Neil's JOGLE for PLAN.

It started off as a promising day weather wise so I opted for a route over Dartmoor. As I climbed up from Bovey Tracy in the general direction of Post Bridge it started with soft rain. Then Pegasus had puncture in her front wheel. There was no obvious lesion in the tyre or tube so I reinflsted to end up with a flat tyre in less than a mile. So I replaced the inner tube. It was interesting that while acyclic going g in the opposite direction and going uphill shouted if I was OK and it would have been unreasonable to have stopped him in mid ascent. The only car drivers that stopped were a Dutch Couple who offered to load my bike into their car and help. Eventually replacement tube in place I was on the road again but by this time rain had become torrential and I made my way over to Prince Town where I stopped for lunch. I must say that days like today make the prison look quite inviting rather than trying to escape across the Moor. Descending down to Yelverton and then onto Plymouth. In...

I left home in Taunton wirh the sunshining and followed my own route along country lanes to avoid the A38, around Wellington onto Culmstock, Uffculme, Kentisbeare to rejoin the old A38 at which point it started to pour with rain. I had a prolonged lunch stop and eventually rain stopped It was then through Exeterand back into the Devon lanes several fairly arduous climbs but panoramic views over to Dartmoor. My accommodation was the Cridford Inn Trusham where Paul and Diana met me. It was a genuine thatched country pub with good food and an enjoyable evening catching up over dinner.

This was a homecoming prior to my last leg of the journey. I woke up to heavy rain in Bristol but by the time I had sorted out my bags and prepared the bike the rain had eased off and with expilcit direction from Hamish exiting Bristol was comparitively easy, and I followed the A38 past Bristol Airport, but after 22 miles felt I'd had enough of A roads and diverted off the trunk road at Biddisham I thought Pegasus would behave like a riding school pony and take me home. I was sure of my own route but just out of curioity used Google Maps to see how they worked and after my own way to Woolavington and was directed on to a very good cycle rout along the King Sedgemoor Drain and eventualy via Chedzoy and Dunwear to Huntwort andfinally through Petherton, North Newton, Creech St. Michael and home via Henlade. Steve from the County Gazette was there to meet me. Then at six Liz with help from Brigitte organised a Barbeque for my local sponsors.

Liz took me back from Bishops Frome where she had e joyed Paul McCartney and orders strutting there stuff at Glastonbury and regaled the locals with her Glasto experiences. We met hamish and Sipgia at the Gloucester Road out of Ledbury and Hamish got his bike out to join me on this leg of the trip. w Western off at a good pace and soon made it to Gloucester here we went around the quays a d picked up the canal tow path. We then had a long stretch of pathway on the Gloucesterand Sharpness canal of varying quality from wide and well paved to rutted and difficult all with the added inconvenience if dog walkers other cyclists and fishermen with a lot of equipment. We left the canal to go throughFrampton before rejoining around Slimbridge. Apart from the challenges of the tow path it was generally scenic with a lot of water activities and house boats of varying quality. We had our mid day break at the Black Barn Cafe and bar. In the cafe we met a elderly gent (84) who told us all about ...

I had an early start as I was due to meet Liz in Ledbury at 12.00. Compared with yesterday this was a much more level ride. It did involve an interesting little jaunt through Ludlow Race Course, Pegasus didn't make any of the jumps but did complete approximately 3 furlongs. I am not quite sure where I went into Herefordshire but I don't think I saw one Hereford. The day was memorable because I did get wet in a couple of short heavy showers. The rendevous with Liz was executed to the minute quite anacheivment for the Rudrams. We then went off to a garden party at Sophia's parents in Putley. My bike had been put on the rack on the back of the car.We than drove to Bishops Frome where we stayed at the Chase Inn.

The staff in the Wynstay Hotel were one of the most helpful with my bike on my journey to date. My little deviation into Wales was soon over when I crossed over the Dee into Shropshire. Shropshire did immediately occur to me as being seriously hilly but this was one of my moat onerous rides while not achieving the elevations that I did in the Highlands or the Lake District but they are rolling hills with some fairly steep ascents and my total ascents was one of the biggest totals so far. Devon may be a strong challenger on this. The advantage of a reasonable upright position on my bike allows me to see over hedges and lots of interesting stuff. Some big dairy herds, a variety of beef cattle, arable crops potatoes, cerials, maze and rape. Thanks to my inability to read the technology I ended up doing 61 miles partly after giving up in Shrewsbury after going round a roundabout on cycle paths 3 or 4 times unable to decide which branch path to take. Whatever I arrived in Craven Arms a smal...

Another sunny day to be out on the bike. On e I was clear of Warrington I was out in the Cheshire countryside lots of pasture and generally fairly flat so quie home from home with Somerset but more lumpy. I stopaped at Saighton village shop to buy a paper and cold drink and met a Cyclist who had just been out for a little jaunt of 70 miles and had another ten miles to go home. We exchanged experiences and he had done Lands End to John O'Groats last year in 10 days with a friend a d gad raised over £2k for army charity. He told me how the campsitethey stayed in Bridgwater was dreadful but the pub was good it was on the canal? He said I must ignore Google maps and go through Farndon and over the Dee into Wales stopping at Cleaopatras Cafe in Holt. So following his directions off I went to Farndon where there is an obelisk in memorial to Roger Barnston who obviously was a local hero in the Crimean War the Brits interfering someone wishes fight and probably not even with any moral reas...

