May 2025 LeJog

[blackrat]

I'm going to do LeJog (again) staring in May, but with the disgusting display by the Celtic supporters against the Prince of Wales in the cup final today, does anyone know how to get to John o' Groats without going through Scotland? Is it possible to create an international sanctuary road that goes around Scotland, maybe on inflatables that avoids spending even a penny in that retrograde country?

 

[Ajax Bay]

Cup final?
Avoiding these areas where freedom of speech is exercised with 'abandon' can be achieved by heading for Troon, going via Arran to Kintyre and optionally from Oban to Mull and cut back to the mainland.
I guess an alternative route is to head for Edinburgh and from Carlisle/Gretna - the scenic road through Eskdalemuir and Innerleithen.
"Edinburgh (pop = > 0.5M) is predominantly Protestant. The Catholic population in the city is tiny, about 20,000."

 

[PeteXXX]

How about the ferry option?
Liverpool to Ballycastle, Islay, Colonsay, Oban, Craignure, Lochboisdale, Stornoway, Ullapool then N500?

It might get a bit complicated but it would avoid major centres of population.. 👍

 

[blackrat]

Cup final?
Avoiding these areas where freedom of speech is exercised with 'abandon' can be achieved by heading for Troon, going via Arran to Kintyre and optionally from Oban to Mull and cut back to the mainland.
I guess an alternative route is to head for Edinburgh and from Carlisle/Gretna - the scenic road through Eskdalemuir and Innerleithen.
"Edinburgh (pop = > 0.5M) is predominantly Protestant. The Catholic population in the city is tiny, about 20,000."

"Avoiding these areas where freedom of speech is exercised with 'abandon"
No doubt you would agree that making insulting comments whilst staring directly at the recipient of your rudeness is not reasonably considered: "freedom of speech". At least it is not part of my upbringing.

 

[iandg]

How about the ferry option?
Liverpool to Ballycastle, Islay, Colonsay, Oban, Craignure, Lochboisdale, Stornoway, Ullapool then N500?

It might get a bit complicated but it would avoid major centres of population.. 👍

The Uists are predominantly Catholic (hence no problem with Sunday opening compared with Protestant Lewis and Harris) so OP may want to avoid that bit.

 

[Ajax Bay]

"Avoiding these areas where freedom of speech is exercised with 'abandon"
No doubt you would agree that making insulting comments whilst staring directly at the recipient of your rudeness is not reasonably considered: "freedom of speech". At least it is not part of my upbringing.

Sorry, I don't agree. I refer you to the thrust of Voltaire's reported philosophy on this.
If this thread goes off to NACA that's fine. I offered you some routing suggestions for your May end-to-end to pretend you weren't trolling. You're welcome!
I looked to see if you could get to the Shetlands via the Faeroes but the ferry no longer runs.
How about sharing your intended route before the terribly poorly brought up and rude Glaswegians caused these second thoughts?

You can be "disgusted": I just regard it as fun and games and a good sing song: panis et circenses.
Rather addressed at owners/managers/royal supporters than racist stuff, which is NOT OK.
When's the last time you went to a football stadium and watched from the stands?
My first was Spurs v Ipswich, taken by my grandfather, and Jimmy Greaves scored a hat trick in a 6-0 win iirc. Happy days
Pretty sure any insulting comments/songs in Villa Park might have been in hearing but you can't describe them as "staring directly" at the Prince of Wales.
I refer the honourable member to PMQT and the incivility within the chamber. I'm sure their mums did not 'bring them up' like that, either.

 

[iandg]

Cup final?
Avoiding these areas where freedom of speech is exercised with 'abandon' can be achieved by heading for Troon, going via Arran to Kintyre and optionally from Oban to Mull and cut back to the mainland.
I guess an alternative route is to head for Edinburgh and from Carlisle/Gretna - the scenic road through Eskdalemuir and Innerleithen.
"Edinburgh (pop = > 0.5M) is predominantly Protestant. The Catholic population in the city is tiny, about 20,000."

Catholicism may be a small proportion of Edinburgh's religious population but Hibs fans have been known for their anti monarchy chants

"You can stick the royal family....."

"You can stick the royal wedding...."

 

[Ming the Merciless]

How about LECARLISLE a french variant?

 

[steverob]

How about LECARLISLE a french variant?

Surely it would be LEBUT - Lands End to Berwick-upon-Tweed?

 

[blackrat]

The original message about a floating bypass of Scotland was intended to be somewhat of a tongue-in-cheek, but anyway, on to another point:
Does anyone know if there any statistics showing how many cycle LeJog independently without support and those who do so as part of an organised group?

 

[Ajax Bay]

I'm going to do LeJog (again) staring in May,

Was this "intended to be somewhat of a tongue-in-cheek [expletive deleted]"
Suggest you take this all a bit more seriously. LEJOG is an undertaking and any jocularity will undermine your determination.
Do you think we are offering you suggestions 'for fun'?

Share your planned route, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, do. Anyway I thought you'd ridden this last September, or did you bottle out?

I'm due to land at Heathrow 9 September and leave 22 September. I recognise maybe the delay might not be long, but timing is everything with getting a taxi to a bike shop near Heathrow to have it unpacked and reassembled, then Paddington Express into London and train down to Penzance - all booked and paid for.

Statistics only I have access to and are commercial-in-confidence suggests the number cycling LeJog independently without support is 28% of those who do so as part of an organised group and with the same level of meals and accommodation is 37% less expensive.

 

[blackrat]

I must apologise: I expected this comment to be understood as to not be a serious suggestion:
Is it possible to create an international sanctuary road that goes around Scotland, maybe on inflatables that avoids spending even a penny in that retrograde country?
I will be careful in any future postings to be aware of the apparent lack of wit on the part of the potential reader.

 

[Ajax Bay]

So are you actually riding end-to-end in May or is this a strawman? What happened last September?

Does anyone know if there any statistics showing how many cycle LeJog independently without support and those who do so as part of an organised group?

So was this a "serious" question, or witless?

 

[matticus]

Was this "intended to be somewhat of a tongue-in-cheek [expletive deleted]"
Suggest you take this all a bit more seriously. LEJOG is an undertaking and any jocularity will undermine your determination.
Do you think we are offering you suggestions 'for fun'?

Share your planned route, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, do. Anyway I thought you'd ridden this last September, or did you bottle out?

Ajax! Your sleuthing is a bit sub-standard today; but I can help you out:

Having completed my ride to John o' Groats, I now want to find out if there is a nicer/safer way to ride from St. Austell to Tavistock.
If anyone who has ridden ridden all or most of this route can share your advice, I'd appreciate hearing your suggestions.

HTH !

 

[Ajax Bay]

Thank you Matt.
I made a number of comments on their thread in the run up to the 9-22nd September LEJOG: minimal sleuthing required.

Having completed my ride to John o' Groats, I now want to find out if there is a nicer/safer way to ride from St. Austell to Tavistock.

Top tip: don't go via St Austell: the north Cornwall option is advantageous and attractive.

A kind correspondent on another forum offered me this as a practical and safe route:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48636848

But if you must! The linked route has a high proportion of 'narrow yellow' roads which I recommend avoiding. Better this (slightly shorter and 250+m less climb!)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49749624
I have ridden these roads (not in a single ride).