The day in numbers

• 52 miles
• 3hr 44min in saddle
• 13.9 mph average speed
• 42.5 mph maximum speed
• 2,707 feet of climbing
• 3,467 calories burned

We had a very good evening last night with Mahesh, even if the hotel does seem to struggle with the concept of a “vegetarian”.  We should have guessed this beforehand, as there can’t be a hotel anywhere in Scotland with more dead animals per square foot of wall!  That said, it’s a great hotel with lovely food and staff.

The final day started bright, but cold.  It also started with about 20 miles of mainly uphill riding.  For every 13% descent there was its evil twin waiting at the bottom for the long, slow climb to the top of the next peak.  It was slow, slow going but nice to have the ocean views on my right hand side to complement the gorse, heather and hills on my left.

We stopped for a quick snack at Wick, before heading off for the final 15 miles to JoG.  Lots of cyclists were heading in the other direction, at the start of their journeys. I hope they have as much luck with the weather as we’ve had.

The last few miles sped by, and I reached JoG at around 3pm.  After hugs and high-fives with Joan it was off for the obligatory photos by the first/last signpost.  Not sure the photographer was cut out for a customer-facing job, but we eventually got the souvenir pics to bookend our collection from Lands End. 

So it’s done!  Far more enjoyable than I expected, and a lot easier on the body than I had feared.  It also reminded me that we have truly varied and spectacular countryside in England and (especially) Scotland.  Would I do it again?  You bet I would!!

Joan’s bit

I was pleased to see the weather was good for Stephen’s last day.  I stopped at a little harbour at Latheronwheel to take some pictures, which nearly ended in disaster. I’d climbed up some rocks and slipped (the signs were right, it really was slippy !), smashing my camera on the rock. Although covered in slime my only concern was the camera, which thankfully was just fine.

After stopping for a snack in Wick, it was off to follow Stephen for the final stretch. It was very different scenery to recent days and lovely to see the sea again. The last few miles seemed to go really quickly and I was over the moon that Stephen had made it in one piece. 

We had pictures taken, a quick snack and then set off to look for Puffins. They were difficult to find (we could only see a couple), and to make things worse I’d taken the camera bag with the dead batteries and ran out of juice !!

We then drove back to the hotel for a lovely meal, our last of the trip.

Postscript – The journey in numbers

•  916 miles
•  66hr 16min in saddle
•  13.8 mph average speed
•  44.1 mph maximum speed
•  39,657 feet of climbing
•  60,143 calories burned
• 1 broken spoke

The day in numbers

• 58 miles
• 3hr 59min in saddle
• 14.5 mph average speed
• 34.8 mph maximum speed
• 1,329 feet of climbing
• 3,565 calories burned

The weather forecast for today didn’t sound very promising – showers, and lots of them.  And sure enough, the sky was heavy and overcast when I set off. 

For the first hour the rain held off, then it tipped it down.  Now I’d prepared for this eventuality and invested in some waterproof socks, as cold wet feet are a sure-fire way of making a day miserable.  The socks have a waterproof layer to stop the water rising up through your shoes.  Unfortunately, I didn’t spot the flaw in their design, which is when water seeps down the top of the cuff and pools around your foot.  By the time the rain let up I felt like I was wearing a pair of wellies full of water.

Sopping wet, I met up with Joan for some soup and warmth at Tain.  Knowing I was out of wet weather gear for tomorrow, Joan set off to find a launderette for the final wash of the tour (bless, she knows how to have fun!).

Miraculously, that was the worst of the rain over.  Nothing but spits and spots for the rest of the journey.  And very enjoyable it was too – relatively fast paced, as there weren’t any serious hills to overcome.  Also relatively short, so arrived at the hotel well before Joan feeling as if I could have done another ten or so miles (easy to think that when I’m soaking in the bath).

Looking forward to seeing my work colleague Mahesh tonight.  He was up in Scotland for a wedding and rashly said he’d join us at the hotel for dinner before my final day.  I don’t think he realized just how far he had to travel to keep that promise!

Joan’s bit

As I drove out of Dingwall this morning I was quite worried when I saw a very long narrow bridge, but thankfully didn’t have to cross it.

I met up with Stephen in Tain for my daily cheese and onion toastie and latte, then went back to Invergordon, as the launderette next to the coffee shop in Tain said my one wash would take 2 days !!.  This was a blessing in disguise, as Kath & Monica in the Invergordon laundry couldn’t have been more friendly and helpful. They made me a lovely cup of tea (in a china cup), and even donated £20 to our charity fund.

