Lands End to John O Groats My experiences By Gary Cure age 21 and a half

Dear All

A brief monologue and reflection of the trip and learning, please click on the photos to have a peek, im only allowed to upload a few. Firstly thank you all for your kind support, wise words and friendship over the last few weeks, it has meant alot and driven me on.

Well most of you know I originally set out to JOG via train on the 6th May with a plan to head south taking 2 weeks, unfortunately on reflection i was not prepared enough from a mental perspective to undertake this challenge on my own, having arrived at Inverness with no sleep the whole challenge seemed far to great, causing me to have a bit of a mental meltdown, take flight and sanctuary back home, albeit after a 13 hour train journey. On arriving home and over the next few days (with my panniers still packed) I was not particularly nice to live with. I went out a couple times on the bike, once to the station. On the 12th May I set off from home (unannounced) with the plan to try and get the train to Dorchester and cycle home, if not Dorchester then Castle Carey  or even Penzance which was only six hours by train away compared to 24hrs. Good lessons here about preparing oneself on all levels for this challenge....

I made Penzance and Lands End on the 13th May, my mindset was to cycle each day, realising that a train station was never to far away. My second goal was to get to Bristol or Exeter and either cycle home or train it back. All went well on the bike over those first few days. I really enjoyed the physical challenge of the Cornish and Devon hills. Off the bike was not so great, nobody to share those climbs with or have a joke or moan with. So a new strategy was born "just cycle more miles". I also took more time to talk to others and generally slow down, even fixing a couple bikes on the way, "Good cycling karma". It was great to hear peoples epic end to end adventures, meeting some walkers, a couple and a scotsman who is still out there as i write this. I had one sketchy moment for about half an hour on reaching Bristol but after a coffee and getting out of the rain i pushed onto Gloucester with a continued mindset of taking each day as a seperate ride.

Cycling through England was great, Cumbria particularly, very isolated in the fells crossing Shap. My biggest reflection was how lucky we are to live where we do, i saw quite alot of empty shops/towns and empty looking people. The trip into Scotland was initially isolating until i got near Hamilton and Glasgow. Mark joined me for " A couple of days" here but stayed for 5, he either liked Scotland or was escaping decorating duties.....naughty boy. This said it was great to share the Scottish part with him and Laura who joined us for a day from Inverness. Scotland and the Highlands talk for themselves, this is somewhat enhanced on a bike, you really appreciate the colours, hills and downhills. Surprisingly my best cycle day was across Glasgow alongside the Clyde and Canals into Loch Lomand and alongside the Loch to Bridge of Orchy in the mountains before Glen Coe. If you pass this area take a look at the railway station which doubles as bunk style accommodation. We were given a great welcome there and its in a terrific place frequented mostly by walkers on the west highland way. I was due to share a bunk room with about 8 people but had to ask Mark to sleep with him in the van (again) after encountering the worst snoring ever.....In fact i think we spent at least three nights together in the van:) old habits!!

North of Glen Coe and into the Highlands the countryside turned more into heathland, we reached Brora on the penultimate day. Here we celebrated with a nice B&B and haggis and a cocktail chosen by each other. I ended up with a Loch Ness monster cocktail and spent that evening visiting the toilet being sick, not good preparation for a 100k last day on an empty stomach and cramping guts... The last day was also like cycling in a tunnel as the area was covered in sea/land fog which lifted for a bit when we reached JOG. A few nice hills and head winds also tested my resolve, almost as if the cycling gods were testing me to the end:)

So in all a great trip and challenge 967 miles in 11 days averaging 88 miles a day. 

Would I do it again? Not alone i dont think, sharing the experiences is much better, having said that i have learnt a great deal about myself and how to approach this sort of challenge which would have not been the case if i was in a group.. Mark has commented about doing it on a postbike..... Id join him.

So where/when will the next challenge be?? Im not sure but be assured there will be one:)

Thanks for taking time to read this and supporting this great charity which is making a difference to peoples lives in North Dorset. If you can make a donation please do, i promise any monies will be put to great use.

Bye for Now

Gary XX