Ambleside

We had a really nice meal by the lake this evening. Just as we were finishing, a member of staff came out and evacuated everyone to the car park because there was a fire in the kitchens! Naturally everyone blamed Dave, well, i did. Goodnight!

Ambleside

We had a pretty chilled cycle from Carlisle. We got up early and went to a bike shop down the road. They fixed up our pannier racks the best they could and didn't charge us a penny, which was nice. I also had to buy some new cleats for my cycle shoes as the others had worn away, and another tube given my puncture track record! We headed off and the weather remained bright and sunny all day, 'we must be in England' we thought! We stopped for lunch in Keswick, sweeny's, top food and top staff, top customers too-we tinned some good cash there! Both of our knees have caused us pain today but hopefully nothing that will last. Just as we were coming into Ambleside i got a slow puncture and more seriously, my gears started jamming... Another early visit to a bike shop has been planned though i'm getting to the point where i think i may as well walk!

Carlisle 20th

We came out of the blocks pretty fast, getting to Gretna by about 1:30pm! Unfortunately we had two punctures and struggled finding somewhere that served food so didn't get away again until about 4pm. We cheered as we crossed the border, and then 100yards down the road Dave's rack semi-broke! We had to take another 10mile detour because of roadworks on the bridge, and so arrived in Carlisle about 6:30. We picked up some food and shower gel (much needed!) at a shop and then rode around for 40 minutes trying to find the hostel. Everyone was telling us it closed down years ago, not realising there was a new one that operated uni halls for 10 weeks each summer. Eventually we found it and enjoyed the nice accommodation.

Wanlockhead 19th

... road we wanted to take apparently didn't exist anymore. Combine this with the fact Wanlockhead is the highest village in Scotland and you get an idea of how hard this day was getting! We eventually arrived at about 8:30pm, when i realised my phone had drowned and Dave had no signal, nooo! Then we got showered, ate unflavoured pasta because it was all we had, and went un bed. On the positive side, we didn't have any bike issues and the hostel was nice.

Wanlockhead 19th

Ok, so, the following day we set off and weather was good. We covered a fair few miles early on and headed round the west side of glasgow taking Eskrine Bridge. The roads didn't seem to match up too well with our map and we found ourselves on motorway sliproads more than once. About 25 miles in my pannier rack semi-broke and so we desperately started looking for bike shops on route. When we got into Paisley, we found a halfords. Though the guy was unable to fix my brakes, he stuck a jubilee clip on my rack, which is holding the break fine. He didn't charge, and directed us to a 'proper bike shop' around the corner where another guy fixed the brakes in minutes and only cost a couple of pounds. Sorted! So we went on our way and headed out of the city, stopping for lunch about 3pm at Strathaven. It had been a lovely day until we left, when we got caught in the first of 3 thunderstorms that afternoon, and it didn't stop raining. We thought we were close but then had to take a 10mile detour because the...

Balloch Castle, Loch Lomond 18th Aug

The 18th turned out to be an 80mile day, and though no more problems came about, it rained all afternoon as we cycled on the busy A82 towards Glasgow. The castle we stayed in was nice, we arrived quite late, about 8pm. After getting some washing in and showering, we ordered some food from the local chinese as none was available at the hostel. Then, we realised we had no cash so had to pay £10 for a taxi to take us to a cash point and back. It was worth it for some decent food and given the day we'd had.

Bridge of Orchy 18th Aug

The good news is we've cycled over the Glen Coe mountain pass, the bad news is its getting late and we're just stopping for lunch at Bridge of Orchy. We have good excuses though, despite it being very physically demanding, we got 3 punctures in 3 miles, all on my bike, and now i've lowered the pressure on my last tube and have been cycling standing up for about 10 miles, just to minimise risk of the back going a fourth time! On the way down the 2 mile, 1 in 20 slope into bridge of orchy i was horrified to see my front brake caliper assembly come flying over the handlebars as i was trying to slow down!! All in all a pretty rough day so far, and i really need a good bike shop.

Blog is back!!

Hi blog fans :op the last few days have been really wet and long and tough for us, unfortunately my phone got wet and stopped working so the blog was down. HOWEVER, it has now dried out and is able to blog again so look out for updates later. We're currently in Carlisle, getting ready to leave for Ambleside, Lake Windermere.

Glen Nevis

... Now we're both sat on beds looking out at the view. The weather has been fantastic again, and it's been a lovely warm evening! We're desperately hoping it'll be nice tomorrow as we've got a really hard high-climbing day. More on that tomorrow :oS

Glen Nevis

... Went and paddled in the river for a bit and generally relaxed...

Glen Nevis

Legs feeling a lot better than last night, though it was a comparatively relaxed cruise down from Loch Ness. The scenery along the lochs and coming into Fort William was fantastic. We're now at Glen Nevis, this picture is the view from our window! We arrived really early, about 1530, got showered and changed, and then...

