We made it!! and right on schedule.

Sweet singletrack

Jill and I on the summit of Dunkery Beacon on Monday the 29th June. We rode up here from Wootton Courtney in baking heat.

Jill and I on The Long Mynd on Tue 23rd June on the way to Knighton

Hello readers,
We did it!!! We completed our last day at 8.45pm on Friday 3rd July 09 as planned. When we got to Lands End the place was deserted and I got a puncture in the last 200 yards!.
We were elated and couldn't quite believe it had all gone so well. After 26 days of riding and 1224 miles it seemed strange not to ride the next day.
We spent Saturday exploring the area from our lovely B&B, The Weavers at Trevescan. Today we drove home and now will try to settle back to ordinary life.
We will add more pics later.

Sat 27th June. On the Avon Trail heading toward the Clifton Suspension Bridge. We had a huge push out of the gorge.

Sat 27th June 09

Jill leaving Wales on the old Severn Crossing Bridge. The bridge actually vibrates with traffic.

Friday 26th June 09

Arrived in Abergavenny, drenched and happy.

Fri 26th June. Top of the Gospel Pass, it was soon to rain and rain and rain. But it was not cold.

Thurs 25 June 09

This is our lunch stop prior to the most heavenly descent I have ever done!!!! En route to Hay on Wye.

This is Jill on Thurs 25th pushing up The Riggles by The Radnor Forest.

On Tuesday the 30th June we rode again in soaring temperatures. We left Fremington just after 9am and rode along lovely cycle track, The Tarka Trail. This was so welcome after yesterdays pushing up big hills. It was also shady as much of the trail was in tree cover. We stopped at Great Torrington Cycle Hire for a cup of tea. We soon pushed on, along the same trail but had to negotiate our way through 850 school children and staff on the narrow path. They were on a sponsored walk!

We went onto Hatherley village on back roads. From there to Okehampton where we had to fill our water reservoirs and tried to drink as much as possible as by now we were sweating just standing still.

We still had 20 miles to go and within 15 miles had run out of water again. We stopped at a pub to fill up and ended up having a lovely snack of salmon and whitebait.

We rode 58 miles today.

I am feeling the strain now, the heat has got to me and I have had a water infection which has set me back. I got the infection on Sat 27th but am improving.

Jill on the other hand is just fine, she is strong and determined.

On Monday the 29th we went from Blue Anchor to Fremington. We had a big bridleway climb from Dunster and the most amazing bridleway descent to Wootton Courtney. We then went up to Dunkery Beacon, the first 1.15 hours was a push up the bridleway in blistering heat. We were able to ride the rest to the Beacon. A good flowing descent followed down to the road. We soon turned off onto another bridle way which was not so easy to ride. We then followed the Macmillan Way West which disappeared into nothing and saw us pushing over long thick grass for about two hours. We eventually hit the road again. Because this set us back we altered our route and headed for Fremington by back roads.

Hello readers, we are now at Launceston in Cornwall. Mileage to date is 1116 and I am feeling it.
the last three days have seen us pushing and riding in searing heat.
On Sunday the 28th we rode the Mendips into Cheddar Gorge from Bristol and then the Quantocks into Blue Anchor on the coast near Minehead. We got into Blue Anchor at 8.15 pm and stayed at one of the finest B&B's, The Langbury. It even had its own swimming pool, but we did not have time to enjoy it. Our hosts were exceptionally welcoming and accommodating.

We are at The Rat Trap Hotel in Usk, having just had an enormous meal. Our room is lovely and the staff are friendly and helpful.

Yesterday rode from Knighton to Hay on Wye and found the most brilliant grassy descent near Radnor Forest on the way to Glascwm. We had sunshine all day, unlike today when we climbed from Hay up to Gospel pass under dark skies and then it rained from Capel y Finn to Abergavenny.

We took a diversion to have tea and cake with Jill's colleagues today. It was good to see them and to get further encouragement from them.

Tomorrow will be a longer day taking us just South of Bristol.

