Lejog Day 14 Crask Inn-John O'Groats

After a hearty breakfast, we left Crask Inn heading for Bettyhill on the north coast where we would turn right & follow the coast to our ultimate goal of John O'Groats. The 1st 30 miles were excellent, riding around Loch Naver & following the river down to the coast. After the cafe stop at Bettyhill it was up hill straight out of the car park, followed by undulating roads & headwind for the remaining 55 miles. The route took us past the Dounreay nuclear power facility before passing through Thurso where there was a mass conga dance going on with hundreds of people & children in the line which snaked through a pub. Further down the street was the sound of bagpipes as servicemen marched through the town. We ate all the food we were carrying & continued on, arriving at John O'Groats at around 5:30pm with another 85 miles under the belt. We celebrated our acheivement with a bottle of champagne & made our way to the Seaview Hotel for a well earned meal. Mission complete!!! The End.

Lejog Day 13 Inverness-Crask Inn

Today we covered 71 miles. Graham & Issy were joined by Bryce & Alison at the bike shop after Bryce's bike lost drive, turned out a spring clip had broken in the freewheel. We left Inverness over another suspension bridge and followed a very pleasant lane along the Beauly Firth, disappointingly we didn't manage to see any dolphins or seals, which the landlady said were often seen in the area. A lunch stop was had at Dingwall & we where joined by 1000 mile man for our afternoon stop at Bonar Bridge. A long steady climb took us up to an isolated Crask Inn, which was way up on the moors. We had been advised that we would have the use of the cottage for our group, so we were eager to see our new accommodation. It was like a scene out the league of gentleman & we renamed it Royston Vassey. The cottage was a bunkhouse with tired decorations, but the beds were clean & comfy, there was heating & hot running water. The evening meal in the Inn was very good with venison stew, but the drinking water had a hint of brown in it so we were all a bit sceptical about drinking it. Last day tomorrow, John O'Groats here we come!

Lejog Day 12 Grantown On Spey-Inverness

Nice short day today at 43 miles, great scenery with no major climbs. After 10 miles we were riding around Lochindorb with a ruined castle in the middle of the loch. We had a lunch stop at Dulsie bridge over the river Findhorn. Then it was quiet back lanes down into Inverness. Graham & Issy's tandam had a snapped spoke in the rear wheel so a bike shop will be required 1st thing tomorrow. Just oustside Grantown On Spey we passed a guy who was also doing Lejog, on his own & was camping each night. He started a couple of weeks before us & later in the day he caught up with us just as he clocked his 1000 miles, so we stopped & congratulated him. We arrived at the B&B at around 4:30pm so we had chance to relax for a couple of hours before finding somewhere to eat. Just as we were walking into Inverness it began to rain & so we got wet again. After trying several resturants on the riverside, which were very busy, we ended up in a Witherspoons for our evening meal. Initial service was very quick but due to a mix up in the kitchen & several complaints Rob & Debs got their main course after an hour!! To round off the day we went to a bar called "Hootanany" were live Scotish folk music was played which we all enjoyed but none more than Issy who was up on the dance floor.

Lejog Day 11 Bankfoot-Grantown On Spey

That was the hardest days cycling we have ever done. 92 Miles in total & 2017M of climbing! The weather was kind at the start at 8:30am but after only a couple of miles, Steve ran over a stone causing a rear wheel puncture which required a new tyre when we reached Blairgowrie. Wind & rain met us at the top of Glenshee.  After climbing up the Glenshee for several miles we looked forward to the long decent into Braemar but it wasn't to be and we only managed 14MPH down the other side pedalling as hard as we could due to the very strong headwind. We also passed Balmoral but no sign of any Royals. Next came the climb of the Lecht, it blew everyones minds on the approach, rearing up around a bend, at what seemed as steep as the 1in3 climbs in Cornwall, then continued on for another half a mile. We thought the hills were over after that, but how wrong we were! Another 3 steep climbs had to be conquered before reaching Grantown On Spey at around 8:00pm. A well earned short run awaits tomorrow arriving in Inverness.

Lejog Day 10 Edinburgh-Bankfoot

Now we know how scotish 80's band Wet Wet Wet got inspiration for their name, it's been heavy rain ALL day! everyone absolutely drenched. We found a small village shop in Dunning that did hot drinks as we were all frozen coming down a long decent. Roads were flooded & we were riding through water almost upto the hubs. Earlier in Edinburgh, Mick got a new chainring fitted on his bike & Rob had Dorris' cones tightened. After dodging traffic in Edinburgh we left over the Forth road bridge. The route was relatively flat & the Bankfoot Inn was a very welcolme sight.

Lejog Day 9 Langholm-Edinburgh

72 miles completed today with 1129M of climbing. A brilliant days riding in sunshine today. Stunning views of hills & valleys with very little traffic. 1st tea stop, at 15 miles, was at a Tibetan monastory with a large statue of Budah & a typical temple with gold & red painting. Climbs were very different to yesterday, being much longer but at a more gradual gradient making them more manageable. 2nd stop was at 49 miles in Peebles where we found a bike shop for some odds & ends. Arrived at hotel relatively early at around 5:30pm. Luckily there's a bike shop only a few hundred yards from the hotel so 1st thing tomorrow Mick will be having a new chainring & chain fitted. Debs has been back to hospital to see a doctor who says, physically she is very fit, no evidence of any chest infection any more so she's off the anti-biotics, but hay fever may be restricting her beathing which she is taking tablets for anyway.

