JoGLE 10: Launceston to John O'Groats

Finished John O'Groats to Lands End. 1000 miles on bike in 10 days. Smashing.

Here is some evidence:

I'll write a full debrief tomorrow on the train home.

Added the following day:

Strava part 1 and part 2.

Lowley cottage - RAF Davidstow Moor -

Cambourne - Penzance - Lands End ( - Penzance)

The first section of the day took us up

Seeing that James and I stayed a few miles out of Launceston and that we had a big day we decided to meet at the first meeting point of the day. So James and I

After we had a lovely break at the Snails Pace tea shop and discussed their composting toilet at length we set out along the Camel Way. A picturesque disused old train line. We had an obligatory Cornish pastie stop for lunch in Newlyn Eas. We then rumbled along through Cornwall with the smell of the sea getting stronger and stronger until we hit Penzance.

I didn't realise St  Michael's Mount was next to Penzance. After going along what felt like a quarry floor next to the beach we had to cycle straight past our B&Bs with still 9 hilly miles to go to Lands End. Thank god for adrenalin. 

JoGLE 9: Bridgwater to Launceston

Bridgwater - Taunton - Bampton - Hatherleigh - Launceston - Lowley Cottage

Strava part 1 and part 2.

Today started with all the right intentions. We knew we had a very hilly day in the wilderness of Devon. A shocking number of bowls to dip into. But a certain someone lost his charger, had gear problems and needed a wheel truing again. Here is the sinner looking very contrite:

Add these time delays to the collapsed bridge we encountered and we were rather late. So we really rushed having our elevenses at the Scarlet Garden:

We were obviously blessed with monsoon rain and thunder after our tea. Once we got into our rhythm of down then up, I really feel like I can speak for the whole group and say that we all thoroughly enjoyed the hills. Greg was loving it so much he was making faces like he was in complete agony because of his knee. What a joker!

We had a lot of stops:

And a damm lot of summits:

James and I are very nicely being put up for the night at the Tufnells which required a rather scary descent down their very small lane in the dark. Really not looking forward to the hill in the morning.

I can't believe tomorrow is our last day. The last 9 days have gone in a flash. We have seen a lot of Britain's countryside but not really any culture. Another time.

Small Talk in the Big Ring

Today we are lamenting lubricants, speaking spokes and back washing bottles with... Sarah Millest. Sarah is the First Lady to our Glorious Leader Chris.

She comes from a strong canoeing lineage and has done long distance. So pacing isn't difficult for her. 

She has a very keen sense of smell so is therfore very careful not to draft behind us men after we have had beans with our Full English. 

Tour, Giro or Vuelta? 

The French one. So the Tour. 

Justin Bieber or Just In Time Manufacturing?

It would have to be Just in Time in this case. 

Pink or Purple?

Ooo, I prefer purple.

Favourite gear setup?

Not sure, whatever I have here. Ask Chris. 

Bradley Wiggins or Mark Cavendish? 

Definitely Cav. I love a good bit of explosion. 

JoGLE 8: Hereford via Mark to Bridgwater

Hereford - Coleford - Chepstow - Portbury - Clevedon - Mark - Bridgwater

Strava part 1 and part 2.

They say that in Hartford, Hereford and Hampshire hurricanes hardly every happen. That might be true but it was blowing a mighty gale this morning leaving Hereford. And while we are on a My Fair Lady theme: The rain in Somerset fell mainly on our peloton.

We had a very special guest today. Some say he can swim on land. Others say he can cycle on water. It is sais he cycled our team leader, Chris, across America once. This mystery fellow Londoner arrived very fresh faced this morning:

Calum had the right tan lines so we accepted him as one of us. His initiation was a very big climb. Our only category 3 climb of the entire week. 

A long stop was required in Chepstow (where I finally saw the castle) to true James' wheel. The shop assistant admitted she wasn't the mechanic so I joked that she didn't know her true wheel from her boolean true. 

For my reader's pleasure I have been trying to perfect my bike selfie. This is going over the Severn Bridge with the Second Severn crossing in the background:

After lunch in Portbury the heavens opened and a multitude of the heavenly host befell us. Guess who had mudguards:

After getting so wet we just had to hose each other down. Until someone went for the private parts. #notgrownupyet

Our last stop off the day was Mark. As you can see I'm as excited as a schoolchild in a sweetshop:

Until next time, Mark.