Almost two weeks on ......

Its been almost two weeks now since we arrived in Lands End, i hope you enjoy the photos that i've eventually uploaded ....  http://www.flickr.com/photos/65618113@N08/sets/72157627495094736/

The ceilidh was a success, rythmnreel were fantastic and a great time was had by all ;-) Mum is still busy doing the books and counting all the sponsorhip and donations. The fundraising has been a huge success, every penny is going to make such a difference to the children in Kolkata who have very little.....

On a personal level lejog has left me with a big hole..... so many hours of training, planning and anticipation and now its all a memory, i was warned this might happen .... so i'm sure this comes of no surprise .....there was nothing else for it ... i needed a bigger and better challenge to focus on ....dust of your walking boots ..........

Kids of Kolkata Challenge  - Easter 2012

Lulu walks 500 miles  (with a little help from her friends )

http://www.luluandfriendswalk500miles.blogspot.com/

Day 11 Dedicated to all the kids of kolkata who are living in poverty

Tongue to John O Groats - 65 Miles

We couldnt have planned it any better, with the wind behind us most of the way we left tongue with big smiles. It was a leisurely morning, we took our time cycling over the hills through bettyhill, melvich and on ....the views were stunning and at points it was quite emotional, the hugeness of the ride finally hit home. We met the support team for one last lunch in Thurso before cycling the last 20 miles to John o Groats. Ironically, the last 20 miles were the fastest we cycled in the last 11 days.

Then at 2 mins to 3pm on Tuesday the 9th of August we got our first sight of JOG. We sprinted the last mile where we were greeted by family and friends at the finish line. Party poppers and silly string galore it was time for a party, thanks to everyone who came and cheered us over the finish line....

However it was also game over ( for now ), The next day i would not be wakening up at 6.30am and riding my bike, i would not be wearing my cycling kit, i would not be counting down or up the miles, i would not be eating a ridiculous amount of calories without feeling guilty, i would be going home to James Street, Avoch. I'd made it .... from the South West of England to the North East of Scotland in 11 days safe and sound and in good health.

It has been a journey like no other...not just the last 11days but the last six months. Thank you to everyone who has supported, encouraged and sponsored both Speedy and i and i look forward to seeing you all for a gay gordons on Friday night at Strathpeffer Pavillion.

But a special big thanks to the following people who put us up, feed us, rode with us and came out of their way to support us over the last 11 days

In order of appearance ... ;-)

Pat in Blackpool
Greame in St Just
Mike in Devon somewhere
Howard and Coral in Bude
Stacey and Phil in Ludlow
Julie and Izzy in Leigh
Mum and Heidi in Moffatt
Mark, Stuart, Lauren, Daniel, Marji, Davie, Davie and Ben in Doune
Andy, Tilli, Emily, Isla, Lorna, Keith and Bob in Carrbridge
Jo, David, Emily, Lucy, Richard and Kirsten in Evanton
Jo, Becky, Lorna, Chrisitna, Emily, Lucy, Mum, Dad, Mark and Heidi in John o Groats

This is the end of one adventure but also the start of a new one ...

From the girl who could hardly ride a bike six months ago i hope this shows that anything is possible if you want it badly enough ...........

Photos of lejog will follow soon ;-)

Lululdoeslejog 2011 .......... the end x

p.s anyone fancy a bike ride on Sunday morning ...i'm getting twitchy already ..............

Day 10 Dedicated to the one and only Speedy

Without you I’m not sure if I could have done this ……thank you for everything, you’ve made my  dream a reality.

Evanton to Tongue 70 Miles

I don’t know what to say …… I’ve ridden most of this road before but never in such rubbish conditions. My mum and dad were riding the support  van and trying their best to keep spirits high… they spray painted messages on the road and bought us treats galore but the wind was just rubbish, I wasn’t in  a bad mood it was just hard hard hard cycling. Imagine being slapped in the face 100 times an hour that’s kind of how It felt, at one point it got so hard I thought I was going to be sick … but we soldiered on. The last 18 miles took us nearly 2 hours to cycle… We got to tongue and checked in to our accomodation and had a fab last dinner with the support crew . The end is near and regardless of the weather  I feel quite sad about it. ;-( One more day to go.

Day 9 Dedicated to Bob, Keityth, Andy and Stuart who cycled with us today

Carrbridge to Evanton 50 miles

Today was just great, we were met by some friends to ride with us on the stretch through Inverness, Andy, Bob , Keith and Stuart (came back from more) it was pouring down but that didn’t dampen our spirits. We rode for 25 miles and then stopped at The Dairy at Daviot where we were greeted by Charlotte and Jeremy who very kindly filled us with coffee and yet more cake. Thanks guys so kind of you.

On we rode and made our way over nairnside that’s when I got my first sight of Inverness.  It was at this point that I actually realised what we’d done …we’ve almost ridden the length of Britain… mad !! six months ago I could hardly stay on a bike ….. Anyway …We all rode through Inverness across the Kessock Bridge and then on to Munlochy  where we said to goodbye to Keith and Bob ( also end to enders who completed in June ) thanks for coming out and supporting us on such a rainy day.

Stu, Andy, Speedy and I cycled on to the Cromarty bridge and met dad for a coffee stop. 45 miles in the pouring rain then poor stu miss judged his stop and couldnt get his shoe out in time and ended up on the side of the road.  We all tried not to laugh but it was just too funny …. Poor stu …….Five more miles and we were in Evanton. Great day , rubbish weather, who cares we are almost tbere…..we were met by some more familiar faces as we enjoyed a few shandies.