Lejog Day 8 Kirkby Lonsdale-Langholm

We've made it to Scotland!! Only 6 days riding left to the finish. Today was a testing day to say the least. 2 DT (Dawn Turner) rides back to back, double ouch!! Today we covered 83 miles. Starting in the rain wasn't much fun but after a couple of hours it stopped & we dried out. 1st tea stop was at the chocolate factory in Orton, a chocoholic's dream. The roads were up & down all day with very little flat, which is very tiring & so it was a late arrival at the B&B of around 7:15pm. The landlord & landlady told us most resturants close around 8:00pm so they rang a resturant just down the road who agreed to extend the closing time for us. No mechanicals today but Micks chain & chainset are wearing out fast which keep dropping from middle to small ring under pressure. Several of us are suffering the inevitable saddle problems. Debs has rode very strongly today, the tablets are doing the trick.

Lejog Day 7 Knutsford-Kirkby Lonsdale

85 miles, ouch! Weather has been kind today only light rain in last 2 miles into Kirkby Lonsdale. Unfortunately Martin has had to retire today after receiving a call from home. A good route which avoided the major conurbations around Manchester. 1703M of climbing completed today. 490 Miles covered in total, half way point will be reached tomorrow. We called at the Youth Hostel in Slaidburn where Zenger is staying and she made us a very welcome brew. We thought the hard work was done by then with about 20 miles left. How wrong we were, the road snaked up over a moor far into the distance but the views from the top were fantastic. Another 80 miler tomorrow, no rest for the wicked!!

Lejog Day 6 Much Wenlock-Knutsford

68 Miles covered today. We managed to stay dry despite the weather forecast for showers. Only 1 hill of any significance which was in the initial 10 miles, climbing out of Ironbridge. A welcome flat ride to rest weiry legs. No dramas to report today. Debs improving every day and is riding very strongly now, must be the EPO the doctor slipped her! 2nd longest day tomorrow at 85 miles & I've just seen the weather forecast which is rain, Deep Joy!!

Lejog Day 5 Symmonds Yat - Much Wenlock

69.5 Miles covered today & 338 Miles in total so over 1/3rd of way complete. Another warm day with sunny intervals but raincoats were required for 30 minutes for a shower but after that we managed to dodge some heavy downpours which we could see near by. Debs feeling much better & even lead the group at one point! She has now set her sights on reaching Edinburgh. Following yesterday's puncture Mick had to get a new tyre in Ross On Wye. Some very picturesque villages were passed through & the lane along side the river Wye was gorgeous. A welcome afternoon tea stop was had in Ludlow before reaching Much Wenlock. We encountered a slight hitch on arrival as Steve could not contact his Mum & Dad to deliver the luggage due to poor mobile phone reception, but they did turn up. Hotel for tonight is very nice.

Lejog Day 4 Cheddar-Symmonds Yat

67.5 Miles. Start was in light rain through Cheddar Gorge but improved through out the day. Not a flat day with almost 5000ft of climbing. 1st puncture goes to Mick on the outskirts of Leminster. Debs still suffering & once we arrived at the overnight stay, she managed to get an appointment to see a doctor who has given her anti-biotics & she is going to continue. B&B was not close to village so take aways were the order of the day, delivered to our door.
Todays ride went over the Severn bridge.

Lejog Day 3 Great Torringtom - Cheddar

Debs is feeling even worse today, with some very long ascents to contend with up over Exmoor & the Quontock Hills, we are all in ore of her determination. A long day in the saddle with 82.5 miles to complete. Weather was sunny & hot. Can you guess who the Silly Billy is in the photo, who didn't put sun block on!

Lejog Day 2 Wadebridge - Great Torrington

Debs has suffered a little today battling the start of a cold. No rain jackets required today but shoes still squidgy!! Alot of steep descents followed by even steeper ascents at Boscastle & Willook (1in3)! made a difficult 59 Mile, some great views of the Cornish coast. Today we also crossed counties from Cornwall into Devon. A sting in the tail was waiting for us when we got to our destination in Great Torrington, when we turned a junction to be faced with another incredibly steep climb which went on & on. Well done to Debs.

A memorable start to Lejog!

Hi all, Sorry for lack of posts to keep you up todate but problems
encountered getting internet access. The Start at Lands End on Sunday 12th June 2011 will not be forgotten. Heavy rain & wind greeted us on Sunday morning & it was full waterproofs right from the off. We were all soaked before we got to Lands End approx 1.5 miles from the B&B. It was a sharp learning curve with the sat navs as we took a few wrong turns early doors. Weather improved throughout the day but NO SUN!! All safe & sound on day 1 in Wadebridge.

We've arrived!

Everyone has arrived at the start safe & sound. Bikes have been unloaded and put to bed for the night, they need their rest ready for tomorrow! Weather forecast looks very wet for tomorrow. B&B very nice with nice sea view. We're off to the pub in a while to stoke up the boilers. Later.

Only 2 sleeps to the start of our challenge.

The start date is almost upon us & everyones bikes were present & correct at Steve's last night. I had to do abit of last minute mechanics last night when I noticed the brake blocks were down to the wear bar, as I was loading it into the car! The minibus is due to pick us up around 8:00am tomorrow & the adventure will bigin. Just seen the weather forecast for Sunday and I'm afraid it's not good except the strong wind is in the right direction. Watch this space!