Back in England

Friday stats and route
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1827389434?share_unique_id=16

Not so much to write about tonight. Slightly odd going over to the motorway  services for breakfast amongst a few early travellers. Up at 247m from sea level the clouds were at ground level, but after an hour or so they cleared away and the mainly northerly wind might still have kept the temperature down, but it enabled consistent speeds of 15 to 20mph and more for mile after mile as the empty B road closely followed and occasionally crossed the M74/A74(M) and encountered the West Coast mainline. The scenery was unremarkable and the gradients kind.

Every silver lining has its cloud, however.......no, not another weather report, but a nasty toothache that progressively worsened through the morning. A while ago with my group of ex-Police walking friends I instituted a 5 minute rule for discussion of medical matters, so suffice to say I found a dentist opposite my lunch stop in Lockerbie who prodded and x-rayed and advised to the extent that I have just eaten fish pie and other 'soft food' without too much discomfort.
Subsequently I stopped briefly at Gretna Green, where the only visible bride was definitely not a 16-year-old elopee, crossed the border and arrived in Carlisle.
Tomorrow sees possibly one if the toughest but most scenic days, and marks Day 7 which I can hardly believe. I will also see an old school friend, and Sue is coming up for a couple of nights, so lots to look forward to to. HIGNFY beckons if it's still on, then an early goodnight.

Dad mastering the selfie...almost

Thursday's route and stats

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1825853284?share_unique_id=14

A day of two parts

It rained all day. Ok, you don't want to listen to me complaining all the time, but...it rained all day.

B&B was on a farm last night and after a traditional breakfast with a couple also staying there it was off into the rain....sorry.

The morning ride was interesting and all off road, firstly down to Balloch at the Southern end of Loch Lomond, then a great cycle path along the Forth and Clyde Canal. It was well surfaced which is important both to maintain a decent average speed and to avoid continual jarring through the handlebars, which apart from simple discomfort also causes you to grip more tightly, leading to tension across the shoulderblades (in my case at least).

If the photos have come through you can see a 'drop bridge', where the water level under a very low road bridge is temporarily lowered to allow boats to pass under the road. A weed-cutting and collecting boat chugged past and later there was a succession of towers clad in corrugated iron, with a small locked door and no openings other than at the top, about 20' high, where a live cockerel was strutting round. I have no idea what these are and didn't see anyone to ask (it was raining so not very busy).

A tea stop at a convenient canalside bike shop enabled me to replace a water bottle that went under a car a couple of days ago. Then the route met the Clyde itself going into Glasgow city centre. The whole quayside has evidently been and is being massively developed - if you've been to Newcastle I'd say it's similar but on a massive scale. (Various pics hopefully)

No time to stop though and a good thing I didn't. Once again (Inverness if you remember) both bike-nav and Google Maps had me going round in circles and doing U turns until I eventually found my way out to the SE. From there it was grinding and rather dreary and wet - did I mention that? - and spirits were only raised at the Route 74 Truckstop for tea and cake - the Englishman 'abroad'! Then the road, following route (M)74, climbed for a few miles into the mist and bleak moorland, a sort of high up Hound of the Baskervilles feeling with almost no cars at all. The rumbling of the motorway half a mile away was quite comforting. Then a fine downhill and a sign reading Abington 1 mile, where tonight's stop in the Day's Inn at said route 74 services was booked last night.

After Harry Ramsdens fish and chips I now need to plan tomorrow as this section is not booked, but I must have gained 10 miles on the plan, even in the weather which wasn't that good today in case I didn't tell you.

Hope James can get the photos up - more ramblings tomorrow, when I reach England!

Son of Nessie found in canal...

You take the high road...

