Maybe cycling 1176 miles for my 80th birthday is a dumb idea, but anyway I'm committed now. Barry and I plan to cycle 40 miles a day, I think we can manage that, even with camping gear -  providing we've got all day to do it. Remembering the name of the next town or village we'll going through might be a bit more problematic for me - but it's all in the Sustrans book anyway. We have booked most of the campsites. This is in memory of lost cycling friends, in Particular Dave McArthur and Neil Smith. (I'm also raising money for The Woodland Trust, see: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising-edit/harry-henniker)

It's going to be tough in Devon, but we will provide updates as we go where we have internet access. If you think that Sustrans is a good cause I'd be grateful if you'd sponsor me. I'm planning a nice surprise for everyone who does sponsor me, but more of that later. If you would like details about the route see below.......

The Route: Lands End, Redruth, Bude, Barnstable, Taunton, Wells,
Bristol, Gloucester, Worcester, Ironbridge, Nantwich, Northwich,
Manchester, Bury, Whalley, Gressingham, Kendal, Orton, Appleby, Penrith, Carlisle, Gretna, Annan, Castle Douglas, Newton Stewart, Crosshill, Troon, Isle of Arran, Port Askaig, Isle of Jura, Colonsay, Oban, South Uist, North Uist, Harris, Stornoway, Ullapool, Ledmore, Lairg, Tongue, Thurso, John 'O Groats.

Campsite list (Google) (provisional in italics) (Hotels etc underlined)
Trevessa Farm 24 and 25 May - Come to Good Farm 26 May - Higher
Lanhainsworth 27 May - Kitsham Farm 28 May - Marshford Camping 29 May - 4 Ponds Fishery 30 May - Folletts Farm 31 May - Pine Tree Farm 1 June - Radisson Blu Hotel Bristol 2 June - Elm Farm 3 June - Brimary House 4 June  - Ironbridge YHA 5 June - Antrobus Arms 6 June - Manchester homestay 7 June -  Manchester YHA 8 June - Caravan & Camping Club, Clitheroe 9 June - Low Greenlands
Holiday Park 10 June - Greengill House 11 June - Broom Fisheries 12 June - Dundeugh 13 June - Lochside Caravan Park, Castle Douglas 14 June - The Bruce Hotel, Newton Stewart 15 June - The Walled Garden, Crosshill 16 June - Glenburn Dairy, Troon 17 June - Lochranza Campsite 18 June - Isle of Jura campsite 19 - 21 June - Oban SYHA 22 June - Croft no 2, Eoligarry, Isle of Barra 23 June - beach camping in South Uist/Benbecula/North Uist/Harris/Lewis - Laxdale Bunkhouse, Stornoway - Broomfield Camping Park, Ullapool - Elphin/Ledmore, not known - Pondside Camping, nr Lairg - Windhaven Cafe and Camping, nr Thurso.

Update 25th May 2022

Dave Henniker updating on behalf of my brother. Harry is currently cycling to Lands End having left his luggage back at the first campsite at Trevessa Farm. More updates soon and hopefully photos.

27th May 2022

Now at Truro accompanied by friend Barry. Photo shows Truro cathedral in the distance.

1st June 2022

"Arrived at Bridgewater, sore backsides at present! Nice ride along
Taunton to Bridgewater Canal but bumpy. Weather mostly ok fortunately. Pressing on."

This is a picture of us at Pine Tree Farm, near Wookey Hole. A big hill tomorrow then Bristol. No serious problems so far!

6th June 2022

"We are ok, had some rain, heavy overnight, Barry's tent leaked. Just left Ironbridge and are currently approaching Manchester where we will stay with Elaine's daughter one night. My phone was discharged and no electricity at campsite."

8th June 2022

We have just left Carolyn's and are now at Manchester youth hostel
intending an early start tomorrow to get to Clitherow, 40 miles and
hilly.

We hope to meet her as she finishes work then all get the train with bikes to her house. Currently camped near a pub called the Antrobus Arms so we will be in there shortly. Looked at an old village called Great Budworth, which apparently was used in the film War of the Worlds. Been dry but cloudy today, not much wind.

Barry's sent a few of his [photos], the one of me pushing the bike up a rough track is today, north of Manchester. The one with a railway line is The Severn Valley Railway.

Now at Clitherow, it did rain a bit in the afternoon but not much. Starting to hit hills again. Forest of Bowland tomorrow. I'll send you a picture.

(from Barry)
Harry asked me to send you a few pics for the website. See attached. We are currently in Clithero in Bowland Brewery pub, nice beer!

