LeJoGblog

Well, I - or should I say we - did it.

The penultimate day took us from Crianlarich to Inverness (around 120 miles). The first bit, from Crianlarich to Glencoe, involved climbing up to Rannoch Moor and had long been a bogey for me, but in the end was fine - I know the road well and roared up the snaking part alone but was caught just over half way from the top by the three fastest rides (Duncan, Tony and Tim), who I then joined. It was cold and wet, but the descent into Glencoe Village was fast (slowed by roadworks that have been there for at least a year) and the average speed by the time we got there was 19 mph. Then to a cafe and on to Inverness, mainly along the main road but taking a nice detour just after Fort William until Speyne Bridge - the whole group this time except Simon who rode his own ride for much of the way. After another food stop at Fort Augustus, we broke into two groups to inverness: one along the military road (which proved a massive set of climbs) and me and two others on the main route. As my pace was faster, I went on and met up with a rider from Nottingham who we'd first met at Land's End and we rode into Inverness together as the rain finally stopped and the sun came out.

Overall, this day was really fast - average over 18.5 mph - but I got lost in Inverness, asked three people for directions and got sent in numerous different ways (including by a lovely woman in a petrol station less than five minutes away which cost me 30 minutes), but still got in at the same time as the detour group. With this exception, though, this day was - for me - the best. Fast and through some of the most beautiful parts of the UK.

The final day was a bit tiring. By the time I was in Inverness I was mentally there - but it was still another 120 miles to go - and I set off before the really fast riders together with Piers - a US based historian of science who is planning to write a book about TH Huxley and Charles Kingsley - and two of them caught with us after about an hour. We joined their wheels but found it hard to keep up and after a while slowed down together with Tim Norton. For about 40 miles I found even the slower pace hard, but eventually caught up with the two Bobs and Andy where the pace was about 1 mph slower and I felt much revived. We all stopped at Wick for tea and waited for the last rider to come in so we could go over together. Piers hadn't realised that this plan was real - he'd had endless races with Tim N - and he went on to the end, to most people's minor irritation (i felt a bit sorry for him here). The ride out from Wick was harder than it should have been - the wind was against us for the first time in the day (we'd been pushing a fast speed until then) and one of the riders found it hard to continue (someone should move Wick about 10 miles nearer to JoG) but we regrouped and rode into the village together and then down to the head. I felt quite emotional as we got into the village and as we crossed the "official" finish line there was a collective outpouring of emotion when we all shook hands! Thence endless photos - careful, or I'll bore you with these - a quick drink in the pub and short ride to the youth hostel.

Yesterday, Sunday, we drove back through the snow-capped Cairngorms and I was dropped off at Glasgow Airport where I sat for hours waiting for a delayed Easyjet back to Bristol where Bridget and the girls were waiting.

Even by the Sunday, the hard or boring bits were being forgotten. I'm really glad to have done it - even though it does seem like a peculiar thing to do - and having to think about how to maintain the fitness, what to do next and so on. I couldn't have done it without the other members of the team (www.lejog2006.co.uk) who either set punishing paces (step forward Duncan & Tony), or pulled me along when I was tired (everyone else at different times but Andy and Bob deserve special recognition for their selfless riding), the new friendships I made, the training plans and support from John Capelin at Sports Coaching (www.sports-coaching.com), the text messages along the way, but most of all Bridget, Caitlin and Maddy. To all: thanks.

Thanks, too, to everyone who sponsored me. At the time of writing, I'd raised over £3,300 via justgiving (address above) with more cheques sitting on my office desk or promises hanging around the ether. I didn't do the ride primarily to raise money, but am overwhelmed by the generosity of friends and colleagues.

Adam has made it, he phoned just before 7 tonight and sounded relieved and elated. Thye then had to cycle back to the hostel through a force 9 gale! He'll post his own comments later. Bridget.

We're just about to set off on the final day - 120 miles or so from Inverness. Everyone is pleased that we're nearly done!

no match report - great day -fast & beautiful but I'm ready 4 sleep here in Inverness where its still light at 10.50.

We rode from Moffat to Crianlarich - against the wind for 60 miles, then got lost in Glasgow (where the driving is insane)

I'll just be brief - and write more tomorrow hopefully - Shap turned out to be ok, but a long day (115m) & one of us pulled out with a high temperature.

A big side wind for about 60 miles, but a great lunch in Penrith at the church coffee shop and coming into Moffat this evening was fab - sunny and the hills are lovely. The day started with hail, but by the time we left it was raining and it stopped soon - most of the day was very dry. I'd hoped to give a better flavour, but too tired.

Today was relatively easy - around 115 miles, but mostly flat and the rain held off until the last half hour.

I meant to say that Bristol gave us 2 incidents - first, some yob threw a fanta bottle as we came in on Sunday, just missing Tim. Yesterday a stone hit Tim's frame as kids bunking off Monk's Park School thought us fair game. It makes you proud.

I was really tired after yesterday's ride, but today's was a bit of a rest, mad as it sounds - not least to me.

Crossing the Mersey was fun - the grandeur of the Liverpool waterfront is fab - but there was no-one around.

Tomorrow, we leave England, climbing Shap on the way. This is one of my two remaining bogeys of the trip.

bristol to shrewsbury - 100 miles or so with rain & first adverse wind. More endurance than fun but wye valley beautiful. In first group - 6.5 hours - but will take it easy tomorrow. No injuries