Lawrence W. commented on the blog that I should take the high road to Loch Lomond, and I did, but mainly because there isn't a low road. It was an unrelenting climb from Glencoe through the Great Glen for about five miles up to Rannoch Moor, a bleak rather desolate area I remember from the West Highland Way. It was great to receive an encouraging text on the satnav from Gary F just as I took a photo of the summit sign. Shortly afterwards came a superb three or four mile descent at 20-30 mph, almost no traffic, and the sun even came out for a while.
Gary knew where I was from Garmin as did Sue who texted to ask if I was having tea, which I was having reached Tarbet towards the top of Loch Lomond. If you want to follow in that detail just. send me your email address.
Tonight it was haggis, neeps and tatties and a Balvenie malt or two and as soon as this is done it's bedtime.
Tomorrow: Glasgow.

Route and stats
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1824286424?share_unique_id=12

Lots of lochs

All photos are currently being uploaded by son James as I can't on the phone for some reason, hence the disconnect between words and pictures.

The Whitebridge  Hotel served up a Highland burger last night, venison with a layer of haggis and then bacon and a side order of whisky sauce. Not what Rabbie Burns would have recognised but an interesting meal. The beer in Scotland has improved greatly with a reasonable range of local real ales available.
This morning started with some climbing that led to a superb run down past little Loch Knockie to Fort Augustus. I could have topped 40mph but a wet road and bends kept the maximum speed down to 39. At the end of Loch Ness I had to use the busy A82 to Loch Oich. At Bridge of Oich a couple of large passenger boats were going through, causing the swing bridge to be closed and I saw an old railway line now converted to foot- and cycle path which was a peaceful route to Laggan and Loch Lochy. Not the most original of choices, making me wonder if whoever thought up Boaty McBoatface hails from these parts.
After viewing the well known Commando monument, a pleasant detour from the A82 ended at Neptune's Staircase, a busy set of locks on the Caledonian Canal where I had lunch and watched the boating activity. Then through Fort William, passing the photostop at the end of the West Highland Way which I completed a few years ago.
Back on to the A82 which by now had a cycle path in places much better surfaced than the main road, along Loch Linnhe and briefly Loch Leven before reaching the village of Glencoe and its youth hostel. Dinner in the Clachaig Inn in the hills above the village with a retired Naval radio engineer rounded off the day. Hopefully the clothes washed in the hostel machine and currently in the drying room will be ok tomorrow as they are all I have!
Tomorrow - the bonny banks of Loch Lomond.

Tuesday's route and stats

http://livetrack.garmin.com/session/23ef8ebd-3cc0-4865-a341-09b5b2859d7f/token/40284EBF64F3D3A3A5966AB2A26A48

Corrrection - this link should go to Monday's route

Check out my road cycling activity on Garmin Connect. #beatyesterday https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1820319928?share_unique_id=8

Monday's route and stats

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1818450940?share_unique_id=6

Who pays the ferryman? In the steps of kings

Enough of the A9, today I wanted some quieter cycling. The wind had dropped to almost nothing (see photo taken from the Dornoch Firth bridge) as I left the excellent Auchlea BnB and dropped down into the town. Dornoch is a lovely little town with a Church of Scotland cathedral (pictured yesterday), a jail museum and an internationally renowned golf course. An almost traffic free lane takes you to the bridge but once across the Firth a minor road leads down to Tain. From there I followed National Cycle Route 1 through quiet roads round the peninsula to Nigg. Expecting nothing there I was surprised to find a huge oil depot beyond which was my goal, the Nigg ferry. Dating back to William I, for whom it had strategic importance, it was used subsequently by James IV to visit a nearby shrine. My £5.50 as the only passenger would hardly pay for the fuel let alone the two crew (Pic of jetty with ferry arriving). Route 1 took a fairly circuitous route across the Black Isle to North Kessock where the A9 was the only option to cross the Moray Firth to Inverness, but a segregated cycle path was provided.
Stopping to offer help to a stranded lone cyclist with broken spokes and a misaligned wheel, I asked where he was heading. "Well I was hoping to get home to Germany" came the reply. I left him folding his bike - yes really, a high end commuter cycle it looked like - and trying to stop a vehicle going to the nearest bike shop at Dingwall.
After following both the Garmin and then Google round in circles in a busy industrial area of Inverness I followed my nose and after a sandwich by the River Ness / Caledonian Canal headed along an almost deserted east bank of Loch Ness, a very pleasant ride. Registration number of the trip so far, on a late model Range Rover no less, NE55BNB, so tourism must be doing ok.
After a stop by the water (see selfie) I left the loch and headed up a two mile climb and a ridge ride to my destination. By the loch was a procession of vintage Citroens, up on the hill the German Porsche Owners' Club came screaming by before I reached the isolated Whiteridge Hotel (pics of/from bridge alongside). As it's five miles from the nearest pub I'll be staying here - with the quiet road detours I clocked up 78 miles today. Tomorrow my route crosses the country to Fort William and Glencoe which should be a great day but the weather may not be as good as today, clear although still only about 12 degrees.

Todays route and stats

Check out my road cycling activity on Garmin Connect. #beatyesterday https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1818450940?share_unique_id=2

Flaming June?

First long day completed, just short of 60 miles, and by 4.30pm despite the Scottish weather. The wind did drop a little and the coastal route was more sheltered, but there were still sections of strong headwind and this morning some driving, cold, cutting rain. So a day of contrasts, 4mph up hill and into the wind, but a couple of great descents at 35+.
At lunchtime I met a couple of retired Navy men, one Merchant one Royal, and rode with them on and off from then until I branched off the busy A9 to Dornoch. It makes a difference when the going's tough, specially as I was generally at the back using 'Slugger' to take the worst of the wind.
The Caithness coast is rugged in places but always beautiful. Lots of places to visit another time, such as Dunrobin Castle - retirement home for old lags? Now in Sutherland, Dornoch looks attractive so I'll walk down to the town and beach soon. And the sun's out.
More tomorrow.

Dornoch

Cathedral interior

Dornoch Castle Hotel

Dornoch Cathedral

Loch Fleet

Heading down the coast

A bit of a blow

The journey begins.

Breakfast at Luton Airport with Sue before the 0935 flight to Inverness where Charlie from the John O'Groats Bike Company took me and bike up to the starting point.  A group of five or six finishers arrived as I was about to start, so after reciprocal photo taking and a rousing send-off I was away. A wind of around 40mph from the West,  accelerating from inland as it approached the coast,  demanded concentration and both hands firmly on the handlebar to avoid gusts depositing bike and rider into the grass verge. At 90 degrees it wasn't too problematical but as it was mostly from slightly in front, maximum speed was around 6-7 mph. A slight variation in direction coming into Wick allowed a mile or two at 20 mph which was most enjoyable. 18C Thrumster House was a welcome sight after 21 miles at about 6pm and by 7.30 I was down at the Old Smiddy Inn where 'no tables were available' for an evening meal. 

Thrumster House

After a pint and a chat at the bar with a local this minor difficulty disappeared and a whisky chaser later I was enjoying a welcome steak pie and chips.

Old railway station

 Walking back I detoured into the grounds to view a prehistoric broch, of which there are apparently hundreds in Caithness, probably residences of powerful families, in the form of a tower, possibly for defensive purposes.

Broch with modern summer house attached

Back in the grand entrance hall of the B&B another malt was proffered by the owner and gratefully accepted. Off to bed now ready for a longer ride tomorrow, hopefully in reduced wind conditions. 

Tomorrow is another day

Twelve hours until takeoff from Luton up to Inverness, then a three hour drive with the courier and bike to John O'Groats so my next blog will be from somewhere in Scotland.
In the last few days a variety of people have volunteered to ride with me or wave me on which is really encouraging. If you want to know where I am at any given time send your email address to jimandsuestrother@gmail.com and if the tech works you'll get a link to live progress each morning.

Better go and pack the bag. Wish me luck if you haven't already
Jim


Here's a link to Strava and my route from top to bottom
https://www.strava.com/routes/9180341

Below is a list of proposed stopping points. The first half dozen are booked as is Mithian at the other end. In between I'm being flexible to allow for some longer or shorter days depending on weather and how far I feel I can ride.