I would like to add that KUDU BIKES in Hawes is run by MARTIN, not Simon as I put in my last blog update. Not only did he clean our bikes, but put on new chains, provided us with energy gels, new socks and a pair of shades. Thank you Martin!!

And this is us yesterday arriving early in Knighton. We had a lovely day's riding. We are staying at a great B&B The Kinsley, where Helen and John are very relaxed and friendly.

We had a good meal at The George and Dragon where the service was excellent.

Today we will clean the bikes as they have doubled in weight with the mud and crud they are carrying.

Tuesday 23/06/09.

Riding along The Long Mynd in glorious sunshine on the way to Wales.

Monday 22/06/09

This place was on a lovely well maintained estate, but we had to alter our route as some of the tracks were on private land.

Another windy day on the way down to Derwent Reservoir from Cut Gate on Saturday the 20th June 09.

Friday 19th June 09. Day 14. Penine Way from Hollingworth Lake to Piethorne Reservoir.

A change of bike is as good as a rest.

Thursday 18/06/09. This is me near the summit skirting Dodd Fell Hill, the wind was so strong and the rain was stinging our faces and legs. We then had to pedal hard to go downhill.

Thursday 18th June 09

This is Jill on the climb out of Hawes up to Ten End. There had been heavy rain the previous day and the trail was a river in parts and the wind was so strong that once on the top we could barely stand up.

Hello all, we are at Knighton, Wales today. We rode here yesterday from Hope Bowdler, we went through the lovely town of Church Stretton and up onto The Long Mynd and along the top. It was well worth it for the views and the long glorious descent. It was a pleasant and easy day's riding by comparison to some others.
We have ridden 834 miles to date and completed more climbing than planned. We are enjoying ourselves so much, we don't want it to end.
The only unpleasant times are when having to negotiate through built up areas on busy roads.

Today we find ourselves in a fabulous B&B, Fairview in Hawes. The landlady Barbara has been a willing taxi. Simon at KUDU Bikes is giving our bikes TLC and Kathy at The Ginger Tree has given us a much needed massage.
A big thanks to them all.
And a big thanks to Jonathan who is updating the blog when we are riding.

This was part of yesterday's journey on The Maiden Way on our way to Hawes, North Yorkshire. It did eventually disappear into nothing and we had to push our bikes over big boulders for a couple of hours on the summits. After 5 hours we were back on the roads.

We met a group cycling for a childrens cancer charity. This was near Lambley, just outside Alston.

Also Day 6 on our way to Tyndrum.

West Highland Way between Fort William and Tyndrum. Day 6. This was a very very long day with lots of pushing. We had several donations en route from hikers, the highest was at about 1700 feet!!

This was taken from The Great Glen Way overlooking Loch Ness. Day 5

Looking happy to be alive at Rogie Falls. We had to ride down a track to see them and then back up again. Day 4

Also in the remote valley on day 3.

Day 3 From Lairg to Inchbae Lodge, we saw two deer and wild boar this day. It threatened rain but never did. We went through this very remote valley.

This was the evening prior to our start day, it was cold and windy. These are not our cycling shorts!

Hello, we are in Hawes, the heart of Wensleydale. Today is our second rest day of the trip. We have done 576 miles to get here.
We crossed the border into England on Sunday 14th, we had negotiated our way carefully through Craik forest when we emerged on the other side the heavens opened up. We rode for a while through torrential rain but soon came to the Samye- Ling Tibetan Centre, we took refuge in their tea rooms along with other intrepid travellers. After a while we had to continue in heavy rain but within the hour we rode from rain to glorious sunshine into Longtown, England.

We've crossed the border and entered England!
Bit of rain today but looking forward to our next rest day...

Been traversing the West Highland Way, and the first sector was excellent. The second section entailed a 3.5 hour push up and over a mountain to get to Glencoe, so when we cycled to Kingshouse we were very tired. Now in Aberfoyle in the Trossacks fighting off the midges as we went through the Queen Elizabeth forest. Views get better each day....

