Barbs's Big Bike RIde

This year I have decided to stay and enjoy an English Spring. It has been a long time coming but at last it is here and I am off to explore my own back yard. Well actually travelling up the UK mainland as far north as possible before 21st June and see how close I can get to the Midnight Sun.


After my travels along the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain last September on my trusty old iron donkey, I have bought a lighter bike in the hope that I can get up a few more hills and by going from Lands End to John o Groats (LEJOG) I can avoid the killing headwinds of the Spanish meseta.


So here she is, we had a jolly naming ceremony on Saturday and hopefully the good friends, food and weather I enjoyed will carry me through to the farthest northern climes. Thank you all for a great send off, admirably topped off with one too many pints The Village Bike listening to Mojo Triangle.


And she is called Eleanor, isn't she beautiful, I hope I still have such tender feelings after 6 hours in the saddle, but probably only in the nether regions I fear.


The map link on the right will show a rough itinerary and route and I will try try to update with my actual route, if I can work out how and where I am as I go along, you know there will be little correlation but I will get there or somewhere in the end!


If you want an email update, submit your address in the box also on right and hopefully it will find its way through the ether to you.

Tuesday, 4 June 2013

I have joged

Well I couldn't delay any longer even after the few bevies in the pub I had to go.
I fairly easy 20 miles plus side trips to Dunnet head and Duncansby head with a quick call in to Gills to check the ferry times. As usual I was into the wind but the sun was shining however there was an ever moving sea mist which rather obscured the photos. The 360 deg panorama from Dunnet head was again spectacular and the run in to jog was very rurally pleasant.  The end itself was rather better the lands end and there were lots of people to say well done, including some other cyclists I had met on the way.
I had a little memento don't for the occasion, so Helen, you don't have to!
I decided to forego the celebratory wee dram as I am not the best sailor and opted instead for a cream scone.
Then it was off to the most northwesterly point of Duncansby Head.
Now this has been a month of magical moments but this almost,beats them all.  Again the sea mist obscured the views out to Orkney but increased the appreciation of the birds and wild flowers.  The sound and smell of the breeding colonies of kittiwakes, fulnars, cuillins and razorbilld was almost overpowering, particularly given the drop over the cliff.
I am so glad this isn't the end of my trip but if it was then it would be a fitting highlight.

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1 comment:

  1. Julie10 June 2013 at 13:23

    Great achievement, well done....I have you as my screen saver at the office, John O'Groats 2013!!!!

    ReplyDelete

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