Anyone wanting to come and wave me on is more than welcome but don't rely entirely on the route as it could change on the day. Let me know in advance where you plan to meet me and I'll give you my best estimate of where and when. I can receive text messages on the satnav so that is the best way to contact me while riding.

	June							July
	D1	D2	D3	D4	D5	D6	D7	D8
	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	1
Miles (cum.)	21	78.4	144.9	202.1	264.3	324.4	391.7	453.8
	Thrumster	Dornoch	Loch Ness	Glencoe	Luss	Douglas	Carlisle	Milnthorpe

	D9	D10	D11	D12	D13	D14	D15	D16
	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Miles (cum.)	517.4	584.2	650.1	715.4	776.8	829.1	891.1	929.5
	Wigan	Wem	Hereford	Clevedon	Uffculme	Tavistock	Mithian	Lands End

Route info

Here's a link to Strava and my route from top to bottom
https://www.strava.com/routes/9180341

Below is a list of proposed stopping points. The first half dozen are booked as is Mithian at the other end. In between I'm being flexible to allow for some longer or shorter days depending on weather and how far I feel I can ride.

Anyone wanting to come and wave me on is more than welcome but don't rely entirely on the route as it could change on the day. Let me know in advance where you plan to meet me and I'll give you my best estimate of where and when. I can receive text messages on the satnav so that is the best way to contact me while riding.

	June							July
	D1	D2	D3	D4	D5	D6	D7	D8
	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	1
Miles (cum.)	21	78.4	144.9	202.1	264.3	324.4	391.7	453.8
	Thrumster	Dornoch	Loch Ness	Glencoe	Luss	Douglas	Carlisle	Milnthorpe

	D9	D10	D11	D12	D13	D14	D15	D16
	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Miles (cum.)	517.4	584.2	650.1	715.4	776.8	829.1	891.1	929.5
	Wigan	Wem	Hereford	Clevedon	Uffculme	Tavistock	Mithian	Lands End

A week to go.....

Last visit to the specialist yesterday and the knee's as good as it will get. Dropped the bike off this morning for the courier to pick up on Monday. So it's time for last minute arrangements, finalising what kit to take, accommodation for Sue who's coming up to the Lakes on Day 6, downloading the final route to the satnav. And checking I can do the blog from the phone.
I'll post the final route soon and send round by email to friends.and family. If you are nearby at the right time I'd love to see you waving me on!

A Pope, a Beacon and a Cow Roast

Saturday saw an afternoon 30 followed by a similar 51 mile route yesterday around West Herts and into Bucks. How many people know the first and only English Pope was born in Abbots Langley? That was the first landmark followed by Ivinghoe Beacon at the tail end of the Chilterns, and then Cow Roast on the Grand Union. Not a barbeque spot, the name probably referring to pens and overnight grazing for cattle (Cows' Rest), although I did stop at one of the waterside pubs at Berkhamsted

With a quick 14 miles this evening I've now gone past 1000 miles in training, exceeding the total for the ride itself. Fundraising is going well, the total including Gift Aid and 'offline' donations now over £2500. Thanks Mum and everyone else!

No route maps as the satnav is broke following a slight mishap out on the road but it will be back and live progress posted once I get going on Saturday 24th June.

Nicholas Breakspeare Pope Adrian V was born here 1100 AD

Ivinghoe Beacon, site of an iron Age hill fort

The Grand Union towpath

Two weekend rides

For a change I took my mountain bike out for a part off-road ride to Aldenham Reservoir and back on Saturday. On Sunday son James came over and we we headed out to Benington again, got a little lost on the edge of Stevenage and returned via the Robin Hood and Little John at Rabley Heath near Knebworth. A roast beef wrap seemed an odd menu item but was really good. Just shy of 70 miles this weekend, not much more time for racking up the miles as the courier will be picking the bike up in two weeks' time.