The LEJOG was hard work, it lived up to the "challenge" tag, but I am absolutely delighted we did it. Even when it was difficult, even when the weather was foul, it was brilliant. And such a great sense of achievement afterwards.
Would I do something similar again? Perhaps, ask me in a little while. But i'd make sure I had a support vehicle, because boy did I resent the weight in those panniers on every hill. And also, without support an small setback might have caused us to abandon the challenge whereas with a support vehicle you have more resources and more options.
Would I recommend it? Yes, absolutely! With a little preparation and training many people could do a LEJOG or similar challenge. My advice - if you want to do it then go for it!
Thanks
Friday, 24 July 2009
Stats
Here are some stats on the 14 days of the ride:
Day 1. Lands End to Wadebridge
67.8 miles
9 hours total time of which 5h 58m moving.
Avg speed 11.3mph, Max speed 36mph.
Day 2. Wadebridge to North Molton
75.1 miles
10h 30m total time of which 7h 28m moving.
Avg speed 10.0 mph, Max speed 41.4 mph.
Day 3. North Molton to Chew Stoke
75.6 miles
9 hours total time of which 7h 6m moving.
Avg speed 11.4 mph, Max speed 42.6 mph.
Day 4. Chew Stoke to How Caple
73.7 miles
10 hours total time of which 7h 3m moving.
Avg speed 10.4 mph, Max speed 39.3 mph.
Day 5. How Caple to Wrockwardine
66.7 miles.
9h 15m total time of which 6h 11m moving.
Avg speed 10.7mph, Max speed 35.7mph.
Day 6. Wrockwardine to Lostock
77.1 miles.
8 hours total time of which 6h 14m moving.
Avg speed 12.3mph, Max speed 24.1mph.
Day 7. Lostock to Sedburgh
75.5 miles.
10 hours total time of which 7h 20m moving.
Avg speed 10.2mph, Max speed 40.7mph.
Day 8. Sedburgh to Langholm
74.6 miles.
8 hours total time of which 6h 11m moving.
Avg speed 12.0 mph, Max speed 37.2 mph.
Day 9. Langholm to Edinburgh
74.6 miles.
8 hours total time of which 6h 4m moving.
Avg speed 12.2 mph, Max speed 39.6 mph.
Day 10. Edinburgh to Caputh
81.2 miles.
9 hours total time of which 6h 47m moving.
Avg speed 11.9 mph, Max speed 35.8 mph.
Day 11. Caputh to Corgarff
63.9 miles.
8h 45m total time of which 5h 29m moving.
Avg speed 11.6 mph, Max speed 43.1 mph.
Day 12. Corgarff to Culbokie.
73.6 miles.
?? total time of which 6h 29m moving.
Avg speed 11.3 mph, Max speed 41.2 mph.
Day 13. Colbokie to Tongue
77.0 miles.
8h 50m total time of which 6h 23m moving.
Avg speed 12.0 mph, Max speed 33 mph.
Day 14. Tongue to John O'Groats
65.6 miles.
7h 35m total time of which 6h 7m moving.
Avg speed 10.7 mph, Max speed 36.6mph.
Total Distance:
1,022 miles.
Day 1. Lands End to Wadebridge
67.8 miles
9 hours total time of which 5h 58m moving.
Avg speed 11.3mph, Max speed 36mph.
Day 2. Wadebridge to North Molton
75.1 miles
10h 30m total time of which 7h 28m moving.
Avg speed 10.0 mph, Max speed 41.4 mph.
Day 3. North Molton to Chew Stoke
75.6 miles
9 hours total time of which 7h 6m moving.
Avg speed 11.4 mph, Max speed 42.6 mph.
Day 4. Chew Stoke to How Caple
73.7 miles
10 hours total time of which 7h 3m moving.
Avg speed 10.4 mph, Max speed 39.3 mph.
Day 5. How Caple to Wrockwardine
66.7 miles.
9h 15m total time of which 6h 11m moving.
Avg speed 10.7mph, Max speed 35.7mph.
Day 6. Wrockwardine to Lostock
77.1 miles.
8 hours total time of which 6h 14m moving.
Avg speed 12.3mph, Max speed 24.1mph.
Day 7. Lostock to Sedburgh
75.5 miles.
10 hours total time of which 7h 20m moving.
Avg speed 10.2mph, Max speed 40.7mph.
Day 8. Sedburgh to Langholm
74.6 miles.
8 hours total time of which 6h 11m moving.
Avg speed 12.0 mph, Max speed 37.2 mph.
Day 9. Langholm to Edinburgh
74.6 miles.
8 hours total time of which 6h 4m moving.
Avg speed 12.2 mph, Max speed 39.6 mph.
Day 10. Edinburgh to Caputh
81.2 miles.
9 hours total time of which 6h 47m moving.
Avg speed 11.9 mph, Max speed 35.8 mph.
Day 11. Caputh to Corgarff
63.9 miles.
8h 45m total time of which 5h 29m moving.
Avg speed 11.6 mph, Max speed 43.1 mph.
Day 12. Corgarff to Culbokie.
73.6 miles.
?? total time of which 6h 29m moving.
Avg speed 11.3 mph, Max speed 41.2 mph.
Day 13. Colbokie to Tongue
77.0 miles.
8h 50m total time of which 6h 23m moving.
Avg speed 12.0 mph, Max speed 33 mph.
Day 14. Tongue to John O'Groats
65.6 miles.
7h 35m total time of which 6h 7m moving.
Avg speed 10.7 mph, Max speed 36.6mph.
Total Distance:
1,022 miles.
Route and Accommodation
The route we followed came from the CTC (Cyclists Touring Club). They publish 3 routes which are free to members and available for a modest fee to non-members. I don't want to infringe their copyright by re-publishing them here so I recommend you go to www.ctc.org.uk.
The route we chose was the one they call their "Bed & Breakfast" route. Which I divided into 14 roughly equal segments and my wife found us accommodation near those points.
The accommodation we stayed at is listed here:
Night Before: Penzance Youth Hostel, Castle Horneck, Alverton, Penzance, Cornwall, TR20 8TF (newly refurbished, well equipped).
1. Keresen B&B, St Giles Drive, Wadebridge, Cornwall, PL27 6DS
2. Zeales B&B, East Street, North Molton, Devon, EX36 3JQ (very friendly welcome)
3. Orchard house B&B, Bristol Rd, Chew Stoke, Bristol, BS40 8UB
4. Falcon House B&B, How Caple, Hereford, HR1 4TF (very friendly welcome, beautiful location)
5. Church Farm B&B, Wrockwardine, Wellington, Telford, TF6 5DG (more than a B&B, almost a hotel, super food)
6. B&B, 42 Chewmoor Lane, Lostock, Bolton, BL6 4EP
7. The Bull Hotel, Main St, Sedbergh, Cumbria, LA10 5BL (excellent comedy value)
8. Carnlea B&B, 16 Hillside Crescent, Langholm, DG13 0EE (very friendly welcome)
9. Edinburgh Central SYHA, 9 Haddington Place, Edinburgh, EH7 4AL (central location, well equipped, busy)
10. Wester Caputh Lodge, Manse Rd, Caputh, Perth, PH1 4JH (friendly small private hostel, take your own food)
11. Allargue Arms Hotel, Corgaff, Strathdon, AB36 8YP (very friendly, great meal)
12. Netherton Farm B&B, Culbokie, Ross-shire, IV7 8JH (very friendly welcome, stunning views)
13. Tongue SYHA, Tongue, By Lairg, IV27 4XH (basic Youth Hostel, take your own food)
14. Bellhaven B&B, Port Dunbar, Wick, KW1 4JJ
The route we chose was the one they call their "Bed & Breakfast" route. Which I divided into 14 roughly equal segments and my wife found us accommodation near those points.
The accommodation we stayed at is listed here:
Night Before: Penzance Youth Hostel, Castle Horneck, Alverton, Penzance, Cornwall, TR20 8TF (newly refurbished, well equipped).
