Blogs End
Here is my final post then. Goodbye and thanks for reading.
So because I like numbers, and slightly copying the Guardian article on the Tour de France, here are the vital statistics from my JOGLE tour.
1: Number of punctures, and tyre changes. All on Day 4.
2: Rest days on the tour. Both still had rides of 50 and 62 km respectively.
3: Number of Sustrans National Route I used for part of the route on the final day.
4: Thunderstorms experienced on the tour, the majority on soaking Day 14.
5: Cooked breakfasts I had (when no porridge was available). Having a big bowl of porridge this morning though!
8.6: Km of continuous climbing at Cragg Vale (Day 11).
13: Completely dry days on the tour.
15.4: Average speed in km/h through whole tour.
20: Stages in my Tour with an average distance of approximately 96 km.
22: Counties travelled through. Starting with Caithness and ending with Cornwall.
27: Highest temperature on the tour in degrees Celsius, recorded near Loch Tay in Perthshire on June 18 (Day 5)
54.2: Maximum speed in km/h on tour, riding down to Manchester from Blackstone Edge (Day 11).
1,946: Total distance of the tour in km.
An Ending
Well I’ve done it – the last 25 km were really tough going, I was definitely running on empty near the end, but now I’m sitting in the Last Pub in England (or first if you’re setting off from Land’s End) and in a state of shock, exhaustion, and elation. As I look up to the ceiling there are mementos from other groups of cyclists who have completed LEJOG or JOGLE. Arriving to a fresh cup of tea and a warm welcome was far more satisfying a finish than ending at John O’Groats, which was just empty and desolate. And foggy.
So the ride then. Well it started with one of the most stunning sections of the tour, with must stop scenery at every corner. Mevagissey becoming my first stop on the Cornish coast trail.
The roads were very up and down (emphasis on up!), and despite almost unbroken sunshine, a beast of a SW’ly breeze developed which on the one hand sapped my energy, but on the other, cooled me down. It was a beautiful ride though which sort of took away the pain.
Heading inland it was then across on the King Harry Ferry in amongst the sheltered banks of the River Fal. A stunning location, with a quick hop over the river to save a 30 km round trip – with the added bonus that bikes travel for free! It’s not cheating, technically the B3289 runs across the river.
After a steep incline, it was then round to Redruth and Camborne (a Met Office 24/7 manned station – even at Christmas!) Followed by a brief stop in Hayle, and then a mostly flat ride into Marazion, and then along the coast buffeted by strong winds into Penzance.
The final push was then over the hilly and busy A30 into Sennen and finally Land’s End (I was seriously tired at this point, every pedal hurting more than the last). At this point the forecasted cold front arrived heralding curtains of drizzle, reminiscent of my arrival in Wick on 14 June.
As the weather was miserable I haven’t taken any pictures yet, am planning on doing that first thing tomorrow before I catch the train at Penzance. In the meantime here is my sticky toffee pudding from now (1,000 calories at least!)
Thanks for ALL your support, you have no idea how inspiring it was and how much it helped. For now, this is Dave signing off for the penultimate time (final pics and facts tomorrow). Here are The Strokes:
Day 19 – Bodmin Moor
Good evening bambinos!
A great day in the far southwest with only a few small cumulus clouds, and a nice refreshing SE’ly breeze to keep it from getting too warm. Perfect cycling conditions once more!
Spot the cloud:
I started the day in Hatherleigh, and after some really helpful directions from a kind local, made my way quickly southwest over the River Tamar and into Cornwall. It was hills from the start, with an overall gradual climb before a much needed lunch and rest in Launceston.
After Launceston, the route wound rapidly west and up steeply into the final big range of the tour, the oft forgotten Bodmin Moor. Sister of Dartmoor in Devon and slightly lower, but no less dramatic, Bodmin rises to over 300 M.
Went past RAF Davidstow, which is still used by gliders but was closed as a live airfield in 1945; it lies close to the crowdy reservoir on top of the moor.
The roads then meander and descend through steep and densely forested valleys into Bodmin (the town), and after a few more punishing climbs it was a straight forward run, after 120 km into St. Austell. When I rode over the final ridge and saw the sea appear suddenly over the horizon a moment of joy interrupted the pain- not long to go at all!
Spotted: Danny Alexander doing something useful and scaring the crop eating crows in St. Breward.
Tomorrow: Land’s End. The end. Finally!
Factacular
Some more random facts as I enter the final stages.
FACT: The highest temperature I have ridden in so far was 27C near Loch Tay (Day 5) – too hot!!
FACT: Number of thunderstorms experienced = Four. 3 on Day 14 and another spectacular one on the morning of Day 15.
FACT: Total distance cycled = 1712 km (approx. 1064 miles)
FACT: Including Devon; I have travelled through 21 counties in England, Wales and Scotland. Cornwall will be the 22nd and last.
Speaking of Devon – sort out your signage. I can hardly read it!
Day 18 – Devon knows how they make it so hilly
Hello. Another fantastic day. Unfortunately no porridge on the menu at breakfast, but despite this I was still motivated enough to tackle Exmoor. The ride for today started out with a big ascent from Dulverton, up to the top of Exmoor National Park at around 450 M, most of which was in the first km!
The route then carried on over the park and along the ridge, with fantastic views of mid-Devon below to the left, resplendent in the midsummer sunshine. It was refreshingly cool up the top with a nice breezy tailwind to help me up the hills too.
Then after riding along the ridge for some time, it was a very long (16 km) gentle descent into Barnstaple. This brought back a lot of memories, as I used to come up to Barnstaple a lot when I lived in Exeter. It had the west country’s only remaining Solo Music record shop. Memories!
The final part of the day was then to take the scenic Tarka Trail from Barnstaple. Forming the old railway line that ran across North into West Devon, it was axed like so many in the 1960s by Dr. Beeching. It runs through Instow, Bideford and through Torrington. This was a picturesque and flat trail which runs for over 50 km.
I finished the day in West Devon after 101 km, in a place called Hatherleigh. If you think the climbing is over though, you’d be very much mistaken – tomorrow I battle with Bodmin Moor and enter the final county of my tour: Cornwall.
I should also mention that my sweepstake team, Germany, have made the 1/4 finals of the world cup! Just 3 wins away…
wheretheecclefechanisdave 