UK Land's End to John o'Groats June 2019

Hello Everybody!                 NOW WITH PHOTOS !!!!!!!!!!! Route: Cleveden to Ludlow For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance:  88.5 miles (Total 328.6) Average speed: 12.7 mph Calories: 1,765 Cycling time: 7h15m Average cadence: 65 rpm Climb: 3,002ft, Descent: 3,366ft Heart (yes I have one): max 137 aver 113 Aver Temp: 15C, Max temp 22C Temperament:   Headwind and Rain – a song by James Taylor Very sunny start with nice tailwind helping the average speed. Just leaving Clevedon I managed to get over the M4 bridge to enable a crossing of the Avon river and then power through to the not new Severn Bridge. Photos attached.  The Severn bridge unsurprisingly was very windy, especially as it was a headwind day. I did meet another JOGLE cyclist who was from Belgium. I also forgot to mention that I also met a Dutch LEJOG cyclist yesterday who had a very cut down bike and gear. He was young so I ...

Hello Everybody! Route: Ludlow to Nantwich For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance:  64.4 miles (Total 393.0) Average speed: 11.9 mph Calories: 1,336 Cycling time: 5h23m Average cadence: 68 rpm Climb: 3,251ft, Descent: 3,366ft Heart (yes I have one): max 137 aver 113 Aver Temp: 9C, Max temp 20C Temperament:   Max temp 20C – when was that?????????? Well last day before my first rest day so what could go wrong? Look at me It rained. It rained again. It thought about pausing but decided to carry on raining. After a while, it stopped raining and the sun came out. Correct that last statement it is a great big fib. You know what? It was still raining. Rain fell. It was very windy but it was a tailwind so …. hang on ….. it was a headwind, not a tailwind you idiot. It was also doing about 15-18 mph straight into our faces. I will not mention the gusts as that would just be asking for trouble. It was also raining so this made things MUCH worse. I...

Hello Everybody! Route: Nantwich to Chorley For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance:  56.3 miles (Total 450.3) Average speed: 13.3 mph Calories: 1,137 Cycling time: 4h14m Average cadence: 68 rpm Climb: 2,192ft, Descent: 1,978ft Heart (yes I have one): max 145 aver 117 Aver Temp: 17C, Max temp 26C Temperament:  Very nice to have the sun back Rest day was very restful. I bought some oil for Blossom, went for a sports massage at a Thai massage parlour and had a nice Italian meal. Given I was only cycling 50 odd miles I decided to start later than normal i.e. I left at 10.30. My new routing strategy seems to be working very well as I am cycling along without too much effort unless the wind is coming from the wrong direction. Act Of Kindness Warning: About a third of the way in, I was going up a gentle hill when I car pulled in and waved me down. I stopped and a very nice man, called Mike, asked if I was Merican? I said no which might have not ...

Hello Everybody! Route: Chorley to Shap For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance:    77.7 miles (Total 528.0) Average speed: 12.7 mph Calories: 1,640 Cycling time: 6h07m Average cadence: 69 rpm Climb: 4,232ft, Descent: 3,707ft Heart (yes I have one): max 147 aver 119 Aver Temp: 17C, Max temp 26C Temperament:   Lumpy but probably good training for later Start of day was quite nice, sunny and gentle wind on my back, so what’s not to like. Yesterday I got talking to a cyclist who I now know is called Martin. Have I developed extra sensory perception? As a matter of fact I have, but that’s not the point. The point, and it’s a very sharp point, is that Martin donated £10 to Starlight based on a little chat we had and also my very professionally produced, at no great cost to me, business cards. Thank you Martin in case you are reading this and I will thank you via the donation site as well. This sheep was defo giving me the evils from a fi...

Hello Everybody! Route: Shap to Lockerbie For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance:   53.6 miles (Total 581.4) Average speed: 12.7 mph Calories: 1,640 Cycling time: 6h07m Average cadence: 69 rpm Climb: 4,232ft, Descent: 3,707ft Heart (yes I have one): max 147 aver 119 Aver Temp: 17C, Max temp 26C Temperament:   Things seem to be going OK Another fairly short day due to not doing much mileage on Blossom. It was windy though but see video and photos. The Sun came out for about 2 mins and I quickly captured my shadow as I doubt I will see it again this holiday, damn you Miguel or Michael Just in case you did not believe how much I was suffered with the wind, watch below. I followed the A6 till it stopped in Carlisle which is where I had my lunch. I also met an Australian who was doing LEJOG. I seem to have met quite a few people but maybe that’s because I say “Hello and give me all your money, you flea-ridden scoundrel you”...

Hello Everybody! Route: Lockerbie to Glasgow For the non-mathematicians out there: Distance:   70.0 miles (Total 651.4) Average speed: 11.8 mph Calories: 1,488 Cycling time: 5h54m Average cadence: 69 rpm Climb: 2,648ft, Descent: 2,844ft Heart (yes I have one): max 130 aver 113 Aver Temp: 23C, Max temp 10C Temperament:   Very enjoyable route and weather was playing friendly an all Left Lockerbie with the wind blowing a hoolie. Proper in yer face. For engineers out there, the additional wind multiplied by the square sum of the bodily area divided by  π  equates to a pain in the ask your mother for sixpence. In my world my travelling speed was impacted by about 2-5 mph depending on the wind strength and road conditions. I must admit to letting it get on my nerves quite a bit, for quite a bit of time, in spite of Arnold & Arnolda staying at the front all day. See Blog Post Passums for effect of Imaginary people leading a cycle group...