Another sunny day and after leaving the splendour of my Mercure Hotel suite it was off southwards through Blackburn, past Chorley and onto Wigan. There was actually some pleasant country side in places. I seemed to pass signs to many of the premiership rugby league towns such as St Helens, Bolton as well as going through Wigan. By two o'clock it was getting hot and I stopped at a pub in Abram which not only had a beer garden but a crown green bowling rink behind. There seemed to be some practice sessions involving the village pensioners.It wS only 10 miles into Warrington and the King's Head where I had booked. Warrington has little to recommend it, and I resorted to Wweatherspoons. A pleasant 40 mile ride today and I should be out into a more rural area into the Marches.

Another sunny day so I set off to the sea side well Morecombe Bay which is reminiscent of the Bristol Channel the sea just about visible. I think there is a little bit of a contest between Morecombe Bay and Bridgwater Bay as to who has the greatest tide difference. Google maps took me inland before the Morecombe and Wise statues so I was spared the obligatory rendition of "Bring me sunshine". It was through Lancaster past the University Campus which stirred a distant memory of attending a BVA Congress there so.e time in the distant past when the BVA still had an annual Congress. It was then weaving my way rhrough the North West Conurbation padt places like Garstang and Preston including the Preston North End Stadium. En route I passed as wheeled and powered vehicle twice see picture. It wasn't the pleasantest of rides either high speed heavy traffic or rubbish tow paths with dodge surfacing pedestrians and dogs off leads. Arrived at the Mercure Hotel an was told I had be...

After breakfast I had to retrieve Pegasus myself from her 1st floor stable. I basically wheeled the bike down the stairs as just to heavy to carry. A lovely sunny day and temperature just right for cycling I am ashamed to admit that the Cumbrian fells in the sunshine were much bonnier than the Highlands last week. The route fir the first ten miles was around Country lanes with lots of haymaking while the sunshone. I saw a farmer with a 1967 Massey Ferguson 135 and a hay-bob all very nostalgic.Then it was back on the A6 and a longish climb to the top a Shap Fell and I made a photo stop at the top around 1350 feet above sea level. From there onwards to Carnforth I stayed on the A6 which was actually quite scenic. Being Monday it was difficult to find somewhere for a coffee, I even diverted into Baltham Village as it had a sign for a tea shop which was closed as wS the village pub. So I sat on village bench over looking the school playing field where a teacher was taking a primary school ...

The Ecclefechan Hotel was remarkably busy a d all the rooms were booked. I had my last full Scottish breakfast of the trip as far as I could see the main difference to an English breakfast was the addition of haggis, black pudding on top of the expected sausage (links) and bacon and of course potatoe scones. The ride todaywas relatively easy and much less in the way of hills than I expected but much of it was on the A6 which was tha kful relatively quiet being Sunday. I did a quick photo stop in Gretna and asked a guy with three expensive looking cameras to take a photo.As got out one of his cameras I advised that I just needed a quick shot with my micky mouse phone and I was doing it for charity, he would have to wait until later for the punters as it was only 10.30 He said on busy days they had up to 14 weddings. From Hretna I crossed the border back into blighty no customs post as yet but wee Nicola is planning that for 2023! Carlisle was quite busy and I decided I needed a lunch ...

I left Holmdale B&B in Crawford thinking I had got a bargain having forgotten I had paid a deposit. My Co guests at breakfast were on their way to the Orkneys and as we compared notes they told me their son had done the JOGLE walking in 59 days andmai ly wild camping on the way. This was when he was 18 before going to Uni where he is now at Falmouth. Today's ride was an easier section only 38 miles and a lot of it seemed Down Hill. I had done 30 miles in just over 2 hours so was able to have a prolonged coffee break in Lockerbie. The little town gained notoriety in 1988 when probably one of Gaddafi's chums ma aged to foul up blowing the plane up mistimed the destinations that it happened o erland and thus including people from Lockerbie as well as all the passengers on the plane. Lockerbie is now a quiet South Lanarkshire town ith a very nice coffee bar. It once basted the largest lamb market in Scotland. I was my usual ta tactfull self discussing this with a couple of not ...

This was heading out through the lowlands which is a misnomer if ever there was one. It did coincide with Kate Bush's re-emergence as a number one with her "running up the hill" which made a aptly named theme tune for today. However before setting off Pegasus had problems with her gears. (probably got my genders muddled here but Pegasus must be a mare for my demographic means of transport are female being fickle in how efficient they are from day to day.) Having taken my time over breakfast partly due to how timely it was in being served the rain had not subsided and I decided not to attempt the fine tuning myself I rode off to the only cycle shop in Bathgate only to find that it was closed. Now I could remember in the day how to adjust a Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub gear but the Shimino modern 7 x hub gear seemed a bit daunting. A quick search on you tube and a nicely narrated guide from a Dutch Cyclist demonstrated an idiot proof way of tuning the gear change.Ten minutes ...

