[andystow]

I’ve just pulled the trigger on my airfare to do LEJoG. I’m in for three weeks, arriving LHR on 27 August, departing 17 September. My plan was to use the 2 week route from Britain’s Best Bike Ride, maybe with a rest day or two, giving me a good buffer if things go awry. I’m in good enough shape that I could do the ten day route if I really wanted (I don’t.)

Unless someone is adamant that I’ll have better luck with weather doing a JoGLE that time of year, I plan to ride south to north. Something like this…

27 Aug: Arrive Heathrow, train to Penzance
28 Aug: Penzance – Land’s End – Wadebridge (77 mi)
29 Aug: Wadebridge – Chulmleigh (66 mi)
30 Aug: Chulmleigh – Glastonbury (75 mi)
31 Aug: Glastonbury – Ross-on-Wye (81 mi)
01 Sep: Rest day? Sunday.
02 Sep: Ross-on-Wye – Market Drayton (89 mi)
03 Sep: Market Drayton – Mellor (82 mi)
04 Sep: Mellor – Sedbergh (53 mi)
05 Sep: Sedbergh – Langholm (77 mi)
06 Sep: Langholm – Peebles (50 mi)
07 Sep: Rest day? Saturday.
08 Sep: Peebles – Perth (78 mi)
09 Sep: Perth – Braemar (50 mi)
10 Sep: Braemar – Inverness (82 mi)
11 Sep: Inverness – Altnaharra (76 mi)
12 Sep: Altnaharra – John o’Groats (74 mi)
13 Sep: Rest day?
14-16 Sep: Train close to London, visit some family
17 Sep: Depart Heathrow

I plan to carry minimal camping gear just in case, but generally I’ll be paying for lodging. If a farmer sprays me down, it will be in the news.

If anyone wants to join me for all or part of it, I’ll put my email in the comments. Or just join me for a beer or two, I’m hoping to find a pub every night and most lunch times.

Topic

[Simon E]

dubwise wrote:

dubwise wrote:

We’ve yet to have summer, it’s been all Marti Pellow… wet wet wet

From memory, I think the precipitation distribution has been quite unbalanced. We’ve had quite a few mostly dry weeks of late, the local watercourses are quite low. Commuting bike washes (my main rainfall indicator) have been quite infrequent. Other parts of the country have had a lot more. From the Met Office summary for August:[quote]Some areas of Scotland including Glasgow, Renfrewshire, and Ayrshire and Arran provisionally recorded over 200% of the average August rainfall. Western Scotland provisionally experienced its third wettest August on record in a series from 1836. For the UK overall, rainfall was nearly average with 103.5mm of rain, 110% of the long-term average. Sunshine was just slightly below average for the UK (provisionally 159.6 hours, 99% of the long-term average).

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/summaries/index%5B/quote%5DA friend has just done a Lejog ride with a group, though it was a very leisurely and winding route over 19(?) days. He said they had plenty of rain but a tailwind most days.

[brooksby]

dubwise wrote:

dubwise wrote:

brooksby wrote:

I’m not sure I envy you today, Andy – the summer finally seems to have petered out… 

We’ve yet to have summer, it’s been all Marti Pellow… wet wet wet

That’s very unfair.  IIRC it was really hot and sunny a couple of weeks ago.  I think it was a Tuesday… 

[dubwise]

brooksby wrote:

brooksby wrote:

I’m not sure I envy you today, Andy – the summer finally seems to have petered out… 

We’ve yet to have summer, it’s been all Marti Pellow… wet wet wet

[andystow]

Actually, although the
Actually, although the temperature has been great, and I’ve barely been sprinkled on, it’s been a moderate headwind all day. Currently at the brewery, so not far to go.

[brooksby]

andystow wrote:

andystow wrote:

brooksby wrote:

I’m not sure I envy you today, Andy – the summer finally seems to have petered out… 

Just stopped in Bentham for lunch. The weather’s been great so far!

<thumbs up>

[HLaB]

The last time I diverted. Id

The last time I diverted. Id already followed for a few days before an unsigned diversion when the Cambridge Bus Way was closed/flooded and I came accros after 3 days a signed diversion appeared (I think that took me to A14, the old one which was still the only one at the time and not bike friendly).  Lol, I thought a bike would get through (well it did but I’m glad it wasn’t loaded).  After 5 mins or so I came accros a massive trench with no verge routes to by pass it.  I ended up seeing a bit of the farside bank I could junp to with the bike, lie it quickly on the far tarmac and then scramble out from.  Made it just 🙂 

[HLaB]

It would have been too hot to

It would have been too hot to cycle a few weeks back, enjoy 🙂

[andystow]

brooksby wrote:

brooksby wrote:

I’m not sure I envy you today, Andy – the summer finally seems to have petered out… 

Just stopped in Bentham for lunch. The weather’s been great so far!

[brooksby]

I’m not sure I envy you today

I’m not sure I envy you today, Andy – the summer finally seems to have petered out… 

[quiff]

When they go to the trouble

When they go to the trouble of signing that there’s no access for pedestrians and cyclists you know it’s serious! The last time I encountered a road closure (not so signed) I thought I’d chance it as they are usually passable on bike. Ended up with some very muddy feet from scrambling round the comprehensively fenced off roadworks. Not something to do with a LEJOG loaded bike! 

[chrisonabike]

Could have picked up some
Could have picked up some venison en- route too… Would definitely trouble the weight limit on the bike though.

Your wild goose chase for food followed by a liquid supper brings back memories, certainly.

[andystow]

Well, up until today I
Well, up until today I thought I had adjusted well to the time change. Today I slept until 10 AM! I guess I’m setting an alarm from now on.

Got on the road as quickly as I could, then stopped after a couple of hours at StrEat Middlewich for a coffee and breakfast bap.

I didn’t take as many photos as I was worried about the time. I think the highlight was Tatton Park, with lots of deer and very few cars.

The low was being stuck in a massive traffic queue in Hindley. I eventually just started filtering on the left, otherwise it was going to add another half hour at least.

Anglezarke Reservoir was pretty, with a pretty serious climb up away from it.

I got to my hotel at about 7, but they didn’t do food. So I showered, then walked to an Esso that he told me closed at 9. They closed at 8, so I was too late there. Then I walked to a nearby pub, The Bay Horse, but they had just stopped serving food. So, the dinner of champions was a Thwaites Original Bitter, a packet of peanuts, and two packets of crisps. I think I was the only customer.

A couple more pints back at the hotel, and I’m looking forward to breakfast. Tomorrow is a very short day, a bit over 50 miles to Sedbergh, so I’ll definitely be eating better and also stopping for a couple of hours at the brewery in Kirkby Lonsdale.

Goodnight all!

[andystow]

Another good day. I ended up
Another good day. I ended up doing 92.5 miles, which should be my longest day, due to the pictured diversion on the B4371 just southwest of Much Wenlock. I initially went through, hoping for the best, then changed my mind and doubled back to go around.

I had a nice ploughman’s and a Joule’s Pale at the Rose & Crown in Ludlow. The town was very busy with tourists. Then through Ironbridge and on to Tern Hill, which is where I had lodging booked near Market Drayton. Currently having a beer in front of a fireplace you could fit a bed in (not recommended.)

Oh, and I also passed two touring cyclists going up a hill, and ended up meeting them at this B&B! We had a nice chat over dinner. Clive and Dave are brothers, around 60, who are also doing LEJoG on about the same schedule as me, so we’ll probably see each other again. We’re not doing exactly the same route.

[Simon E]

ROOTminus1 wrote:

ROOTminus1 wrote:

You’ll be seeing Wales and Shropshire in its natural state today; pissing it down. It’s good terrain though, so enjoyable if you accept it’s going to be wet

Shropshire, especially Shrewsbury, is an awful lot drier than the other side of Offa’s Dyke. Rain shadow. Shrewsbury gets less snow than Telford & Staffordshire in the winter too.

I had hoped up to meet up with Andy as he’s passing through the Shire but I’m afraid it won’t happen. Happy riding Andy! Please keep posting the updates.

[andystow]

A successful rest day. I
A successful rest day. I walked three or four miles, in flip-flops (thongs?), crossing the Wilton Bridge to have lunch at the White Lion. I washed everything, hoping it will dry by morning.

I feel about 90%.

[Author]

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