fun day. 

Cycling was much easier than Thursday (just as well) but we had our first mechanical issues and were saved by an amazing mobile bike service who diagnosed the issue in Market Drayton and then fixed it in Nantwich. 

Fantastic cafe stops today researched expertly by Naomi! Adam loved cycling with Rich and we now have the comfort of Premuer Inn beds ... what’s not too like. 

Great to see Martin and Toby as well tonight - appreciate everyone making the effort to meet up with us. 

Onwards to Manchester ... 

Day 7 

Miles completed today 90

Total Miles 463

What a day! After a late night having dinner in Bristol with Louise, Kevin and Mum we set off slightly later than normal as we met 2 people at breakfast who were also doing LEJOG and we took some time comparing war stories!!

The ride itself was almost all lovely - wending it’s way through wonderful country lanes to Worcester and then on to Droitwich. There we had a couple of hours off having lunch with Leigh who has kindly organised some tickets for Liverpool vs Cardiff in October which Adam is delighted about!! 

Having left the Gardener’s arms we continued our delightful progress through the Severn valley. The going got a lot tougher closer to bridgenorth - poor signage, bridal ways that were not suitable for any bikes and sunshine that just kept getting hotter - all adding up to about an extra 90 minutes on our day! 

Still we battled through and finally made it to our home for the next two nights ... so looking forward to our day off!! 

Day 6 

Miles completed today 74

Total Miles 373

Another lovely day - starting with a big climb over the Mendips out of Wells. Rewarded with lots of downhill and a lovely route around Bristol that took in Ashton House and went under the Clifton suspension bridge and along the Avon. 

The afternoon was along lovely country roads and some small sections of canal. Very few hills which enabled us to make good progress. 

Highlights today - the food at the cafe at Avonmouth (totally delicious - see above!) and the ride through Gloucester centre which went right through the cathedral gardens. 

We feel as if we are making good progress north now. Tomorrow takes us up to Ironbrodge and a well deserved day off on Friday! 

Day 5 

Miles completed today 79

Total miles 299

A different kind of day - we are not so taken with Somerset as we were with Devin and Cornwall. Hilly stage at the start followed by the flatness of the Bridgwater canal and an old railway into Glastonbury before a lovely 9 miles  into Wells to round the day off. 

Some awards from today: 

Most grumpy bloke - the man who blocked the road off Exmoor and accused us of dropping litter on a road that we didn’t even cycle along ! 

Most annoying woman - the runner on the Bridgwater canal who insisted on not letting us past and let her dogs jump up at adam and almost knock him off! 

Most ugly cycleway - the route in and out of Bridgwater that winds under the M5 and through various industrial estates 

Most hairy moment - meeting a tractor at top speed on a very narrow country lane 

Highlights today include the £5 sponsorship from Zeal farm, the cakes at the cafe in Glastonbury and the ride into Wells. 

Looking forward to tomorrow and meeting up with the “Moats” in Bristol .. shame we have to go over the Mendips first ..!! 

Day 4 

Miles completed today 70

Total miles 220

Mixed day today - 30 miles to start with that flew by from Holsworthy to Bideford - think we were buoyed by the kindness of the locals in the pub the previous evening who played pool with the boys and donated £50 towards our fundraising. Adam held court in his own inimitable style! 

From Bideford to Barnstaple was ridiculously wet but luckily it was flat and easy to ride in the rain. We then found the best Driftwood cafe where we sheltered for an hour while the weather passed - fab sandwiches! Highlight was actually the high power hand dryer which dried our soaking shorts very effectively!! 

Afternoon was lovely - spectacular ride over Exmoor - big hill to get up there but then a beautiful undulating ride  with amazing views both sides of the ridge. Feel very lucky to have seen it in sunshine albeit much less hot than Cornwall ! 

Feeling tired but pleased to have completed a longer day .. into Somerset tomorrow ... 

Day 3 

Miles completed today 57

Total miles 150

Lovely day again today from Padstow to Holsworthy. Sublime ride in the morning along the Canel trail and then up and over Bodmin Moor. Not quite so picturesque in the afternoon and became very hot and hilly (again!). 

Highlights today included proper Devon Cream Tea at Bude with Toby and Martins parents,  as well as whole of the morning ride and the fact that the pub tonight serves Jail Ale on draft ... oh yes!! 

We are sad to have just left Cornwall - it has treated us very well - but excited we have done more than 10% of our ride already and to see what North Devon has to offer. 

Roll on Exmoor tomorrow ... please let the forecast be wrong and the rain to miss us! 

Day 2

Miles completed today 62

Total miles 93

OMG Cornwall is hot and hilly .. lovely day going through Truro and up to Padstow. Top choice for an evening lazing around - the harbour is beautiful although we haven’t gone for posh fish and chips , settling instead for a great pub with even better beer! 

Cycling today involved numerous ups and downs - lovely inland views but could have done with someone creating a flat, disused railway round here! 

Highlights - cycling past St Michael’s Mount in the morning sunshine, chatting to a couple over lunch in Truro who were keen cyclists themselves, stopping at National Trust property at Trerice and being given a pound off each of our drinks for having cycled not driven! 

Roll on tomorrow ... 

Day 1 

Miles completed today 31

Total Miles 31

What an amazing first day - thanks to Cross Country and GWR trains for getting us to Penzance on time. We then cycled an undulating 31 miles from Penzance to Land’s End and back along a mix of country lanes and coastal paths. Highlights were Mousehole and Sennen Cove. Lands End is still a bit tacky but did look glorious in the sunshine. 

First act of kindness, the lady in the cafe at Mousehole gave us her day’s tips towards our fundraising. So many kind people out there. 

Now to watch the sunset over michael’s mount ...  

All set for our adventure