Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Comments...
I think I have been able to alter the settings to allow comments to be added more easily!
Speed Blur??
or did Naomi pan the camera in the opposite direction?
I wish I'd been on my bike today! The miles seemed to tick away sooo slowly all of a sudden!
I wish I'd been on my bike today! The miles seemed to tick away sooo slowly all of a sudden!
Walking...
Day 1 - Walk from John O'Groats to Lybster (at least 30 miles - my own little coast to coast walk!)
Well I have turned around and I've started walking back!!
Naomi & I had the great pleasure of having dinner last night with David & Shelagh Clegg, the grandparents of Francis.
What lovely people they are too!!
They were having a few days vacation in Scotland and came up to see me off on the walk back!
Not only that, but David joined me for the first 4 miles & we chatted away as we walked. I hope to be seeing some more of both of them on the walk back. Maybe I could pitch my tent on their lawn & use their garden hose for a shower!???
What I forgot to say to either of them and must do so here is thank you for the beautiful marmalade - it wont last till Land's End!!
Briefly onto the walk. A pretty uneventful days walking. Lots of very straight road where I could see miles & miles ahead.
Naomi drove ahead to the halfway point & walked back to meet me, doing this again later on she has probably walked about 12 miles herself today! Good girl! ;-)
However, once again I've bitten off too much and am currently nursing very sore legs and a big blood blister right next to my lacerated heel! DOH! May modify the mileage tomorrow and ease myself more gently into this walking lark!
Well I have turned around and I've started walking back!!
Naomi & I had the great pleasure of having dinner last night with David & Shelagh Clegg, the grandparents of Francis.
What lovely people they are too!!
They were having a few days vacation in Scotland and came up to see me off on the walk back!
Not only that, but David joined me for the first 4 miles & we chatted away as we walked. I hope to be seeing some more of both of them on the walk back. Maybe I could pitch my tent on their lawn & use their garden hose for a shower!???
What I forgot to say to either of them and must do so here is thank you for the beautiful marmalade - it wont last till Land's End!!
Briefly onto the walk. A pretty uneventful days walking. Lots of very straight road where I could see miles & miles ahead.
Naomi drove ahead to the halfway point & walked back to meet me, doing this again later on she has probably walked about 12 miles herself today! Good girl! ;-)
However, once again I've bitten off too much and am currently nursing very sore legs and a big blood blister right next to my lacerated heel! DOH! May modify the mileage tomorrow and ease myself more gently into this walking lark!
Monday, May 30, 2011
On the twelfth day...
...he was meant to rest. However SWMBO marched him to Dunnet Head & back! A round trip of 12 miles.
It was well worth it though as we were afforded a clear view of The Old Man of Hoy!
All being well it will prove to be a gentle warm up before tomorrow & straight in at the deep end with 30 miles!!
Looking forward to meeting up for dinner tonight with David & Shelagh Clegg and then tomorrow morning walking the first few miles of the return journey with them!
Sent from my iPhone
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Goodbye my friend!!
My companion for the last 10 & half days is having a well earned rest!! She has done her job well and has been as reliable as ever! She never faltered once, responded immediately when I called upon her, looked as beautiful today as the day I first set eyes on her! I'll miss you when you go home my darling! I just hope Naomi lifts you down from the bicycle rack carefully!!
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John O'Groats...
Am I half way?
Not really! If it takes me 50 days to walk back then I've completed about 18% of this challenge!
I am expecting the walk back to Lands End to be be difficult due to the loneliness and not physically difficult!
So keep watching my schedule and do your best to join me!!
Not really! If it takes me 50 days to walk back then I've completed about 18% of this challenge!
I am expecting the walk back to Lands End to be be difficult due to the loneliness and not physically difficult!
So keep watching my schedule and do your best to join me!!
Sent from my iPhone
Jan de Groot!!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Champions League Final...
We overslept this morning after a night of broken sleep! Better get my skates on if I'm going to get done in time to watch the footy!!
The rain was miserable but the wind was blowing straight up The Great Glen in my favour!! A quick stop at The Spean Bridge Memorial for a photo opportunity coincided with a break in the rain and the Ben Nevis backdrop made the picture.
After a quick break for tea & a bacon butty I was soon pedalling alongside Loch Ness! The only monster I came across was the monster climb out of Drumnadrochit on the road to Beauly! It got the better of me and I had to rest briefly half way up!
I had another tea break near Dingwall and was soon tackling the last 30 miles of this 105 mile day!
All but the last 5 of those 30 miles benefitted from a roaring tailwind and the day was over by 5 o'clock! We are residing for the evening on the south shore of Dornoch Firth and the weather is at long last sunny!
Now down to the main business of the day!
COME ON UNITED!!!
Sent from my iPhone
The rain was miserable but the wind was blowing straight up The Great Glen in my favour!! A quick stop at The Spean Bridge Memorial for a photo opportunity coincided with a break in the rain and the Ben Nevis backdrop made the picture.
After a quick break for tea & a bacon butty I was soon pedalling alongside Loch Ness! The only monster I came across was the monster climb out of Drumnadrochit on the road to Beauly! It got the better of me and I had to rest briefly half way up!
I had another tea break near Dingwall and was soon tackling the last 30 miles of this 105 mile day!
All but the last 5 of those 30 miles benefitted from a roaring tailwind and the day was over by 5 o'clock! We are residing for the evening on the south shore of Dornoch Firth and the weather is at long last sunny!
Now down to the main business of the day!
COME ON UNITED!!!
Sent from my iPhone
Friday, May 27, 2011
Tough old day!!
Not sure how far I've done today.
Maybe someone could tell me!
The wind direction, rain and contours of the land were all set to be against me.
I set off from Auchenbowie (south of Stirling) through Boune & then Callander. A quick stop at Lochearnhead then onto Crianlarich. A second stop was planned at Tyndrum just as the rain set in! I was dreading the second half of the days ride and now the rain was set to make it even worse!!
I set off and took the short climb out of Tyndrum comfortably and thought maybe the wind had turned around. The road through Bridge of Orchy was a blur of high cadence pedalling and then I saw some other cyclists in the distance. I easily caught and passed four of them and then teamed up with the fifth. We chatted for a mile or so (he was also cycling end to end) then I invited him to sit on my wheel!
The weather was now horrible and he soon peeled off stopping at his support vehicle! I thought I would do my best to get to the bottom of the Pass of Glen Coe before indulging in a brew stop!
The head wind and heavy rain began to slow me down, now it was hard work pedalling downhill and I opted for a stop just before Ballachuilish! I told Naomi how good I had felt regardless of the rubbish conditions! After a good stop I donned two waterproof jackets and got stuck in to the last 18 miles!
Again I pedalled effortlessly through the pouring rain and was soon sprinting into Fort William!
I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion on reaching my destination as it dawned on me that someone else had been helping me pedal my bike today!
Maybe someone could tell me!
The wind direction, rain and contours of the land were all set to be against me.
I set off from Auchenbowie (south of Stirling) through Boune & then Callander. A quick stop at Lochearnhead then onto Crianlarich. A second stop was planned at Tyndrum just as the rain set in! I was dreading the second half of the days ride and now the rain was set to make it even worse!!
I set off and took the short climb out of Tyndrum comfortably and thought maybe the wind had turned around. The road through Bridge of Orchy was a blur of high cadence pedalling and then I saw some other cyclists in the distance. I easily caught and passed four of them and then teamed up with the fifth. We chatted for a mile or so (he was also cycling end to end) then I invited him to sit on my wheel!
The weather was now horrible and he soon peeled off stopping at his support vehicle! I thought I would do my best to get to the bottom of the Pass of Glen Coe before indulging in a brew stop!
The head wind and heavy rain began to slow me down, now it was hard work pedalling downhill and I opted for a stop just before Ballachuilish! I told Naomi how good I had felt regardless of the rubbish conditions! After a good stop I donned two waterproof jackets and got stuck in to the last 18 miles!
Again I pedalled effortlessly through the pouring rain and was soon sprinting into Fort William!
I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion on reaching my destination as it dawned on me that someone else had been helping me pedal my bike today!
Sent from my iPhone
Very sunny at the moment...
...but Moira has just announced on Chris Evans Show that rain will arrive in Scotland this afternoon!
I'd better crack on in that case!!
I'd better crack on in that case!!
Sent from my iPhone
Thursday, May 26, 2011
It rained...
My skin is definitely waterproof but I can confirm that my clothing is not!!
The Falkirk Wheel (shown in the picture) is something I have wanted to see for some time! Unfortunately I had been so slow getting there it had stopped running until tomorrow morning! DOH!!
Thursday 26th May 2011
It's 7.40am and I'm due to set off in 20 mins.
& luckily...
my skin is waterproof!!
