LEJOG...departing 13th AUG - now with pics

lauriematt · Post by **lauriematt** » 6 Aug 2008, 10:03am

hi guys...

keeping in fashion with everybody else on the forum...thought id just post a quick message to say the train is booked...and im heading down to Penzance on Wed 13th aug.

still finalising the route...tho the most part of it is done. im looking forward to the first 2 days...as im cycling upto North Devon & will be staying a few days with close family

my bike has been booked in at LBS for a service....though to be fair its generally in pretty good nick! have changed tyres over to x28c which seems to fair well. ...& have got round to sorting out my shifters...as i had an odd pair that were starting to fall apart! :lol:

many thanks to all on here who have given advice...and also to people who ive bought gear off in preparation!

i am aiming to camp wild for most of the trip...bar a few nights...and will be travelling as light as i can!

so.....wish me luck guys!!! ...i think im gonna need it! :lol:

ps will try to get a mug shot of me & bike later...so if you see us out & about honk the horn

Cookster · Post by **Cookster** » 6 Aug 2008, 10:16am

Good luck and most of all enjoy it

lukeansley · Post by **lukeansley** » 6 Aug 2008, 10:02pm

We are starting on the 15th, so might pass you at some point if you are stopping for a few days. What route are you planning? You can see the one that we are taking on our website.

www.cyclenorth.co.uk

Good luck, i hope that you are as excited as we are, just want to start now.

Luke

Dean · Post by **Dean** » 10 Aug 2008, 9:03pm

Good luck Laurie - if you're wild camping, and if your route takes you there, may I recommend the beaches of the Scottish north coast - Bettyhill, Strathy and Melvich have public toilets/pubs which people camping on the beach use to wash. And it was stunning when I was up there.

What is your route BTW?

Manx Cat · Post by **Manx Cat** » 10 Aug 2008, 10:25pm

The VERY best of luck Laurie.... Packed the camera I hope.

(in best mums voice... 'you will be careful.. wont you?') Had to say that....

YOu will of course have a brilliant cycle ride. Im a tad envious of your energy at the best of times :lol:

Looking forward to hearing about your trip. Keeping fingers crossed that 'She who cannot be named' is bothering someone else, and that the sun shines for you.

Mary xx

Asdace · Post by **Asdace** » 10 Aug 2008, 10:46pm

Are you taking the Jack Wolfskin tent, I sold you.

Tynan · Post by **Tynan** » 11 Aug 2008, 7:33pm

Good man, serious nod of approval here

just been made redundant after a year of commuting and itching to 'do' something serious that I never had time for

and as luck would have it just about to go to Australia for three weeks

otherwise I'd come with you

lauriematt · Post by **lauriematt** » 12 Aug 2008, 10:53am

Asdace wrote:Are you taking the Jack Wolfskin tent, I sold you.

am indeed...i had one just before getting yours from millets....as soon as i received yours i went & got a refund! :lol:

its nice & light

tomorrow morning im off...train is half 6 in the morning...getting me there at lunchtime. saying my goodbyes now to friends and family....and its finally hit home how far il be cycling! this is the first time ive done any touring over this kind of distance!

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/First-2-3-days
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/178780
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/178793
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/178808
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/182160
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/182172
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/182611
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/182615

this is the rough gist of the route il be taking! prob wont follow it to the letter tho!

all thats left now is to clean bike...get backs backed...and put my feet up! :lol:

ps am also knockin up a map board ... just been into Band Q for some parts but if its finished in time will try to get a pic

Dean · Post by **Dean** » 12 Aug 2008, 11:18am

Best of luck! You'll be fine - it's a good route.

I had my doubts and nerves as well, but everything worked out.

Although it's a bit late in the day for route suggestions, I'll just say that if you have the time, try to avoid the A82. It's not much fun, though spectacular.

Oh, and the A6 is a perfectly good route north - I joined it near Bolton and followed it all the way to Carlisle. You can use this if you find the lanes around Lancashire and Cumbria tricky. Navigation is eeeasy

lauriematt · Post by **lauriematt** » 12 Aug 2008, 11:29am

Dean wrote:Best of luck! You'll be fine - it's a good route.

I had my doubts and nerves as well, but everything worked out.

Although it's a bit late in the day for route suggestions, I'll just say that if you have the time, try to avoid the A82. It's not much fun, though spectacular.

Oh, and the A6 is a perfectly good route north - I joined it near Bolton and followed it all the way to Carlisle. You can use this if you find the lanes around Lancashire and Cumbria tricky. Navigation is eeeasy

so instead of the A82...would you recommend the Easterly road that runs around it ( B862)

....ps how did your trip go dean???

Asdace · Post by **Asdace** » 12 Aug 2008, 11:34am

lauriematt wrote:
Asdace wrote:Are you taking the Jack Wolfskin tent, I sold you.

am indeed...i had one just before getting yours from millets....as soon as i received yours i went & got a refund! its nice & light

It is a lovely tent, sure you will love it and the best of luck on your Le-Jog.

Dean · Post by **Dean** » 12 Aug 2008, 12:56pm

lauriematt wrote:so instead of the A82...would you recommend the Easterly road that runs around it ( B862)

....ps how did your trip go dean???

All went well with me, thanks - I've acquired some interesting tan lines, I've drank more Coke than in the previous ten years and I'm still shaking beetles out of my panniers

The B862 to the south of Loch Ness looks excellent, but I wasn't thinking of that - I meant rather taking a westerly route to the Bridge of Orchy, and riding up the A82 from there. Something like this:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/4-Thornhill-to-Fort-William

Although, as you see, I joined the A82 a lot earlier than Bridge of Orchy.

The A82 just isn't a very bike-friendly road, but it's near impossible to avoid if you take a westerly route - I saw loads of cyclists on it.

Manx Cat · Post by **Manx Cat** » 12 Aug 2008, 3:17pm

Best of luck Laurie.

I shall be thinking of you out there.

Mary

Ben Lovejoy · Post by **Ben Lovejoy** » 12 Aug 2008, 7:47pm

Have a great trip, Laurie :-)

lauriematt · Post by **lauriematt** » 12 Aug 2008, 10:38pm

thanx for the well-wishes guys!

bikes all set & ready to go...feels a little sluggish from the weight tho
was picture taking earlier.....obviously BEFORE the bags were packed! :lol:

will be wearing black shorts - blue cycling shirt.....or waterproofs! :evil:

ps plus a red & silver helmet! :lol:

...just brush off the cobwebs! :lol: