Daily update for the LEJOG adventure.
So the final day was long.... 83 miles from The Crask. We set off on most and travelled up to the northern most coast. Finally, after two punctures and a lot of pedalling against a head wind... we got to John o Groats. About 1008 miles from Lands End!
I am so proud of what the little duck and I have achieved.
home tomorrow... can't wait!!! 😊😊😊
So this is the penultimate day! We cycled out of Inverness and up to the Highlands. On the way we passed the wonderful Falls of Shin where there were Salmon swimming upstream and leaping up the huge waterfall! There is a picture below. An amazing sight to see!!
we then trundled on through undulating landscape on single lane tracks, stopping every now and then to take pictures of the landscape! Incredible views of Durnock Firth, Ardgay waters and the vista of the heather clad hills. 69 miles later we have stopped at The Crask... a small inn with huge character! Setting off early tomorrow for the big finish.... 83 miles to go folks!!!!
Day 12.... when I booked this trip they told me that day twelve was to day to save yourself for as it is one of the hardest. They were right!
We left Ballater early this morning, as the low cloud covered everything with a wet mist. Cycling onwards towards the heart of the Cairngorms. This is where people ski in winter... so we knew it would be high!! Through the vast landscape of towering mountains covered in a haze of purple heather, we struggled to turn the pedals ... one push after another.... this pretty much set the pattern for the day. High up over The Lecht.... 20% gradient so we walked! The on and on through the mountains .... it is hard to put into words how incredible it was to cycle through such a breathtaking world! It is truly beautiful up here and if you have not been here.... well try it... this is part of our country and one of the most stunning parts I have ever seen!! 😊😊😊 Cycling down hill has become my new thrill!! I am so slow uphill but today I topped my downhill speed from yesterday by cycling 39.8mph!! Scary but really exciting!!!
Perth....
Braemar Castle....
Glenshee..... a huge climb !
Today we cycled from Kinross to Ballater in the Cairngorms. This was incredible... taking us through the city of Perth and into the Cairngorms mountains. We then rode through Glenshee ... up the steepest hill that I have ever ridden! I pushed myself so hard... only walking for fifty steps.... in the heat it was almost unbearable. But oh what a reward at the top! Then the descent.... I managed to get 39.6 miles per hour on my bike! Faster than I have ever ridden. It was simply breathtaking...
So the 82mile ride ended up in Ballater... just past Balmoral. Riding through the huge mountains today that made me feel so small, then trees that met overhead, with the smell of pine in the air... and the screeches of buzzards flying high above our heads- it was probably the most awesome day of all. The most incredible thing is that we are now going to be going even further up the country tomorrow!
This was an eighty one mile day. Setting off this morning was hard and I did not feel very good at all. Sometimes it is really hard to motivate yourself when you are doing something that is really challenging. I felt quite miserable... missing home and very tired. So I talked to people and got so much support from the people I am cycling with and the school staff!! I took out the messages that you all wrote to me! It made such a difference and by the end of the day I felt so Much better!! Always good to talk about things!
I also ended up on the floor putting my chain back on after a terrible gear change! My poor bike is getting such abuse! 😊😊
We went through Edinburgh today... a wonderful, bustling city. We found Grey Friars Bobby.... the statue is quite small. Can you find out about his story?
Then we pedalled onto the Forth Road Bridge!!! Fantastic!!!! What a day! It ended sO much better than it started!!!
Well, I can't actually believe that we have managed to cycle all the way up to Moffat in Scotland . Today's ride was 71 miles of pretty level countryside.... but, oh boy, there are some huge potholes in these roads. It makes pretty uncomfortable cycling... had a bit of a headache when we finished. However, the views were well worth it!!! Crossed the border with Scotland at Gretna Green and then rode on to this lovely town. Have a look at the pictures below!! I'm off to sleep now.... we have a very tough day ahead tomorrow!! Night night! 😊
It was fabulous to see Martin ( one of our wonderful governors) and Sue Brown today. Visiting friends and relatives in the region, they kindly took the time to join us for a day. Jolly good cyclists, they easily went up the hills that I truly struggled with. Thank you both for making the time. 😊
So from Lancaster to Penrith. Just sixty miles but for an amateur cyclist like me the hills of today were incredibly challenging. I have walked up a few ... making that decision before my bike actually started going backwards! 😂
However, the views have been spectacular. My pictures below will hopefully show you just that! SO day eight is the beautiful view day where my legs have been tested to the limit! More to come.... so get a grip me!!! 😂
We have now cycled about 520ish miles.
have a look at the amazing views across hillsides, rivers and bridges below!
So we have now made it to Lancaster! Yippee! The sun was so hot today.... despite sunblock I am still a bit burnt! Knee felt ok today and the ride was a really good 74 miles.
We cycled through suburbia today.... Blackburn, Warrington, Bolton and across the Calder Vale. It was sad that there were so many rude and aggressive drivers around. It made cycling hazardous and quite scary at times. It is a shame people can be so rude.
Anyway we had a fabulous ride across the Calder Vale and enjoyed some really hot weather along with the steep hills!!! Sleep well all... just had a lovely pizza. I've got ice on my bad knee then I'm off to bed. We go to Penrith tomorrow..... getting nearer to the Scottish border..... 😄