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Wednesday 27 January 2016

Route Day 8

Inverness to John O Groats.....

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/57.5983615,-4.3419712/58.6435213,-3.0686844/@58.6230412,-3.1743843,11.46z/data=!4m4!4m3!2m1!1b1!3e0?hl=en





Route Day 7

Following yesterdays beauty we want some more please......

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/56.4367029,-4.7102808/57.6017126,-4.3385808/@57.5905637,-4.3450004,13.63z/data=!4m11!4m10!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-4.4053228!2d57.3544305!3s0x488f124e14560c19:0x1dff8381eb70e871!1m0!2m1!1b1!3e0?hl=en





Route Day 6

Last of my top 100 climbs on this trip today, the Mennock Pass first thing in the morning.  Lovely stuff.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/55.3610298,-3.9108974/56.4374804,-4.7138374/@56.4526748,-4.7633431,11.83z/data=!4m16!4m15!1m10!3m4!1m2!1d-3.7675954!2d55.4069752!3s0x4862a843c6f3a749:0x3ef959ed7483e2d9!3m4!1m2!1d-4.4511287!2d55.9171059!3s0x48884e6de9515145:0x9f6541b39c3a2205!1m0!2m1!1b1!3e0?hl=en

The ride today looks totally stunning as I pass Loch Lomond and up into the beautiful roads of Scotland.





Route Day 5

Lancaster to Mennock.  First stay in a proper B&B, I am sorry if I hadn't mentioned this but along the way I have used airbnb.com to get rooms in houses in Lands End, Bovey Tracey, Nailsworth & Lancaster.  Fantastic website...  check it out.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/54.0570387,-2.8005986/55.361201,-3.9112749/@55.2262324,-3.9707746,10.21z/data=!4m26!4m25!1m20!3m4!1m2!1d-2.745238!2d54.3216393!3s0x487c8de73f30e2ab:0x1e4d363657299a53!3m4!1m2!1d-2.735762!2d54.6453517!3s0x487cfbbd5c35275f:0x4567b85c3927927c!3m4!1m2!1d-2.7424745!2d54.6541549!3s0x487cfb9b5cecd659:0x2cdf14994ed2074d!3m4!1m2!1d-2.7452612!2d54.65744!3s0x487cfb830c9e6247:0x601c013dc03ee80a!1m0!2m1!1b1!3e0?hl=en

Emotional day as I pass over the bridge in Carlisle I walked under in 2012 when I did the East to West walk of Hadrians Wall in memory of my mum. So this is where my mum and dad will meet again in a way.  Going to be a moment. enough said.






Route Day 4

This will be the hardest wave goodbye of my life,  saying see you later to my family for a few days as I head off to the highest point of mainland Britain. Ellesmere to Lancaster.

One more top 100 climb to have a crack at in Lancaster called Jubilee Tower,  why not ey !! ?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/52.9129064,-2.8892409/54.0313734,-2.7548278/54.0041818,-2.6901937/54.0602839,-2.801223/@54.048599,-2.8184643,13.48z/data=!4m18!4m17!1m10!3m4!1m2!1d-2.7086854!2d53.6267189!3s0x487b1204187d3771:0x4ea999dee64981a4!3m4!1m2!1d-2.7096973!2d53.7789175!3s0x487b720ecd53c9b5:0xbb5fdea53ca01db6!1m0!1m0!1m0!2m1!1b1!3e0?hl=en





Route Day 3

Show me the way to go home..... I'm tired and I want to go to bed..........

Nailsworth to Ellesmere, it is slightly off route but I have some very good reasons to head for this lovely little town in North Shropshire....

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/51.6930611,-2.2183343/52.9090014,-2.8930653/@52.8006487,-2.7821025,11.17z/data=!4m21!4m20!1m15!3m4!1m2!1d-2.2410077!2d51.8487974!3s0x4871060c6f4b8829:0xd5145850b0b12e5a!3m4!1m2!1d-2.7502043!2d52.7048797!3s0x487a9e5b1d136b43:0xe8f4ebf8be8581c6!3m4!1m2!1d-2.7525219!2d52.7789041!3s0x487a993e4404ab4d:0x89a7e3a646558efd!1m0!2m1!1b1!3e0?hl=en





Route Day 2

Day 2 is a bit less challenging but on the back of the day before I have no idea what my legs will be like.  Shut up legs !! as a very famous cyclist Jens Voigt would say.

Bovey Tracey to Nailsworth via the Cheddar Gorge and Bath.  2 more top 100 climbs to get over.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/50.5918356,-3.6724108/Wedmore/51.2772045,-2.7268535/51.6929728,-2.2181038/@51.2293611,-3.1064122,9.05z/data=!4m28!4m27!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-2.8451187!2d51.0332953!3s0x487212765324d629:0x6afa5608c8da1e80!1m10!1m1!1s0x487204ab2c85c093:0xe625f982806fd11d!2m2!1d-2.81108!2d51.228772!3m4!1m2!1d-2.7755172!2d51.2773549!3s0x48721e78add15eb9:0x7ca94ec9498721a7!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-2.3785842!2d51.38554!3s0x487181380dd4f28d:0x540eb13e5bd9ba0b!1m0!2m1!1b1!3e0?hl=en







Route Day 1

I don't know what is harder, cycling the ride or planning every detail before you actually step one foot on a pedal.

The route is sorted, the B&B's are booked and my way to LE and from JOG are planned (sort of)

Day one :-

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Lands+End+Visitors+Centre/50.5923008,-3.6754514/@50.5478211,-3.7810459,12.08z/data=!4m21!4m20!1m15!1m1!1s0x486ac6fe47c0784b:0xf059c1cab9067f1f!2m2!1d-5.7127733!2d50.0657945!3m4!1m2!1d-4.2340645!2d50.5155483!3s0x486c8c0b3f92034f:0x4211591c0097006e!3m4!1m2!1d-3.7662351!2d50.5714485!3s0x486d01d682dcf497:0xf18967b0eb17d52!1m0!2m1!1b1!3e0?hl=en

They say start as you mean to go on but in this case I have no option but to start in the toughest part of the country to ride a bike.  Cornwall & Devon are notorious as having no flat bits. Along the ride this day I will try to do 4 of the top 100 climbs in the UK. Rundlestone, Dartmeet, Widecombe and Haytor Vale.







Wednesday 20 January 2016

L-E-J-O-G

There comes a time in every cyclists life where the lure of the End To End, aka LEJOG (Lands End to John O Groats) gets to the point where it has to be done.

My time is now.

I could also have done the JOGLE from John O Groats to Lands End but I like the idea of cycling uphill for 920 miles !!

2016 is the year, Monday 20th of June is the date.

I am also doing this in memory of my dad who died almost 20 years ago. He was my hero, always the life and soul of a party and he would have loved to be with me I am sure. He and my mum spent many happy times in Cornwall, Scotland and travelling so my thoughts will be with him along the way.

I will be raising money for anyone who wants to donate for 3 charities.

They are:-

Hope House Children's Hospice       http://www.hopehouse.org.uk/home.html

Help For Heroes                 http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/

Kenyan Schools Project          http://www.kenyanschoolsproject.co.uk/

My page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RichardOwen

I will keep posting on this blog of stories of the training and preparation leading up to the day.

Thank you

Wish me luck !!!

rich  xx