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What am I doing?

Cycling the distance from Land's End to John O'Groats on my exercise bike.... in my utility room...in front of the washing machine. I had established that the distance was 1300km but two friends pointed out that this includes motorways and you aren't allowed on those on a bike (thank you Stuart and David) so the distance will be 1475km according to the AA route planner. I intend to do 10km a day and aim to finish in January 2012.  I intend to update this page regularly with photos as I pass places of interest on my journey. I am particularly looking forward to seeing the Angel of the North. I am overweight and desperately unfit and have been using my exercise bike to dry my washing on for the last two years so this is a BIG DEAL for me so please dig deep and donate anything you can afford.

 Why am I doing it?

2012 will be the 50th anniversary year of Elizabeth FitzRoy Support. I have worked for this charity for 5 years managing a care home for people with learning and physical disabilities. Any money raised  will directly benefit the people we support and will  be used to buy Personalized Technology which enables people to live as independently as possible. Sometimes simple pieces of technology can make a huge difference to the quality of life someone with a severe disability can enoy.

Plus I shall be whippet thin by Christmas. Everyone's a winner

 DIARY

Day One: successfully negotiated Misery Mount and steaming towards Penzance

Day Two; 25 km down and 1450 to go. Someone at work asked me if I was going to mirror the terrain and introduce hills etc. The answer Lisa Leverett is "no". I may consider ratcheting up the tension knob on the bike from 2 to 3 at some point north of Birmingham.

Day Three: am entering the Gulval Industrial Estate. It's lovely. I looked on the AA site and apparently this entire journey takes 20 hours and 57 minutes in the car. I'd have finished by now....

Day Four: Did a double shift at work today so just did 5km when I got in to get me clear of the industrial estate

Day Five: Heading up the A30 towards Redruth. They were warning that we may feel the tail end of a hurricane tomorrow. Good job I have a bit of extra weight for stability. I knew it would come in handy

Day Six: I was really cross today and the distance just flew by. I could have gone on to Bodmin. In fact.... I think I might have another go now.This is marvellous. Perhaps I could get somebody to hit me tomorrow - that would really annoy me and I could push on to Exeter.

Day Seven: Have now clocked up 70km and have taken a small detour from the A30 to take a look at a lovely church at St Allen just north of Truro.Sat down by the washing machine with a picnic. Splendid.

Day Eight: have arrived in Chapel Town.I was quite keen to check out the oddly named Gummows Shop, a small hamlet nearby but couldn't resist nipping over to Newquay as the surf was calling. What can I say? I'm an adreniline junkie

Day Nine: I have realized that when I get to 99.99km the counter resets to zero so I will have to take  a photo of it and put it on here. I am currently just outside of Bodmin. Suffered a bit of cramp but maybe from the surfing. I'll get some ointment. Onward to Devon ...

Day Ten: Clocked up my first 100km(photo to be uploaded). Hurrah!

Day Eleven: Spending the night just outside Bolventor which as you will all know was the setting for Jamaica Inn. The name Bolventor apparently means "Bold Venture" so that is clearly very apt.

Day Twelve: Finally crossed into Devon and am just outside Broadwoodwidger. Did an extra 10k today. I think it was the call of the cream tea (see photo)

Day Thirteen: I made the huge mistake of having a look at a map of Britain to see how far I had cycled compared with how far I have to go. Oh dear... I'm on page 3 (not my natural home) of the atlas and finish on page 53.I think I might stop for another cream tea to get over the shock

Day Fouteen: I now have 160km under my belt and am stopping just outside Sticklepath on Dartmoor where they have the very famous Sticklepath Fire Show (no I hadn't heard of it either but it looks splendid- Google it!).

Day Fifteen: I am now on a stretch of the A30 devoid of anything about which to comment, No hamlets, no villages, no nothing. My ankle hurts today. I think I may have the first sports injury of my entire life. Onward to Exeter

Day Sixteen: Bad headache so only managed 5k today

Day Seventeen: I am now at Pathfinder Village which is described on its website as "the loveliest Park Home site in the West Country". High praise indeed

Day Eighteen: Have arrived on the outskirts of Exeter. I used to come shopping here but I haven't really got time today

Day Nineteen: Have left Exeter in the dust and have reached Ottery St Mary which is rightly famous for the Flaming Tar Barrels. Basically this is when people gather in the street with flaming barrels of tar on their heads and run about - no risk assessment needed here. It is absolute madness and simply splendid. Sadly nobody was staggering about aflame this evening so I cycled on by.

Day Twenty: Reached  Honiton. Made myself a little lace antimacassar. Cycled on.

Day Twenty One: Am now in Buckland St Mary heading to Ilminster. It's very beautiful and I am thrilled to have arrived in my third county having left Devon in my dust. I am on Page 6 of the atlas now and heading speedily towards page 7. I lived in Somerset for many years so I feel very at home on pages 6 and 7.

Day Twenty Two: Arrived in Ilminster and already I can hear the call of the Midlands (but in the very,very far distance)

Day Twenty Three: Feeling a little lacking in motivation today but had a team talk from Miss Carol Morley and it made all the difference. I find myself just outside Martock which is on the edge of the Somerset Levels. Levels.... sounds good. Perhaps I'll adjust the tension knob on the bike down a notch or two

Day Twenty Four: Very hot today but pressed on nevertheless and got lost and pulled over to consult the map and have a pint of Pimms ( yes a pint). See new photo. I am this evening in Urgashay and as far as I can find out not very much happens here so I may be the most exciting thing in Urgashay today.

Day Twenty Five: It seems that I have arrrived in Compton Pauncefoot which sounds marvellous. It's still very warm but the Compton Pauncefoot breezes are very refreshing

Day Twenty Six: I have pushed on past Wincanton to Bayford and I can feel Hampshire calling. The hot weather has gone and autumn has returned (see photo -who is that man?)

Day Twenty Seven: Had to rest my hip for a couple of days but all is well now and I have had a recuperative weekend in West Sussex. I am now back in Somerset and am pitching my tent next to the washing machine at Mere. I nealy bought a house here once but I can't remember which one it was

Day Twenty Eight: I am becoming increasingly worried about the lack of aerodynamic capabilities of my coat and hat. I may have to rethink. The leaves aren't helping much either to be honest. Oh well another 10k further on.Splendid.

Day Twenty Nine: Exciting news... everyone who has donated on or offline will be entered into a draw to win a Kindle! How exciting is that? Nearly as exciting as freewheeling through Warminster on my way to see the Westbury White Horse. That's how exciting it is. Oh yes

Day Thirty: Have arrived in West Ashton. Apparently within its parish is Rood Ashton which sounds much more interesting...

Day Thirty One :  Apparently I am in Notton and having checked online I find that nothing seems to happen in Notton. I may be wrong but there it is. 

Day Thirty Two: I am heading up towards the M4 which at last feels like I am going north

Day Thirty Three; I have crossed the M4 and have arrived in Crudwell which is a splendid name for a village. I am very close to Tetbury where royal folk lurk so I ran a duster over the bike and one over myself just in case. I have now completed a quarter of my journey and am getting fitter so will need to keep a careful eye on the speed cameras which are helpfully marked on my map

Day Thirty Four: Feeling the calm breezes of the combined dishwasher and washing machine this evening I moved confidently on from Crudwell and am now passing the Love Lane Industrial Estate on the outskirts of Cirencester. Ah how I remember the Gulval Industrial Estate on Day Three. It's nice to have something to compare it with. I also wish to thank Neil Kay whose company Complete -IT donated the Amazon Kindle to us here at Elizabeth FitzRoy Support. What a splendid gesture.

Day Thirty Five: I have now clocked up over 400km and have reached Bourton -on-the Water in the Cotswolds which is apparently The Heart of England according to their website. Anyway it all looks very hearty to me.

