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This the third year that I've done a bike ride to raise money for the National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease. I crossed Canada two years ago on my own, I did an organised charity ride London to Paris last year and this year I'm cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats on my own camping/sleeping rough as I go.

You're probably getting fed up me asking for your money again, but please give if you can, the cause is a good one.

22 June 10.30 - Home! The train was making a stop at Stevenage so was collected from there. Train was delayed as they had to throw a drunk off at Doncaster!

21 JUNE 2pm - ARRIVED AT JOHN O'GROATS! Will be coming home tomorrow - 2 days early! Staying in Wick overnight ready to get on train at 8.20 in the morning.

21 June - stayed in Helmsdale last night. 55 miles to do. Did 80 miles yesterday - was exhausted at 5pm after 55 miles, stopped had meal, coffee and Mars bar then kept going and got second wind.Planned to camp but raining so stayed in Youth Hostel dormitory. Old fashioned town with harbour and beach.

20 June - Spent last night at a b&b  in Drumnadrochit on Loch Ness 12 miles from Inverness. On very last push of the pedal felt something pull in left leg so have been massaging it and putting Deep Heat on. Hopefully will be ok if take today steady. 119 miles to go! Am one day ahead of schedule so can take it a bit easier. Says he thinks he saw my Mother swimming in Loch Ness!

19 June - Left at 8.45 this morning and went through Fort Augustus where there were loads of coaches and foreign tourists and a man playing the bagpipes. Aiming for Inverness.

18 June - making steady progress. Weather lovely and beautiful scenery. Lots of sporting activities taking place on the lochside. Staying in Clan McDuff hotel in Fort WIlliam. (updated Saturday) Had a room next to Reception and when the receptionist went home and switched out the lights, the lights in the room went out too. No working shower and missed the football (comment from Janet - wish I had!). Traffic still worrying . .

17 June -  Best day yet.  Did 75 miles today and felt really good. Took Ferry from Gouroch to Dunoon.  Final bit of the day should have taken 1 and half hours based on average speed but did it in one hour. However narrow escape on a narrow road from two trucks very close together. One went by very quickly and quite close, and the second was even closer - scary.  In a Youth Hostel in a shared room but have ear plugs at the ready.

16 June - survived the night sleeping rough! Ate a vast breakfast in a cafe (having asked for a full breakfast but not sure what to expect!) so was feeling a little queasy cycling after all the fat content! Target of 60 miles today but have done 75. Now in Kilmarnock (outskirts)  for the night at the Portmann Hotel - quite basic and have been given a 'quiet' room away from the Country and Western evening taking place tonight!. Without wishing to go on about it am completely knackered from the strong headwinds. Weather today has been lovely - sunshine!

15 June - update -  5.20pm today crossed into Scotland! Left Ambleside this morning, went through Kirkstone Pass towards Ullswater - sounded very out of breath when he phoned pushing the bike up through Kirkstone. Weather sunny, headwind of 10mph. 482 mile mark passed this morning, which is half way. 5.20pm today crossed into Scotland! Left Ambleside this morning, went through Kirkstone Pass towards Ullswater - very out of breath from pushing the bike up through Kirkstone. Weather sunny, headwind of 10mph. 482 mile mark passed this morning, which is half way. 10.45pm - am kipping down in a field under a hedge about a mile from Annan

14 June lunchtime - 450 miles done so far. Decision now whether to cycled through scenic Lake District or go via Kendall. Weather permanently overcast, no sun, cloudy and rain. Shoes still soaked and smelly from yesterday!

13 June - Stayed overnight with sister and husband in Bristol on Thursday so good sleep, well fed and did some laundry! Saturday night (12th) stayed in grim pub (Chorley) - bed and no breakfast, loud karaoke until 2am, screws in the bathroom wall where shelf should have been, old (1970s) carpet on floor, no sheets on bed, loo seat fell off, BUT - tea and coffee making in room! Did 79 miles so have caught up on schedule. Still constant headwind so losing 20% of distance despite pedalling hard. Similar average mile to Canadian trip and feel similar too, but getting fitter.

Day 5 (11 June) - Minehead - going is much slower than hoped for. Many stones in tyres so when pulled one out today it had gone right through - another puncture. Whilst on phone he noticed a thorn in one of the tyres - yet another puncture to mend. May go as far as Ross on Wye tonight if ok to continue cycling another 3 hours. 8.30 pm in B&B not sure where but into Herefordshire

Day 4 (10 June) - 8.45 this morning - outside bike shop in Minehead waiting for them to open to hopefully get wheel repaired.  Reviewing  route to keep to main roads and reduce number of punctures.

Day 3 (9 June) - . Another puncture resulted in a buckled wheel. Relentless hills - 1 in 4 gradient, improving to 1 in 8. Now behind schedule.

Day 2 (8 June) - cycled until 7.30pm and then stopped at B&B. Only did 45 miles and had another puncture during the day. Booked breakfast for 6.30am tomorrow to make up mileage. Decided to stick to A39 - hills still steep but without the bends. Weather good all day .....

Day 1 (7 June)  -  Arrived at Treyarnon YHA about 5 miles from Padstow - it's right on the beach. Long hard day, 3 punctures, loads of steep hills, rain continuous. Knackered.

Day 0 ( 6 June) - loaded car and put bike on back, left home just after 6.30am. Were stopped by armed police in one of the back roads near Paddington Station. Arrived at train, loaded bike and then was told could not take bike on train as maximum number of bikes already on. After phone call from platform manager raced to front of train to put bike in machine room. Was luckier than the couple who were not allowed on the train at all with their bikes! The 8am Paddington to Penzance, calling at each and every station on the way by the look of it, left on time.  Tonight's accommodation is in Youth Hostel in Penzance. 

 

 

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