Today’s little ride was a stint over the Ochils Hills, twice, once via the Path of Condie and the other up by Dunning. This feels small to the 6000 feet we were climbing over Dartmoor but it was still a good work out Weather was dull but little wind to contend with and no rain.
Well first cycle ride after the LEJOG and I decided to ride to Dumfries my birth place which we skipped by on the LEJOG. It’s an 80 miles ride through the wilderness and unbeknownst to me I had forgotten my bike pump so if i had gotten a puncture I would have been in major shite. Thankfully my trusty bike served me well and I got no punctures and made it all the way. The weather wasn’t too bad, a bit overcast but again I was fighting a headwind heading south so it make it difficult at times. I sure as hell didn’t recognise anything when I got there, my childhood memories didn’t match up. Anyway I took some snaps and have some fresh memories and have no idea if I’ll get there again.
LEJOG Day 12 and OMFG it’s windy as hell up here, it might be the last day but by god it was going to make us work hard for it. So we started out by going up to Dunnet view point which is the northernest point in the UK before setting off to John O’Groats. We were fighting the wind and even hail on the way there before we were to all meet up at the café half a mile from the finish. We would all then join up as a group and head the last mile to the finish. It’s been an interesting ride with some hard days to start with and then getting easier towards the end with yesterday being my favourite day. Thankfully I have no major ache’s and pains and didn’t suffer any mechanical’s on the ride, not even a puncture Well that this ride over and now it’s onto he next one for next year, which will probably be in China.
LEJOG Day 11 and it was the best so far for me although the head wind near the end was a pain. Today we left Brora for Thurso but we went over the moors to get there which was fantastic. We had a tail wind all the way over which made easy fast riding all the way till lunch time. Although once past the moors we were into the head wind again for the last 15 miles with most of it a vicious cross wind which made for some hairy moments. Anyway we are almost there only some 29 miles left and we are at John O’ Groates
LEJOG day 10 down and it was a toughy! We started off by going up a hill called Heart break hill which is a 15% 1 mile climb which had killing myself just to get up it. I basically had to stop half way up to catch my breath to continue on. But once you were over it, it was a nice log down hill ride. We were then onto Loch Ness for a little of the way be fore we headed in land skirting around Inverness and heading north. It was quite hily after that and once we hit he coast it was a nightmare as we were heading into the wind! Anyway this was the last of the long hard days now we have 2 days left of 65 miles and 29 miles to John O’Groates.
Another day in glorious sunshine and the end of Day 9 of the LEJOG. We’re staying the night in the youth hostel at Leggan, so no fancy restaurant tonight but it should be a good meal as the Discovery adventure guys are making it Todays leg was from Inveraray to Loch Lochy clocking up 95 miles of cycling through Fort William, where we had out ice cream break and then onto the Lochs. Tomorrow should be another good day as we cycle along Loch Ness to Brora, hope fully the weather will hold up.
LEJOG Day 8 has been another fine day of cycling in the sun Todays leg was from Kilmarnock to Inveraray and a very scenic route it was. Started out a bit overcast but by around 11ish it cleared up, just in time for our ice cream stop Today was a shorter day’s ride with only one hill in it so no major issues with the legs. Tomorrow is a hard day up to Loch Lochy with over 5500 feet of hills and 95 miles of cycling but hopefully there won’t be any major issues now.
Well that’s LEJOG day 7 down and I’m back in Scotland. What’s really amazing is the weather has been sunny and warm we seemed to have really lucked out on the weather. So todays ride was from Carlisle to Kilmarnock and it was mostly a flat route with some hill’s towards the end of the ride but thankfully not too big to get up. The biggest killer was trying to keep up with my companions who were riding at break neck speed, we averaged a 17 mph ride for 95 miles A little tired by the time I got to the end of the ride but not feeling too bad for all the work I put in today
LEJOG Day 6 down and I’m half way there Today was probably the best so far, we had good weather, some easy cycling, bar going over Shap and made it in good time. It was a bit chilly in Shrewsbury this morning but it brightened up during the day. There was a bit of a mix up with the routes, as we who were using Garmins went a completely different way to the route notes and thus missed the water stop before the midday climb up to shap for our lunch. So we stopped in Kendal for some coffee and cake to refuel and headed up to Shap. This was a 9 mile climb but a fairly easy up to an elevation of around 1400 feet but it also meant that once we reached our lunch stop it was all down hill anyway we’re in Carlisle this evening so tomorrow morning I’m back in home country and heading to Kilmarnock
Well that’s day 5 down and we’re in Preston. Today was a good day with 87 miles and not many hills to climb. The start was wet and dull but it cleared up in the afternoon and we got a little sun. No pain today so no drugs required, but it’s all relative I suppose as my legs ache with a few sore tendons but I’ve faired better than most so far, touch wood. Tomorrow should be another good day taking us up to Carlisle, there’s only 1 big hill and it’s again mostly flat, and then we will be half way
Dear god today was a tough one, and the toughest I think. Had to start the ride by taking pain killers as my knee was giving me jip So we leave Wales and head Shrewsbury through some stunning country side on a not to bad weather day but we were fighting a head wind. And this wasn’t helped by the fact we would be cycling nearly 95 miles over 5500 feet of hills Anyway I made it through the day without having to take any more drugs and steak is on the menu tonight
Lejog Day 3
So day 3 is down and I’m starting to feel it in my muscles as they are getting a bit sore. Today was one of the lighter days for hills but still 90 miles long against a light headwind. We followed some of the more quieter roads and some cycle paths to get across the river seven. So now we are in Wales in a posh Marriott Hotel hoping to get a decent meal and a good night’s sleep and praying my knee will last the trip.