Invergordon is a lovely little town, with a pretty church and many beautiful wall murals. There was a very striking cruise ship visiting too.

After my earlier relief over the bridge I found I had to drive over Dornoch Bridge on the way to Helmsdale, (you may have guessed I don’t like heights).  I then drove around Loch Fleet, which reminded me of home.

We’re now both at the hotel for the last 2 nights of our trip and thankfully it’s very nice, large room, comfy bed and big bathroom.

The day in numbers

• 64 miles
• 4hr 44min in saddle
• 13.6 mph average speed
• 38.9 mph maximum speed
• 2,680 feet of climbing
• 4,226 calories burned

A day of sunshine, showers and hail, which I can tell you is very painful to ride in (a bit like riding with someone throwing gravel in your face).

After the beautiful scenery of the past two days, this was a day to “just get the miles done”.  Although there were plenty of pretty views today too.  How could there not be, when my journey took me along the Great Glen past Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and (best of all) Loch Ness.  I didn’t see any monsters, apart from a 15% hill that went on for ¾ of a mile!  I hadn’t appreciated how far ¾ of a mile was, but when you’re busting your lungs on a steep hill you count every inch!

Saw plenty of other cyclists out battling the elements, but didn’t have the chance to exchange many words with them.  I guess the route options narrow the closer you get to JoG, so you see more folks on bikes doing what I’m doing.  I will be looking with interest at the weather forecast for tomorrow, as a day of full-on rain would not be pleasant.

Joan’s bit

The day started well with a donation from Imogen at the Old Pines hotel.  

After sorting through the pictures from the previous few days I set off to catch Stephen and found the monster at Fort Augustus, Nessie, not Stephen !!

No laundry or bike repairs for me today, so I had a leisurely drive along the shores of Loch Ness before arriving at our lovely Castle in Dingwall. It’s a lovely place, the room is very large with two king size beds !!  We’ve just had dinner and it was excellent, especially chocolate parfait. It’s off to sleep now, having caught up with missing pictures from the earlier blogs.

The day in numbers

• 70 miles
• 5hr 19min in saddle
• 12.1 mph average speed
• 28.9 mph maximum speed
• 2,926 feet of climbing
• 4,376 calories burned

If I thought yesterday’s trip by Loch Lomond was pretty, today’s leg was beyond spectacular. 

My route started with a long, slow climb out of Ardlui towards Inverlochy.  The weather was bright and sunny, with no haze to spoil the views.  Unfortunately, I underestimated how cold it was in the mountains, particularly on the downhill bits.  So my first stop was somewhat sooner than usual, with a quick change of clothing to keep the chill at bay.

From there it was up, up and up towards the bleak windswept wilderness that is Rannoch Moor.  I can imagine that riding across the Moor on a bad day would be hellish, but today there were photo opportunities at every turn.  With Bridget and Eleanor joining Joan for the day, this meant I had a regular fan club cheering me on and recording my progress.

From Rannoch Moor the road led to Glencoe. This is one of THE sights in the Highlands, with yet more photo opportunities at every turn.  While the climb to get to the top of the pass was a bit of a slog, it was worth it for the thrill of the descent on the other side.

A quick stop for tea and sandwiches at the bottom of the pass, and farewells to Bridget and Eleanor, then it was off around Loch Linnhe to Fort William and the shadow of Ben Nevis.  It was at this point that the weather reminded me how fickle it can be in this part of the world, as it started to rain – a heavy, cold burst.  Fortunately I only had a few miles left to go, so could live with the minor discomfort.  I hope this isn’t a taste of what’s in store for tomorrow.

Joan’s bit

It was an early start for me catching up with the laundry, at what has to be the most spectacularly located launderette, right on Loch Lomond.  After saying goodbye to Laura who sadly had to return to Glasgow to work, Eleanor and  I explored an island off Loch Lomond (well Eleanor did, I just took pictures).  Then, Bridget, Eleanor and I then set off to follow Stephen, stopping along the way to take pictures of Rannoch Moor, Glencoe and everything else in between. Eleanor has now mastered the art of ‘Zoom Bursting’ and created some interesting pictures of Stephen !! 

We had a lovely day, wonderful sunshine, great views and a few snacks along the way.  As it was getting late, Bridget and Eleanor left us for the long journey back to Aberdeen and I carried on snapping pictures of the lochs and Ben Nevis, on the way to our hotel.

We are staying at the Old Pines hotel in Spean Bridge, it is a very special place, very peaceful, great room, delicious food, huge comfortable bed and nice people – just what we needed. If you’re ever up this way I’d highly recommend it –  http://www.oldpines.co.uk/

The day in numbers

• 86 miles
• 5hr 18min in saddle
• 12.6 mph average speed
• 32.1 mph maximum speed
• 2,333 feet of climbing
• 5,159 calories burned
• 1 spoke broken

What an eventful day!!  I had been looking forward to this leg of the journey with a mixture of trepidation and excitement.  Trepidation because it is the longest leg of the journey, and more miles than I have ever cycled before.  Excitement because I would be traveling up the side of Loch Lomond, so expected some spectacular scenery.

The day started on a fantastic note when Moira, the lady who served us breakfast at the hotel slipped me ten pounds for our sponsorship fund.  She then came back a few minutes later with another two pounds from the kitchen staff.  So a big “THANK YOU” to the Lochside Hotel in New Cumnock.  Not only was it a great hotel, but the staff are special too.

The day was a good 10C colder than the day before, so cold weather clothing was the order of the day.  The first 15 miles were mainly downhill on fast roads, so I made good time before heading across country on slower (but quieter) roads to join the A77 and on towards Glasgow.  When I got to this road I found a veritable dual carriageway of a bike lane running alongside it, so I hopped on that and continued my journey without having to worry about the cars and lorries any more.

A couple of miles down the bike lane disaster struck.  I heard a loud POP, and realized one of my back spokes had snapped.  It must have been due to the rubbish roads I’d been travelling on earlier in the day.  Now if I’d been traveling solo this could have been a near terminal event.  Fortunately, a quick call to Joan had her alongside me in 15 minutes and I was able to swap my back wheel for a spare we were carrying.  Joan then headed off to the nearest bike shop to do a repair, while I continued on towards Glasgow.

Navigating Glasgow wasn’t much fun, particularly when I realized my chosen route would take me through the Clyde Tunnel.  Not a good idea for a bike rider, so I bailed out near the entrance to the tunnel and meandered along the riverside to find an alternative crossing point.  This added a couple of miles to my journey, but was definitely a safer option.

My route out of Glasgow had me heading up the A82 towards Loch Lomond.  What a scary road that is!  Dual carriageway, with everyone bombing along at 90 miles an hour.  This is a route I’d do once, but no more.  As I approached the Loch I was thinking I’d have to live with the A82 all the way to my destination, but was delighted to see the West Loch Lomond Cycle Path running alongside the main road.  Now this is a gem of a path, which takes you along the banks of the Loch and skirts around the Loch Lomond Golf Club.  I have to say this is the closest I’ll ever get to playing at that this famous golf club!  This part of the journey was definitely one of the highlights of the trip for me – magnificent scenery at every turn, and a path which no one else was using.

Arriving at Tarbet, 6 miles from my eventual destination, I met up with Joan, her sister Bridget and two of her nieces (Laura and Eleanor).  They were joining us for the night to give us some moral support (and some good company!).  Pictures taken, it was then off for the final push to Ardlui and the end of a long, action packed day.

Joan’s bit

I was pleased to see that there was a ‘cycle route’ alongside the A77 to Glasgow, as this would keep Stephen safe.  Then came the call re the broken spoke !!  I popped back to swap the wheels and set off to a cycle shop in Glasgow for the repair. Ah, but it wasn’t quite as easy as they’d led us to believe as Stephen has flat spokes, not round spokes. Over an hour later I set off from the shop to catch Stephen with a temporary repair in place, (or botch job according to Stephen).

We met up at a Little Chef in Dumbarton for a quick snack, I was quite fed up as the traffic was awful and it was getting late.  As we approached Loch Lomond it all changed, the scenery was beautiful and I got a call from Bridget to say they were not far away.  Shortly after, they called from Luss to say they may be a while as they were following a very slow car. (That was me !!!).

We all tracked Stephen from Tarbet to our hotel in Ardlui and enjoyed a lovely evening, with fine wine and good food, (courtesy of Bridget).  We also belatedly celebrated her recent birthday. 

The day in numbers

• 63 miles
• 4hr 59min in saddle
• 12.9 mph average speed
• 29.2 mph maximum speed
• 1,812 feet of climbing
• 3,696 calories burned

A cooler day than the last few days, but still bright sunshine.  I was glad to get on the road again, as the hotel in Gretna wasn’t too good.  The first bad hotel of the trip!

I was curious as to why the road from Gretna was running parallel to a dual carriageway, with my Garmin (Sat Nav) beeping at me to join the bigger road.  By the time I’d worked out where I should be I’d missed the turning and decided to carry on the smaller road anyway.  Turned out to be a good thing, as it was a quieter road and eventually joined up with my planned route a few miles further on.

From there it was pretty busy roads, with big lorries whizzing past – but always giving me enough room, so no danger to life or limb.  A feature of the morning was the number of classic Rollers, Bentleys and other fine marques that passed me heading North.  And all with German number plates!  There must be a festival or classic car rally taking place in Scotland this week.

Joan caught up with me for a nice lunch at a roadside tea shop in Auldgirth.  We were slightly disconcerted to leave with the warnings from the staff about the dangers of the road ahead – narrow, windy and lots of traffic.  They weren’t wrong, but again my fellow road users were very courteous and considerate to my exposed position.

Amusing incident of the day was when I pulled up alongside a car in a queue waiting for a contraflow signal to turn green.  The guy in the passenger seat was asleep, but jumped out of the car when he heard two big bangs.  These came from further down the road, but he thought I’d done something to his car and had the look of someone who was going to punch my lights out.  To make matters worse he had the thickest Scottish accent I’ve ever heard so I couldn’t understand a word of what he said to me.  This was probably a good thing.

The rest of the journey was a bit of a slog – mostly uphill and into a strong headwind.  Although the scenery was again spectacular, even when viewed with gritted teeth.

Joan’s bit

Well, I was so glad to leave Gretna this morning, as our hotel wasn’t to my liking. The bed was absolutely horrendous, it was small, had a plastic base sheet and more lumps than my home made custard !!!  So, in order for Stephen to have a chance of some rest I decamped to the floor and slept with a towel for a blanket. This turned out to be more comfortable than the bed !!!   The hotel also didn’t have internet access, hence the delay in this posting.

I popped to the Gretna Outlet Village and spent 45 minutes buying lots of little things I didn’t need. Someone told me there was Wi-fi access at the Welcome Break services, so I headed off there, only to find it had stopped working 30 minutes before I arrived.

It was then time to find Stephen for a spot of lunch. Then, back to my daily routine of following and photographing him. The scenery was lovely with lots of windy roads.

The hotel we’re at now is lovely, set on the side of a loch with stunning views. The room is very modern and the bed is very comfortable, thank goodness.

The day in numbers

• 71 miles
• 5hr 13min in saddle
• 13.6 mph average speed
• 39.4 mph maximum speed
• 3,198 feet of climbing
• 4,637 calories burned

Yet another glorious day – bright sunshine and very warm.  The man on the BBC has just said “it is officially the hottest weekend of the year so far”.  Cycled through some fantastic countryside on the edges of the Dales and the Lake District.  A little bit hilly, but not too much to spoil the views or the scenery. 

My route from Kirkby Lonsdale to Penrith criss-crossed the M6 a number of times.  The M6 may be the fastest route North to South, but the countryside either side of it makes me think my more leisurely route has a lot to recommend it (OK, I know you can’t take a push bike on the M6, but you know what I mean).

Joan caught up with me at Penrith, where we had a nice lunch before I headed off to Carlisle.  This part of the journey wasn’t as scenic, but had the advantage of being generally downhill so provided a good opportunity to make up time.  I caught up with a couple of other “end to enders”.  They had started on the same day as me, and were planning to stop a few miles before Gretna.  No doubt our paths will cross again over the next few days.

Arrived at the sign welcoming me to Scotland to find Joan loitering with her camera to record the crossing.  From there it was a short hop to our hotel.  Main impression of Gretna is the number of places that are geared up for weddings.  Put in a few casinos, and you could have a mini Las Vegas!

Joan’s bit

I set off shortly after Stephen and headed for Windermere, not part of his route but I thought I’d get some good shots of the lake.  When I arrived it was jam packed with tourists with not one free space to park, so I pootled off to Penrith and found a vantage point on the way.  It was quite hazy so the shots aren’t very clear, ho hum.

I then drove out of Windermere on the A592 to Penrith, which had stunning views along High Kingate and Kirkstone Pass. The road was very windy and there weren’t many places to stop for pictures, but I’d have to say this is one of the most beautiful routes I’ve ever taken.   It took longer than I’d thought and I was worried I’d miss Stephen, but when he called I was about ½ a mile ahead of him going into Penrith.

After a lovely lunch in a nice bistro / wine bar / art gallery, I tracked him over the Scottish Border to Gretna, where we are about have to have dinner in our hotel. 

The day in numbers

• 0 miles
• 0hr 0min in saddle
• 0 mph average speed
• 0 mph maximum speed
• 0 feet of climbing
• 0 calories burned

The numbers say it all.  A day of not riding a bike.  Instead, we had a look around Kirkby Lonsdale and Kendal, and generally chilled out.  A good opportunity to rest my saddle soreness and give my legs the chance to recover (a bit).

