In memory of Mark;
If you can keep your head when all about you
are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
but make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
orbeing hated, don't give way to hating,
and yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
and treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
and stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
and lose, and start again at your beginnings
and never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
to serve your turn long after they are gone,
and so hold on when there is nothing in you
except the will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
with sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son
Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936)
SATURDAY Day 1
I set off from Essex for Land's End at 7am in bright sunshine.
375 miles & 6.5 hours later, I arrived at Land's End in 40mph winds and heavy rain.
We managed to get some photos done but the wind was so strong I had to take the flag off. I met an american lady who's son served in Afghanistan and wished me luck and donated £2.
I left Land's End about 2.30pm. Cycled the 39 miles to Truro arriving just after 5pm. First experience of some Cornish hills.
SUNDAY Day 2
Left Truro at 8.40am, it was dry but very windy and lots of very long, steep hills. Stopped in the highest village in Cornwall, Minions, for a cup of tea and met 5 other cyclists training for their challenge in September. All thought I was mad doing it on my own and unsupported. The shop owner didn't charge me for my coffee donating thye money instead. After leaving I got absolutely soaked due to heavy rain over Bodmin moor and all the way to Launceston where I got flagged down by a couple who's son is currently serving in the forces, also gave me £2.
Stopped at Okehampton for afternoon tea where an old lady gave me £1. Arrived at B&B at Copplestone at 5.30pm after 6 hours and 20mins of cycling and 82 miles. Went for a meal at New Inn at Colefordand got given £5 each by Alan and Justin and £5 by the bar-maid Jo.
MONDAY Day 3
Really comfortable night with Ken and Leslie at Harebell B&B. Knocked £5 off the bill as a donation.
Set off in heavy rain and lots more hills to Tiverton. Roads leveled out slighty towards Bridgewater and I stopped for some lunch at Kaz's Kitchen, Karen, the owner, didn't charge me for lunch, "donate the money instead" £3.40. Climbed up over the Mendip hills. Stopped briefly to get my record stamped at Congresbury where a lady gave me £2 . Arrived at B&B at Yatton at 4.30pm. 76miles, 5hours and 25mins of cycling. Lots of rain, lots of wind and, for a change, some hailstones. Sid the owner knocked £5 off the bill and made a £5 donation totalling £10.
TUESDAY Day 4
A bit fiddly around Bristol, then across the Severn bridge to Chepstow. Here I bought two new sets of brake blocks as the hills of Devon & Cornwall had taken their toll. It had been so wet and slipperry that I was constantly on the brakes for the downhill bits which, on a sunny dry day, would have been yupeee!!!!. A long steep climb from Chepstow to St Briavels and passed Symonds Yat. Met 2 lads on the way down. They were doing the CTC Hostel Route and averaging 60 miles a day. On towards Hereford, stopped for lunch at Maggie's Diner on A49, Maggie gave me £5. Stayed on A49 to Leominster where I got given another £5 from a squaddies mum, ended up at Ludlow. 92 miles in total, 7 hours and 20 mins of cycling.
CROSSING THE OLD SEVEN BRIDGE
WEDNESDAY Day 5
Left Ludlow at 8.30am. I decided to change the front brake blocks but not the rears (a decision I would come to regret later). I realised my legs were tired when I tried to get on my bike and couldn't lift my leg high enough and broke my flag pole off!! I stopped at Jewson's at Craven Arms where Tony and Phil gave me a new flag pole and gave me £10 each.
Got to Shrewsbury where I worked my way around using cycle paths. At one junction I got fooled by some woman that indicated right but turned left on a roundabout, I did a full emergency stop and found out how my new front brake blocks worked so much better than the rears as I went straight over the handlebars and now have cuts and bruises to both knees and left elbow. The old lady stopped long enough to mouth "sorry" and drove off - ta. Had a really good ride up to Warrington up the A49 - brilliant sunshine. Got a bit lost around Orrell, made it as far as Eccleston where I was given £5 by Simon Retford. Arrived at the accommodation about 6.45pm. Accommodation was first class and I must have looked a bit of a state as Karen, the landlady, offered to wash and dry my clothes for me. 107.5 miles and 6 hours 45 mins cycling.