1. Keresen B&B, St Giles Drive, Wadebridge, Cornwall, PL27 6DS
2. Zeales B&B, East Street, North Molton, Devon, EX36 3JQ (very friendly welcome)
3. Orchard house B&B, Bristol Rd, Chew Stoke, Bristol, BS40 8UB
4. Falcon House B&B, How Caple, Hereford, HR1 4TF (very friendly welcome, beautiful location)
5. Church Farm B&B, Wrockwardine, Wellington, Telford, TF6 5DG (more than a B&B, almost a hotel, super food)
6. B&B, 42 Chewmoor Lane, Lostock, Bolton, BL6 4EP
7. The Bull Hotel, Main St, Sedbergh, Cumbria, LA10 5BL (excellent comedy value)
8. Carnlea B&B, 16 Hillside Crescent, Langholm, DG13 0EE (very friendly welcome)
9. Edinburgh Central SYHA, 9 Haddington Place, Edinburgh, EH7 4AL (central location, well equipped, busy)
10. Wester Caputh Lodge, Manse Rd, Caputh, Perth, PH1 4JH (friendly small private hostel, take your own food)
11. Allargue Arms Hotel, Corgaff, Strathdon, AB36 8YP (very friendly, great meal)
12. Netherton Farm B&B, Culbokie, Ross-shire, IV7 8JH (very friendly welcome, stunning views)
13. Tongue SYHA, Tongue, By Lairg, IV27 4XH (basic Youth Hostel, take your own food)
14. Bellhaven B&B, Port Dunbar, Wick, KW1 4JJ
Pictures on Flickr
It is a week since we finished out LEJOG so I am wrapping this blog up with a couple of final posts.
First, I promised some photos which I have uploaded to my Flickr site here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7795411@N06/collections/72157621805309648/
First, I promised some photos which I have uploaded to my Flickr site here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7795411@N06/collections/72157621805309648/
Saturday, 18 July 2009
Day 14
We woke up to a cloudy but dry morning in Tongue. This particular SYHA is self-catering only and we had missed the shop the previous evening so we raided our supply of muesli bars and bananas for breakfast, then when we set out bought some snacks for the road.
The skies soon cleared and we were presented with some super views of the coast.
The route from Tongue to John o' Groats is half in Sutherland and half in Caithness. The Sutherland half is very hilly and the Caithness part gently rolling.
The only downside to the morning was that now we had changed direction from North to East, the wind had changed too from a northerly to a strong, cold, buffeting easterly. Clearly the ride was not going to let us have it easy on the last day.
We both found the morning hard going. I think we were drained after yesterday afternoon, and we had not had a proper breakfast, and it was windy. I think too some psychological effect had come into play, we knew the end was within reach just 65 miles away, and we just wanted it to be over.
Andy jarred his knee with a missed gear-change and we didn't want to risk an injury at this late stage so we continued plugging away at a steady pace, counting off the miles.
Along the way we joined up for a while with a father and son. The son had just graduated and was doing a LEJOG and his father had joined him for the Scottish leg.
Lunch was baked potatoes with haggis and cheese (I recommend the combination) in Thurso before the final 20 mile push to John o' Groats.
In reading about other peoples LEJOG experiences a common theme is that John o' Groats is a bit of an anti-climax and I must agree. Although we had arrived at 4.15 the famous sign had been taken down for the day and the photographer who looks after it had no intention of returning until 9.00 the following morning. Both coffee shops were shut. All that was open were the gift shops so we had a celebratory Mars bar and of course we took some photos which I will upload soon.
We managed to hang around in John o' Groats for over an hour so decided to get a cab to Wick instead of cycling the last 17 miles, we had completed our challenge and had nothing left to prove.
Got some very nice congratulatory emails from friends, family and colleagues - thank you all!
So we've done it, Wow!, how does it feel? I think it has still to sink in but I feel proud, relieved, elated, tired, and a whole lot more. Although the cycling has been gruelling at times and the weather sometimes foul, the overall experience has been absolutely brilliant. Just having the opportunity to exercise all day long for 14 days in a row makes you feel so alive. We have seen some absolutely stunning scenery and wildlife. Met some brilliant people along the way, and generally had a great adventure.
It has been my great pleasure to share his experience with Andy. He definitely is a bit fitter and stronger than me which shows up mostly on the hills, but generally we are well matched as cyclists, so neither was holding the other up. And in temperament too we are well matched with a similar sense of humour. Even when the weather was at its most foul we would curse, grin, push down on the pedals, and sing "oh I do like to be beside the seaside" at the top of our voices while cycling through the rain and howling wind. Priceless! Thank you Andy.
Supper consisted of champagne, steak, chips, red wine and malt whisky.
This morning we hit the road in a transit van at 8.30. Seems odd not to be cycling!
The skies soon cleared and we were presented with some super views of the coast.
The route from Tongue to John o' Groats is half in Sutherland and half in Caithness. The Sutherland half is very hilly and the Caithness part gently rolling.
The only downside to the morning was that now we had changed direction from North to East, the wind had changed too from a northerly to a strong, cold, buffeting easterly. Clearly the ride was not going to let us have it easy on the last day.
We both found the morning hard going. I think we were drained after yesterday afternoon, and we had not had a proper breakfast, and it was windy. I think too some psychological effect had come into play, we knew the end was within reach just 65 miles away, and we just wanted it to be over.
Andy jarred his knee with a missed gear-change and we didn't want to risk an injury at this late stage so we continued plugging away at a steady pace, counting off the miles.
Along the way we joined up for a while with a father and son. The son had just graduated and was doing a LEJOG and his father had joined him for the Scottish leg.
Lunch was baked potatoes with haggis and cheese (I recommend the combination) in Thurso before the final 20 mile push to John o' Groats.
In reading about other peoples LEJOG experiences a common theme is that John o' Groats is a bit of an anti-climax and I must agree. Although we had arrived at 4.15 the famous sign had been taken down for the day and the photographer who looks after it had no intention of returning until 9.00 the following morning. Both coffee shops were shut. All that was open were the gift shops so we had a celebratory Mars bar and of course we took some photos which I will upload soon.
We managed to hang around in John o' Groats for over an hour so decided to get a cab to Wick instead of cycling the last 17 miles, we had completed our challenge and had nothing left to prove.
Got some very nice congratulatory emails from friends, family and colleagues - thank you all!
So we've done it, Wow!, how does it feel? I think it has still to sink in but I feel proud, relieved, elated, tired, and a whole lot more. Although the cycling has been gruelling at times and the weather sometimes foul, the overall experience has been absolutely brilliant. Just having the opportunity to exercise all day long for 14 days in a row makes you feel so alive. We have seen some absolutely stunning scenery and wildlife. Met some brilliant people along the way, and generally had a great adventure.
It has been my great pleasure to share his experience with Andy. He definitely is a bit fitter and stronger than me which shows up mostly on the hills, but generally we are well matched as cyclists, so neither was holding the other up. And in temperament too we are well matched with a similar sense of humour. Even when the weather was at its most foul we would curse, grin, push down on the pedals, and sing "oh I do like to be beside the seaside" at the top of our voices while cycling through the rain and howling wind. Priceless! Thank you Andy.
Supper consisted of champagne, steak, chips, red wine and malt whisky.
This morning we hit the road in a transit van at 8.30. Seems odd not to be cycling!
Friday, 17 July 2009
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Day 13
Today started out well with clear skies and stunning views over the bay towards the mainland.
I had left my cycling shoes in the B&B's drying room but they were still sopping so we put them in the Aga for 20 minutes. As a result they were still sopping wet but hot instead of cold which made it more bearable.
The morning was easy riding, with a gradual easy uphill climb for 20 miles or so. I got to thinking how to describe what it is like to my readers back home, and this is what I came up with. Imagine you went to the gym and set the exercise bike on a random program but at a low difficulty and pedalled without stopping for the same length of time as your morning at work. Well that is what it was like, a long but un-demanding aerobic workout. I will come back to this analogy later.
