High Peak radio interview

Hi All

Back to reality again. Catching up at work as that was the longest break I've ever taken. Consequently there has been a lot to catch up on. So my blog has had to take a back seat. I promise I'll be fully updating you on how I got on and a few of the stories on the way.

You may remember that I did an interview with the local radio station just before I set off for Lands End. A lot of people didn't hear the broadcast so I asked High Peak FM and they kindly sent me the audio file. So here goes

Made it.

This isn't quite in the order that I had intended but I had to post it.

At 3.15pm 21st May I made it to Jon o'Groats. I came over the final crest and looked down at the vast blue expanse of the North Sea with the Orkneys in the distance and knew I was almost there. As I free wheeled down the hill I couldn't help but burst into tears. I was so tired but totally elated and just shouted out loud "Janet Erika I made it, I made it"
As I trundled along I passed a farmer in a tractor. I swear he noticed me crying and he raised his front digger bit in the air and waved as a sort of salute. I smiled and saluted him back.



I rode into the finish line to find Rosemary and I gave her a huge hug. I couldn't have done it without her.



As I was riding the last few miles I got notification that we'd hit the donation target. I was overjoyed. I have been so humbled by the generosity of people throughout this challenge. You have all been amazing. However please don't stop donating. We need to take the total on and upwards if we can. I have a number of cash donations from very kind folk from the various campsites to add to the total ( when I can get a decent Internet connection) oh and will get on with filling in the holes in my blog too. For now though, Rosemary and I are going to sit on our backsides and do nothing for for a day or two (if Monty will let us)



The beach at Dunnet bay

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Location:John o Groats

Day 6 Nantwich to Milnthorpe

Saturday morning and again we rose to a beautiful sunny morning in Cheshire. I could see the wind was going to be behind me, as I was walking Monty. The lady who owned the site very kindly offered to was and dry all our laundry as they didn't have the facilities for campers. It was really good of her and saved us a lot of trouble.

Helen, Steve and the Twins Ben and Tim. Fantastic.

It was going to be another monster ride up to Cumbria so Neil had very kindly offered to help with the first stop arrangements to give Rosemary time to do some shopping and get things organised with the van and further stops. I set off hoping to meet Neil at Standish which was the other side of Wigan. I had to negotiate Warrington and the M56 and 62 corridor which is very built up. i had not been looking forward to this part of my journey ever since I started planning the route. There was no avoiding it so I headed straight up the A49. Just before I hit Warrington I saw a car in a layby with some people waiving banners. I wondered what that was all about as I rode past then realised it was my mates Steve and Helen and the boys. They had again been tracking me (and i think had talked to Neil too) so knew where I wold be. I cannot tell you what a great feeling it gives you to see your friends cheer you on. I was made up and hugged them both. I had to press on, but they said they would meet me further up the road somewhere.

It's hard this Lejog business

I eventually got to Standish and realised I had miscalculated the milage to their. I was tired and in need of a break so when i got to Neil (in his splendid new camper - sorry motorhome) I was very grateful for the sit down. Neil had made me bacon and mushroom butties and I ate two (greedy pig) whilst luxuriating in the palacial surroundings. It was again really good of him to put himself out for me. I am very lucky to have such good friends.

From Standish I headed for Preston continuing on the A49. Just before Preston I noticed a bike shop and popped in as I wanted some more cycling socks (i was running out fast as I need 3 changes a day). I was served by a young lad who asked me where I had cycled from. At last I could tell someone "Oh Lands End" Thinking I would get at least a little bit of kudos. Nothing! oh well I thought! Then He asked me where I was heading. "err John O'Groats" I replied, thinking that might at least stir him to say something positive? "where's that then" At this point the shop owner had come over and gave the lad a look not dis-similar to Captain Mainwaring did to Corporal Pike in Dads Army.