Most taxing part of the day was cleaning the bike (it was a very hot day!), so had a dip in the hotel’s pool to cool down.  Tonight it will be watching the Champions League final in the hotel bar to round off a very pleasant day.  Tomorrow, it’s back in the saddle for the second half of the trip and the start of the Scottish leg of the journey.

The day in numbers

• 67 miles
• 4hr 40min in saddle
• 14.4 mph average speed
• 32.9 mph maximum speed
• 1,726 feet of climbing
• 4,374 calories burned

Another glorious day weather wise, with temperatures expected to top yesterday’s – just as well Joan washed some of my kit yesterday or I’d be sweltering in my winter cycling togs.

The first part of today’s journey was what you’d call “urban cycling”.  Twenty miles or so of navigating the built-up areas of Warrington, St Helens and Wigan.  So many famous rugby league towns in such a small space!  While not as pleasant as the open country roads, this part of the journey certainly needed concentration and focus – would the other road users see me, or do something daft and life threatening?  Fortunately, I managed to stay in one piece, but made slow progress due to the many stops at traffic lights and roundabouts.

I had intended to stop at Preston for lunch, but couldn’t find anywhere that looked half decent.  So pressed on to a place called Guy’s Thatched Hamlet where I caught up with Joan.  From the road this looked a really quirky place, with lots of people outside drinking and eating.  In reality it was a poor man’s attempt at a US-style themed venue.  The hoards of people also meant a long wait for lunch, so we decided to skip the meal and press on (again).

Shortly before Lancaster I left the A6 and headed across country towards Kirkby Lonsdale.  This part of the journey was a real treat.  Fantastic countryside along the Trough of Bowland, and no killer hills to take away the pleasure of the scenery.  Quite the best part of the day. 

Arrived at our hotel in good spirits, helped by the fact that tomorrow is a rest day.  Yippee!!

Joan’s Bit

I was disappointed to hear that there wasn’t a pier for me to take pictures of at Wigan!  So instead I headed for Crosby Sands and the famous Gormley statues.  I managed a few shots but think I need to go back again someday to do them justice.

It was then a quick journey on the motorway to make up time and catch up with Stephen at Preston.  He’d already decided not so stop so I eventually caught up with him further on the route, where he replenished his drinks, ate an energy bar and decided to carry on to our final destination. After going round in circles with my Sat Nav just before Garstang I decided to go down a very narrow lane and lo and behold, there he was again, a little red dot in the distance.  It was then a short journey through lovely countryside to Whoop Hall.

The day in numbers

• 60 miles
• 4hr 6min in saddle
• 14.6 mph average speed
• 33.1 mph maximum speed
• 1,701 feet of climbing
• 3,839 calories burned

After the rough day yesterday, I decided to start the day all shiny and clean.  That meant a shave for me and a clean for my bike – both “firsts” on the trip so far. 

The weather at the start of the day was glorious, with the forecasters predicting temperatures of 23C plus.  I must say this had me somewhat worried, as all my cycling and training has been in winter conditions so I’ve never been out when it’s really hot.  What to wear?  Would I suffer from heat exhaustion?  These were just some of the questions going through my mind.

The ride started with a slow climb out of the gorge where Ironbridge sits – it’s in a beautiful location with tons of history to see, so well worth a visit if you’re ever in that neck of the woods.  From there it was fast cycling along smooth (and slightly downhill) roads around Telford.  Already I knew this was going to be a good day!

The miles just rolled by – gently undulating countryside helped me to get into a fairly quick-paced rhythm, while the worries about the heat failed to materialise.  Just drink plenty of fluids and let the downhill runs cool you down!

And so it continued all the way to Warrington.  The last few miles were pretty uncomfortable (for the reasons discussed on yesterday’s blog), so it was just as well that this leg was relatively short and quick(ish) to complete.

Joan’s Bit

What joy, another trip to the launderette as Stephen had unexpectedly used up all his gear for warm weather riding.  Almost a disaster as a couple of his very expensive base layers nearly melted in the ‘volcanically’ hot drier.

I then spent some time in Ironbridge taking pictures of the ‘real’ bridge this time and the valley. It was then off to Much Wenlock, which although was clearly a very pretty village, had no obvious place to stop, so I just kept on going.

After passing some beautiful countryside I eventually caught up with Stephen 9 miles from Warrington, me thinks he takes the bus !!