Cyclist v support update …jack is pulling it back in the mileage competition cyclists 6 v Support van 3

Day 8 Dedicated to Stuart Lee …you’re a legend ;-)

Doune to Carrbridge  123 miles

Today my wee cousin Stuart joined us cycling form Doune to Carrbridge. We left as per normal just after 8am. It was a lovely sunny day as we set out towards Crieff….and then up on the back roads to Sma Glen…. we climbed and climbed long lovely hills, Speedy was in his element.  As we reached the top at Amulree we stopped for coffee ….Stuart had me in fits when he told me he was singing eye of the tiger in his head all the way to the top ;- ) We had the best descent of the trip as we free wheeled 4 miles down into Aberfeldy.......it was great being back on the Scottish hills . On we rode to Pitlochry where we met Jack (aka dad) and the rest of the clan for sandwiches and cakes …….we did a quick mileage check to see how far we had to go to Carrbridge,  it seems we made a bad calculation and our estimate of 105 miles was slightly out and in actual fact we were going to be cycling for 123 miles, thats a long flippin way… there was nothing else to do but get on with it. We made our way up the a9 along the dodgy cycle path. Just as we came of the bad bit psssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhh first puncture of the trip and also the fastest puncture change… the midgies were out in force. On we went for another few miles where we met my dad who was waiting to lead us convoy style for three miles down the a9 to Newtonmore through the roadworks.

So we’ve been cycling for 96 miles and we tell poor Stuart he’s going to be sprinting for three miles, I could just see his wee face looking at me as if to say thanks a bunch. So there we were at the side of the road digging into mars bars and snickers bar to give us an energy boost before the end to end time trials. We saw our opportunity and we were off ….me up front , Stuart in the middle and Speedy at the back …. then dad sitting behind us in the van keeping the traffic well away.

Woo hoo we made it to Newtonmore it was wine o clock at 100 miles, we had a wee glass of wine and more cake ….at this point I have to add that Stuart has only ever cycled 75 miles before so this was a huge achievment for him … we had 23 miles to go …it was raining now and time was ticking … the next 23 miles were ridden in silence as we all got into our zones and pedalled, kingusssie, kincraig, aviemore and finally carrbridge…… we’d spent nearly 9 hours in the saddle. My longest ride and Stuarts longest ride … we all did amazing but mostly stu, not a grumble or even once a suggestion that he was going to quit. So proud of you stu …you are a legend xxx

Day 6 Dedicate to Heidi Bear

My love , My life , My Inspiration

Ingleton to Moffatt - 105 miles

Let it rain ............

Up at 6.30 and the rain was bouncing off the ground. It was a long mileage day.... was the rain going to make it worse ?? No Chance ... we've cycled through a lot worse...ok so it was pretty heavy but at least it was windless and warm....

So we climbed a slow climb up to Shap and just accpeted the drenching .. what else could you do ?? At 35 miles we had a coffee break and dried off a bit, over more hills and through more rain showers we cycled. I'm convinced the rain makes you cycle faster.... we made carlisle in good time 65 miles by lunch time. Spirits were high  as we were only 10 miles from the border....lunch was sandwiches and millionaire shortbread in the back of the van oooohh the glamour !!!

We rode on towards the borders feeling all scottish and patriotic the wind picked up and the rain got heavier then as we got to gretna the skies cleared and the sun came out ....what a welcome home .....

Another 30 miles and we were in moffatt ...i got off my bike tired but happy. I was having a wee stretch against the tree and dad was like 'lou can you open the van please ' and i was like 'dad, 2 mins i'm stretching ' he askde me again and i told him again i was having a stretch .... this went on several times till i just got the door handle and pulled it back and wow ...........heidi bear and mum were in the back ... a whole day ealrry ..., i was delighted ;-) heidi love ;-)

we stayed last night in a b and b called no 29 10/10 for eveything what a delightful stay .... if you ever go to moffatt you must stay at this place it was a real gem.

Day 7 dedicated to Allan Lemon the support driver

He's been lost, he's been found and he's put up with me so for that your worth the dedication... love you dad xxx

Day 7 Moffat to Doune 86 miles

A pretty straight forward day really, the weather was bright but a bit windy, the terrain was lumpy (thats what speedy calls it ) everyone else would call it hilly !!!

Everyone was in good moods ...... being in familiar territory i'm sure helps. Also tonight we were meeting some more family and freinds so a great morale boost.

We made our way up over..... help!!! what was it called??? some big hill just outside moffatt, then on to biggar for coffee and then some layby for lunch..... its all getting a bit blury.....on to stirling then on to doune where we meet s few a familiar faces.

Most importantly stu's who will be cycling with us for the next couple of days. Thanks also to davie marji, davie and ben for coming an having a wee drink with us and wishing us well.

its all over for dad in the mileage game ..... cycliclts 6 support van 1 !!! (but only one mile in it )

p.s if your reading this and you know speedy or i and you havnt sponsered us yet please dust off your wallets and show your support..... i'm propbably making this blog quite lighthearted but i can assure you this has been no picnic ......were not doing this for fun ....there are children who are sufferring that desperately need your help x

The Borders 10 miles woooo flipping hooooo

Soaked to the skin but who gives a dam it's just making us go faster !!! Heidi bear were coming to get ya xxx

Day 4 and 5

Using the phone again.. In deepest darkest Yorkshire and I can't get connected on the laptop so I'll make it brief...

Day 4 ... A fast and flat day up the a49 from Ludlow to Leigh 94 miles
Day 5 .... Leigh to ingleton 65 miles

Will try and write prOperly tmw

My bum hurts my thighs are sore but mostly i need some Heidi love.. Apart from that dad is still getting lost, speedys is still eating for four and the cyclist are still winning the daily mileage competition.

Looking forward to stu joining us on Friday and of course crossing the border tmw ... Oh flower of scotland when will we see ... I think it's time to look out theface paints :-)
Day 6 ... Scotland here we come x

Sorry for typos

Too tired to post fill you in tmw ..

