What's it all about?

At the end of September 2012 I completed a cycle from Portsmouth 2 Penzance a total of 273 miles! raising money for Children In Need is the Plan. This was also be a personal challenge for me as I haven't been cycling in over 25 years and that was only for fun nothing serious. On top of that have a prolapsed disc, was 46 years old and at the start of 2012 a bit over weight, well lot over weight really, since then I've lost nearly 3 stone! So I opted to do the big one, John O'Groats 2 Lands End on May 6th 2013. The End 2 End or P2P (point to point, as it's sometimes called ) around 1000 miles! This time I had company, Colin, a friend from work, who has said he is as mad as I am and would like to come! This blog contains that story....This event is in memory of the sad passing of my mum on 17th of April this year having lost her fight with terminal Bowel Cancer.

I guess you'd call it the sequel, I have decided it would be just rude not to go back the other way!!! so May 2015, with a new friend, Pete and with Dave driving a support vehicle ( luxury) we plan the classic Lands End to John O'Groats, also known as LEJOG
. Mad ? yes I think we must be.


Me, Colin, Pete and Dave ( Team Jogle4bc )

Me, Colin, Pete and Dave ( Team Jogle4bc )

Day 1 Dunnet 2 Brora

As we left the Hotel, I couldn't help but smile at the weather forecast we were given on the phones. It will be 16 degrees and sunny...clearly the Scott's sense of humour, as it was cloudy and more like 6 degrees....however I was later going to have to eat my words. Now we were, until a week ago, supposed to come down through Wick onto the A9. But having looked at the hideous hills at Berriedale, I looked at a different route. Boy was I glad I did, as we turned off the the A836 onto the A897, it was like God appeared and drew back the curtains releasing the sun (eating my words, as it now must have been 16 degrees) and he gave us 39 miles of absolutely stunning single track road to ride on. Every corner was another wonderful view. And to top it all I bet we weren't even passed by 39 vehicles for the whole 39 miles!
On top of that we were getting sung to by the sheep, singing baa's in tenner, baritone and soprano as we cycled along the road. Then there was a baa that had Colin and me turn and stare.... it sound like the poor sheep was being hideously violated!
I spy road kill (sorry kids) some of you may have read the blogs from September last year and remember me ticking off a list. Well today two new additions (sadly) an Otter and a swift :-( On a happier note we saw our first Highland cattle.
I doubt the whole trip we will come across a better road than the A897, oh thank you A897 you have been splendid.
I can't understand why all JOGLE and LEJOGers don't take that route as they are really missing a massive treat and avoiding a massive hill...bonus

John O'Groats industrial Estate!

Every get lost looking for that unit you need, on an industrial estate that resembles a maze? Well they've solved that up here.....2 units lol .Even I could find my way round that....