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----The Roamin Rowan Trip----
To celebrate my 55 birthday I am hanging up my motorcycle leathers for 6 weeks and exchanging them for a pair of Lycra cycling shorts! It's all downhill, my kids tell me, from John O'Groats to Lands End. I am hoping to get back ready for my sons wedding in August.

The whole trip is going to be done on my own, with everything including the tent carried on my bike. There will be no cheating by catching the bus (honest). I have spent many years working for the Paul Sartori Foundation, and know that the money raised will be of a huge benefit to the people who are looked after by the Foundation. So please sponsor me now! Please tell your friends how to get to this site, I hope to keep it up-to-date either by using Internet Cafes or my sons. Many thanks for your support. Rowan Hammond ----The Story So Far---- Thursday 30th June - Bike, Kit and Me all on a train to Scotland. Monday 4th July - Travelled about 70 miles so far after a brief stay in John O'Groats. The people here are so nice and welcoming I might just stay :) Tuesday 5th July - Set off with a Skylark serenade into a gale force wind! Managed 38 miles before nightfall and then collapsed into my tent. Wednesday 6th July - The weather is showery, so plenty of roadside changing! Tomorrow I hope to cross Cromarty Bay on the Nigg ferry. I'm meeting and connecting with loads of lovely folks. The wildlife is pretty wild too! Caught the Nigg to Cromarty ferry that I dreamed of reaching and bored you all with in my planning - and I did it, I crossed over on this two car ferry. Thursday 7th July - I arrived in Inverness in the pouring rain today yet feeling elated as rode across the suspension bridge into its town centre. Made it to Findhorn later in the day but I've got to rest my butt tomorrow! So its time for a nice relaxing day off - Standing Up! Friday 8th July - Spent the day in Findhorn resting my poor old bottom - I never imagined sitting down for so long would be so painful! ;) Saturday 9th July - Arrived in Lossiemouth this morning and cycled 50 miles in total today! The days rest has done me good and my botty is really thanking me for the rest. Saw some dolphins in Spey Bay as I passed through, it was so beautiful and peaceful. I arrived tonight at the campsite and got chatting to the lady at reception, when I told her of my sponsored ride she wouldn't accept any payment for the nights pitch and donated the money herself - oh what wonderful people! Sunday 10th July - Rode 40 miles today to get to a church with an original Tiffany window - only to find that it was closed, even on a Sunday. I have also had toothache all day - and I'm over 1000 miles from my dentist. I was almost weeping when I tried the church door and it was locked the pain in my mouth was throbbing. I was so pleased to find a 'wee' shop and some Ibuprofen. Found a hotel to stay in this evening, but still found sleeping hard with my tooth. Cycled 305 miles so far! Monday 11th July - Made it to a campsite in Inverbervie tonight. Also managed to find a little dentists surgery who saw me straight away and gave me some antibiotics - I hope they start to work soon. Before I start I think I'll go and have a nice cool ale in the local, that should at least help the pain in the short term! Tuesday 12th July - Made it to Inverness today and decided to try and make it over the Tay Bridge to the campsite on the other side. The bridge was an excellent ride, with a nice little tow path for bikes. When I made it to the campsite it was for caravans only - what a disaster, I forgot to pack my caravan! So it was back over the bridge to Inverness to try and find a hostel. When I arrived back in Inverness, I found that there was Major Golfing Tournament and there was no room at the Inn. I started to panic a bit and as a last resort called in at The Hilton! They were the only place in town so I opted to book in (thanks god for mum and dad's inheritance money!) The funniest thing to happen was as I was trying to get my purse out of my bag at the reception of The Hilton I managed to drop my 'wee' portable potty onto the floor. It was dead funny seeing it slowly roll to the floor as everyone looked around to see what the noise was! What a start to my stay. Wednesday 13th July - Started the day with a ride back over the Tay Bridge (for the third time). It's becoming gruelling right now, 400 miles and my body is really beginning to ache, I spend miles battling with my head hoping to see the road go round the next hill - and NOT over it! Have reached Burntisland and just got squeezed into a room for the night. I thought all the Brits went abroad for the summer, not to Scotland! Thursday 14th July - Made it to North Berwick and managed to get my tent up in the first bit