Day 3 Dedicated to Moyna (about 7)

Moyna is a skinny wee girl with chopped of hair becuase of nits and has very little teeth, however she is always smiling. She has no mum or dad, she was found in Howrah station and was beginnning to be addicted to glue sniffing. Thankfully she was rescued in time, she is now as bright as a button and full of energy, she has been saved from a horrible existence of abuse and addictionand is now very much loved and cared for.

Day 3 Cheddar - Ludlow 113 miles

What a day ...... we left Cheddar and made our way up through the gorge which was pretty spectatcular, there was no one else there but us ... it was a bit of a climb but well worth it. On the descent we found a bike shop so Speedy got some replacement spokes, and in fact almost bought a new bike !! but didnt ....

If there was a day that both Speedy and Dad were least looking forward to it was today as they were both a little unsure about navigating around Bristol, but i have to say they both did amazingly, not one wrong turn...we left dad and went on the cycle route and he headed out on to the motorway, we were enjoying the nice quiet cycle route then BANG !!!!!!!!!! poorspeedy encoutered our first accident, some idiot in a land rover nearly took him out and forced him into a hedge ;-( As you would expect not even a grumble and he soldiered on.....

Then we met some other end to enders heading the wrong way on the Avonmouth Bridge they were totally lost, so we thought it would be nice for us all to ride the 15 ish miles to the Severn bridge together...so Speedy navigated us around perhaps a dozen roundabouts and got us on to the bridge with ease, we kind of cycled on as they took photos but stopped at the other side, when they caught up they just rode on , not even a thankyou to speedy for helping them ...if he hadnt helped them they would have ended up in France !! how rude ....never mind.

So we cycled on to Tinttern Abbey where we met dad for lunch and all was going great, 55 miles easily done by 12 noon. hmmmmmm then we had a bit of a problem ... we got on our bikes and we headed out on the back roads, firstly we encoutered a three mile climb and my thighs began to burn, i dont mean like i've been at a double spin class i mean really really burn, for the next 30 miles all we did was climb descend, climb, descend, climb descend... which doeasnt sound that bad but this if my third consecutive day of over 100 miles and quite frankly all i wanted was the flatest way to get to Ludlow.

We met dad at 82 miles, i was a bit wobbly so they filled me with coffee, jelly babies, tablet and one of Bobs power shots (i dont even care what was in it ) My legs were tired that much was obvious and i still had 30 miles to go ... so after a quick chit chat i suggested we cycle on the A roads for a bit as it was flatter and in better condition. I was sitting on the back step of the van feeling knackered, but knackered wasnt going to get me 30 miles to Ludlow, it was simple, there was no point moaning all i had to do was get on my bike, get my head done and flipping well pedal... so thats what we did and the next thirty miles flew in, the sugar kicked in and we blasted it in under two hours. It just show you how quickly you can recover. Physically and mentally.

It was a long hard day, but for the last 30 miles all i thought was , i'm going to see Stacey and Phil, i'm going to see Stacey and Phil, i'm going to see Stacey and Phil ( some friends that were coming out from Gloucester to say hi )...... we made it to our accomodation,i managed to pull on some trackies and spray on some prada just as they were parking up. I cant tell you how much it helped me seeing some friends at the end of such a hard day. Thanks guys ...i love you loads ... mwaaaahhhhhh xxx

 So another victory to the cyclcists today cyclcists 113 miles v support 117 (your getting better dad)

Moving on, Dad is doing great and Speedy as always is keeping me going and keepng me safe on the road. Three days gone eight more to go. Mancheter is calling ......................Day 4 Cmon Speedy lets do it .......

p.s thanks to all of you for your kind comments, txt and emails of support....most appreciated xxx

Day 2 - Dedicated to Pooja (female) - age 6 - Kolkata

Pooja has had a very difficult start in life and is still only 6. My mum has known her since she was three and was begging on the streets she is just beautiful. We thought she had been taken away for good by her grandmother who wanted her to beg so she could make money but after about 10 months she turned up - thank goodness - what happened to her whilst she was away doesn't bare thinking about however now she is growing big and strong and is safe once again.


Day 2 Bude - Cheddar 105 miles

This has to short and sweet as its coming from my phone...

Goodbye Cornwall hello Devon ... Flipping heck how many hills have We been up and down today ? None of which are huge but all of which were step my thighs are still burning .... We had our first stop at great Torrington at 25 miles both cyclists and support managed to meet in the same place wool hoo were making progress ... What a climb to the town centre I wish I could have taken a pic but it took all my effort to get to the top ..
We made our way on to Hampton up and down, up and down, up and down zero recovery then up again toug cycling but way better than yesterday at lest the descents were fun :-) we stopped at bampton for lunch and met speedys friend mike who had very kindly driven 60 miles to come and give us a wee cheer on.

From bampton we made our way to waybridge on to Taunton then through to cheddar.

Ok so what else to report ... Speedys lost a spoke dads found paradise and i've got a sore butt !! Apart from that all is well however I'm a little worried about speedys food consumption I'm thinking his daily intake would probably feed the whole of Kolkata for a day!! We might be losing 4000 ish calories a day but I'm sure he's eating double that .... Can you even imagine how much food that is ? Ok must dash need some zzzz's


Mileage. Cyclists 105 v support 115
2. - 0 to the cyclists

Legs are feeling strong, mind is feeling strong ...Day 3 let's rock .....

Apologies for the typos

Day 1 - Dedicated to Kishan (male-) - 4 yrs old - Kolkata

Kishan has been living at Howrah Station, he has no dad and his mum is a drug addict and can not look after him properly. He is a gorgeous little boy who now because he is at the children home has a future to look forward to......

