Posts

Showing posts from 2009

Not to be out done.

Image
As you may remember from some of my early posts, it has been my intention to meet with churches along the way to discuss with them what they do with the teenagers in their area, if anything of course? I had thought that this was a night off, even though I was staying at a host home. Well how wrong was I? No sooner had I finished shaking the hands of other cycling teams that had finished at about the same time as myself and swapped a few short stories, than this lady in a nice car asked me if I was Steve Lee and if so would I like to follow her to her house as we only had three quarters of an hour before the meeting that she had set with some interested people from the area. It was quite whirlwind, but a brilliant way to end my trip. It has been about meeting like minded people up the length of Britain as much as the scenery and raising money for the Teenage cancer Trust. Not to mention the need to eat twice my own bodyweight in food each time I stopped! Did I mention that I have been i

The last leg and there will not be a lap of honour thankyou!

Image
The last leg held as much excitement as the first day, but I have to admit that I was quite tired from climbing the Monro the day before at Crask Inn! The weather was good as usual in the morning and held strong until just before Thurso the largest town on the North coast that boasts a railway station and is a usual end stop for LEJOG'ers although the thought of adding on another 20miles to get back to it could be quite terrifying I should think? I stopped for late lunch of Orkney herrings and salad washed down with more Irnbru (good and sweet, and fits my sugar needs nicely!) I met a German couple that are riding a similar route around Scotland as myself as part of the North Atlantic cycle route that runs through countries that sit on the edge of the North Atlantic, and includes countries like Germany, Norway and Sweden... seems even more insane than my little trip? The cloud continued to build through the afternoon but thankfully never amounted to anything, although it did add q

You can't be in the Highlands without Highland cattle!

Image

Bettyhill in the sunshine is actually quite pretty!

Image
How the sunshine and the prospect of my last good day in the saddle can make you feel so much better than the night before! The beautiful little beach is only accessed by foot and is off the purest, clean sand. If the council have to ship it in or clean the beach every night there is no sign of their works. It would seem that there is somewhere that isn't poluted by us tourists? Apart from the fact that this is the North Sea and that the sun is not likely to be out for very long this is a perfect gem of a beach and a treat before my 60 mile last leg today.

Bettyhill, what can I say.......

Image
This is the moment that I knew the inevitable was going to happen and so I leant on my handlebars and ate my mars bar in as leisurely fashion as possible before putting on my we weather gear and pushing off in race of the rain! Of course that was never going to be a race that I would win and so I became engulfed in the absolutely worst weather of my whole trip. Two and a half hours of torrential rain soon gets inside your clothes, and totally damps your spirit and bodies willingness to keep going! Although that of course is just what you have to do. Those miles were never so long, and the imagined beautiful scenery of my planning when in Totton, totally washed out! Every move was cold and clammy, and every mile proceeded in slow motion.... By the time I got there I had lost all the excitement that I had been holding on to for so long. And the sight of the North Sea and the idea of flinging myself into it held no appeal at all! I found my digs and unfortunately they did not raise

Mt Kilbreck the Monro out the back of Crask Inn

Image
You can see the name if you squint hard! Several hundred years old the Inn was built just after the infamous land clearances of the Scots by the English to make room for the very profitable wool industry and of course the sheep that went with it. Designed and built as one of several to service the new passing trade of the stock men on their way to and from market I suppose? As we were eating our ' Stovies ' I got talking to Mike and Helen a couple that were planning to climb the Monro in the morning before moving on to their next Monro in the afternoon. A Monro is a mountain of which there are 275, surveyed by Sir Hugh Monro who died in 1909. I had been very hopeful of this day for many months and so could not believe my luck when waking up at 6.30am it was beautiful bright sunshine with not a cloud in the sky. We packed our things and I went across for breakfast. Proper runny Scots porridge, followed by a farmers fried breakfast and toast. Mike made me some sandwiches an

Crask Inn, where's that then?

