Driver view of the first couple of days

The drive down was a 7 hour slog (with no working radio) - from Manchester to Tavistock. We stopped off once we'd left the M5 for fish and chip supper. The last few miles were narrow lanes, carefully selected by the satnav to make it difficult for a large minibus.



At one point, all within about 5 minutes, the accelerator stuck on, we hit a large rock and the driver's window winder fell off. The sticking accelerator kept recurring and we had some Blackpool illuminations on the dash to add to the thrill.

After 30 minutes of getting lost and driving back and forth, we found the farm with barn and soon got to bed.

After an early start (5.30 a.m.) we reached Land's End at 8.30. After discovering the 'official' sign post is only 'brought out' at 9.30, we made do with a few pics of us before setting off just before nine.



I hoped to find a coffee shop and seek out a bacon butty, but the plans went out of the window when Chris called with a broken derailleur - only 8 miles in to the trip. A quick dash to Penzance secured a pattern part, fitted by "The Cycle Centre" on New Street - many thanks to them for their speedy service and help mobilising Chris. With only fumes left in the tank, I returned Chris to the A30 and sought fuel.

For lunch I sought Cornish Pasties from Truro for the guys. When we met up, the guys pulled off the road to join me - except Andy, who flipped off his bike and rolled along the pavement! Thankfully, no harm done. The good news is I caught it on video camera - to be on YouTube soon!



Later on, the cig lighter packed in - so no satnav charging now. I switched to manual mode (road atlas) to conserve any remaining power.

The day was hard for the guys who were expecting a tail wind. It was on the nose for the whole 108 miles. John got leg cramps toward the end and dropped back a little. And then we lost him. He'd missed a turn. An hour and a half later we tracked him down to a closed pub, making a fuss of the resident cat and dog and drinking coffee! And there we were - worried...

Day two started a little gentler, time wise - starting from the farm we were staying in. It was still windy - and now raining. I spent a few minutes trying to sort the cig lighter but to no avail - there was no power to it any more. I got away quickly to get back into mobile 'phone signal land in case I was summoned.

Within a mile, all power vanished and the engine management light came on again. A quick restart on the hoof cleared it.

I took an alternative route between Moreton Hampstead and Tedburn which for the most part was smaller than the bus. By the time I'd reached the other side, the plant matter had forced the mirrors flat against the sides of the van. I stopped to fold them out and check our special magnetic signage was still attached and then pressed on.

I had arranged to meet everyone at Bickleigh, but the route the cyclists took was closed while two bent cars were scraped off. Once through, we had a group photo!


I headed on into Somerset and through Taunton. When I passed the guys, my friendly 'beep-beep' never happened as the horn had gone the same way as the radio, cig lighter, door handle, etc. Hey-ho.

At an interim afternoon stop, we helped a couple of lads also doing a Land's End to John O'Groats. They didn't even have tyre levers, but their enthusiasm should get them a long way.

We were making very good time today and arranged to meet north of Bristol. Great views of the Clifton Suspension Bridge! However, the inclines out of the city at the end of a long day meant we finished up just north - at The Swan. Andy Q's friend Matt joined us here for a beer. His wife's due to have a baby TODAY, so good job he got out while he can.

Spirits are high, injuries low (okay, Chris came off in Bristol, but escaped relatively unscathed...) and the mood's optimistic for our journey into the Midlands.

We shoved everything into the van and headed to Cardiff for the night - at Chris' mum's. I managed to blag getting the bus through the bridge toll as a car (£5 instead of £10) and we put the difference in the charity pot. Every little helps...

And it's from Cardiff I now type, after lovely dinner, with a mug of tea and cake - thanks, Margaret.

Day 1 - Lands End

We started out our first day brimming with energy and excitement pointing out all of the prospective lejoggers beginning their own journey, notably two lads on their bikes in rather garish orange t-shirts with backpacks.

12km out of Lands end, disaster, my bikes derailleur snapped off. My brand new Bianchi! A quick call to Andy our support and I was back on my way with the rest of the guys within the hour.

The route we were following took us down every valley and up over every hill. From speaking to some ‘end to enders’ about the ride beforehand, they told me that the first couple of days were the worst due to all of the steep hill climbs.

Reaching Dartmoor was a milestone for us. We had stayed the previous night in a farm there on the way down to Lands End and aimed to conclude our first day of cycling there.

Dartmoor didn’t have hedges like the first part of the day to shelter us from the wind, it is a pretty bleak place. The wind was relentless here and gave everyone a hard time getting up the hills. We also lost John there. John had got cramp in both legs and had to walk up one of the final hills. The rest of us waited for him at the top for a while before calling Andy to see if he could make sure that John was alright. John took a wrong turn and ended up at a restaurant where he was able to call Dawn (his other half) before she managed to call one of us. Needless to say we found John thanks to Dawn but not before he had to cycle up a 1 in 5 hill, with cramp in both legs.

The pub dinner was welcomed that night before we settled down for the night to begin day 2.

And we are off!

The guys just finished loading the van when Andy and I arrived at Paul's house (excellent timing Natalie). No sooner had Andy introduced himself to Konrad and John, he get on with what he does best and got his hands dirty under the bonnet of the bus.

Just as it started to drizzle we finished loading the rest of our things onto the bus and all piled on, waved goodbye to Natalie and headed off to join the bank holiday traffic on the M6.

Last Minute Preparations!

We have spent the last two weeks frantically arranging all of the remaining details for our trip. Finalising accommodation, back up arrangement, spare kit, sponsorship,publicity, routes, food, drink - the list goes on, but with two days left we are nearly there.