Well yesterday we arrived at Fort William. Today, Tuesday 09/06 is a rest day and much needed.
The first two days were road, the second day we got drenched through.
Day three saw us going through a fabulous mountain pass. We saw wild deer and wild boar. The weather was kind and only threatened rain.
Day four took us to Drumnadrochit on part of the Great Glen Way.
Day five was all off road on the Great Glen way and was 55 miles long. It was hard going and took us 10 hours.
So far we have done 232 miles. We are tired and need the rest.

A brilliant day on wide tracks , little rain and sun - saw wild boar today! Mountains and lochs are stunning, with a bit of snow on the mountain tops. 40 miles today....

We had a good start today, but it was cold and windy. Then it rained hard for the last 30 miles.It really is a big country. We stopped at a remote cafe and the lady kindly gave us a cheque towards our cause.

Day one is done

Weather rather cold and windy as we set off with a little shower around 3. It was easy riding today and the lunch stop in Thurso was fab. The view from the hotel is stunning

We drove to Penrith yesterday. Driving to Inverness today and then catching a train tomorrow to Wick and then onward to John O' Groats. We actually start riding on Thursday the 4th June 09.
The weather has been glorious all the way up, but have just seen a bit of snow left up on the mountains. Hope we've got the right clothing!!

Well we are all packed. Jills gear weighs in at 26 1/2 lbs and mine at 28lbs.
We set off up North in the morning.

We leave for Scotland tomorrow. We are so so excited. We wil pack all our gear today and tick off all the items on our lists. The last few days weather has been fab, I'm sure it won't last.

Please send my link to all your friends, I will be so chuffed to meet my target of £10 000.

We met a guy yesterday at TREDZ in Swansea, who is setting off around the world in August on his bike. Check him out on http://www.whoneedsareason.co.uk

Pictures of our new cycle tops, modelled by Jill. I have to say a big thanks to Steve and Ben at Provision cycle clothing, the quality of the fabric is superb.

Jill has made contact with many bike shops en route, and most have been very positive about offering assistance if needed.
We weighed our bikes the other day. Jills is 28lb mine is 31lb. We will weigh the panniers fully laden soon.

JOGLE

We rode the Crickhowell Merida at the weekend. We just hope things don't get that muddy on our trip next month.
It is so close now, we are getting really excited.
Our new cycle tops arrived yesterday and look fab. Provision did them for us. http://www.provisionclothing.co.uk
They were recommended to us by PS Cycles, who have been incredibly supportive of our venture.
http://www.pscycles.co.uk

I have posted most of our maps off to various B&B's en route to pick up on the way through.
I think we have everything we need now.
Friends Jonathan and Mark have rebuilt our bikes with shiny new bits.

I will try to update the blog as we go if I can. But I will be ringing Jonathan with the days news and he will add to the blog.

I managed to get in 90 miles last week, not nearly enough I know.

June JOGLE

This was Jill last summer, we completed a 300 mile route around Wales to see how we got on with our panniers on the full suspension bikes. They worked very well, but on the odd occassion when we had to climb over big styles or the like. The bags had to be removed. Mind you the only reason we had to go over anything other than a style was because we were lost.

We will be using the panniers in June and camelbacks.

This is a taste of whats to come. We checked out the West Highland Way late last summer. We will spend day 6 going from Fort William along this route, on to Tyndrum.

June JOGLE

Jill has bought us a fab digital camera to record our trip. She had a bracket made to fit the handle bars for it. I am still fine tunning the fitting, and getting to grips with the camera itself.
To help us navigate we have invested in SATMAP 10. I have managed to download the entire route onto the internal memory.

John O' Groats to Lands End.

Jill and I are going to ride our mountain bikes from the North of the UK to the Southern tip.

We have spent the last 12 months planning a route and finding suitable B&B's en route.

We will be unsupported, so have to carry all our own gear. The route is 1143 miles long and we plan to ride for 23 days, but we will have a day off after every six days of riding.

Why? In memory of my dear Mum Patsy Marten. She died in 1990 from Cancer. We are raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

See.http://justgiving.com/offroadjoglechallenge