LeJog Day 3, 13/5/14, Peace and Love Man

No cooked breakfast today, it's strictly DIY in the Backpackers Hostel, after we've stripped our own beds that is. Then we start the day with a big climb out of Moretonhampstead before heading for Exeter. The ride evoked more memories as it took us past Bowhay Lane, where Phil lived until he was 9.

That meant he was in charge of navigating the group he was with across the Exe Bridge and through to the other side of Exeter. It was a relief to arrive at the other side with everyone still present and correct. There was one more big hill after lunch, after which the terrain levelled off, which along with the sun coming out made riding a lot easier. Glastonbury was still a welcome sight, we are now booked into a very new age B&B, who are looking after us very well and have even been kind enough to do some laundry for us. Off to Bristol tomorrow then into Wales so it feels like we're making progress.

Day 2, Mon 12th, May Peregrines, Wild Moors & Sparrowhawks

Day 2 of our LeJog is now completed leaving only 12 days and 957 miles to go. The theme of todays ride was hills. Cornwall wasn't letting us go without showing us what it had, and we were constantly up and down all morning, but got some cracking views from the road along the cliff tops to Mount Edgcumbe, Plymouth to our left and the Sea to our right. 34 years ago I trekked along those roads in my Royal Navy Basic Training, so the ride bought back some memories.

We crossed from Cornwall to Devon on the Cremyl Ferry, had a flat ride through Plymouth before heading up through the Plym Valley, stopping to look at a nesting Peregrine on the way, then a long hard slog across Dartmoor. If this wasn't challenge enough we had intermittent rain showers through the day, a hail storm in Plymouth and sleet on the moor.

Arriving in Moretonhampstead we are booked into Sparrowhawks Backpackers hostel. Sleeping in 14 bedded dorm, showers & toilets across the courtyard, DIY breakfast. It's an interesting place, but were all tired enough that anywhere with a bed is fine.

Tomorrow sees us head across Devon and in Somerset where the ride levels off a bit and we can say goodbye to big hills for a little while.

Two Exhausted Cyclists Complete Day 1

It's been a long day, but 1 down so only 13 more to go! Don't be fooled by the sign post 874 is the shortest route by road, our route is 1084 miles. Today we rode from the YHA at St Just to Lands End for photos then set of for Fowey. The morning was relatively easy with a strong tail wind pushing us along. After lunch the hills got a little steeper, the wind was more from the side and fatigue started to set in as the day progressed. We were might pleased to crest a hill and see the brew van mid afternoon.

Total Mileage for today 70.4 miles. Wanted to include something funny about the day, but John says there was nothing humurous about today!!!

Tomorrow we leave Cornwall and head for Moretonhampstead via Plymouth and a little climb across Dartmoor.

We've arrived at St Just. Youth Hostel doesn't open until 5pm so currently sat in cafe drinking coffee. Decision as to who takes top bunk will be made using scissors paper stone. Very windy here in cornwall but providing direction stays the same it should push us along nicely tomorrow.

Sent from my iPhone

Wet Weather Gear Packed

Our kit is all packed and in a few hours we'll be starting the journey to Cornwall. Cycling conditions are perfect at the moment, 23 mph winds and the rain is easing off to a steady downpour!

A part of our training strategy has been to go out in all conditions (a tip we picked up from another blog) resulting in what looked like very odd behavior in the months before we admitted what we were actually up to. Come to think of it, it was probably still odd once people knew we were planning to ride LeJog.

Looks we'll have rain for at least the first few days of our trip.

On the plus side Debbie has made us a mountain of flapjack which is all packed up in my rucksack and panniers ready to fuel us over the Cornish Hills and Dartmoor.

No cycling yesterday but I did test the flapjack (well you have to do some training). I can confirm it is gooey, sticky and delicious.

8/5/14 - It's those chaps on their bikes again!

The Bat & Ball pub is on a Crossroads opposite Broadhalfpenny Down Cricket Ground, claimed to be the home of Cricket*. Nearly all of our longer training rides have taken us up on to the South Downs, and at some point in the ride we will invariably pass the Bat & Ball, arriving from one of the four possible directions. We invariably arrive and leave in different directions each time, so far we've managed 7 of the 12 possible permutations for passing through a crossroads, the Landlord and regulars haven't a clue where we actually come from, just that we keep going past the pub.

Our training has included going out riding in any and all weather conditions, it is possible that the strategy might pay off when we start our epic ride on Sunday.

* The game we know as Cricket is much older and originates from the Planet Krikkit which is situated in a dust cloud on the Eastern Edges of the Galaxy. We have not been here on any of our training rides.

Phil & Johns Lanterne Rouge LeJog

7/5/14

In 4 days John and Phil will set off on their great adventure. Lands End to John O'Groats by bike. Over 14 days we'll cover 1084 miles averaging 70 miles a day. We started training in secret in October finally revealing our plans in January when we were a little bit more confident of completing the challenge we had set ourselves. At this point we haven't met the other riders, but we've spoken with some of them via email and know there are some serious cyclists amongst them including 4 Canadians who are flying over to join us. John and I expect to be back markers in the group, but remember the Lanterne Rouge is a prized trophy in the TDF, our aim is to arrive in John O'Groats on 24th May having travelled the UK End to End under our own steam.

You can follow us here or on Strava where our group is Sword Juno LeJog.

John is also aiming to raise money for the Rowans Hospice, a very worthwhile cause. You can sponsor him at: http://www.justgiving.com/owner-email/pleasesponsor/john-horn

A final thought; If Scotland vote in favour of  independence riding End to End will be a lot easier as Lands End to Berwick is only 644 miles, but it probably won't have the same kudos.