Image
Well wherever it is this tourist honey trap has been set and successfully and snares them regularly into the cafe above these falls, which to be honest is better than the falls themselves. How cynical, but I can say the Falls of Shin have great toilets! And of course good looking cyclists every now and then. This was a lucky day for them obviously! The day started out early as I had to get to Dingwall a town about 18 miles along my my journey, but by nine o'clock'ish , as George had booked me in for some front brake therapy. Having an oil filled disc brake system I had thought, naively , that once the brake pads had been replaced before the trip that there would be no more to worry about! Well that didn't acount for a slightly loose nipple that let oil out and air in. So they very efficiently bled the brake and topped up the oil and adjusted my gears at the same time. I dilligently went to find a cafe and filled myself up with as many calories as I could manage! As usual

Lochness

Image
Today I have taken the longest time getting from point A to point B. Along Lochness via some of the Caledonian canal. As seems to be usual the morning is beautiful and sunny, but sometime in the afternoon rain occurs. And I don't know what is usual for this area but it seems to keep getting me like the monsoons of Asia and quite literally today I cycled around a corner straight into torrents of the wet stuff, and as fast as I tried I was quite wet through by the time I got my raincoat on. And then I rode out of it on the next bend, all quite bizzar, almost like it had its own micro climate? The option to ride along the canal was not something that I had planned for, but it makes a lovely change to both get off the fast roads and take a spell on the flat tow paths. The idea of a large mug of sweet tea and a large piece of coffee cake at a tiny tea rooms just on the edge of the canal and about 100 metres off the road helped settle the matter of choice, should I stay to my plan or de

Glencoe...

Image
The Commando Memorial just above Spean Bridge just above Fort William Some of the main street Glencoe. Please accept my appologies for the disarray of the photographs. My computing skills are not up to my juggling skills, and so I could not get them to go quite as I wanted. More practice needed I think! Mmmm! where could I go next? This was the first time that I encountered the infamous 'Scottish Midge' and boy do they bite! Once one has found you and rings the dinner gong you soon become out numbered and out gunned. That is unless you use the Avon beauty product 'skin so soft', so effective that armies around the world issue it to their men! The ride upto Glencoe was very UP and the ride across the top was hilly and quite lovely, but the ride into and down through Glencoe was beautiful as I said earlier. I managed a few shots to give you a feel, but my camera skills could not convey the size and majesty that your eyes collect in their peripheral vision, even at 90 mil

Loch Lomond

Image
Finally the bit I have been looking forward to, and guess what so had everyone else in the entire world! There was more traffic on this 30 mile stretch than at any time in my whole trip! Oh my shattered dreams! I did finally wake up to the fact that there is a cycle/footpath along the edge of alot of the loch close to the waters edge. Made up of some of the old road and new footpath but very overgrown tarmac paths. Away from the rushing traffic the loch came back into focus for me and the sun shone, what more could I ask? The only problem now was that I was not making good enough time and so after about an hour cycling on the waters edge I had to pop back out into the traffic. Loch Lomond road is fairly flat and so it is easier to make good time, until you get to the end and start to climb into the hills. A flurry of rain got my raincoat on and turned me into a pressure cooker, so I had to take it back off and just get wet! The scenery is just as described by the poets, photographed i

Scotland Proper

Image
The ride from Annan to my next destination Failfield was another glorious day and yet again even though I thought I had put on plenty of sun cream got the backs of my legs scalded. As usual within an hour of arriving at my host house I called to let them know that I was about to arrive. A little surprised they said they would be ready to wave out the door at me when I got there. It turned out that they were expecting me the next day and so had a bit of a surprise when I called. On my arrival they asked me what I would like to eat and then went next door to order it from the pub. All very civilised really. As I was eating and talking to Derek about my journey so far he asked me what had inspired the choice of charity that I am raising money for? I explained that I had seen this promotional advert on the TV with this teenage lad called Alastair. He then told me that his parent lived just round the corner and that he would give them a call. Kim and Robert were delightful and said they wou

What a great day!

Image
Today started yesterday really when I left Warrington to travel up to Kendal and its YHA digs for the night. This meant that for the first time in my journey I would not be meeting with youthworkers or interested parties and so I was due to have the night off! Well I'm not much good at missing out and so when I spotted a huge banner on the side of a church building advertising the 'Boxing Club', I just had to find out more. At that moment this very old lady, Helen, came upto me and asked if she could help? I said I was interested in the concept of boxing in a church, and so in response she invited me in for tea and toast and a chat. I actually found out that the Boxing Club is separate from the church, but that there has never been any trouble because of it, because the boys are taught from the very start that the boxing ring is the only right place to fight. They have helped fund the church and been involved in all manner of events to help the church raise money. It was f

The shame of Gretna Green

Image
Being a stay at home type I have never managed to make it to many I the sights of Britain and so on my way to my first nights stop in Scotland I thought I couldn't possibly get so close to the, World famous, 'not' church marriage haven. Well of course I am several decades to late to be able to see it for its original charm and romance! Now people come from all over the world to look and watch, and couples (quite mad, if you ask me) are paying, I suppose, to have their very personal moment photographed by tourists like myself. Seems all abit strange? The complex is designed now as a total money making device, all very clever but to a cynic such as I completely yuk! They do a very nice ice-cream though!