Day Thirty Six: Ah the Cotswold stone... I am heading towards various "Chipping" places. Chipping Camden being one up ahead I think.

Day Thirty Seven: Update on the "whippet thin by Christmas" goal. This is not going so well despite all these efforts. I weighed myself today, against my better inclinations, and found there to be no change. No change! My bike tells me I have burned many thousands of calories, enough for at least two good dinners I'm sure, but I remain resolutely unlike a whippet in so many ways. I have raised the tension knob to number three. And had a pile of meringues  to calm me down. That's better.

Day Thirty Eight: I could have gone on for hours today even though I have ratcheted up the tension. I didn't go on for hours though, just the usual 30 minutes. I am emerging from the Cotswolds now and heading into altogether more gritty terrain.

Day Thirty Nine: I seem to have put a spurt on and have arrived in Warwick. I once had a lovely weekend here and a nice man in tights showed me his kestrel ( he was the falconer at Warwick Castle I should add swiftly). It's a lovely place and warmly recommended. I have received some cycling tips from my brother and have refined my technique which is probably why I have improved my performance. Thanks Stu.

Day Forty: Another day another 10k

Day Forty One: I have reached Balsall Common but as my mother told me never to hang around on the common I have pushed on through. I'm not a fan of Halloween but I thought I should get in the spirit a bit (see new photo)

Day Forty Two: I had to have an enforced absence from the bike yesterday (shame) as I was away for the weekend but have tried to make things up today. My brother , a keen cyclist, told me he had been given some special cycling shoes. I am now worried as I usually do this in my slippers. I think I need to consult a specialist magazine

Day Forty Three: I have now passed the 500km mark! Not too shabby for a fat lass.I have arrived in Sutton Coldfield and have been reliably informed that both Cat Deeley and Dennis Waterman come from here. I suspect they don't live here anymore but I shall keep my eyes peeled.

Day Forty Four: Another day in the saddle. I used to go to a mixed singing /Alexander Technique class where we were always encouraged to locate our "sitting bones" but I never could. Well, I have certainly found them and they seem to be digging right into my saddle. It's good news really....

Day Forty Five: I had a migraine so couldn't be sporty yesterday. Today I seem to have arrived in Burton upon Trent just in time for Bonfire Night (see new photo)

Day Forty Six: I am on my way to Derby. My friend Anne used to have her hair done here. I understand it's the place for a haircut

Day Forty Seven: I have arrived in Derby spurred on by a compilation CD provided by my friend Carol. I could have gone on and on this evening rather than slumping in a heap after 10k which is my usual finale so that has to be a good thing.

Day Forty Eight: I have ploughed on through Derbyshire and have reached Ripley which Benjamin Outram made famous with his  Butterley Ironworks. I have begun to feel  like I am truly making northward progress and am getting my Angel of the North outfit ready. Does anyone have a brown morph suit?

Day Forty Nine: I gently rolled into Chesterfield this evening. My god-daughter Eve asked me if I was intending to go clubbing but I don't really know my way around here. I've heard that there's something called Total Disko at Escapade but I've never been a fan of amusin' spellin' so I'm not going to bother

Day Fifty: What can one say about tree lined Nether Edge? Nothing.

Days Fifty One, Two and Three: Had a bit of computer trouble and then got a bit confused about where I was ( you know when you go upstairs and then can't remember why well I did that on a grander scale and went to Sheffield but wasn't quite sure why, when or how). ANYWAY  -all is well now and I am between Barnsley and Wakefield. I will soon be at the half way mark and will celebrate with something appropriate like a large piece of cake. I went passed Holmfirth where they filmed Last of the Summer Wine but was disappointed not to see elderly men racing downhill in a tin bath or something similar. Maybe I am the curious sight  round these parts nowadays.... Now  there's a thought.