We stopped for a sandwich for lunch at Lairg which was nice. Andy suggested a game of pool because I think he was piqued that I beat him last time (I play about once every 5 years), and I beat him again. I also had a pint of Irn Bru, big mistake, it is disgusting unless you are aged 7 or under.
After lunch we were feeling pretty confident and had about 37 miles left to go before arriving in Tongue. We started climbing again but nothing we couldn't handle. But of course soon the rain came. About 25 miles to go and we were being drenched yet again (5th time this trip, on 4 different days). We stopped at a pub for a coffee and cake, but mostly to dry off. The locals told us that shortly ahead we would enjoy an 8 mile descent followed by a 3 mile challenging climb. We were cheated of the descent because of the headwind, we had to pedal all the way to make any progress. But fortunately they were wrong abut the climb, it was a doddle.
By this time we were nearing Loch Loyal and being absolutley drenched. So I will return to my exercise bike analogy.
Imagine that after your easy morning on the exercise bike you have short lunch break then return to the bike. Only this time some sadist has turned the aircon to max so it is quite cold, and has one of those massive fans which TV companies use blowing at your face, and is spraying you with cold water and occassionally throwing the odd bucket at you too to simulate cars going past, and has taken over the controls of your exercise bike and turned it up from easy to hard. That was our afternoon. Towards the end we were really cold and the only way to stay warm was to cycle harder so while our natural impulse was to find the shelter of a tree to hide under we pushed harder and harder to finish the ride.
We were pretty bedraggled by the time we arrived but delighted to have finished another day, next stop John o Groats!
At Lairg we met another couple of cyclists who gave us £10 each for our charities - Thank You!
I don't want to make today sound all bad. Tongue is beautiful and so peaceful, walking to the hotel this evening the mountains were lit up by the sunset - absolutly stunning.
I had left my cycling shoes in the B&B's drying room but they were still sopping so we put them in the Aga for 20 minutes. As a result they were still sopping wet but hot instead of cold which made it more bearable.
The morning was easy riding, with a gradual easy uphill climb for 20 miles or so. I got to thinking how to describe what it is like to my readers back home, and this is what I came up with. Imagine you went to the gym and set the exercise bike on a random program but at a low difficulty and pedalled without stopping for the same length of time as your morning at work. Well that is what it was like, a long but un-demanding aerobic workout. I will come back to this analogy later.
We stopped for a sandwich for lunch at Lairg which was nice. Andy suggested a game of pool because I think he was piqued that I beat him last time (I play about once every 5 years), and I beat him again. I also had a pint of Irn Bru, big mistake, it is disgusting unless you are aged 7 or under.
After lunch we were feeling pretty confident and had about 37 miles left to go before arriving in Tongue. We started climbing again but nothing we couldn't handle. But of course soon the rain came. About 25 miles to go and we were being drenched yet again (5th time this trip, on 4 different days). We stopped at a pub for a coffee and cake, but mostly to dry off. The locals told us that shortly ahead we would enjoy an 8 mile descent followed by a 3 mile challenging climb. We were cheated of the descent because of the headwind, we had to pedal all the way to make any progress. But fortunately they were wrong abut the climb, it was a doddle.
By this time we were nearing Loch Loyal and being absolutley drenched. So I will return to my exercise bike analogy.
Imagine that after your easy morning on the exercise bike you have short lunch break then return to the bike. Only this time some sadist has turned the aircon to max so it is quite cold, and has one of those massive fans which TV companies use blowing at your face, and is spraying you with cold water and occassionally throwing the odd bucket at you too to simulate cars going past, and has taken over the controls of your exercise bike and turned it up from easy to hard. That was our afternoon. Towards the end we were really cold and the only way to stay warm was to cycle harder so while our natural impulse was to find the shelter of a tree to hide under we pushed harder and harder to finish the ride.
We were pretty bedraggled by the time we arrived but delighted to have finished another day, next stop John o Groats!
At Lairg we met another couple of cyclists who gave us £10 each for our charities - Thank You!
I don't want to make today sound all bad. Tongue is beautiful and so peaceful, walking to the hotel this evening the mountains were lit up by the sunset - absolutly stunning.
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