Welcome to my blog site set up to document my crazy adventure!
In August 2009 i will be embarking on the ultimate cyclists pilgrimage: Lands End to John O'Groats. 1,000 miles from the bottom of Cornwall to the top of Scotland.
I will complete this over 14 days with the help of my dad, who will be my support vehicle/photographer/cook/tent assembler!
I will be raising money for the Welsh unit of Teenage Cancer Trust, here's what they do:
Each day in the UK, 6 teenagers (between the ages of 13-24) will find out they have cancer. Many get a raw deal, receiving hospital treatment alongside children or older people.
TCT provides specialist units in NHS hospitals for teenagers with cancer. As well as superior medical facilities and state-of-the-art equipment, units provide an environment where teenagers can meet others in a similar situation, allowing patients to build friendships and mechanisms to cope with their disease.
TCT have just completed their 9th unit which is situated in Cardiff. The concentration of medical expertise can improve chances of survival by 15%. Each costs over £2 million to build and TCT needs enough so that every teenager with cancer has access to one, should they need it.
As well as building units, TCT funds an education team to visit schools to talk about TCT and cancer, a Professor of teenage and young adult cancer medicine and a support network for bereaved families.
Please go to www.teenagecancertrust.org to find out more.
So come on guys, dig deep, give generously. I'm sure you all know someone who has been affected by cancer.
Please visit www.teenagecancertrust.org/sponsor/JamesBourne-LEJOG to donate or contact me directly if you want to give cash / cheque.
Registered Charity No. 1062559/sc039757
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Following
Finished!
Made it!
A hot bowl of porridge put me in mood to go the slightly longer scenic route up to the ruged north coast. It was reasuring to see some signs of civilisation and 2 lane roads!
I arrived on time at the finish line where the we did the customary photo call. The next call was the John O’Groats bar for a well deserved pint!
A family reunion and a bottle of bubbly completed the celebrations as we got the ferry over to the Orkney Islands for a few days to chill!
The End
Scotland has gained an extra day somehow
No hope for 21 miles…
To the middle of nowhere!
Moving north from Inverness the freezing cold rain was constant throughout the day. A few F1 style fuel stops along the way, a diet of Lucozade tablets and Irn Bru, along with some heavy Drum & Bass on the iPod kept me going through the driving rain.
The main A road narrowed in to a single track road for the last 20 miles, as I ventured in to the least populated area in Europe. The county of Southerland is the size of Wales but has a population of less than half of Penarth!!
Cold and wet I arrived at a fantastic, homely B&B with Sky, Internet and a hot meal (made from home grown venison!).
Breakfast by the lake
Lots of Lochs, but no Monster!
A long but enjoyable day took me from the West side of Scotland up the Great Glen to Inverness in the east. The fast road led me around Ben Nevis and past five Lochs, including the famous Loch Ness
We had lunch at the side of Loch Ness keeping our eyes peeled but the most exciting wildlife I saw was a hedgehod crossing the road.
Our tent is pitched 5 meters away from the edge of the cold and midge infested banks Beauly Firth!
Loch Ness. Didn’t see the monster :(
Loch Lochy