Wind blew my bike over!
THURSDAY Day 6
Left Eccleston at 8.30am, got a bit lost around Preston, stopped for a cup of tea at Garstang. Ray and Kelly at Badger's Snacks tea van kept offering me food, in the end I settled for a turkey roll and a can of drink for lunch later on.
Arrived in Lancaster in pouring rain, started to head towards Kirkby Lonsdale but the rain and wind was so bad that I turned back and I stuck to the main road along the A6 to Kendal. Left Kendal in torrential downpour towards Shap. Very long slow climb over Shap. It was 420m above sea level at the top and I was completely surrounded by rain clouds with hardly any visibility. I passed a pair of end-to-enders on the climb up. Wished them good luck and then enjoyed the downhill to Shap village. Onto Penrith for the night. 88 miles.
THE VIEW FROM SHAP AT 420 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL
FRIDAY Day 7
Left Penrith in good weather and had a really good run up to Gretna.
Had my photo taken at the "Welcome to Scotland" sign by Frances Johnston who was on holiday with her husband Gordon. Gave me £20 for the fund.
I set off along the coast towards Dumfries where, 10 minutes later, the rain and wind came and for the next 8 hours it hardley stopped. The wind was so strong I changed my route and stuck to main roads hoping for a better road surface but spray from passing lorries was a pain and the right side of me was black from the road muck.
Just after Dumfires, on the A76 towards Kilmarnock, I was starting to feel the cold and by some stroke of fate I came accross a tea van in a lay-by. Gordon the owner was just packing up but had hung on for 15 minutes and I just arrived in time. A hot mug of tea, sausage sandwich and £10 donation later I was on my way again feeling great.
This was a difficult day and just before arriving at the B&B I stopped at a small shop (Raj Sperstore) in Ochiltree. Here I met some locals, Phil, Erine and others, along with the staff in the shop who were very kind and not only donated over £22 between them by I also got given supplies of food and drink
Eventually arrived at my B& B just outside Ayr at 7.30 pm having covered 106 miles. By far the hardest thing I have ever done both mentally and physically but met some of the kindest people who really kept me going. Wendy, my host, even made me some tea on my arrival with some home made cake and dried my clothes and shoes out overnight on the AGA.
SATURDAY Day 8
Left B&B outside Ayr, only had a short day today because I was staying with Jen's Aunt in Dunoon. Nice dry day, stopped for lunch at Largs which must be the closest seaside resort to Glasgow because its full of ice-cream shops and people out for the day. 
Made my way to Gourock and caught the ferry to Dunoon, arriving just about 3pm. 60miles. Spent a very pleasant evening with Aunty Helen and Paula and Steve the neighbours. Got a £10 donation from Paula and Steve.
SUNDAY Day 9
Left Dunoon at 7.30am, not only would Aunty Helen not accept anything for putting me up overnight but she then insisted on giving me £5 and filling all my available space with food. I have now adopted Helen as my aunt too. Made my way along Loch Eck in nice weather and got as far as Loch Fyne to met by torrential rain and strong winds, which lasted most of the day.
At times it was a real struggle even going downhill, pedalling as fast as I could and only getting up to 15mph. Made my way to Inveraray. Even though I could see it across the Loch, it still took 2 hours to get there.
Climbed up the hill out of Inveraray towards Oban.
I was told by the lady in the shop that it is fresh snow on the top!!
5 miles before Oban I turned towards Connel and headed north in the direction of Ballachulish. By now it was very cold and very wet. It was late afternoon so decided to get something to eat and found somewhere to stay at Appin. 86 miles covered today.
Learnt about the local history and the masacare of Glen Coe just before I went to bed - restless sleep that night for some reason!
MONDAY Day 10
Sitting having breakfast in the conservatory looking at the rain and the wind, not a great start. Set off about 8.30am, made my way up passed Fort William in torrential rain, and more strong wind. Stopped at the Commando Memorial and Spean Bridge and, because of the weather, I was the only one there for a while. Couple of people arrived and gave me a £15 donation. Carried on towards Invergarry. Stopped for a cup of tea and ended up sitting next to a couple from Rayleigh who gave me £10. Made my way up alongside Losh Ness to Drumnadrochit. Big climb towards Beauly arrived just after 5pm. 93 miles. Decided to have a traditional scottish meal in Beauly so had a very nice Chicken Tikka Masala.
COMMANDO MEMORIAL AT SPEAN BRIDGE
TUESDAY Day 11
Had a great stay with Mr & Mrs NUT at Beauly. Traditional B&B that was still decorated in the 70's style.
Had a great run along to Tain. A bit blustary as I crossed the Dornoch Firth but appart from that the run along the A9 was pretty good. Had my first bit of trouble with the bike when the lower bracket holding the pannier rack to the bike broke on the left.
I made a temporary repair (good old cable ties) and carried on. I think the constant pounding on poor road surfaces, together with the side to side motion of climbing hills standing up to pedal, had taken it's toll. All back on track just in time to climb a very steep hill after Helmsdale. Kept climbing for miles until eventually got to Dunbeath where B&B was booked.
85 miles covered today which should mean I have a nice short ride to JOG and hopefully arrive there at lunchtime.
THE FIRST SIGN TO JOG
WEDNESDAY Day 12
Spent a fantastic evening at "Ballentink" B&B, Dunbeath.
My hosts were Wendy & Nigel who made me feel very welcome. Wendy invited me to have dinner with them or would drive me to the pub if I'd wished. I chose to join them and had a very pleasent stay. Wendy wouldn't accept anything for the evening meal (it took a lot to persuade her to take the money for the B&B) so I will make a donation on their behalf for dinner.
As I was leaving a very funny thing happened - along the narrow track towards the main road I was confronted by a foreign registered car with a huge mast stuck on the roof. It turned out to be one of the "Google Live View" recording cameras!!!!
Made my way through Wick and onto JOG.
I arrived at JOG just after 12 o'clock having covered just 46 miles making it a total of 959 miles. I found I was too early as the brass band, funfair and fireworks had not arrived!!!.
I got my card stamped and took a few pictures just as the rain struck. After a short stay I carried on for another 20 miles along the coast to Thurso where I stayed the night.
THURSDAY Day 13
Plan A was for me to make my way back to Inchree, just South of Fort William, by next Tuesday where the Black Widows Motorcycle Display Team (Essex Chapter) would be arriving with their support vehicle!
I set off from Thurso along the North coast heading West towards Reay. To say it was a bit windy would be like saying LE to JOG is a quick bike jaunt! At one stage I actually got blown into a hedge as I was climbing a hill. It took me an hour to do the first 5 miles and it was all a bit mad. The forecast for the next few days was of similar weather with the added bonus of a bit of rain.
Having achieved what I'd set out to do, I opted for plan B which was to make my way to Inverness and catch a train home.
FRIDAY Day 14
Booked onto the 8.40pm train from Inverness to Lonodon so made my way to Inverness.
Weather forecast was pretty accurate!
Treated myself to a cabin which came with a complimentary breakfast.
SATURDAY Day 15
I arrived at Euston station at 08.00 am and cycled to Liverpool Street station and caught the train to Chelmsford. Cycled back to Danbury in glorious weather - thanks!!
The statistics
Total distance Lands End to John o'Groats 959 miles
Total distance cycled 1072 miles
Total time cycling (LE-JOG) 69 hours
Avearage milleage per day 87 (1st/12th days only half days so 11 in total)
Average Speed 13.8 mph
There were NO punctures and only minor problems which I managed to fix myself. Appart from the brake blocks, nothing else had to be replaced - very happy with the bike and it is worth buying good quality kit.
On my way to JOG I collected £210 in donations, met some very nice people and had a unique experience - if your thinking of giving it a go - DO IT!!!!