For the nature lovers among you, (mostly Nigel Spooner)

Image
The whole of Britain is beatiful but to be able to take photos from the roadside with the weather not really knowing what it wants to do is quite a challenge especially as everything has to be wrapped in polythene bags against the rain, so as you can imagine the good bits are often the ones you cycle through because its raining or to be honest with you, I just could not actually be bothered! (A terrible thing to have to admit). Buzzards, fallow dear, beautiful roadside flowers and weeds and of course at this time of year the perfectly manicured fields of wheat and what ever else is a good paying cash crop I suppose? The incredible hills of Cornwall and Devon give way to the delightful flatness of middle England and now I have just started to climb into the hills of the Lake District and Scotland, my final prize..... By the way I must take this moment to say that I think today was longer than the ride to Telford. I will be checking the maps when I get a chance Carri!

Where have I been for the last few days? I need my Blog fix

Image
APPOLOGIES; My son has been editing my blogs to date which is why they read so well. So no you are going to have to free wheel with me and my grammer in it's raw (better) form! I have to say that I am starting to notice the wrinkles more and more! That is most definately why God allows our eyesight to fade as we get older and our long term memory to remain sharp, that's why I am still just as devestatingly handsome as ever! As I think I said on the last blog insert I had a great evening with Johns Youth Group in Painswick. Regular start of 8.30 and a beautiful and joyfully fast downhill scoot into Gloucester. I buzzed straight through as I felt good and fresh and had a lunch date with my brother-in-law, Dickie in Worcester. To be fair it was a regular day as far as the weather goes. Bright in the morning until about 9 to 9.30, and then the clouds blow in and it's a lottery between chilly wind, mizzle, drizzle and monsoon downpour. The hat, glasses and raincoat have to keep

A well loved well known icon and the Clifton suspension bridge

Image
Today started really well bright but cloudy. Porridge and banana, with syrup and milk, to start me off, and a couple of sandwiches stuffed with ham. Margaret waved me off and out I set into my first proper rush hour traffic. Slightly annoying, but nothing like Southampton! And then the best bit - flat road for mile after mile, all the way from Bridgwater to the Mendips - total heaven on earth, well maybe not, but great nevertheless after the last few excruciating days. The Mendips really were a bit of a rude shock to the legs and lungs, not to forget the way my head feels like it might explode or boil from the heat build up, as I exert so much energy climbing another hill in gear number 27 (that's the easiest gear on the bike by the way!). I got to Bristol in quite good time, and could see the suspension bridge way off in the distance, and knew it would be rude not to visit. I got there in time for a spot of lunch and a walk across, and then set off for my next host in Painswick,

Off the moor into the flatter lands, Somerset

Image
The first half of today - Sunday - was, as usual, terrible ups and totally thrilling downs; plenty of sweat and screaming muscles until I rolled into Exeter, and then things smoothed out slightly, until I finally got to Taunton and spotted the canal towpath all the way to Bridgwater - 12 miles of flat, no traffic calm. I arrived at my next accommodation, and met Rachael, the youth worker of the URC church. And my hostess Margaret. I was able to spend a brilliant hour talking to Rachael as I had Alison in Penzance, and Jen in Moretonhampstead, about all of the exciting works that they get up to with teens in their area. And the idea of making friends in churches that can join my 'MySpace' friendship group of like minded people up the length of the UK. They prayed for me during the evening service and allowed me to share the reasons behind my stupidity at planning a trip such as this! This picture is of the cafe that has been set up for teens inside the disused church, that they

Rain... and pain in equal measure

Image
My next trip out looked good: the sky was clear and the sun shone with a cool early morning fresh light feel. Unfortunately my legs had barely recovered, if at all, but thankfully I still have gear ring number 27 on my bike, and I was able to use that to its full potential! More Cornish hills had their wicked way with me, but their only and best concession is that they are exquisitely awesome on the way down, to the same degree that they are sadistically painful on the way up. Squatting down on the tri-bars (the sticky-out extra handlebars) is fantastic! Dartmoor is beautiful and frightening all at once, and has the best ice cream van on the top. Each night I have met with the most wonderful people, who have fed me, allowed me to spend time in their company, and to sleep in wonderful beds. More about that on another day... Saturday 4th July - Third Day

My first proper day in the saddle...

