LEJOG Day 15 Inverness to Shrewsbury

So now the long train journey home and some final thoughts

Before we rode off from Lands End I was more than a little nervous about 14 successive days cycling and whether or not I'd done enough training

In the event I needn't have worried, but apparently that slightly nervous feeling is typical for LEJOGgers. My ability to ride each day, and all 14, exceeded my most optimistic expectations

So I had done enough training, and Shropshire hills and flat were absolutely the right training preparation. My legs held up to the end, my bottom was no more sensitive than after a hard day on the organ stool and I cycled all the hills, without feet touching tarmac once

I also had a brilliant bike, the only non-road bike in the group, the only bike pedals without cleats and the only flat bar cycle. This bike was apparently a "revelation" and "the most suited" to the ride of all 13

And I was determined to do it, and fly whenever the roads, gradient and wind let me - and I did!  Do not underestimate the power of positive thinking and determination

The breadth of scenery was astonishingly memorable, from the cornish coast and ferries, to Dartmoor, to the Somerset levels, over the Severn, on to the Marches and lovely Shropshire hills, through Bowland and the Lake District fells and finally into Scotland and the highlands and lochs - and all over just a14 day period. This was sensory overload big time and it really all is a bit of a blur

The weather tried and failed to upset the ride. Yes we were drenched more than once, and got filthy looks turning up to accommodation looking like drowned cats, but we survived and went on into clear and sunny days

Would I do it again? Probably, but there's lots more biking to do, so not immediately (in 10 years time........)

I think this challenge also struck a chord (literally!) as the combination of 1000 cycling miles in 14 days, and 4 organ recitals, was mad enough to spark interest. The organ playing was for me an essential part of the challenge; after all it was all about raising money for the Abbey Organ Fund - which for me is an exceptionally important project

This challenge is over...........or is this a beginning?  I am going to try and keep up this level of fitness and will keep on cycling!!

Thank you for reading my daily blog. It's been a great feeling to know that I have had so much support

Nigel
25 August 2019

LEJOG Day 14 Bettyhill to JOG

50 miles, 2595' ascent, 3 1/2 hrs ride time, cum 1006 miles

We reached John O' Groats at about 1.15 PM today. Wow. 1006 miles in 14 days

Fizzy wine, pics, medals, handshakes and hugs all round. The team of 13 plus guide Paul had made it

And one of our group, Octogenarian Brian now holds the record for the fastest LEJOG ride by someone in their 80s. Deservedly he has had widespread media interest and the complete and affectionate respect of the whole group. It was Brian who led our group pellaton to the finish line, and it was Brian who put in a last day sprint to leave the rest of the group way behind

The last 50 miles started hilly ((typical coast route thought I, with flat sections before plunging down to the next cove, then up again), and suggested it was going to be a tougher ride than expected. But after our morning brew stop at 22m it flattened out, but throughout there was cross wind (southerly)(never trust a cross wind) and road surfaces as bad as we'd seen in recent days

At mile 46 we paused to regroup and form a pellaton (to the annoyance of some impatient drivers) for the final assault

Really chuffed to have made it, without any mishap, with no punctures or mechanical problems, and having cycled up all the hills - no feet on tarmac at all

I'll write more about this tomorrow in a final blog for Day 15. So now it's time for a celebratory curry!

LEJOG Day 13 Invergordon to Bettyhill

78 miles, 3064' ascent, 5 1/2 hours ride, cum 955 miles

I've reached the north coast of Scotland, at Bettyhill. What a great sense of achievement at having got to this coast line, but there's still 50 miles east to JOG!

It was a terrific days cycling and after the slight blues of yesterday, I went really well and my star Sirrus bike again behaved perfectly

The weather too played it's part. Yes, there was the usual westerly cross wind, strong at times, but rarely did it hit us in the face, and the final 30m downhill from the Crask Inn were positively wind assisted

The morning saw us gradually ascend the first hill, then descend to Bonner Bridge. There was then a long gradual ascent to the remote Crask Inn for lunch. By now the landscape was vast, open and moorland bleak, and I did spot a couple of deer in the distance

Crask Inn is pub, shop and church, with soup and sandwiches for the hungry cyclists. I couldn't resist trying out the harmonium with a rendition of "The Wheels of the Bike go round and round"

Then the 30 mile descent - exhilarating!  -  to the coast and the Bettyhill Hotel where a celebratory scone, cream and jam seemed to have been earned

So we've 50 miles to go, easy I'm told, and hopefully another trouble free ride!  Whether we cycle in together remains to be seen, but the adventure overall has been brilliant and I'll be really chuffed to get there safely and in top shape. Fingers and toes crossed!