& luckily...
my skin is waterproof!!
Sent from my iPhone
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Carnforth to Lockerbie...
Capt. Salmon obviously thought that the ash cloud would not be stopping us from flying today! He decided that we would fly over it!! We started late after our late night at the pub & our overnight stop in Fellside Camp site (near Arnside). A quick blast into Kendal & a pop into Pete Blands to receive some encouragement from John Broxap.
Then a manic ascent of the A6 road over Shap & an equally crazy descent into Shap village! Fred wondered if John Noakes lived here!???
Naomi met us, fed us & kicked us out again and we agreed to meet again after Carlisle. Fred managed to average about 28mph all the way into Carlisle with me concentrating hard to hold his wheel!!
It was simply awesome riding! I bet he can't use Autocad or tig weld Aluminium though!!
My lasting memory of this challenge will be false horizon after false horizon!? What I imagine is 25 miles in the distance is seldom more than 2 or 3 miles!! It plays with your mind!
We met Naomi for a quick brew & then pressed on for a few more miles. We soon entered Scotland where I saw a near naked man frolicking outside 'The First & Last House of Scotland' this seems to happen to me a lot!? Maybe being Fred's mate has something to do with it?? Need I go into any more detail?!!
A quick look at Gretna Green's Old Smithy & then a final 20 miles up to Lockerbie where we waived goodbye to Fred! Thanks pal - you're a Superstar! Kept me out the wind for two days (180 miles) & made me laugh all the way! As always!!
Then a manic ascent of the A6 road over Shap & an equally crazy descent into Shap village! Fred wondered if John Noakes lived here!???
Naomi met us, fed us & kicked us out again and we agreed to meet again after Carlisle. Fred managed to average about 28mph all the way into Carlisle with me concentrating hard to hold his wheel!!
It was simply awesome riding! I bet he can't use Autocad or tig weld Aluminium though!!
My lasting memory of this challenge will be false horizon after false horizon!? What I imagine is 25 miles in the distance is seldom more than 2 or 3 miles!! It plays with your mind!
We met Naomi for a quick brew & then pressed on for a few more miles. We soon entered Scotland where I saw a near naked man frolicking outside 'The First & Last House of Scotland' this seems to happen to me a lot!? Maybe being Fred's mate has something to do with it?? Need I go into any more detail?!!
A quick look at Gretna Green's Old Smithy & then a final 20 miles up to Lockerbie where we waived goodbye to Fred! Thanks pal - you're a Superstar! Kept me out the wind for two days (180 miles) & made me laugh all the way! As always!!
Sent from my iPhone
David Dobson...
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Day 5 (and a half)...
What a day!! The legend that is Frederick Arthur Salmon rode from Hayfield down to Nantwich to meet us at campsite at 8.30am. 45 miles into a raging headwind with a heavy rucksack on his back! Quick butty & brew and then rode like a madman up to Winwick, Warrington with me hanging on to his wheel sheltering from the crosswind 80% of the time! Another brew & teamed up with David Dobson for the blast up to Chorley. DD will tell you that this was no less frantic!
Teamed up with two more 'victims' at Chorley who made the team five strong. Someone else to tow me along?? Oh no! Freddy was having none of it! 26mph up to Lancaster with me glued to his wheel and the day was nearly complete! We waived goodbye to the 3 amigos & then we rode on to Arnside for our night stop.
He has since downed three pints of guiness and a bottle of red. Fuel for tomorrow's pootle up to Lockerbie!!
Teamed up with two more 'victims' at Chorley who made the team five strong. Someone else to tow me along?? Oh no! Freddy was having none of it! 26mph up to Lancaster with me glued to his wheel and the day was nearly complete! We waived goodbye to the 3 amigos & then we rode on to Arnside for our night stop.
He has since downed three pints of guiness and a bottle of red. Fuel for tomorrow's pootle up to Lockerbie!!
Sent from my iPhone
Today's injury!!!
Yesterday....
...we were flying!! However due to the 'Ash Cloud' we are gonna keep our wheels on the floor today! ;-)
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
Monday, May 23, 2011
23rd May 2011
Today I had some company for the ride!! Mark (with calves like calfs) blocked the cross wind like a good un for most of the day! We unashamedly sheltered from the driving rain in a bus stop for half an hour before grovelling past Lilleshall School of Sporting Excellence into a head wind! Oh the irony!!
SWMBO has achieved her catering wings today, attending to the every need of two weary lycra clad boys on our two feed stops!!