DAY 1 ........ Lands End to Bude 105 Miles

6.30am Richard and I were both up and itching to get away, but there was no way Graham was letting us leave before we had porridge Cornish style with clotted cream and strawberries. Crickey i'm going to have to go on a diet when i get back.




Speedy, Me and Graham before we left this morning


Just after 8 ish we left St Just and made our way through some beautiful Cornish Villages, i've never been to Cornwall before and i have to say i'm most impressed, so its definitely on my places to come back to list.

We arranged with the support team (dad) to meet in Stithians for our first stop which we both managed to navigate to although it took me a while to get used to cycling the Cornish Lanes ...10ft hedges either side and only wide enough for one car. I did start to worry about dad and what he would do if he met any oncoming traffic, after all he's only just mastered driving the van forward never mind reversing it ;-)   Psychologically the lanes were quite weird to cope with ....its like being in a maze, you cant see anything left or right or even that far ahead so you never feel like you're getting anywhere, it was nice to experience but not a way i would like to spend too many cycle rides. Next we arranged a rendezvous for lunch....but it didn't really work ...Dad was in St Austell and we were nearly in Newquay, lets just call it teething problems.

We eventually met up with dad he was full of  stories of this person he'd met and that person he'd met and he'd been to get his hair cut and he went for a wee shop and and and and and and  .....i'm thinking i'm going to change the name of the blog to Big Al's UK road trip.... he's seem to be having far more fun than us cyclist !!

Anyway, after lunch we decided to join the A road to Bude and try and make up some time after a slowish hilly morning, and that we did, even if there was the odd vehicle slowing us down...

Regardless  it was much easier cycling than being in the lanes and not even that busy. We arrived at Bude another lovely Cornish town and were meet with by yet more amazing hosts Howard and Coral and their two lovely daughters.

Highlight of the day ...probably just getting to see so many pretty villages, low point ...losing my cadence sensor. Ii know i shouldn't grumble but i'm such a stat geek and i'm a bit gutted i wont be able to record all my totals for the journey. Anyway the two things it is recording are mileage and time which i guess are most important...so on that note

Mileage today  cyclists 105 v support 117

1-0 to the cyclist..........


All in all a good first day, beautiful sunshine but not too hot, lovely scenery and great hosts. I'm ready for day 2, a new ride and a new challenge.... next stop Cheddar ...bring it on ....

The only way is up ......

Saturday Morning
Much to my dismay Blackpool pleasure beach was closed by the time we got there on Thursday night, however I did manage to get my hands on some fabulous new sunglasses ?!?!? and a wee stick of rock...pics to follow ....

Friday morning - Up dressed and ready to leave just before 8am for the rest of our journey to lands end. Thankyou Pat for your kind hospitality and for making us feel so welcome...
All aboard the brand new transit van and oooooppps it's dead !! Battery problems eeeek ... Anyway thanks to mike from the aa we are on our way again ... Cheers mike your a legend !

We arrived at lands end at 5pm ... We were met by Graham, a man who my dad put up over 20 years ago when he walked john o groats to lands end for Clic Seargant. Graham showed us around Lands End and we had the obligotary photos taken with beautiful bue skies above...

After so long on our bums we just had to go for a ride, so we rode from Lands End to St Just (where we stayed at Grahams house) a mere 5.5 miles, so we are starting from here this morning. St Just is a pretty little town with a couple of thousand residents, very quaint and charming. We went to the Commercial Hotel for dinner and of course a wee glass of cider ;-)

Its now 6.50am Saturday morning...most of you will be fast asleep and i am sitting here itching to get on my bike and start the ride properly.. Spirirts are high and we're both super excited, so time for a bowl of porridge and were off .... next stop Bude ;-)

We're on our way .... Woo hoo

Thank you all for your messages of good luck this morning,especially Mr George Stone who txt us this wee poem....

A young mum from Avoch called Louisa
Has got keen on cycling and she's-a
Gone off to Land's End
Our good wishes we send
For her legs and her lungs and her knees-a

Next stop Blackpool pleasure beach for a go on
'the big one' ..

Comon Speedy ...,LETS ROCK .....

I couldnt help myself  - one last wee ride round the black isle yesterday...... 30 miles.

Dum Dum de Dum is it time to go yet ?????

All packed and ready for the off ......Well the time is almost here and with over 2900 training miles under my belt i can safely say i'm as ready as i'll ever be. I have a top riding partner to keep me motivated and psyched up and of course my dad who will keep me fed and watered and generally looked after...so really i have everything i should need. I would just like to thank everyone who has sponsored, motivated and inspired me..it would have been impossible to even get to this point without the support and encouragement from great friends and family and a very understanding Heidi who currently thinks her mummy cycles for a living. Not only that but as a result of her being part of so many training rides she now shouts at the top of her voice 'Come on you can do it '  to every cyclist she sees !! I'm hoping in time this will pass !?!?!?

Cant wait to see you on day 7 baby... Missing you will be the hardest bit of all .....probably best i try not to think about that too much right now..........;-(

I will of course keep you posted on how its all going..So there is nothing left to say but .............
Comon SPEEDY its time to ROCK ..Lets go cycle 1100 miles for the Kids of Kolkata

Training ................. Done !!

Yesterday marked my last training ride before we leave for Lands End .... After a lovely family lunch we went out for a 35 mile spin in team colours round to Cannich then into Beauly ....



Richard giving the signpost a hug awwwww

 So, six months on, 70 Training Rides and 2880 miles later, i think i'm ready .......or as ready as i'll ever be...

Back in January i clocked up a mere 109 miles compared to 652 in July.....the hard work is all done, all i need to do now is hope for reasonable weather and not too many idiot drivers ....

So the next time i write i will probably be on route ... Whilst i'm away if you are trying to get your hands on ceilidh tickets for the 12th of August just drop me a line and i'll make sure we get some to you.

