Mark My Words

Thanks!

Just a quick note to thank everybody for their support on my recent Land's End to John O'Groats ride. I finished on July 6th after 1,152 miles having taken about 20 days cycling plus 2 or 3 rest days with friends along the way. To answer the obvious question... no, my bum is fine. In fact Bec and I managed a victory lap (about 30 miles) of The Isle of Bute on the way back.

I understand from one or two people that the sponsorship link on my website wasn't working for a few days. This was a problem at JustGiving, who run the sponsorship service, which I've now fixed. So if you didn't get the chance to sponsor me and would still like to contribute to Re-Cycle click on the link in the top right of the web page or here. So far I've raised £565 on the JustGiving site plus another £120 cash totalling £685. So many thanks to those who have sponsored me.

In particular I would like to thank...

Bec: For acting as trainer, mission-control, dropping me off in LE, picking me up in JOG, masseuse and much more.

Friends I met up with, or stayed with: Ken & Kira, Bob, Paul, Michael, Sadie, Connell and Robert.

Those who called and emailed me en route to provide moral support: Andy, Barrie, Carl, Chris, Craig, Dan, Jev, John, Katherine, Kristen, Lizzy, Matt, Stevie, Stuart and Tom.

Training partners: Bec, Barrie & John.

Bike shops who went above and beyond the call of duty: Bicycle Ambulance in Cambridge, Hares Cycle Works in Bath, Palace Cycles, Carlisle and Wheels Cycle Centre, Callander.

Misc thanks: The dutch tourist who pulled alongside in his car and returned my hat which I'd dropped a mile or so back. The taxi driver in Alexandria who returned my mobile which I'd left on the back seat. Mike at the Crask Inn and many others along the way for invaluable directions. And if I've left your name off my list... apologies.

The Route

So, now I'm back in Cambridge and able to fill in a few of the gaps. For those who are interested, or are looking to do an end-to-end ride. Here is the route that I took...

Date		Accom	Mileage
Sat	13/6	LE to Truro, Cornwall	41
Sun	14	St Neot, Cornwall	40
Mon	15	Okehampton, Devon	40
Tue	16	Willand, Devon	45
Wed	17	Wells, Somerset	60
Thu	18	Bath, Somerset	35.
Fri	19	Bath	-Rest-
Sat	20	Gloucester	60
Sun	21	Kinver, Staffs	55
Mon	22	Stone,Staffs	55
Tue	23	Manchester	65
Wed	24	Manchester	-Rest-
Thu	25	Bilsburrow, Lancs	65
Fri	26	Windermere, Cumbria	55
Sat	27	Carlisle, Cumbria	41
Sun	28	Abington, Lanarkshire	60
Mon	29	Alexandria, Dunbartonshire	65
Tue	30	Callander, Perthshire	50
Wed	1/7	Pitlochry, Perthshire	50
Thu	2	Kingussie, Inverness-shire	50
Fri	3	Inverness	60
Sat	4	Lairg, Sutherland	60
Sun	5	Strathy, Caithness	60
Mon	6	--FINISH JOG--	40
		TOTAL	1,152 miles

Job Done

The last day began in the sea mist at Strathy on the North coast. I nearly had to put my lights on for the first and last time. There was quite a bit of up and down until I got near Dounreay nuclear power station which was a bit surreal in the mist next to the sea. Soon the mist cleared to reveal... mile after mile of bleak, boring farmland and a 20mph easterly headwind.

Down into Thurso (not worth stopping) and up and out again. A brief lunch stop at the beach in Castletown next to the abandoned flagstone works. After that it was just 12 (seemed forever) miles of pedalling into the headwind to John O'Groats.

John O'Groats itself was a mirror image (maybe a bit more tasteful) of Land's End... however Bec was waiting there with a bottle of champagne, bazooka-sized cigar and congratulations sign. Hurrah!

That will be the last post for a day or two until we get back when I can use a proper PC and fill in the details, post some more photies, thanks and post-script. It's still not too late to sponsor me, but my pal Matt tells me the link on the page may be broken. Just in case... the sponsorship page is at http://www.justgiving.com/markgoodson

Sunday July 5th - Lairg to Strathy

Sports Nutrition: Full Scottish breakfast inc black pud.

Mileage: 55 or so

Route: Via single track roads from Strathy to Altnaharra and then on to Bettyhill and finally Strathy.

Good news: Bec, fresh from walking in Northumberland caught up with me, ready for the grand finale.

Bad news: None

Miles to JOG: 42

Saturday - July 4th : Inverness to Lairg

Not a day that was looking forward to. According to the National Cycle Route 1 map that I have (copyright 2000) this leg would be about 72 miles, but accomodation is spread pretty thin in The Highlands so beggars can't be choosers. A slow start out of Inverness partly the result of dodgy Sustrans signposting (my excuse). However was very pleased to find out that since the publication of the map they have been at work and now there is a good cycleway that pretty much follows the A9. In the end I did around 60 miles to Lairg.

Once again I was completely jammy with the weather and constant sunshine made for a super day's cycling around the Cromarty Firth and Dornoch Firth. A bit of uphill on the run-in to Lairg, but otherwise couldn't have been better. Stayed at the Lairg Highland Hotel which wasn't too bad but for the "Nip Inn" bar which was hosting a stag night such that the place sounded like a saloon in Dodge City... these young people enjoying themselves, it makes you sick.

This was really out in the sticks... so no mobile phone signal and hence no blog update. I'm now at The Strathy Inn where they have a guests' PC which is great.

Northern (High)Lights

About time for a mass update I guess. So....

Wed July 1st

Callander to Kilmahog to Killin to Pitlochry

Thu July 2nd

Pitlochry to Killiecrankie to Blair Atholl to Kingussie Included a section over The Drumochter Pass, the highest and most barren in Scotland.

Fri July 3rd

Kingussie to Inverness Through Aviemore which is like Clacton-in-the-Mountains and then over the pass at Slochd (what I'll be when I get back)... the second highest and most barren, etc.

All in all three great days cycling and some of the best scenery so far. I've been totally spawny with the weather, there have been thunderstorms and torrential rain ahead of me, behind me, and on both sides but nary a drop has landed on me. Still three days to fix that. That is now National Cycle Route 7 (Lochs & Glens North), 217 miles. Complete.

Distilleries visited: Dalwhinnie and Tomatin

Sports nutrition: happy to report that first haggis, neaps and tatties consumed.

Double take: Man emerging from chinese takeaway in Kingussie carrying a caber.

Max speed: 39.3mph

Karma

I omitted to mention that on my evening in Alexandria and Balloch I visited The Doghouse pub and was subjected to varying degrees of folk music. I returned to the B&B my taxi (being somewhat fatigued). Preparing for bed I heard some knocking at the door and it turned out the taxi driver had just appeared at the B&B with my mobile which I'd left in the cab. My blood ran cold at the thought of having nearly lost my phone which would have taken a day to replace, not to mention the numbers within, photos, etc. What good fortune.

Next morning I set off and stop at the Post Office/Chemist in Balloch (quiet as you like) to send a postcard. I parked my bike literally in the shop entrance and never took my eyes off it. 2 minutes later the gps was gone. So things even out... but I'd rather have the phone. Also slightly amused at the thought of some addled smackhead trying to ring his dealer on a bicycle gps.

Ride: Alexandria to Callander.

Top moment: Watching salmon jumping in the river at Callander

Beer: Deuchars in Callander. Otherwise it's a real ale desert here. Kind of like "The Death Zone" up Everest.

Through Glasgow

I as fortunate that there was a local shop (the only one for 50 miles in any direction) opposite The Abington Hotel, Abington. This allowed me to stock up on midge repellant and Irn Bru prior to departure.

I've already expounded on the boredom of riding through the borders, particularly on the B7076/7078 (old A74). Take a look at the picture of the dual carraigeway section in my album (left) to understand... easy navigation and no traffic but dull miles.

I headed into Glasgow via Hamilton and then hooked up with National Cycle Route 75 (Forth to Clyde). This took me on a very weird route along the Clyde. I couldn't decide whether it was waste land (lots of broken glass on the path and graffiti) or urban park (hardly anyone there, giant hogweed, river).

Regardless it took me right into the centre and at Bells Bridge it joined NCN7 which took me out via Clydebank (not so nice) and The Forth & Clyde Canal (v nice).

I stayed in Alexandria about a mile from Loch Lomond.

Sports nutrition: Chinese. The cooks came out to have a look at someone disappearing the largest chinese meal in record time.

Borders (not the bookshop)

I was very fortunate yesterday to cycle past Palace Cycles in Carlisle. I needed the front derailleur looking at so took the bike in and not only did they do that but the main man drew me a map of how to get to Gretna without tangling with the dreaded A74. This route is completely unsigned and takes you through an industrial estate and past the tip to emerge by the backdoor into Scotland.

Took on or two photies and continued up the B7076 which is the old A74 now made redundant by the motorway. There is virtually no traffic on what was the main road into Scotland going from the border to Glasgow for 100 miles. So initially I thought "whoopee" I can put in a huge day, not having to think about navigation. However there is nothing on this road for mile after mile... talk about bleak. In 50 miles I went past about 2 hotels and zero petrol stations. Boredom set in in a big way, which means you have nothing to do but concentrate on your aches and pains (of which I have plenty).

I was starting to get a bit nervous about where I may stay tonight so provisionally booked a B&B Lesmahagow (thought he was the lead singer in The Bay City Rollers) after 75 miles or so, but after 60 miles I went past The Abington Hotel and decided that would do me. I could have gone further but had no idea where I might get an evening meal in Lesmahagow.

Emergency food stock:

Irn Bru x 2 (good for hangovers and other emergencies) Flapjack x 2.5 Custard creams x 2 (courtesy of hotel) Shortbreads x 2 (courtesy of hotel) Jelly babies.... large bag

Best moment of the day: a dutch car pulling alongside and the driver returning my hat which had come off the rack a mile or two back.

Song of the day: Wheels of Steel, Saxon

Update from the Frontier

Tonight finds me in a B&B in Carlisle catching up on the last few days.

Thursday

Set off from Paul's in Manchester following a rest and planning day. I was not looking forward to fighting my way across the city but it turned out not to be a problem. Big A roads out via Salford, Eccles and Wigan. Eventually hit Preston which as particularly horrible (sorry Carl). Several motorway converge there and big A roads go through the middle. It's tricky to go anywhere there without find yourself on a motorway slip road. Anyway... stumbled across National Cycle Route 6 that took me out of Preston on a quiet but slow route North.

After 61 miles I arrived in Bilsburrow to stay with Michael, Sadie and Connell... parents and brother of my old mate Jevon. It was great to see them and the hospitality was much appreciated. Oh... we also came 3rd in the pub quiz!

Friday

Bilsburrow to Windermere. Took the A6 North rather than NCN6 on Michael's advice. A good steer. Was soon in Lancaster and along the canal on another cycle route. Somewhere along the way I lost this and ended up back on the A6. I just wanted to get there now so took the A591 to Windermere which was a dreadful dual carraigeway but got me there fast.

Saturday

Windermere to Carlisle. Up the Kirkstone Pass... see photo.