Loch Ness

Rushing down the side of a mountain on the 3 mile decent into pretty Drumnadrochit, firmly gripping the breaks and barely in control - we thought we ought to slow down to 35mph! The 6 mile long journey up was almost made worthwhile!... We were grateful for the fine cycling weather today, it stayed dry and cool all day. We saw some great scenery, though it was tough getting up some of the roads! I've been pedaling with one leg most of the day as my right knee has been causing me problems all day, dave is tired but otherwise fine. We're now at loch ness youth hostel, not done justice by this picture! Off to Fort William tomorrow.

Carbisdale Castle

Having a bigger breakfast helped this morning. We were able to do 40 highland miles, in the rain, poor visibility in just over 3 non-stop hours. As we descended into Lairg the rain died off, though we were still soaked. We stopped at a local SPAR to buy some bananas and ask about a place to eat. We ended up eating at crofter's restaurant where Margaret cooked us steak pie. I couldn't resist a hot chocolate with marsh mellows. Margaret then advised us on our route tomorrow and gave us a big map which was nice!...

Carbisdale Castle

... Then it got better, she told us of a shortcut to the castle which cuts across an aquaduct, saving us 12miles compared to crossing further down! Thanks to this little gem we arrived at 1645, and are now staying in the tower looking out on to this view! We're going down for a 3 course meal soon, which is quite reasonably priced too so all is good! Thanks to those that have been sponsoring us!

Tongue

Not very hilly the tourist told us at jog. Well it wasn't really for the first 20miles, to be fair it wasn't really for the last 45 either- MORE LIKE MOUNTAINOUS!! Yesterday was really tough and we ran out of water ten miles before the end. We were shattered last night but ordered some pizza, did some washing and went to sleep. Now just getting up to start another big one.

Thurso LUNCH!

I JUST ATE FRIED TOMATO AND BLACK PUDDING! Neither of which i like and one i wasn't even sure what it was but needed the energy. The hostel didn't have any breakfast for us so we cycled 20 miles on an empty stomach to Thurso. A great big sheep ran across the road about 2m in front of us at one point! We were doing 20mph so prob couldn't have stopped! So that was a close one! Got to Thurso and stocked up on fruit in Tesco and since had a big fry up at a pub restaurant. Now about to gather all our gear and complete the remaining 45 miles to Tongue.

John O' Groats

...One £130 taxi later we arrived in wick. The silver lining was the scenic drive and our clue'd up driver Patrick who gave us local insights as we passed historical sites. We got to Wick about 1200 and after stopping at the local Somerfield for lunch, we cycled 20miles to JOG in cold, cold high-speed winds. We persuaded the guy who owns the sign to let us take the photo, he usually charges £9.50 per photo! Disgraceful! We're now staying down the road ready to head off to tongue.. It's now morning and we're off!

John O' Groats

The sleeper train was quite exciting, passed lots of nice scenery as dawn broke over the Scottish border. arrived at inverness and was raining so got bit wet. arrived an hour and half in advance of train to wick and were confident we could get our bikes on as national rail assured us it was first-come-first-served. That was completely untrue and there were no reservations left at all for today. After a stern half hour conversation with 4 different supervisors it was decided we'd have to find our own way to Wick and seek compensation later whilst they 'investigated' our claim!...

Euston Station

WE'RE REALLY BORED!! The train from Stow was delayed slightly but we arrived at liverpool street in plenty of time. We had to tube it to Euston before 1600 to avoid having to cycle through the city centre. Unfortunately we'd underestimated the number of steps involved in taking the tube but just about managed. So we arrived at Euston about 1510 and have since set up camp in ironically unexciting 'customer lounge' (see picture) where we now have to wait until 2115 to get the sleeper train! Oh well! I'm sure you've been just as bored reading this post as i have writing it!

1-DAY LEFT!! TRIP ITINERY

T-minus 1-day. Lunchtime of the 12th is when the adventure begins, leaving from Stowmarket by train. When we arrive, we need to get accross London with our bikes and then ultimately take the 21:15 'Caledonian Sleeper' train from Euston, which arrivies in Inverness at around 8:30am on the 13th. Then we get a local train to Wick, and then cycle 20 miles to the start line - John O' Groats. Then, setting off on the 14th, the Itinery is as follows.

Staying at:

Tongue - 14th
Carbisdale Castle - 15th
Loch Ness - 16th
Glen Nevis (Fort William) - 17th (Dan's 22nd Birthday!)
Loch Lomond - 18th
Wanlockhead - 19th
Carlisle - 20th
Ambleside, Windermere - 21st
Slaidburn - 22nd
Chester - 23rd
Clun - 24th
Chepstow - 25th
Cheddar - 26th
Exeter - 27th
Golant - 28th
Lands End - 29th (Though staying at Penzance)

Then on the 30th we take a train to Bodmin and cycle to the north coast of Cornwall where we have a weeks holiday booked in a cottage with some friends that are coming down to join us! Then we rest? Then we surf!!