Friday - Lunch Time Run to Dochgarroch and back ....... 7 Miles

Aliens spotted on the Black Isle

Thursday  - 34 Miles

We had a lovely evening ride ...up and down the black isle hills on a nice sunny evening....

Then all of a suddden we spotted something quite remarkable .......i woudln't have believed it if i didn't see it with my own eyes ......some kind of weird alien cyclists ..............

i think someones had too many e numbers ....somebody please hide the haribo ......

1 WEEK TODAY ;-)))



LEJOG SNACK BOX ...PACKED !!



The packing has commenced ....

Got my bike back ;-)

Tuesday - 24 Miles - Black Isle

Lands End is calling .............

I WANT MY BIKE BACK ...................... !!!!

I'm getting the shakes ....my bikes been in the shop gettting serviced for two days now and i'm desperate to get out for a ride ..........

'Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever' .....Lance Armstrong

Sunday - Dornoch Loop - 30 Mile

And on the seventh day ...aren't you supposed to rest ?? ...no chance !

Rumour had it a cycling legend was coming to town ... so it would be rude not to go along and see what all the fuss was about...So away we went to Dornoch

When we got there, there was the odd cyclist about but as 5pm approached the place went mental, hundreds of cyclist lined the main street of Dornoch, a sea of fancy bikes and riding jerseys and tv cameras....

Just after 5pm Mr Armstrong put in an appearance, there was a big round of applause, he quickly signed  a couple of books and bikes then he made his way through the crowd and led all the cyclists out for a ride ...Me and Speedy hung back till the mayhem died down, we didn't think it was appropriate to show him up ;-)

The route itself was pretty good,  however once we got up into the hills, surprise surprise, the heavens opened and we got drenched. Never mind i find this just makes me pedal a bit faster ... 1hr 35 mins job done ...

If you look closely enough you can see Speedy and i at the back as the ride properly starts. Its about half way through the clip .... you might even catch a glimpse of the pink princess ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrpR6CTbslY

This week..........7 Consecutive rides = 315 training miles = 22 hours in the saddle.

Saturday - Black Isle - 32 Miles






Coffee Stop at Cromarty Beach






Can you see / Kingussie

Friday.....  Pitlochry - Avoch = 101 miles

11am Start from Pitlochry, good weather conditions, rubbish cycle route down the A9, my bling was getting a bashing. However, it was good practice for when we do Lejog at least i know what to expect, but the rough route made for pretty slow cycling. We stopped after 20 miles for a wee hug from head of support.

In the distance i could see a couple of cyclists coming towards us so with a quick nod to Speedy we were off again, i don't like being over taken.
On we went till  we got about 2 miles from Newtonmore, where we met this sign that said if you were cycling then phone this number to be transported for 2 miles because of road works ...............yeah right !! The road was clear so with strict instructions from the boss i was told to get on the main road and cycle as fast as i could....talk about pressure. I'm on the a9 on Fridayb at rush hour, single lane traffic and I'm holding everyone up, you can just imagine what people are saying/swearing in their cars .....anyway a nice man hangs back 100yds and keeps the traffic away from us and Speedy and i cycle like lunatics to Newtonmore, talk about sweating ......

Lunch stop and away we go again ............Newtonmore, Kingussie, Kincraig, Aviemore, Carrbridge what a fab 25 miles cruising with a lovely tailwind in little over an hour.

Carrbridge - Crunch time ?!?!?! are we going the distance or going home with the support car ??  I was in the zone ... today was not a day for catching a lift, i had plenty miles left in my legs. So we took a nice leisurely climb up to the Slochd Summit, 100yds from the top, i get a puncture, which Speedy promptly fixed.....off we go again but just as we got to the top, i got another one ..........which Speedy promptly fixed again, as i stood about and did, well quite frankly,  not a lot. I should really learn how to fix a puncture ........... but it would make such a mess of my nails ;-(

85 Miles - Moy - Tablet, jelly babies, flapjack

90 Miles - Inverness - Tired

101 Miles Avoch - flipping exhausted - Collapse in a chair in the kitchen

Reality check - I'm doing this everyday for 11 consecutive days.

Over the lecht and far away ....

Tomintoul - Laurencekirk 56 miles

Max heart rate today of 196 I should be dead... A Hard hilly ride. I'd better get psyched up for tomorrow.

Wednesday - 44 Miles

Ooooppsss SPF 50 Required

 

•  

Tuesday - 28 MILES

Poetry in Motion ...

Monday - Black Isle Spin -30 miles

For those of you who know me relatively well, you will know that on the odd occasion i like to put pen to paper and write down a few lines, then try and call it a poem

So tonight when i was out on my bike a few words came into my head so i thought i would share them, this is all about the journey so far .....

Its about eleven days to cycle eleven hundred miles,
Its about six months of training and six months of smiles,
Its about thighs of steel and getting fitter and fitter,
Its about getting to the end and not being a quitter.

Its about feeling strong and tough not weak and needy,
Its about finding a training partner and naming him 'SPEEDY'
Its about clocking up the miles and training galore
Its about Applecross, Durness, Ullapool and Aviemore

Its about team colours, black white and red
Its about sometimes thinking i might be off my head ?!?!
Its about the Kids of Kolkata the suffering and the strain
Its about putting your hand in your pocket to help ease the pain

Its not about being a dreamer, a bit flaky or hazy,
Its about getting on my bike and not being lazy
Its about The Bealach, Loch Ness and a bridge to 'Farr'
Its about jelly babies and soup in the back of the support car.

