LEJOG For a Honeymoon Completed :-)

[Bill-H]

Day 1
Debbie and i married on 12 July. ON 14 july we left home drove to Lands End then followed A30 through Penzance ,Hayle then onto A3075, A392,A39 to Camelford we camped at Fantastic site Cherry Tree Cottage.
The ride was good faster than i expected probably as i was buzzing i was actually doing it 2 years of planning
http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/541658231

 

[Bill-H]

Day 2
A day of bad roads and roadworks my route was camelford to holsworthy tiverton taunton then diverted to Bridgewater then Street and finishing at a campsite north east of Glastonbury it was a hot day 119 .4 miles and 7000 FT of climbing.I have to say that Devons roads are the worst i have ridden on condition wise.
the summary of it all is below
http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/544963638

 

[Hop3y]

Keep it up!

 

[Bill-H]

Day 3
This Day hurt lots legs ached badly from Day 2 my route planning had me walking across a field ooops Big lesson in planning RV as wasted time waiting for Debbie in the Van as we missed each other.
Stroud was my 1st and 2nd puncture and tyre replacement after hitting a piece of flint in town centre unfortunatly Debbie was over 30 miles ahead of me so i started to walk with bike on shoulder thankyou to everyone who offered lifts etc. Repairs done i then had a Bee in my bonnet and pushed hard in the heat to get to Clent hills campsite the last 20 miles were fuelled by Jelly babies and singing loudly " the wheels on the Bike go round and round all day long"
http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/544963719

 

[Bill-H]

Day 4
Starting to get Saddle sore and very Windy but feeling fitter met Debbie at Market Drayton for Lunch then set off for towards warrington our next RV roads were nice to ride on this changed in Warrington O MY GOD the most scared i have felt on a bike met Debbie on a industrial estate then spent time in Decathlon what a shop :-) brought another pair bib shorts and windproof Gillette (fantastic item)
then it was time to travel last 25 miles to Chorley. OOOOPS i had turned Sat Nav off to save BTY however when i turned it on again it continued to guide me but didnt record i only realised with a few miles left to go my missing route was wigan road Adlington then chorley.
Campsite was Rough and Ready

morning
http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/544963750

Afternoon
http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/544963793

 

[Bill-H]

Day 5
A good sunny Day however strong head wind for the start but once legs warmed up i felt Good today was basically head down and pedal along theA6 i was skirting some big thunderstorms but stayed mostly Dry had a Sat Nav issue in Lancaster trying to send me up a one way street so followed a cycle path.
we were due to meet in Kendal for Lunch however when Debbie sent me her location it was Kendle train station i stopped asked a local and was sent uphill to Oxenholme station the Wrong one so continued uphill to pub and Debbie met me there. we then agreed to meet the other side of Shap.
Shap was great it just went on and on i thought i was at the top to realise i had to drop into valely and climb it again.the Descent on the otherside was awesome.
Had a coffee at bottom then onto campsite in Carlisle couldnt find it so did about 4 miles locating it.
http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/544963899

 

[Bill-H]

Day 6
I woke at 0500 throwing up !!!! The chinese take away i had eaten the night before was not helping me. once i recovered with weather forecast of Heavy rain being correct i set off at about 07.30 103 miles to the delights of a BATH at travel lodge to look forward too.
I rode parralel to m6 to Gretna and entered Scotland in the pooring rain. Changed waterproof at Lockerbie then off out again.the road surfaces although not many holes were extremly Rough and uneven tarmac wise actually slowed me down by 1-2 mph along with the rain made it tough going. I stopped for coffee at Abington this was the lowest i felt i had been in torrential rain all day and with no sign of it slowing.Then onto A73 for a long way the country side what i could see of it was very dramatic and beautiful.I finally made it to Cumbernauld travel lodge there WASNT A BATH !!! gutted however we did drive and find a very large Burger King .

http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/544963974

 

[Bill-H]

Day 7
One of my favourite Days
I had some trouble finding canal Path at Kirkintilloch but once on i made good progress it felt like i was skirting Glasgow for hours.
once on A82 i was overtaken by a local cycling club who offered me a tow at back of their train my speed rapidly increased for a few miles then i dropped out as was near my next RV with Debbie at Loch Lomond. weather was great sun block needed on my neck.
then stopped at Crinlarich A85. The highlight of the trip was riding this road to Fort William the climbs were all long but steady however the views were breath taking the ride down the Glencoe valley was absolutely stunning the grin on my face as i went down imbetween the enormous hills enjoying the view was epic.
we stayed at a campsite at the foot of Ben Nevis.

http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/547372939

 

[Bill-H]

Day 8
A short Day :-)

my route was A82 stopped at the Commando Memorial then onto Fort Augustas for a fish and chip lunch then along north side of Loch Ness , i was overtaken by three young Lads on way to JOG unsupported the first of a few meetings i overtook two of them whilst they fixed a puncture they soon caught me up we chatted for a while until they had another puncture,i then stopped at Drumnadrochit for food break.found the hardest hill so far i had to stop for a breather but still rode up it 15% up the A833
met the 3 lads again rode with them for a bit we were all heading to Dingwall they lost me on a long downhill.
Campsite was beautiful.
http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/547372939

 

[Bill-H]

Day 9
The Final Day i was Buzzing mostly on the A9 a nasty busy Road i met a really nice Gentleman in his 70's riding a bright Yellow Recumbent spent the next few miles riding with my own tour guide explaing the history of the area i think his name was ewain .we parted company as he was off on his loop of the Hills.i met Debbie for lunch at Golspie.I then saw the three lads from yesterday cruising past i knew they had Taxi booked at JOG FOR 19.00.
I then met Debbie again other side of Helmsdale the weather had deteriated to a thick fog. A few sharp hills but overall the hills were long steady affairs.Puncture with about 30 miles to go fixed quickly then through wick and off to JOG thick fog but feeling really happy.
on Arrival i see Debbie and believe it or not the three young lads waiting for taxi.
They summed it up very well I was crazy to do it on our Honeymoon she was even more Crazy to allow me and to then drive it.
We stayed the night at John o Groats Guesthouse this place was Amazing fantastic home cooked food and a wonderfull pair of Hosts.
http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/547373402

In summary
I completed my ride for the Army Benevolent Fund and Force Cancer Charity it took
63.48 peddling hours I travelled 908.55 miles and climbed 46,512 ft
burning 65,232 calories
with an Average moving speed of 14.3 mph.

 

[Davos87]

Well done on your epic journey for such a worthwhile cause.Enjoyed the write ups.