Training on a Royal wedding day

I started my ride today in cloudy gloom and Merk in contrast to the joyful atmosphere of Royal events. Getting going on a ride is always slow and hard work in contrast to the high spirits as the ride progresses. Hills are conquered and the coast comes back into view again. Part of the fun of training is meeting people and animals. Horses ands Llamas today who knows what on Monday. In most villages I travelled through, wedding celebrations were taking place, I felt a sense of celebration as I climbed the last hill to home.

Journey contd

Day 11 Hawkeshead to Longtown
Day 12 Longtown to Kirkconnel   (612 miles covered)
Day 13 kirkconnel to Ardrossan    (659 miles covered)
Day 14 Ardrossan to Inverary
Day 15 Inverary to Ballachulish     (787 miles covered)
Day 16 Ballachulish to Fort Augustus 
Day 17 Fort Augustus to Inverness  (850 miles covered)
Day 18 Inverness to Helmsdale
Day 19 Helmsdale to John o Groats (966 miles covered)

The Route I have chosen for the Journey

This will take 19 days and cover about 976 miles of mostly minor roads. I have chosen this to avoid the traffic and see some interesting places that i have never been to before. The route follows the west side of England before crossing the Severn bridge to Wales heading through Shropshire and Lancashire then into the Lake District. From there it crosses into Scotland and heads up through western Scotland before joining the Great Glen at Fort William and then onto Inverness. It then follows the east coast up to John O Groats. I have never been north of Edinburgh before so a journey in the loneness of the Highlands is exciting. My ancestors fought the English there so it will be good to see what the place looks like. I set out during the longest days of June and hopefully before the "midges" hatch out in Scotland.My route is set out below:
Day 1 Lands End to St Newlyn East
Day2 St Newlyn East to Launceston    (102 miles covered )
Day3 Launceston to Cullompton
Day 4 Cullompton to Chedder              (204 miles covered)
Day 5 Chedder to Grosmont
Day 6 Grosmont to Bucknell                 (311 miles covered)
Day 7 Bucknell to Ellesmere
Day 8 Ellesmere to Eccleston                (376 miles covered)
Day 9 Eccleston to Lancaster 
Day 10 Lancaster to Hawkeshead       (502 miles covered)

Preparation for Lands End to John O Groats

This week I am training over a 25 mile course in hilly Devon. So far so good, as I go out three times a week and am gradually getting fitter and am beginning to enjoy the rides exploring country roads and hamlets. This blog will allow you to follow my journey from Lands End to Caithness which starts on the 10th June 2011.