Its about exhaustion and coldness, feeling lower than low
Its about torrential rain in Skye and the A9 in the snow
Its about cadence and calories and making my heart rate pop
Its about gritting my teeth and getting to the top

Its about climbing at 5miles an hour and descending at 45
Its about thinking one minute your going to die then in instant your alive
Its about the physical challenge,being pushed beyond the limit
Its about not regretting a single ride, not one hour or one minute

Its about a journey of discovery its been packed with highs and lows
Its about believing and achieving saying yes and never no
Its about the eleven hundred miles from end to end, across the nation
Its all about the journey and not the destination .....

lou x

Goodbye Girly Weekend - Hello two weeks of hardcore training ......

Well i think its fair to say it was my credit card that got the workout this weekend.
Besides, I'm sure its done me no harm to have the weekend off....  Thankyou ladies for a fab weekend ;-)

But on to more relevant matters.....

Speedy and i have bought our cycling kit ...in team colours .. of course....

..................................and the hoodies are getting a good showing off around town as well. Not long now till i start packing tick tock tick tock ;-)

This weekends training .....

Sipping on a Starbucks - catching some rays in George Square.......

OMG !!!!!!!!!!!

Three weeks today we'll be packing the van ........its just so exciting i think i'm going to pop !

LAST WEEKS PICS

The Route

Lands End to John o Groats

1100 miles, 11 days, 1 cause

Day 1.  Lands End to Bude                       115 miles

Day 2.  Bude to Cheddar                           100 miles

Day 3.  Cheddar to Ludlow                       115 miles

Day 4. Ludlow to Leigh                             100 miles

Day 5. Leigh to Chapel Le Dale                65 miles.

Day 6.Chapel Le Dale to Moffat              115 Miles

Day 7.Moffat to Doune                            110 Miles 

Day 8.  Doune to Carrbridge                    115 Miles

Day 9. Carrbridge to Evanton                  60 Miles

Day 10. Evanton to Tongue                      75 Miles

Day 11. Tongue to John o Groats               70 Miles

The End

Girls just want to have fun ........ its a lycra/cycling free weekend ....Glasgowland here we come !!!

Training top out .......................

I'm going to make this short and sweet as I'm exhausted. The sadist i call Speedy has had me up and down hills today like you wouldn't believe so am now in need of a relaxing night with a glass of something wet and wine like.

This week has been all go go go .................

Sunday - Ardendrain-Cannich-Ardendrain - 34 Miles
Monday - 7 mile run
Tuesday - Stracthconnon - Strathpeffer - Dingwall - Beauly - 51 Miles
Wednesday - Beauly Firth Loop - 38  Miles
Thursday - Rest
Friday - Nairnside-Moy-Farr- Inverness- Avoch - 65 Miles
Saturday- Beauly-Drumnadrochit-Fort Augustus - Inverfaragaig- Up a huge hill through some fields on a dirt track for miles !! Inverness- North Kessock -72 Miles

Most mileage cycled in one week 260 MILES !! woop woop ............but now its time to collapse in a heap ......... so photos will follow at some point ...............bonne nuit, adios ciao ...........good night !!!

Going Going Gone ......

A huge thankyou to everyone who attended and supported the Kids of Kolkata Charity Dinner and Auction on Thursday night. It was a great fun evening, we had 60 guests, 21 fabulous auction items and raised over £1500. So thank you to everyone who put their hands in their pockets and also to the Station Hotel, Avoch who provided us with a lovely meal.

Left to Right
Krystle Grant, Pamela Lemon, Richard Roberts (Speedy), Lorna Hamilton (Inverness Therpay Clinic) Mark Wheeler, Christina Rugg  .....and yours truly at the front.

I spy with my little eye....something beginning with H ?

Avoch - Durness- Beauly - 214 Miles

About three months ago when Speedy and i were syncing diaries for training i thought it would be a good idea to plan a significant cycling milestone for my birthday weekend rather than spending it indulging. So this is how i chose to celebrate me turning 35.

This weekend was to mark our longest rides back to back, Saturday 110 miles from Avoch - Durness and on Sunday 104 miles from Durness to Beauly and what a delight it was...

Saturday we met about 7.45am, We left the rain clouds behind us hovering over Inverness whilst we cycled North towards beautiful blue skies, we cycled over the Cromarty Bridge, through Evanton and over the Struie to Bonar Birdge, perfect cycling, and a lovely tail wind pushing us along. At Lairg we met up with a different support team, my mum, dad and heidi, we figured it was about time to find out if dad was up to the job as official lejog support team, only kidding dad, kind of ;-)

After a soup stop in Lairg we were on our way again. The further we cycled the better the weather got and the layers kept coming off, 40 miles 50 miles 60 miles we seemed to be clocking up the miles pretty effortlessly, such a joy after the last few horrible long rides.

The support team were also clearly getting into the swing of things ......At one point we found them writing us messages in chalk on the road which was just fab for morale, at another we found them paddling in a nearby stream, at another they were chilling in camping chairs at the side of the road waititng to give us a cheer as we passed .....  good work guys ;-)

My first signs of tiredness started to show at about 70 miles so we stopped to fill up on energy gels and tablet which got me through the next 20 miles to Hope, but at 90 miles i was starting to wilt.  For a moment my mind was taken of my tiredness, as we cycled in to Hope we saw the biggest stag in someones garden just standing there, so big and confident, looking straight at us, we both had to have a double take, it was stunning.

Hope = Coffee Time on the grass at the side of the road as i was starting to get wobbly legs. The support filled us with caffeine, bananas and sweets, i had 20 miles to go, we took it slowly up the hills, the sunshine was beautiful on my skin, the views turned form being stunning to breathtaking, we had one last cheer form the support 10 miles from Durness, which was just what i needed to see me through to Durness. Day 1.  Avoch - Durness ....Done ;-)

Pics at 100 miles .....