Day Fifty Four: I have arrived in Pontefract. Apparently Pontefract's deep, sandy soil makes it one of the few British places where Liquorice can be successfully grown. And I thought it grew on trees. You learn something new each day. Today I have also learned that Christmas is just around the corner so I think I shall be posting a festive photo anytime soon.....

Day Fifty Five: I slowly cycled into Tadcaster this evening. I am nursing another sports related injury as I  sustained a badly bruised toe when I fell over one of the stabilizers on the bike whilst negotiating my route around a small pile of washing. Unfortunately this is an occupational hazard and I won't make an issue of it. I am very close to half way (ONLY HALF WAY!!!) . OMG as the young people would say. However I am getting excited about meeting The Angel of the North in the next couple of weeks. I have decided to press on regardless of the pain. My whippet thin-ness has taken another backwards step due to my inability to refuse a large helping of pizza and a considerable amount of cake. I did do 20km this evening but I think it probably needed to be 200km to redress the balance. Oh dear....

Day Fifty Six: There has been a server problem at Just Giving so I am combining a couple of days and find I have passed York over my right shoulder and am in Easingwold.

Day Fifty Seven: I am on the outskirts of Thirsk and it has been something of a supreme effort to stay on the bike with all these gales. I am glad I didn't put a spurt on and reach Scotland as my delicate, whippet thin frame would give me no stability in these exceptional conditions....   

 Day Fifty Eight: I have pushed on past Thirsk. It's getting very busy with all the Christmas shoppers on the road

Day Fifty Nine:  Heading up to Cleveland Tontine near Northallerton. I once fell off a dance floor near Northallerton and hurt my ankle. I hope I don't get flashbacks

Day Sixty: Well I have taken something of a break recently so this is now the second stage of my tour, rather like the Tour de France - only not really like it at all. I'm disappointed that my honed racing physique has taken something of a battering over the Christmas period and I'm struggling to cover the distance but cover it I shall. Somehow... I shall also arrange for a different photo to be posted as I do believe Christmas has been and gone. Just like me on the road - a blur of saddle and handle bar in front of the washing machine

Day Sixty One: It's easier said than done to get back in the saddle but I have and am now heading north with renewed vigour. I have negotiated the Tees Viaduct which is a six lane dual carriageway and there's little me on me bike.Heavens.

Day Sixty Two: I am approaching Wingate and despite my best investigative efforts I can find nothing to say about it. I feel in my heart of hearts it must be delightful but it's a hidden kind of beauty. I now have The Angel of the North fully in my sights and am already thinking ahead to Scotland so as long Mr Salmond doesn't cast it adrift from the UK in the next couple of weeks I shall enter it with all tartan flying

Day Sixty Three: I am heading past Sunderland and marching, in a manner of speaking, towards Jarrow.

Day Sixty Four and Sixty Five: I have a week off work and so am trying to take things up a few gears. I have tweaked the tension knob and have sailed past The Angel of the North and am setting up camp this evening near to Seaton Delaval.

Day Sixty Six: The tension knob is set to Warp Factor 6 and I have speedily arrived in Morpeth. I used to pass through here on the train on my way to university and often wondered what it was like.Well, Morpeth is the county town of Northumberland apparently. They had a big flood here in 2008 which is a coincidence as I think my washing machine has a small flood of its own which is very worrying as I don't want to be washed away.... 

Day Sixty Seven: I am quite close to Alnwick. I've wanted to visit here for ages so this is a particular treat even in this very cold weather.I have taken a new photo which captures the snow-capped Northumbian peaks in ironing form (green clothes at the bottom and white things at the top). I may have to forsake a day's cycling to actually do the ironing rather than create sculptures with it.

Day Sixty Eight: I am entering the Northumberland National Park/ Kielder Forest Park. I came here once on a mercy dash and arrived by train at Newcastle station and took a cab to the Kielder Forest which cost over £250.00 as I recall. I also recall how very beautiful it was through the cab window as I listened to the cab driver telling me about his various relatives one by one. Happy days. The main news of the day, however, is that I can almost see the border into Scotland and will either be there tomorrow or the day after. Better get my tartan ready for a new photo. Will this pleasure never end?