LEJOG Day 12 Fort Augustus to Invergordon

61 miles, 3645' ascent, 4 3/4 hours ride, cum 878 miles

Another really good day's cycling and I arrived in Invergordon (on Cromerty Firth) in good shape

It was a shorter day than most others, so easier and after an initial 5 mile climb, and fast downhill to Loch Ness it was undulating (some sharp pulls) or flat. It was quite windy, so the squall on the way up the first climb was very unwelcome, and crossing the Kessock bridge was interesting. There were real waves on Loch Ness and the conditions clearly encouraged an air sea rescue team to practice rough water pick up technique

The final wind-assisted ride along Cromerty was just great and the estuary views terrific in good weather

But dear blog reader, I have two confessions to make

First, every crank of the pedal takes me further north in the UK than I've ever been before!  Previously I'd got as far as Inverness (walking the Great Glen Way) but no further. Now I can see what I've been missing and will return

Second confession is that I had a little mental wobble just after lunch. It was a bit like a marathon wall, only less so. There still seemed a long way to go; my feet were damp and cold from the squally hill top weather; the hills seemed hillier, and the straight roads longer; maybe tiredness and some aches creeping in on day 12

So I gave myself a talking to, dropped to a slightly more easier pootling-along speed, thought about how much has been achieved in 12 days and how little distance relatively there is to JOG, and worked through it

And arrived in great heart here in Invergordon, with only one long ride to go - tomorrow - to get to the north coast

JOG on Saturday!

LEJOG Day 11 Tyndrum to Fort Augustus

81 miles, 2805' ascent, 5 3/4 hours ride, cum 817 miles

Amazing highland scenery!

It was another day of two halves. The weather forecast predicted a front coming across in the middle of the day, and that's what happened

So we had a clear morning for the ride up to Glencoe mountains, and for the long fast descent to Glencoe village and on to Fort William. The scenery was just spectacular, and the drama of these mighty hills was enhanced by clinging wisps of cloud.  I thought the experience of all of this was better than when we walked a similar route on the West Highland Way.

Beyond Fort William the route climbed above the Calendonian Canal with a clear view of cloudless Ben Nevis in all its drama, cloud free ominously a predictor of weather on the way

And so it was. From the Speen Bridge memorial for the final 20 miles it was damp, then wet, then wetter. Bike and rider were soaked before our arrival at the Fort Augustus bed and breakfast

But what a great days scenic cycle ride and we were so lucky to have been able to ride the route and see the immense hills in clear weather

LEJOG Day 10 Larkhall to Tyndrum

78 miles, 2303' ascent, 6 1/4 hrs ride, cum 737 miles

So here we are in Tyndrum, in the Trossachs. Astonishing to think that a week ago we had just arrived in Wells on day 3. A week later and we're up here in Scotland, with Glencoe and Fort William tomorrow

It's been a day of two halves. We began today with urban cycling, through Hamilton and then towards and through the centre of Glasgow. The group cycled together, led by guide Paul, as route finding wasn't easy. The traffic wasnt bad but we were on the lookout for dogs, pedestrians and glass!

Cycleways took over as we left the Distillery brew stop (not tempted) and canals were followed. Eventually we rolled into Balloch for a cafe stop lunch

The afternoon was stunning. Amazing views of Loch Lomond and then Ben Lomond before we ascended up into the Trossachs, temperature dropping

A terrific afternoon, good day and a real sense of getting-there achievement

Not sure how fortunate weather-wise we will be tomorrow. Glencoe in the wet will be atmospheric but much better if dry!

LEJOG Day 9 Gretna to Larkhall

77 miles, 3711' ascent, 6h ride time, cum 658 miles

This was a slog!

Not a difficult day gradient wise, but long straight roads distant views but few points of interest (I thought)

This was Test by Wind and Test by Road Surface

Yesterday, the cross wind helped us on some of the hills. Today's blustery westerly cross wind veered from left front to front and made for hard work. I decided you just can't trust a cross wind

And then there was the road surface. Well I thought Shropshire roads had too many pot holes, but up here the whole road surface is often bobbly, or rough, or just uneven. Hands and bottom were constantly battered and that made for slow going. Even the occasional cycle paths were rarely any better.

So it was a relentless slog, only made better by the views of the hills north west of Moffat, and knowing that tonight's hotel was getting nearer!

But at least the showers held off, mostly!

In the evening it was my fourth and last recital, in Hamilton. There was an enthusiastic and generous group of people and I enjoyed the playing part of the challenge.

Tomorrow we pass through Glasgow heading ever further north