Sunday - I woke early in Speedys caravan to hear the rain bouncing off the windows, uhh ohhh ....not after such a lovely day yesterday. This is so typical of Highland weather. 7.30 time for porridge 8.30 time to hit the road, we left Heidi and Mark in Durness to explore the beautiful beaches whilst we rode of into the rain ;-(

The last time we cycled this road we were on our way to Ullapool and the wind was horrific, so although it was raining it was still so much easier than our previous ride. We cycled a drizzly 15 miles before having a banana stop, then on we went till we reached the Overscaig  Hotel. If you are ever passing then stop for the Lemon and Coconut cake it was Yummy with a capital Y ( and this from the girl who doesn't really do cake )
We got back on our bikes pretty quickly, the rain had stopped but the midges were out in force. we cycled back towards Lairg but on our way passed a pine martin and an eagle ( i think ) .....just beautiful....

We climbed up the Struie and then followed our tracks back through to Evanton. One last climb in to Dingwall and we were almost home. At 100 miles we hit Muir of Ord then we rode the last 3 miles at speeds of aprox 28mph.... sprint finish ;-)

This has been undoubtably my favourite cycling weekend so far, i've had it all Sunshine, Tail Winds, Fab Cake, Beautiful Wildlife, Stunning Scenerny, Beautiful Beaches, Great Support and the best training partner you could find,  as always, thank you Speedy for keeping me going.

However, I have managed to collect a few war wounds, some sunburn, some midgy bites, some blisters, and a sore bum ..... 214 miles cycled, 8080 calories burnt, 15 hours in the saddle......knackered but delighted x

Lets hope for 11 days like this when we do end to end ............

People often ask me what do you find to talk about after so long on the road, well.... some of its nonsense, some of it's lejog plans, some of it's just quiet time, but a lot of this weekend was good old ' i spy ' ............. i spy with my little eye something beginning with  H  ???

WOO HOOOOOOO 50 DAYS TO GO !!!!

Cairngorm Challenge The UK's highest event on a public road (632m)- Finish on Scotland's Alpe D'huez!

This week took us to the Cairngorm Challenge. It was a fab day, i entered the 50 mile ride and Speedy the 100 mile ride. It was quite an experience. Given that most of my cycling has been done with at most two others, it was quite scary having theses big cycling packs flying past shouting in their cycling club slang. I can understand totally now why they are called 'packs', one minute you are cycling solo and the next they are upon you like wolves. raaaaaaaaaaaaaarrr !!

The route took us from the car park at the Cairngorms, along to Colyumbridge, Nethy Bridge, almost round to Grantown then back in a circle finishing back where we started, a 600 mtr climb over 3 miles back to the car park. I kind of lost it on the hill and must have been overtaken by at least 15 cyclists. I didn't really stop to eat or re fuel so that didn't help, in hindsight i could have done with some calories before the climb. Never mind lesson learnt, it certainly didn't put me off, I've entered another 65mile race In Ullapool on the 24th of September, considering the 100miler from Glasgow to Edinburgh and registered my interest to do the Etape Caledonia next year..... its all very exciting this cycling business....

So i came, get this .....104th woo hoo .... which i wasn't hugely proud of until my dear mum pointed out that although this may be the case i was 17th lady which made me feel loads better ...thanks mum, love you mwahhhhhhh xxx

So neither of us broke any records, not that we thought we were going to, but in my eyes we were both champions ......

Champion No 1

Champion No 2

Two Tired Bikes

1759 training miles cycled in four months

1100 miles in 11 days

Sometimes when i think about the distance it makes me feel a bit apprehensive, sometimes it makes me wonder what on earth i've commited myself to, sometimes i feel super excited, but mostly i think BRING IT ON ..............Lands End to John o Groats i just cant wait. What a fabulous adventure this has become ................

Blood Sweat and Tears(almost) ....

Ardendrain to Skye - 75 Miles

4am on Saturday. The rain is banging on the window so loudly, i find it impossible to get back to sleep. After a couple of hours lying there wishing the rain to stop, i give up trying to sleep and get ready for our ride. I have to get in to a positive state of mind but its hard when you know you have a long long ride in front of you and it looks like you are going to be soaking wet from the second you turn the pedal.

About 20 mins before Speedy arrives the rain cleared and blue skies appeared .... instantly my mood lifts and i'm lured into a false sense of security. By the time we left the rain had started again.....away we went.

As we approached Culnakirk 6 miles from Ardendrain we had our first of many soakings, the heavy pea sized droplets soaking us to the skin, why do none of my waterproofs seem to work that well, is there an on button somewhere  i just don't know about ? i just don't get it,....anyway,  by the time we reached Drumnadrochit the rain had stopped again. This was pretty much the order of the day, torrential rain, vicious wind with the odd dry spell, just long enough to let my leggings dry before the next drenching.

Saturday's ride was by far the hardest ride for me, it really tested me both physically and mentally and pushed me to a different place ............ a place that's dark, a place that's lonely, a place I've never been before ........i think they call it hell !! ok maybe a little dramatic ;-)

In a nutshell we were blown around like rag dolls, we were soaked through half a dozen times, i don't mean the kind of wet you get when your caught in the rain without your brolly, i mean the kind of wet you are when you go swimming but with all your clothes on. The force of the 48mph winds and the rain in our eyes was so harsh, on three occasion's visibility was at zero and we could do nothing but stop pedalling and get rained on at the side of the road. The motorists must have thought we had lost the plot being out in those conditions ..........maybe we had  ??

My first low point started 3 miles from the Clunie Inn where we had one of the heaviest showers. It really took its toll, my clothes were wet through, my trainers and socks needed ringing out, my fingers numb and white with the cold. We took shelter at the Inn, i didn't even want to sit down at first, i was paranoid that i was going to leave water marks all over the upholstery, i dread to think what i must have looked like, or sounded like.
I'm sitting here laughing now as i think about it but i really was squelching like a big noisy squelchy thing...............its just so totally unglamorous.