of rain so far! I then raided my emergency rations of mackerel noodles - Mmmm - NOT! The new photo is of Jock the Gnome (a little garden gnome I found by the road - for when the pic changes) - He was thumbing a lift out of Edinburgh after being involved in the G* protest, the poor little chap hadn't got far with his little legs, so I gave him a lift to the bus stop. He was most pleased. - lol Tomorrow I reach the border at last! - But just look how long the coast of England is!!!!! Friday 15th July - Reached England today - yipee. Just had the best Fish and Chips for a long time. Saturday 16th July - Northumberland is a fantastic surprise. Long stretches of huge sand dunes and timeless villages. So timeless that one cyclist I passed stopped by this wall and hasn't moved since. I was surprised when we started to pass the time of day and she introduced herself! Fred, only Winifred when she wasn't cross-dressing and she was thinking about moving on soon perhaps tag along with me awhile?! Sunday 17th July - Found another ferry thanks to two fellow peddlers who not only let me tag along, they bought me coffee. Thanks you two! Passed through Whitley Bay, Tynemouth and now in camp site South Shields called The Bents!! Um. Monday 18th July - Arrived Newcastle Sunday and to my joy discovered a foot passenger ferry across the Tyne. There's me bike aft deck. Found camp site ok and boy was I relieved. 51 miles into wind and a full load, I was close to dropping! Spent a good evening with motorbiker Chris from The Valleys. Chinese takeaway, bottle red wine and a good crack till midnight! Friday 22th July - Well my lifelong quest to be a little different to other people has led to some strange developments. Had such a bad toothache around Hartlepool that I had to be picked up by two of my sons and driven all the way back to my dentist in Fishguard. The dentist got to the 'root' of my problem by giving me a nice filling. Yesterday my sons and I set off to Lands End in the car, don't worry I am not cheating. I shall now complete my journey by cycling from Lands End to Hartlepool, so don't worry if in future post I seem to be going the wrong way. My sons believe it will be harder now as it's all 'up hill' from Lands End ;) Sunday 24th July - Came across Bodmin Moor in the pouring rain yesterday, it was really tough! A mental battle not to give up as I am constantly anxious cos some drivers need glasses or cateracts removed! Stopped at Oakhampton for lunch, hope to make Exeter next stop. The photo is of what was once the local pig pen but it also makes a good bike stand! Tuesday 26th July - I am now in Glastonbury, town of crystal balls! Talking of balls thought I might fill you in with yesterdays story of balls. Leaving the main roads for a quieter route I followed a B road that went through a place called Red Balls. Um, I thought, interesting address to give out... I think the village had removed its sign though. However, I found the village pub and its name 'The Blue Ball', in the singular of course!!!! Must be on my way now, Internet cafe time is up. Catch you all later and thanks for all donations and messages!!! Friday 29th July - Today I'm pedalling along the fosse the road from Cirencester to Leicester its a bit like cycling over a dragons back. As I was coming through Cirencester yesterday I came across a open air swimming pool - I was the only one there it was great, - a quick hello to the three women who were there. Heading for Leicester today. Sunday 31st July - Thought of you lot back at home when I saw these sun flowers...today is Sunday and I have done sixty miles... into the wind I will add. Yesterday I was witness to three car accidents. Right alongside of me in fact and it shook me up a bit. Have stuck to back-roads today and followed River Trent nearly to Goole. York tomorrow so must do a bit of sightseeing. Campsite tonight is a field belonging to a manor house. It also has a small lake and I am watching a few fellows fishing in the warm evening sun. Thank god I've got a can of cider on board cos there aint a pub for miles. Monday 1st August - arrived in York to discover it was York Day! It's my first visit to York, yet I feel I've been here before... as that roman soldier perhaps? Stuck to the back-roads again today and passed through sleepy villages complete with hollyhock gardens! Got a free big breakfast too today...Thanks Jane. The 3rd and Finishing Day - Done. 1,143 miles. It was 573 miles from John o' to Hartlepool, then 539 up from Lands end. Half 'nd half make a whole! I have legs like a rugby player now and i reckon my leathers will be a bit on the tight side now! Its wednesday mid-day and i am on train home. A bottle or two awaits me back home for tonight and thats after the bubbly! Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeee