Latest from the handlebars

News from the road as Rob (the webmaster) & Jon ride LEJOG

Train from Birmingham, via Bristol, to Penzance and cycle to Land's End on Sunday 6 June 2010 : on the road from Monday 7 June 2010 - arrived at John O'Groats on Saturday 19 June 2010

The messages below were all transmitted during the trip - e-mailed direct to the website.

 

HEADWIND for 24 miles - but at least it's flat so far today!

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From Rob's handlebars

In Golspie for lunch - it's 1245 but no signal so sent later - another bacon & brie baguette!
Still the relentless headwind. :-( ..but glorious sunshine.

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From Rob's handlebars

The best laid plans...
We thought today would be a nice, easy pootle of 56 miles. However, a fierce headwind made life much tougher. Still averaged over 12 mph though.
More gorse, foxgloves, Scottish bluebells (we didn't go in and out of them), oystercatchers and jackdaws.
Loads of tourist coaches and Scottish Energy vans a big and very dead red deer.
Met two endtoenders -see Rob's entry - luckily for them they had a tailwind. Saw first sign since Land's End for John O'Groats: nearly there!

Sent from the Mercian's handlebars by Jon

At Helmsdale with an early finish at 1540 after about 57 miles into the wind with very little shelter.

Met Tav & Pip (see calendar for 17 June start)
on their JOGLE ... using the Rob & Joe's JOGLE route (Journal 176, map on a CD is available for a donation to Macmillan)- they had a TAILWIND making it easy!!

Just over 50 miles for us to do tomorrow.
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From Rob's handlebars

Not a lot! Dinner at The Belgrave Arms Hotel - served by the delightful Penny who told us that the hotel has good value single rooms and secure bike storage*

At about 55 miles from JO'G Helmsdale is a good overnight place for first/last night of the E2E ride.

* we're not staying there, but would have if we had known about it.

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From Rob's handlebars

Mrs G was at Pilates class so no updates .... I was just wittering on about car hub caps and bits of wing mirror beside the road.

Thanks to Roger & MaryG and SallyE for their donations on Justgiving.

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From Rob's handlebars

Just short of Fort Augustus in glorious sunshine.
Called briefly on my cousin DavidM - not seen him for nearly 30 years, although I did ride past his house when I rode JOGLE in 2005
Edit-no signal so sent later

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From Rob's handlebars

Over 800 miles completed now. Today was one of rolling roads beside lochs including Ness. Rhododendrons, heathers, red squirrel (dead), heathers, gorse, more siskins and lapwings.
Foreign motorbikes and camper vans were ubiquitous.
Mega climb out of Drum-na-drochit, 750 feet in 3K but then a 40mph descent.
Next two days are only fifty miles or so each - they will feel like rest days!

Sent from the Mercian's handlebars by Jon