Update 12th June 2022
Now in Scotland

13th June 2022 - Email from Harry to Dave

Ok, [photos] out of sequence doesn't matter too much. At Dundeugh this evening, sleep in a bed again. Camping hasn't been too bad for sleeping but we both find it hard sitting on the ground to eat breakfast. There have been strong winds last day or two as we moved from Borwick to Penrith to Scotland but fortunately behind us mostly. Quite difficult with gusty winds from the side. Occasional showers but now it's drying up and sunny tomorrow, wind a lot less. We are being met by some friends who are taking the train to Dumfries. Barry is having to leave me early in about a week as otherwise he might be stranded by the train strike. I'll attach a couple more photos. Thanks for all the work you are doing on Just Giving! (Ironbridge YH and a canal near Bury.) 15th June 2022 Got to Newton Stewart at 7pm, puncture at the start (not me) but I did lose my hearing aid but found it again in the grass. The photo is Barry at our campsite in Castle Douglas and Gravestones by Loch Ken. Another tough day but it's becoming routine now 17th June 2022 Said goodbye to Barry in a very wet Ayr, it's drying up now though and I'm in Troon. Arran tomorrow hopefully. 18th June 2022 That's good, camped in Lochranza on Arran now, arrived half hour ago. Had a needed coffee after the big hill. There's internet here so I should be able to send you some photos later. Off to Islay tomorrow. It's been very windy here just had a rain shower but it's clearing up. I'm camped at Lochranza camp site, good facilities, cooking on the tent tonight. 19th June 2022 Also windy here, gusts make it difficult sometimes. Arrived late at the campsite. Apparently they do have internet but just pitched, not checked in so will find the code tomorrow. I am in Islay near Port Charlotte, great view over the sea. Here 3 days no ferry to Oban until later. 20th June 2022 I am now in Islay at a lovely campsite at Port Charlotte. A great view from the tent and can get my stuff washed and phone charged up. Good showers and internet too, even a restaurant. Clouding up at the moment, still windy. Had a short cycle today to a nature reserve, no luggage! From Barry "Yes, I'm heading south now, unfortunately (on the train now). I arrived in Ed friday evening and stayed the weekend with a friend. I was planning more local friend visits today/tomorrow and a train down south on Wed (a non strike day) but the national rail web site wouldn't allow any bookings at all for Wed so im taking the train today. I did have withdrawal symptoms Fri/Sat after leaving the cycling and looking at Harry's sunny Islay pics is giving me more :-)" 21st June 2022 I get the 12.05 ferry tomorrow, 22nd, from Port Askaig (Islay) to Oban, arriving at 16.10. Stay in Oban YH. Next day (23rd) I catch a ferry at lunch time (nothing earlier) from Oban to Barra. (The ferry from Oban doesnt go to South Uist) This arrives at 6pm, so I miss the last ferry from Barra to South Uist (actually Eriskay). I will cycle to the ferry terminal for the small ferry to Eriskay and camp there. Next morning I will catch the 7am ferry to Eriskay, cycle over the causeway to South Uist then cycle to North Uist (about 50 miles). Assuming I start cycling at 8am and average 10mph and take an hour for lunch I should arrive mid afternoon.. 22nd June 2022 At Oban, a sort of scotch mist day, a damp 20 mile cycle to the ferry from Islay to Oban. Ferry from Oban to Barra a lunch time. Internet here so I'll send some photos later. Seeing Elaine day after tomorrow in North Uist, hopefully. A 50 mile cycle but not very hilly hopefully. Some more photos. Harbour village is Portnahaven Islay, plus view from my tent Islay. 23rd June 2022 Not misty but dry and cloudy, no wind so an improvement. My ferry is 1230 from Oban, gets in to Barra about six, which is too late for me to get a ferry to the next island north (South Uist). Frustratingly Elaine will actually be there but by the time I actually get there, she'll be pedalling to North Uist on her electric bike, so I'll have to catch up. I'll be catching the 7am ferry which will help. I'll be in Stornoway eventually, but just going there to get back to the mainland for the final stretch. 24th June 2022 I'm in N Uist, going to meet Elaine and Sue in their B&B shortly, I'm  eating with them there. Just turned sunny, nice beach with white sand at my campsite and only a mile to Elaine. I cycled from Barra to here in 5 hours, tailwind. Sunshine and showers next few days, more sun than rain I hope, rainbows! 27th June 2022 Just left Tarbert at 1pm. Trying to get to Stornoway today as the forecast very wet tomorrow. Cycled from Leverburgh to Stornoway today I don't normally go so far but the weather is awful tomorrow so I thought I'd just better get it over with. Fortunately I had a 15mph tail wind which blew me along. Wet morning, sunny afternoon. 1st July 2022 Now on the north coast of Scotland at Bettyhill. 2nd July 2022 The final day tomorrow! I'm at Sandra's Backpackers in Thurso, basic but with everything I need. A quick dash to John o Groats tomorrow and train at 06.50 on Monday to Inverness. Next leg has no bike spaces but lady thought they'd let me on. If not may have to wait. 3rd July 2022 Arrived at John o' Groats And it didn't rain for a change. See the gallery of photos!