Day Sixty Eight: still slogging through the Kielder Forest. It's getting hilly and I'm really tired

Day Sixty Nine: not in the Big Brother house but Day Sixty Nine ploughing up towards Scotland. I fear I have been over ambitios thinking I would reach Scotland in two days when I'm doing a double shift at work but it's fast becoming a reality. Maybe Monday.....

Days Seventy, Seventy One and Seventy Two: I have been too bust to update recently but rest assured I have reached Scotland ( see photo). The call of the deep fried pizza is very strong now and I am heading north at a furious rate. There was a study this week that said you only need to do 3 minutes exercise a week but I think I need to do more as despite the pedalling I have been mainlining chocolate buttons which is very very bad.

Days Seventy Three/Four/Who Knows Really: I have been unable to update my page at home (not that I am at home of course) as my computer either has Man Flu or possibly something worse. However the good news is that I have completed over 1000km and  am currently on the Forth Road Bridge leaving Edinburgh behind and heading north. I shall wave fondly in the general direction of St Andrews, my old university town as I go by. I was asked today if I am still enjoying this experience and the answer is a resolute NO. My motivation is on the floor, under the washing machine, with all the bits of fluff. Nice

Day Eighty Something - a while later: I have set myself a deadline of 21.4.12 to finish this as otherwise I fear it will go on for the rest of my life. I am now going to try and capture the remaining distance in this blog so you can all live it with me. I find that I am currently crossing the Cromarty Firth on my way to Evanton. I have negotiated the Cairngorms and I didn't even notice although I did put my vest back on. I now have 1270 km under my wheels and have two weeks to cycle the remaining 210. Easy

Day Eighty Twelvety: I am in the vicinty of Glen Morangie so I may have to nip off for a rather enormous dram. I am speeding into Tain which looks very nice. I have renewed enthusiasm for this as the end draws near. I am having to make up some ground as I missed a day out the other day as I was otherwise engaged in working for a living and sleeping

Day Ninety and Then Some: I have of late been slogging my way up the A9. The nice weather chappie on Radio 4 told me to watch out for snow so I have been very vigilant but nothing to report so far. I am now 3 km from John O' Groats. I am saving the last 3 so that I can celebrate the finish line with friends and much champagne. So that's tomorrow. It's like waiting for Christmas Day...

 The Last Hurrah: I finally reached the journey's end at John O'Groats on 21.4.12 as planned and celebrated with friends and much champagne ( too much really and definitely not recommended just prior to finishing the final 3km - oh well you live and learn).

 I have realized the following things during this enterprise:

1. I have a deep rooted sense of symmetry as I always made sure I did exactly 10, 15 ,20 or 25 km so I could leave the bike with a nice round figure showing on its dials. The very thought of finishing on  a 47 or 89 was difficult, if not impossible, for me

2. Just because you cycle quite a lot for quite a while you do not necessarily become as thin as a whippet. This realization was quite disappointing

3. Cycling in the same room is actually quite dull some of the time

4. I now want to visit in reality some of the places I have visited virtually - I am particularly drawn to Gummows Shop, Sticklepath ( to see the fire doo-hickey), Pontefract and of course The Angel of the North.

Now all that is left to do is to thank everyone who donated money and supported me along the way. I   particularly want to thank Anne, Eve, Ed, Stu, Carol, Dave and Kathryn who helped me celebrate crossing the finish line (video of this momentous event to be posted on here very soon). We did a draw for the Kindle and this was won by Tim Welton. Well done Tim!

The money raised will really help us so well done all of you - and well done all of me (slightly less of me now than there was before - hurrah!) 

Simone

PS: BREAKING NEWS!! Tim Welton very generously asked us to re-draw for the Kindle and it has now been won ( and taken home!) by Claire Barrett - one of the wonderful Support Workers at Wensum Way .