Three Months On

It is now three months since we completed the Tour; over that time I have not done too much cycling as I have been busy catching up with all the stuff that took a back seat during the training!

So, would I do it again? Most definitely. It was a great experience and one that I now have fond memories of, particularly seeing the country from end to end and also the sense of achievement it produced. We also met some great people along the way and everyone was most helpful and supportive that we came across in all the towns and villages (apart from the bus driver who hit me and the car/caravann driver that hit Nick!).

I must say that I do miss the long training rides and wonder how I ever managed to fit them in. I can feel the fitness level slowing ebbing away so will need to train over the winter to keep a base level for next year.

The ride was to celebrate being 50 so I think I will do it again when I am 60!

Below is the route that we took together with daily distances and times in the saddle and a few notes. If anyone would like more detailed information please email me at ph@chestertongray.com Our support manager, Jeff would also be pleased to talk it through with you.

John O’Groats to Lands End 16^th to 25^th June 2011-06-30

Day One JOG to Tain

Miles:   91

Hours:  5hr 41m

Avge:   16.01 (tailwind)

A99 to Wick – Latheon

A9 to Helmsdale – Tain

Day Two Tain to Dalwhinnie

Miles:   93.78

Hours:  6hrs 50m

Avge:   13.73 (headwind pm)

Back roads to Alness (lovely scenic route)

A9 to Tore – Inverness – Aviemore – Dalwhinnie

Day Three Dalwhinnie to Edinburgh

Miles: 101.62

Hours: 6hrs 47m

Avge:   14.98

A9 to Pitlochry – Perth

A912/B996 to Kinross – Kelty

B917 to Inverkeithing

Forth Bridge

A90 to Edinburgh (avoid cycle routes from the bridge as they go all over the place and are hard to follow)

Day Four Edinburgh to Carlisle

Miles:   88.46

Hours:  6hrs 8m

Avge:   14.4

A7 to Stow – Galashiels – Selkirk - Hawick – Langholm – Carlisle

Day Five Carlisle to Preston

Miles:   97.44

Hours:  6hrs 41m

Avge:   14.6

A6 to Penrith – Shap – Kendal – Carnforth – Lancaster – Garstang (about half way to Lands End here) – Preston

Day Six Preston to Shrewsbury

Miles:   83.97

Hours:  5hrs 53m

Avge:   14.29

A49 to Wigan – Warrington – Tarporley – Whitchurch - Shrewsbury

Day Seven Shrewsbury to Chepstow

Miles:   88.96

Hours:  5hrs 46m

Avge:   15.42

A49 to Church Stretton – Ludlow – Leominster – Hereford

A466 to Monmouth – Chepstow

Day Eight Chepstow to Tiverton

Miles:   86.35

Hours:  5hrs 51m

Avge:   14.75

Severn Bridge

A403 to Avonmouth

A4 to Bristol

A38 to Highbridge – Bridgwater – Taunton

A361 to Tiverton

Day Nine Tiverton to Bodmin

Miles:   73

Hours:  5hrs 25

Avge:   13.48 (headwind pm)

A396 to Bickleigh

A3072 to Crediton

A377 to Copplestone

A3072 to North Tawton

B3215 to Okehampton

B3260 out of Okehampton onto the A386 then avoiding the A30 by going under onto

A388 through Bridestowe,Lewdown, Tinhay joining A30 at Lifton

A30 to Launceston – Bodmin

Day Ten Bodmin to Lands End

Miles:   53.5

Hours:  3hrs 48m

Avge:   14.08 (headwind)

A30 to Penzance – Lands End

We did take some minor roads that ran alongside the main A roads where appropriate. For the most part the roads (except parts of the A9 and A30) were not too busy. After a couple of days we had sorted out our nutrition – we had a large breakfast followed by two meals on route, stopping also for coffee, ice creams and to enjoy the views. We also snacked whilst riding and ensured we were hydrated taking on fluids every 15-20 minutes. Thankfully it was not too hot. It rained on seven of the ten days but only for an hour or so at a time! On two days we had good tailwinds but also on two days we had strong headwinds; during the course of the day the wind tended to switch around which was good and the weather varied considerably.

Generally we started about 9am and got to our destination around 6 – 6.30pm so full days!

Monday morning and back to reality! Took Michaela to school and then went to the office to catch up. Legs still a bit sore but walking well!

Thanks to all of you who have donated to our Just Giving page and those that have given us something direct. Hopefully we can collect some more over the next few weeks.

Already decided on next years' challenge - West to East; St David's to Lowestoft!

Day 10! Last night we went to Sam's Fish Restaurant and had a great meal and a good time. Left Alistair and Vicki's at about 9.30am after a great breakfast. Jeff drove us to the A30 where we stopped last night just past Bodmin and we carried on towards the West.

Very strong headwinds today and tough going - we did about 12 miles in the first hour - pedalling downhill into the wind is not a good feeling.We agreed to stop in Hayle on the way for a pastie - Jeff has been raving about Philp's Pasties since we started last week - which took us 2.5 hours and 36 miles.

The pasties did not disappoint and Sarahann and Michaela, as well as Jeff's wife Ann, joined us for lunch. Not sure that a pastie is the best food to have when cycling but it was very good. Only 18 miles to go from Hayle so back on the A30 towards Penzance.

At this stage the wind was still strong although in stages it di switch around and allow us to get a good speed up. We went through Penzance rather than on the bypass - good to see the seafront - and then only 9 miles to go. We saw a few other groups on the way to Lands End and cycled a short distsance with them. Tough little hills around here as well.

With a couple of miles to go it started to sink in what we had achieved and at 3.30pm we arrived in Lands End - 54 miles today and 858 miles in total, with 58 hours 50 minutes in the saddle; an average of 14.57 mph. Our families were waiting for us and it was a very emotional end to the ride.

After a couple of well deserved beers in the First & Last we headed to the hotel. Tonight we will celebrate in style and have a good lie in tomorrow!

Thanks go to:

Jeff Clayton for being a fantastic support/team leader
Mike Costin of Worcester Audi
Worcester Cycle Centre
Helen and Gerry Sheridan
ML Cycles in Wigan
Alastair and Vicki
Sarahann and Michaela; Basia and Alex
All our friends, family and supporters

Day 9 - one to go! 73 miles in 5 hours 25 minutes.

Very tough day with the hills in Devon. Left the B&B and had a very steep hill within minutes which killed us off - this was followed by more steep hills - all short, sharp little devils. Two hours to Oakhampton and we were spent; had to stop for beans on toast and then had a kip in the car! At this stage we thought we wouldn't last the day.

From there we went to Launceston and then down to Bodmin on the A30. Head wind most of the way with some very long hills. After a coffee stop 10 miles from Bodmin the wind changed to our tails and we flew down the A30 - crusing at 22-24mph - excellent. And then it rained again!

Only 73 miles today but one of the toughest in terms of using energy - according to Nick's iphone app we have climbed over 5000 feet today.

We are staying with Jeff's brother in law tonight about 10 miles from Bodmin - great hospitality!

55 miles tomorrow and we are there - straight down the A30 with a pastie stop in Hayle on the way.

Another dry day but very windy! 86 miles in 5 hours and 51 minutes.

We left Chepstow and headed over the Severn Bridge and then down to Avonmouth - very exotic industrial land! Wind in our faces at this stage and hard going. We then turned East onto the A4 to go into Bristol passing under the Clifton bridge, with the wind behind us. Turning south onto the A38 we had the wind in our faces agian abd a few challenging hills to climb to get to the airport.

First lunch stop at the airport at 26miles. Eating pork pies watching the planes come in. Brother Ian joined us here - a proper cyclist with a very clean featherweight bike - amazing how dirty yours gets over 7 days of riding. Ian stayed with us for 10 miles before heading off home. Great to see him and much appreciated.

Shortly afterwards the wind changed direction and was behind us for a while. We had a hot chocolate stop at a village cafe and then met Jeff just past Bridgwater at 53 miles for a second lunch. We then kept on the A38 through Taunton and down to Tiverton.

Seemed a long day in the wind today and we both have scrubbed faces! We met a few fellow 'nutters' today going north and south - a good fellowship between us cyclists.

Tomorrow we go to near Bodmin - via Crediton, Oakhampton and Launceston

Day 7: 89 miles in 5 hours 46 minutes.

After a good night in Shrewsbury with great hospitality from the Verve gastro pub- great staff, food and beer; one of the customers even paid half our bill when he found we were doing JOGLE!

Left this morning in rain which only lasted about ten minutes; the wind switched also to behind us and stayed there all day - great! Down the A49 today; reached our first lunch stop at 26 miles in 1.5 hours; Sarahann joined us for lunch and it was lovely to see her, I have missed her and Michaela greatly on this trip.

Headed through Hereford - saw the first sign for Worcester which was bizarre - and stopped for our second lunch at 55 miles. We met a chap supporting a JOGLE rider who passed us - he is doing JOGLE as well as the three peaks on route and swimming across Windermere - respect! Great to sit in the sunshine for lunch.

We then headed down the A466 to Monmouth - nice quiet road but very up and down and about 4 miles from Monmouth we climbed the steepest hill of the trip so far - really tough. 72 miles to the town.

Through Monmouth and then down the valley following the Wye - beautiful scenery and lovely in the sunshine. Quick ice cream stop and onto Tintern climbing up for about two miles and then down into Chepstow ending at the bridge, ready for tomorrow.

645 miles to date - not long left now. Tomorrow we skirt around Bristol on the A4 and then down the A38 to Tiverton. Brother Ian is joining us for an hour or so in the morning which will be good -  he is a 'proper' cyclist so I hope we can stay with him!