Ken Grigor
Ken's Parkinson's page
Fundraising for Parkinson’s UK
Story
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Now that I have retired as a Hospital Pathologist, I am in training for my next project which will be to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats, starting on Friday 4th June and hopefully arriving at John O'Groats on Thursday 17th June 2010, if all goes well. This will be quite an task for an old age pensioner, and I feel that I should use this opportunity to raise sponsorship money for a worthy charity. I have friends and a family member who have developed Parkinson's disease and I know what an effect this condition has on otherwise fit and healthy people. I would like to raise money to support a Parkinson's Disease Charity, and I believe that Parkinson's UK (formerly Parkinson's Disease Society) is a worthy cause, and I hope you will sponsor me and donate to this charity.
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Wednesday 2nd June
Well folks – the adventure has begun. We left Edinburgh on Wednesday and arrived in Cornwall. All set to leave Land's End on Friday.
Friday 4th June
First leg successfully completed. Hot sunny weather and favourable breeze.
Land's End to Liskeard 78 miles, 6hrs cycling. Didn't realise Cornwall was so hilly! Total ascent over 6000ft and now I'm feeling a bit tired.
Saturday 5th June
Liskeard to Tiverton - 65 miles Sunny and cool. Cornwall and Devon still hilly, and cycling not helped by a brisk headwind. Over 5,500 feet total ascent and the "saddle area" is a bit tender. Accommodation half a mile up a 17% hill so I walked the last bit! Sunday 6th June Tiverton to Bristol - 72 miles: cloudy and warm with a brisk wind variable in direction but seemed to be mainly an annoying headwind. Parts of the journey was relatively flat and "only" climbed 3,000 feet. Monday 7th June Cloudy and cool with the first outbreak of a passing shower. The flattest day so far from Bristol to Worcester 62 miles along the A38 which was quite busy but OK for cycling. Less than 2,000 feet total climb, but need lots of chamois cream and Arran Aromatic lotion for "tired skin". Forecast for heavy rain tomorrow.Tuesday 8th June – Day 5
Worcester to Whitchurch: 74 miles. Cool wet and miserable – made full use of wet weather gear. Busy roads and still with a constant head wind. Quite flat for much of the route but still managed to climb 3464 feet. Chamois cream and Arran lotion helping the saddle area which is feeling much better.
Wednesday 9th June – day 6
Whitchurch to Prescott: Shortest leg of the trip – only 43 miles and less than 3 hours cycling. Total climb of 1500 feet not too taxing. Busy roads but good for cycling. Started cool, moist, and cloudy but soon cleared up. I’m getting a bit annoyed with that pesky headwind. Saddle area feel not too bad. Arrived at good friends Hope and John in plenty of time to have a few hands of bridge in the afternoon and well into the evening.
Thursday 10th June – day 7.
Prescott to Killington half way there: Cool dry and cloudy. 80 miles started off flat but quite a climb at the end up to Killington: total climb for the day 3000 feet. Strong northerly head wind constant for whole of the 80 miles and I’m getting annoyed by it because the prevailing wind is supposed to be south westerly blowing from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Over Shap tomorrow which is quote high, and the forecast is dry but persisting northerly wind.
Friday 11th June – Day 8. Killington – 66 miles. Sunny and cool cycling over Shap (1,400 ft) along A6 which is a good road because most of the traffic is on the motorway. The brisk northerly head wind is still in my face but not as strong as yesterday. Reached early in the afternoon but still about 400 miles to go. Saturday 12th June – Day 9. to Cumnock 70 miles. Joined by Neal, Lorna and John, all serious cyclists with super-duper light weight racing bikes. Jackie, my invaluable support, is off to for baby-sitting duties for the next 2 days so I have to carry a very heavy pannier today and tomorrow. The youngsters took the lead cutting through the persisting northerly head wind which meant I had an easier time at the back of the peleton. I managed quite well on the flat and downhill, but struggled uphill. Sunday 13th June – Day 10. Cumnock to Balloch 56 miles mainly in the rain. Cool wet and misty but at long last a very welcome tail wind. Neal with me again today giving tremendous support and encouragement, and cutting through the wind in front of me to help me to keep up. Still struggling with the heavy pannier. Reached Erskine bridge just before lunch time and was delight to be met with a family reception committee of Jackie, Hilary and 5 grandchildren with a “Well Done” banner on the bridge. Lovely to be back in home territory, and looking forward to the final stint of 4 days in the Scottish hillsMonday 14th June – Day 11.
Balloch to Fort William 82 miles. Warm sunny dry day. Swirly brisk wind but unfortunately mainly back to a northerly head wind. Flat cycling along the main road up the west side of Loch Lomond: good road with cycle lane on much of the road. Quite a climb up to Crianlarich, across Rannoch Moor, and up to the East side of Glencoe. Wonderful 8 mile run down to Glencoe village. Good flat road to Fort William although narrow, busy and lots of bends.
Tuesday 15th June – Day 12.
Fort William to Killen (Black Isle above Fortrose). Another day of 82 miles. Climb up to Spean Bridge, but relatively flat along the Lochs of the Great Glen/ Caledonian Canal. No problem through Inverness but the dual carriageway of the A9 ( after crossing the Kessock Bridge) was very busy and not cycle friendly. There is a cycle track, apparently, but I could not find it. Sunny and cool with a mild to moderate breeze, variable in direction which was annoying when hitting me full frontal, but great when it was blowing me from behind. Two shorter days to go with not much climbing, and will be cycling with Alec to keep me company. He’s very fit and also has one of these light weight speedy racing bikes. It will be good for him to show a bit of respect to his elderly companion and slow down to my pace.
Wednesday 16th June – Day 13.
Killen to Brora – 53 miles. Best day yet! Warm and sunny with mainly a following tail wind. Alec in front all of the way to take the wind . Mainly flat after a steep climb up Mount Eagle. A9 quite busy but good for cycling.
Thursday 17th June – Day 14.
Brora to John O’Groats – Arrived at last: great trip. Last leg was 63 miles accompanied by Alec who kept me going with constant encouragement, and slowed down to my pace. Weather ideal at start: sunny and warm with brisk tail wind. Then we hit the cold haar, and soon it was lashing down. A few nasty hills for the last day but a welcome downhill run to the end. The ever faithful Jackie was waiting for us at the end, and she was a lovely sight to see. No cycling tomorrow, and not yet thinking of the next challenge. Many thanks to Jackie who made the whole trip possible, and to all of our friends and family who were a tremendous throughout.