Thanks Nomeo! x
SWMBO has achieved her catering wings today, attending to the every need of two weary lycra clad boys on our two feed stops!!
Thanks Nomeo! x
Sent from my iPhone
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Severn Road Bridge...
High cross winds made the crossing the most horrendous 1 mile that I've EVER done on a bike!! However once I turned right to meet the A38 I almost expected to be able to free wheel all the way to Gloucester!! Alas no, some telling little climbs put paid to that!!
So today I have covered another 75+ miles (280 in total) from Banwell (near Weston-s-Mare) to sunny Tewkesbury!!
I have some company for tomorrow's ride! Mark Gaskell is joining me for the 90 miles up to Nantwich!! He might hear on the odd occasion "Now stay right there my little wind blocker!"
So today I have covered another 75+ miles (280 in total) from Banwell (near Weston-s-Mare) to sunny Tewkesbury!!
I have some company for tomorrow's ride! Mark Gaskell is joining me for the 90 miles up to Nantwich!! He might hear on the odd occasion "Now stay right there my little wind blocker!"
Sent from my iPhone
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Dolton-Brampton-WestonSuperMare...
Back up team went AWOL at afternoon stop. No more ado, took my frustration out on t'pedals after leaving her a messages "See if you can catch me, I'm heading up the A38' I reckon I did the next 10 miles at 30mph!! :)
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Friday, May 20, 2011
Dolton...
75 miles of uphill & down dale has brought us to Dolton. What a gem of a campsite SWMBO has found too!! Next door to a pub!! Hoorah!!
So following yesterday's early departure I am ahead of the original schedule. Tomorrow I will head for Tiverton initially and then a relatively flat run up to somewhere near Bridgewater. This should put me back on track to arrive at Tewkesbury on Sunday night!!
So following yesterday's early departure I am ahead of the original schedule. Tomorrow I will head for Tiverton initially and then a relatively flat run up to somewhere near Bridgewater. This should put me back on track to arrive at Tewkesbury on Sunday night!!
Thanks for following! x
Sent from my iPhone
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Voices in my head...
So, in a Gustav French inspired moment of insanity, I was about to turn the pedals for the first time when a little voice in my head said to me " So where are you off to?" and I replied to myself "Back 'ere!!"
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Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Well this is it!!!
The motorhome is loaded and we are about to leave for the journey south!!
I have been very busy today tidying up lots of odds & ends, but now the fun starts!!
I have been very busy today tidying up lots of odds & ends, but now the fun starts!!
Start of walking itinerary...
Day 1
John OGroats -Lybster 30 miles
Day 2
Lybster – Helmsdale 22 miles
Day 3
Helmsdale – Skelbo 24 miles
Day 4
Skelbo – Rosemarkie 30 miles
Day 5
Rosemarkie – Lairgmore (Loch Ness) 22 miles
Day 6
Lairgmore (Loch Ness) – Fort Augustus (Loch Ness) 28 miles
Day 7
Fort Augustus (Loch Ness) – Spean Bridge 22 miles
Day 8
Spean Bridge – Kilochleven 23 miles
Day 9
Kilochleven – Bridge of Orchy 21 miles
Day 10
Bridge of Orchy – Inversnaid 26 miles
Day 11
Inversnaid – Drymen 22 miles
John OGroats -Lybster 30 miles
Day 2
Lybster – Helmsdale 22 miles
Day 3
Helmsdale – Skelbo 24 miles
Day 4
Skelbo – Rosemarkie 30 miles
Day 5
Rosemarkie – Lairgmore (Loch Ness) 22 miles
Day 6
Lairgmore (Loch Ness) – Fort Augustus (Loch Ness) 28 miles
Day 7
Fort Augustus (Loch Ness) – Spean Bridge 22 miles
Day 8
Spean Bridge – Kilochleven 23 miles
Day 9
Kilochleven – Bridge of Orchy 21 miles
Day 10
Bridge of Orchy – Inversnaid 26 miles
Day 11
Inversnaid – Drymen 22 miles
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Contact Details...
Contact details Mob 07900930466 or neil.coverley@nelcoservices.co.uk
Should anyone wish to join me for a few hours of cycling or walking on any of the days please feel free to contact me or Naomi (Naomi's number 07850500361)
Should anyone wish to join me for a few hours of cycling or walking on any of the days please feel free to contact me or Naomi (Naomi's number 07850500361)
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