Image
...was roasting. The sun shone first beautifully and then incessantly and finally mercilessly! The hills that had looked terrifyingly steep on the map were as bad as predicted, and for that reason I am so pleased that I only elected to look at the first day's contours, otherwise I think I would have put myself off long before. The hills are so steep that my thigh muscles have been screaming for mercy since lunchtime that first day, and climbing each hill using every gear of the 27 available (and to be honest, skipping to lowest ones in the first few uphill pedal strokes) has become my trademark. If a time frame camera was to be set up on me as I climb each hill, you would think I was dead, because the progression is so slow . . . watching paint dry would be more interesting! The Eden Project - my first tourist stop of the trip - is totally amazing. Once I had got the blood back into my legs, and I could walk again, that is! In fact, too much needs to be said to do it justice, and a

How to start with a WOW

Image
Well what can I say! Today has been brilliant already and it isn't over yet! I left my beautiful family early this morning to travel down to Lands End with my parents. The hot muggy drive was broken up with several excellent food stops and a good dousing of rain. Alison met me with some of the church family and what a welcome, totally incredible! The banner is awsome, and created quite an interest from passers by, who donated a further £45.00 to the Teenage cancer trust! Thursday 2nd July - First Day

My Family

Image
I want to thank my family for their patience during this last few months as everything has been about planning this bike ride. Especially my wife who has taken the massive task of contacting and recontacting the various churches, youth hostels and bed and breakfast that I am meeting with and staying at. I almost (but not quite) think that the bike ride will be the easier bit!

My Ride- Gary Fisher 29er X-Caliber//Hardtail

Image
I was just thinking that I should maybe introduce you to the creator of all my pains and the deliverer of my body from end to end of this our sceptred isle, mainland Britain! After much deliberation, that is what I do when I have to spend any money at all! I invested a well timed company bonus into upgrading my daily conveyance to work, my bicycle, for this beautiful contraption. Designed in California USA, made in Taiwan or somewhere and bought by me in Southampton England! Reading other accounts of peoples experience travelling from Lands End to John O'Groats I hit upon the idea of using a mountain bike. In the first place because that is what I already owned and second because one person anyway had done the same thing and been very pleased to have so many gears to use, and indeed used them all! Then I discovered a style of mountain bike called a '29er', for the very simple reason that it has 29" inch diameter wheels. Slightly bigger than a road racing bike wheel

New Forest Radio Interview

Image
Only a few weeks ago some people I was meeting with told me that I should try to get myself on the radio to promote my ride and the Teenage Cancer Trust charity that I am raising money for. As much as I liked the idea, I do not really think of myself as someone that talks to an audience of people across the airwaves. That is a job for others, not a mere mortal such as I! Not so true! My Vicar, Mark called only a day or two after that chat and low and behold passed a message to Carri that he had planned a chat wih Keith the station director for the two of us. And that this would be about my bike ride and that he would sit in the back ground and chip in if needed. Keith cleverly put us at our ease and then proceeded with the interview as though we were just chatting over the kitchen table. Twenty minutes flew by and it was all over, as easy as that! I havn't had the courage to listen to it myself yet, so maybe you can let me know how it sounds when you see me next? Here is the interv

My Aim is to...

Image
My aim is to cycle about 60 to 70 miles a day and then to meet up with a local church in the town or village that is my destination for that day. Having worked as a volunteer on our youth project for the last ten years I thought it would be a brilliant opportunity to meet people outside of my usual circle of aquaintance and find out what they are doing with the youth in their area. Dare I say to keep them off the streets! But what I actually mean from my point of view anyway is to let them know that someone actually cares that they have somewhere safe to go to meet up with their friends for a good laugh and some socialising. Whilst my route is planned and I have canvassed the churches in those towns or villages I have been surprised at how few have felt able to respond with a yes to my request for a chat about what they do, with the comment that they do not really have any young people in their area and that they do not have any youthwork of that kind going on. I must say that I though

Setting the scene

Image
I have wanted to attempt to cycle from Lands end to John O'Goats for several years and this is the year to finally give it a go. Since going public with my intention I have been quite overwhelmed by the generocity of some of the people around me, little but significant things! A suspension saddle post, loaned for the support of the more significant thing in my life. And the focus of many jokes so far! Special handle bar extension bars to allow me to almost lie down on the job when my arms get tired! Actually called Aero-bars they have taken me a while to get used to but now give me a great tucked in possition when I am carreening almost uncontrollably down any hill that presents itself, usually after a very hard and slow ride up the other side! My friend Dave who paid for my new transmission set when I discovered that the original chain and cogs were all worn out. Thanks Dave. My parents who are going on holiday to Cornwall and have shuffled their itinerary round to suit dropping m