There always seems to be more to do than expected... Paul's bike is currently off the road and in for a service to resolve some worrying clicking sounds, whilst my (Andy's) bike was in for frantic repairs. On the plus side Chris has finally got hold of a shiny new bike, which is great news as he doesn't need to ride on his 1970's steel antique bike that he has amazingly coped with for the last year.

The Harlech Triathlon nearly two weeks ago proved to be an absolutely fantastic race. A chance for a bit of not too serious fun and a break out from the grind as well as the opportunity to get some more miles in before/after the race. Well organised and marshalled on Welsh Coast with a great course. Chris finished fourth in his age group, Paul and John also posted good times. I too was flying on the bike until a brake failure resulted in me taking a collision course with a solid slate wall - amazingly I was just sore and bruised. Unsuprisingly my bike wasn't - it needed a new fork, brakes, handlebars, front wheel and chain as well as some fine tuning. I only just received it back yesterday minus a front wheel - something I'm going to have to borrow for the trip.

The Grand Plan!

On the 23rd May Chris, Andy and Paul (plus Konrad and John for the first few days) will be heading down to Lands End to begin their epic 950 mile journey over 8 days to John O'Groats using nothing but pedal power. Keep track of our journey here

23rd May (Friday evening) we are driving to down to Tavistock from Manchester. Night spent in a camping barn!

24th May - Day 1 Lands End to Tavistock 80m (via Par Sands and Lostwithiel). Stop over in a camping Barn.

25th May - Day 2 Tavistock to Bristol 121m (via Dartmoor, Moretonhampstead, Tiverton, Taunton, Bridgewater and the Mendips ~ hilly day). We finish today in Bristol but are staying with Chris' family in Cardiff for a bit of home cooking!!

26th May - Day 3 Bristol to Ironbridge 109m (via Cotswolds, Stroud, Cheltenham, Worcester, Bridgnorth). Night to be spent at a youth hostel - by this point I think we should be able to sleeep anywhere!

27th May - Day 4 Ironbridge to Kirkby Lonsdale 126m (via Whitchurch, Northwich, Warrington, Clitheroe). Stopover at Becky's family home.

28th May - Day 5 Kirkby Lonsdale to Dumfries 114m (via Sedburgh, Yorkshire Dales, Kirkby Stephen, Gretna)

29th May - Day 6 Dumfries to Ardlui 131m (via Cumnock, Kilmarnock, Dumbarton, Loch Lomond ~ pretty flat day). Night spent on the banks of Loch Lomund! This is also a landmark birthday for Becky so we're hoping to finish on time!!

30th May - Day 7 Ardlui to Dingwall 131m (via Rannock Moor, Glen Coe, Fort William, Spean Bridge, Loch Ness, Drumnadrochit)

31st May - Day 8 Dingwall to John O'Groats 127m FINISH (via Bonar Bridge, Helmsdale, Wick)

1st June - (Sunday) Drive back

We will be backed up by our van driven by Andy W and Becky emblazoned with our logo!

Hopefully this link will work for our sponsorship site....

Our Charities

We are raising funds for the following:

Marie Curie Cancer Care

Marie Curie Cancer Care provides high quality nursing totally free, to give terminally ill people the choice of dying at home supported by their families. Your local Marie Curie Hospice actively promotes quality of life for people with cancer and provides support for their families. The services are completely free to patients. World class scientists at the Marie Curie Research Institute are investigating how cancer develops to find better ways of treating the disease in the future.

Both Chris and Andy's families have had support from Marie Curie so it is a charity close to our hearts.

To donate please visit:
http://www.justgiving.com/le-jog2008

CLIC Sargent

CLIC Sargent care for children and young people with cancer and their families in hospital and in the community.

'La Renaissance'School

Paul is also raising funds for La Renaissance School, situated in North West Africa, in Burkina Faso an area of extreme poverty where access to any school is rare, provided by a few state run and a few charity funded schools such as La Renaissance. The school has 257 pupils. Class sizes are large and facilities are extremely basic. Sponsorship funding from ‘LE JOG’ will provide much needed equipment for the school.
Paul works promoting sport in schools in the Manchester area and as such this is a cause close to his heart!

To support 'La Renaissance' go to:
http://www.justgiving.com/epiccycle

Thank you very much to all of you who are sponsoring us!

The Team for LEJOG

Paul:

Paul is the enthusiasm behind the team. Having represented the UK in Age Group Competition in Hamburg last year triathlon is Paul's forte. (albeit an aweful lot shorter distance than this!). Never call Paul's bluff as he's not afraid of a challenge!

Paul took no persuading to join the team.

Chris:

Chris is relatively new to triathlon having started racing last year at Bala. With his strengths in swimming (fish) and running Chris has done his biking no harm by taking for ever to get himself a new bike. Instead he has been using a bike that those in the car trade refer to as "vintage".

As a result his biking has improved massively!


Andy Q:

Andy has had a crack at several varying challenges over the last few years from The 3 Peaks to Mts Toubkal and Olympus, from the London Marathon to triathlon...despite his swimming being atrocious (well there's always duathlon).

LEJOG sounds great (the saddle soreness doesn't)

John:

John is another fellow triathlete who has also represented the GB Age Group Team. John is just about the most positive guy around which will be useful when he joins the team for days 1-3.

Konrad:

Also joining us for the first few days, Konrad is probably the most experienced cyclist in the group. Being an Ironman veteran he is best prepared for the endurance and feeding element of the challenge!

Andy Wright and Becky

Vitally important to our efforts. Becky and Andy are each doing half of journey in the support vehicle, carrying vital supplies and spares. This means that we don't have to carry everything for the week with us every day. Becky and Andy are both legends as no matter how much this will hurt, it would be worse if we had to carry any more!