[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

[andystow]

It was wet yesterday for
It was wet yesterday for about an hour each side of crossing the Severn!

[NotNigel]

Second that…I’m enjoying

Second that…I’m enjoying seeing your rides…looks like you’re getting the pick of the UK weather.

[kinderje]

I used your original links

I used the links on your Day 1 update and then ‘Followed’ you to get my daily update. Thanks

[smhopkins]

Ok, so lots of people will be
Ok, so lots of people will be giving you route advice, but here is some more based on 5 Lejogs and 1 Jogle, mostly with 15 year old kids. Once you get to Inverness, a pleasant 2 day ride alternative would be to go to Helmsdale (youth hostel is good or there a good B&B a few miles before). Then next day take the A897 road to wards Melvich, Thurso and JoG. A897 is my favourite Scottish ride. Otters, deer, lots of sheep.Forsinard has coffee shop in the middle of nowhere, and there’s a small shop near where you get on A836. While your fit, take the detour to Dunnet Head, most northerly point, (Windhaven Cafe do food if open and a seal sanctuary) and Duncansby Head (nice lighthouse) and then JoG. You won’t regret it. Distances and heights easier- your route 70 2,800 ft, 74 3,800 ft, my suggestion 762,400, 74 mls 1,900ft (the without detours). And yes, September in Scotland I have found to be excellent for cycling. May the wind be behind you and the cafes all open.

[ROOTminus1]

You’ll be seeing Wales and
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

[andystow]

Thanks. Are the strava.app…
Thanks. Are the strava.app… links working, then? It won’t always give me the other style.

It’s pouring rain this morning in Ross-on-Wye.

[kinderje]

Great journey so far! Echoing

Great journey so far! Echoing Rendell’s comments Ross-on-Wye is a far nicer place to have a rest day than Glstonbury/Street.

Well done, and I’m enjoying the extra photos on Strava.

[andystow]

Day 4 was much better, from
Day 4 was much better, from Street to Ross-on-Wye. I did get rained on from before Bristol to past Tintern Abbey. Descending into Tintern Abbey it was a really hard rain and a headwind, so I had to pedal to go 20 MPH downhill!

I walked one short section, and stopped a few times on hills for a minute. I’m feeling much better now than I did last night though, but I still plan to do the rest day here. I need to figure out how to dry my shoes.

87 miles today in 7:42 for 11.3 MPH. Slightly less climbing at 5600 ft / 1700 m.

According to the plan, the only day longer than today is Tuesday, when I ride to Market Drayton.

[andystow]

mdavidford wrote:

mdavidford wrote:

Important details missing, though – what’s the brew, and how was it?

It was a Sharp’s Doom Bar and it was tasty. I stopped at the Stoke Inn in Chew Stoke. I ordered baked ham and two eggs, which came with chips and some salad and was way too much food. I didn’t even finish it, but my stomach was unhappy for an hour.

[David9694]

Was a bit concerned about you

Was a bit concerned about you passing a Sunday in Street – the boredom factor. 

Keep us posted!

[mdavidford]

Important details missing,

Important details missing, though – what’s the brew, and how was it?

[pockstone]

Enjoying the updates…thanks
Enjoying the updates…thanks Andy. Bon voyage and fingers crossed for the weather. JB

[andystow]

I’ve now done Cheddar Gorge,
I’ve now done Cheddar Gorge, having lunch in Chew Stoke and feeling pretty good.

I didn’t have to walk any of Cheddar Gorge, but I did stop for one rest to get my heart rate down.

[ROOTminus1]

We do have rather lumpy
We do have rather lumpy country down here in the SW. Its not unique to this corner as the peak district, the valleys of South Wales and east of the Pennines are similarly punchy, but I guess the difference is that there’s little avoiding them around these parts

[Rendel Harris]

Excellent choice for the rest

Excellent choice for the rest day, it’s lovely there. Enjoy the well-earned day off!

[Author]

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