The day sorted off on A and B roads and lower for rapid progress, except for intersections and round abouts which often meant walking and crossing fast moving traffic. After I passed Stirling I was onto mainly cycle route 76. Initially this was paved and some on old railway lines. Later it became more arduous with loose grave and then fed onto the towpath of the Union Canal, which a well maintained and tarred. I crossed the River Avon on the Linlithgow aquaduct which claims to be the second longest in the UK. I uses the original Kincardine over the Fourth bridge. Along the way between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan is the SAS memorial with plaques to members who have died in service. The memorial is on a hill with a large statue of David Stirling who set up the Special Air Service during WW II. Also on the way I saw the Falkirk Kelpies which are impressive and claim to be the biggest equine sculptures in the world. Kelpie have a checkered position in folklore and apparently lured people...

Well I left my luxurious B&B in Killan their description adequate I would call it, Lyndale in it heyday was much better and headed off along National Cycle Route 7. This was my shortest section but most of it off road. It varied between old railway tract to forestry commision tracks and loch side bridleways. The surface also varied between recently tarmacadam, to tracks finished in quarry scalping to loose gravel. The descent down to the Loch was quite treacherous with several har pin bends and in the end I walked it a d was oy glad I wasn't co.ibg the other way. At breakfast the other resident was from Toronto and he was holidaying for six weeks and this was a 5 daycare self guided tour but all his stops booked for him as well as his luggage transported, he needed this as he had2 huge suitcases. I also met a guy from Jersey who had sold his house at 45 years old and decided to tick of some stuff on his bucket list he had compiled during covid. His wife was working has laptop w...

A more modest ride today much of it along the side and above River Tunmel Tay and other Tay. I stopped at the village of Taymouth where post office was shut for good and the Hotel closed for refurbishment other than tah a nice little village. Found a hotel/pub in Ardalnaig in fact that was entirely what the village consisted of. It was then onwards to Killan which is obviously a tourist hotspot. It has the dramatic Falls of Dochart and generally all picturesque. Loch Leven B&B comfortable but could do with a chair in my room Only 39 miles today and light rain some of the time. Scotland is forecast to miss the heatwave due in the south towards the weekend Now completed my first week of JOGLE, bike odometer has recorded 300 miles GPS 253 miles.

This was one of the longest sections of my trip and it followed Natonaal Cycle Route 7. Much colder today and o ne brief rain storm. The cycle path has been resurfaced most of the way and plan tarmac made big differance to effort and battery consumption compared with the gravel on tarmac lanes beloved by local authorities. There was Gorseinon flower everywhere and what looked like lupins in amongst it. The route foowed along below the Cairngorms where up to wards rhe peaks little snow persisted. Much of the way was on General Wades military roads built to quell the revolting Jacobites after the '45 rwbeion. I met a chap from St. Just in Cornwall who was doing LEJOG with a push bike loaded front and back panniers ad well as a tent on top of the rear rack he was no youth either. While we were chatting about the challenges of cycling in Devon and Cornwall he said he had almost given up at Cullompton along came a youngster perhaps in his forties with his Specialised carbon fibre bike c...

A relatively easy day only 35 miles shorter than expected but possibly due to comi g out of Inverness and ending up on the A9 for 2 miles before I could rejoin cycle route 7. Little or no wind and showers held off. I met my brother Jack and Carol for a qui k coffee in Inverness Morrisons before setting off, had lunch in Cornridge and met my neice Gayle and Declan in Aviemore for a meal in the evening. In Corbridge I met a couple and she had returned there having her place of birth but had moved to near Stirling. He told .e that his son had cycled from London to Sidney and implied that my adventure was pretty tame however did concede that there was a significant age differential!

Breakfast at the hotel with 4 bikers who were going out on cir ular trips as they had another night in Invershin. Today's ride started of fairly well butas I clim Ed out of the valley a d o er Bonar Bridge up towards Struie I hit the wind. I would guess it was gusting at up to 30 mph plus. It seemed to come from all directions except of course as a tail wind. Lots of scenic vues a d thanks to The Sustrans Guide and Google maps set for cycling managed to avoid the A9 ex ept short stretches where there was a cycle path. The Kessock Bridge had me slightly apprehen side in what must have been not farshort of Gale force winds. I made it to Inverness YHA and I am now experiencing the hedonistic delights of Invernes on a Saturday Night.

This was 46 miles and constantly into a head wind approximately force 6 to 7 with long climbs and descents. Not the most enjoyable ride but at least I stayed dry. All along Loch Loyal there was winds and white horses on the Loch. Very bleak and no one about until midday no sheep but a herd of young red deer that were farmed! Further on there qS asgn saying be careful red squirels and it would have been nice to see some instead of the little grey buggers in Vivary Park. The falls of Shin were very impressive no salmon leaping upwards ut a couple jumped over while I was there. Now st a nice little hotel on the river.