Peter Miles
Peter's John O'Groats to Land's End Adventure
Fundraising for Royal Marines Benevolent Fund
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my John O'Groats to to Adventure page.
Well I’ve done it, John O'Groats to on a bike and what an experience; rain, wind, some sun, near misses with HGVs and more rain.
Starting from John O'Groats and going south is not the conventional way for an “End to End” ride, but who cares about conventional.
The first 4 days convinced Ketan, my riding partner, and I that having a strong head wind is not the quickest way to pedal a bike, even more so when the wind is blowing very wet rain into your face! Thank God for drying rooms in the youth hostels we stayed in.
After a very hard ride through Glen Coe down to Dumbarton, the weather and our mood improved and by the time we crossed the English border near the sun was making a show. Although that day was blighted by two rear punctures to my trusted bike.
Progress over Shap and then across the Pennines was good with even the wind pushing us along; our first week ended in Leeds, home town of . By now we were veterans and doing 65 plus miles a day was not a problem but again a spate of 3 punctures to Ketan’s bike turned a nice day sour, cured only by a new set of tyres.
Strangely as we headed south and through the centre of (Fenny Drayton) the terrain became hillier, some short and steep, others a shallow gradient but a few miles long.
Once in we seemed to be either going up or down, never along fast flat straights but the end was in sight so to speak and not too soon as we were both getting fed up with fried breakfasts, energy drinks and chewy bars!
However, right on time, injury free and with our families to greet us, we made Land’s End two weeks and 1,033 miles from our start.
All those below were generous to give me cash on the ride!
Mr Kent at Southampton Airport, Sarah the air Hostess on the BMI flight to Edinburgh, Jake and Jamie two West Country fireman doing Jogle (camping!), the nice couple in Wetherspoons in Wick, unidentified man in Wetherspoons in Wick, Joanna Geddes Highland Hospice Charity shop Wick, Mr & Mrs Baker in Fort William, Mr McDonald in Fort William, Mr Eric Andrew Glen Coe Youth Hostel, Jane Bunce, Virginia Player, Mrs Langley in Glastonbury, Mrs Kate Irving and Mrs Olive Irving in Exeter, Paul, Sandra and Jess at Tapton Lock Chesterfield, unidentified lady in a car near Fenny Drayton, unidentified young man. Rosemary carter and Anne Hodson (from the ), all outside the Roman baths in , Andy Pickett manager of lo Giannis in Kendal, Nigel the manager of The Original Pasty House in Tavistock for our breakfast, unidentified lady in Tavistock, Mrs Northam and the crew at Tavistock, Mr Nash in Chagford, Mr Austin in Lostwithiel, Mrs Husband and Mrs Robinsure, thank you to you all.
WHY DONATE? My ride is self funded so all that you donate will go to the Royal Marine Benevolent Fund (less JustGiving's small fee) . Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe – they never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, the JustGiving send your money directly to the Benevolent Fund and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity. So please dig deep and donate now. Thank you.