Souped and coffee'd up it was time to hit the road....i really didn't want to, so i delayed the inevitable by a further five minutes by hiding in the ladies with my hands under the hand dryers to try and get a wee bit warmer and psych myself up. I just wished i could be magiced home to my living room chilling in front of a roaring fire watching the Goonies with Heidi, but with only 28 miles to Skye there was no way i was giving up this time, no matter how hard this ride was becoming. Little did i know the next 28 miles were going to take me over three hours to cycle, I'd hoped the wind would drop a bit and I'd be done in half of that.

Five miles after we started again my body just started to freeze, my cycling jacket was soaking and it was giving me the shakes, i was starting to feel a bit wobbly, i had to get these clothes of if i was going to carry on. So there i was at the side of the road getting changed in the pouring rain and then off we went again. The next two ish hours was just hard hard cycling we should have had the most beautiful descent for miles as you approach Skye but due to the winds we had to pedal down the hills. It would have been such a joy to cycle under better conditions.

Finally, we came to a sign that says Kyle three miles, these last three miles felt like thirty miles they went on and on and on and on, my legs were weak, my feet were like ice bricks, inside i was crying and almost on the outside as well. I had run out of steam, i could see the Skye Bridge all i had to do now was get over it and then i would stop.

On the approach to the bridge i manage to muster up enough energy to have a conversation with Speedy, then i remember him saying ' you'll be head into the wind round this corner but its just over the bridge and you're there ' and as always he was right, we turned round the corner on the cycle path to climb the bridge and the wind was like a brick wall.

Where do you go in your mind when you feel like you have nothing left ? ..... I was swearing at the wind in my head, just wishing it would give me some relief for the last half a mile .....  I had to get over this bridge so what did i do ? the only thing that came into my head, i started to count ..... 1 to 10 over and over again till i got to the top.... and slowly i got there.....i did it !!!!.... now, i could make my way down the other side and finally get off ,get warm and re fuel.
I was delighted i made it and didn't give up, then 100 yards in front of me a dog walker was taking up the whole cycle path, i manage to say  "excuse me", by all accounts it wasn't very loud, she didn't move, i tried a bit louder, she had her earphones on, she didn't move, i was getting close this time i shouted "EXCUSE ME" ,  i was about 2 ft away and the dog saw me and must have thought i was making a bee line for his owner and went for me.

Can you imagine it, I'm exhausted to the point I'm about to fall of my bike and i get attacked by a dog !! It was just so not what i needed. Anyway, i was fine i just got more of a fright............

Richard went on to take his ride up to 100 miles then called it a day. An incredible achievement in such wild conditions. On the subject of Speedy I don't think i could have done it without him yesterday, the best training  partner i could ask for. Go Speedy !!

Woo Hoo tonight was cause for a celebration, away we went to Portree to meet up with some friends who had travelled up from Lesmahagow. The Plan =  Dance the night away at a Ceilidh in the village hall. Davey you rocked in your kilt ........ but i think we need to have a chat about the shoes ;-)

Last Weeks Training

Sunday -  Mini bootcamp

Saturday - Rosemarkie-Killen-Culbokie-Balblair-Tore-Avoch - 34 miles 

Tuesday - Rosemarkie-Killen-Munlochy-Tore-Munlochy-Avoch - 26 miles

Monday - Beauly Firth Loop - 38 miles

The Wild West ...........

Ooops the Applecross training weekend didnt quite go as planned. Don't get me wrong, not because i didnt enjoy myself but quite the opposite, i was enjoying myself so much i kind of forgot why i was there. Saturday morning came and Speedy and Andy went of to ride the Applecross loop in horrid sleety weather and came back looking nothing but professional. So next up, Tilli and i were going to attempt it but in the opposite direction, i was feeling pretty ropey to say the least and to be quite honest the last thing i wanted to do was climb a 10k hill then cycle another 37 hilly miles, never the less i gave it a go. I think i got about 1/4 of a mile before i stopped first, this did not bode well ! Silly, silly girl ....2 hours sleep and one to many shandies left me completely physically drained no amount of kendal mint cake was going to help  ...slowly and i mean SLOWY with about five stops i got to the top, Tilli had already peaked and had come back down to find us, go Tilli, you were a soldier !! 

 Coming down the other side was almost as hard but in a different way, it was so steep at one point i just couldn't look anymore so i decided it would be a good idea to close my eyes !?!?! what !! i'm such an idiot, i wasn't on a roller coaster i was on a road ..... oh well lesson learnt .... the hard way. I tried to keep going but in my head i'd given up before i'd even started and wasn't in the right frame of mind so i bailed out just before Sheildeg. Six months of seriously healthy living and i put my party head on the night befor the big climb, it goes without saying i was super annoyed with myself.

a grumpy lou

Tilli kept riding and did fantastically well in the horrendous wind. A huge WELL done to Speedy, Tilli and Andy you all showed huge amounts of strength i was so proud of you all. Total champions ;-)

an even grumpier lou

Applecross junction to Garve - 45 Miles

Sunday - Although pretty miserable, Speedy, Andy and I decided to cycle some of the way home, the guys climbed the beallach again but i met them at the foot and we cycled 45 (ish) miles to Garve, i had just enough time for a warm up whilst i waited ;-)

The route itself was pretty easy and we had a lovely tail wind, normally what i would consider to be straight forward cycling, the challenge however was keeping up with two hugely fit men.

                                                                                                                                                                                           

The reward was a cup of coffee and some shortbread in the hotel that time had forgotten ........bizarre place but even more bizarre was the carpet ....... ;-)

Cheers Guys .....fab weekend  xxx