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

Tongue to Thurso

I think I am slowing down as I don't really want to get to the end, anyway I decided to get over 40 miles on the clock.  Interestingly, well to me anyway, my bum still hurts so I shall have to get a new saddle when I get back.  If I haven't got used to it by now, it is not going to happen.
The cycling is a number gentle inclines now although when I have to give way to traffic on the uphill I still have to get off and push.
The Sutherland hills have given way to the flows, upland bogs, and as you can see I am still heading off into the unknown.
I got my first glimpse of Orkney when I stopped for lunch by the Marie Cure remembrance field, one for you Roz, I hope all went well with your challenge.
I am not sure that I have uploaded the link to your giving page as it probably got lost in amongst my earlier technical difficulties, but if anyone wants to contribute let me know and I will try to email the link or forward to Roz.
The juxtapositioning of Dounray power station with wind turbines was odd but I guess given the Chaucer the planners have little argument against the turbines here!
I hoped Thurso would have an outdoor clothing shop to stock up on some extra layers for the island, but it is just another depressed town, full of closing down and charity shops. Oh and chip shops purveying the local delicacies of deep fried haggis and mars bars.
In fact I discovered my hostel was located above one of these outlets.
Although I itially unpreposessing it turned out to be remarkable cosy and well appointed. I met up with a number of other cyclists who were variously starting and finishing and so a few bevies and travel tales were swapped.

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