Brian, Norma and Anthony Williams at err...Lancaster. You guys really cheered me up

I met Rosemary just after Preston which had ben easier to negotiate than I had expected and Neil had joined us too. It was quite a little gathering of Campers (sorry motorhomes) and we a good chat as i stuffed my face with cake. We said our goodbyes to Neil and I headed off up the A6. There was an aweful long way still to go and I got my head down for Lancaster. As I approached the town I stopped to take a picture of the City sign and up drove Steve's Mum and Dad Brian and Norma and his brother Anthony. I couldn't believe it. I was gobsmacked at the support I had got (and the two extra large Snickers bars - or marathons in old money). That meeting spurred me on to Hest bank where I met Rosemary again for a quick brew and a sit down. The weather was drawing in and I needed to get on so I said my goodbyes and headed for Milnthorpe. I pedalled in to Fell End Caravan park at nearly 8pm and was cream crackered.

Day 5 Ripple to Nantwich

Monty monstering around the field at Furlongs Farm, Ripple

We rose to a beautiful blue sky at Furlongs farm campsite. Its just a field with a toilet block but to be honest it has been my favourite site so far. The views over the rolling hills were wonderful and there was a huge field that we could let moo run off the lead in. He loved it.
I set off about 9.00am and headed due north. I soon found that the wind was directly in my face which makes riding really tiring. I passed the three counties show ground where the traffic was horrendous there was a huge spring garden show on and I think gardeners world were there.

 My lunch kindly donated by a lovely Swedish lady in Bewdley

I passed through Worcester heading for Bewdley where Rosemary was waiting for me. She had parked at a Farmers market shop and had been chatting to the owner whilst buying lots of goodies. The lady who was Swedish very kindly donated our lunch which was very generous especially as it was a lovely pork pie and smoked cheese with freshly baked bread and carrot cake for afters mmmm!
From Bewdley I pressed on for Bridgenorth. The countryside in this part of the midlands is quite stunning, however the roads are very undulating and it took quite a bit out of me. Once through Bridgenorth the terrain started to flatten out as i headed for my next rendezvous with Rosemary at Newport.

I can smell the pungent aroma just by looking at this photo

I think one of the overriding senses I will remember from this ride is the pungent almost narcotic smell of rapeseed. It is everywhere, from Cornwall to Cumbria and can be overpowering. It is rather beautiful though.

I said goodbye to Rosemary and headed off on my last stretch into Nantwich. I say last stretch, it was probably nearly 40 miles. I needed to negotiate Market Drayton and Audlem before Nantwich and it was quite a difficult drag. As I rode into Audlem a familiar face popped out from behind a wall. It was Neil Coverley with his trademark beaming smile. It was really great to see him and a big surprise. It lifted my spirits as I was beginning to flag a bit. He'd been tracking me on Find my Friends (an app on the iphone that tells you exactly where the phone is.)
He kindly offered to navigate the last few miles to save me reading the map and it really helped. I managed to drag myself into New Farm just north of Nantwich at 7.45pm I had been in the saddle for nearly eleven hours and had covered 100 miles. I was shattered.

As I approached the camper, Jane, Jason and Maddie Smith had come out to wish me well too. It was lovely to see them and I was very grateful to them for taking the time out (and to bring me fresh supplies of Jane's mega flapjacks)

Days 3 & 4

I found an app on my iPhone so I can finally post something.

I'll update fully once I can get a reliable wifi feed as blogger won't work properly without it



Day 3 Devon into Somerset was a better day weather wise I met a lejogger from Buxton in the wilds. Dave Spud Goodwin. He was doing it off road for fun? He very kindly donated. I rode all the way through Somerset to Weston super Mare. At the site I had another couple of donations too. People are so generous.



Day 4 - the day I have been most apprehensive about. I had to negotiate the Avonmouth and Severn bridges. I am not too good with heights and the cycle lanes are a bit close to the edge. On the Severn bridge the barrier is about 1.1metres high and when I'm sat on my bike I am probably close to 1.7metres high. The wind was blowing a gale as I rode up. I just kept my head down and rode. My heart was pounding away. Was mighty relieved to be over there. Managed to make Ripple in Worcestershire.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:The Paddock Fell End Caravan,Milnthorpe,United Kingdom

Day 2

Firstly can I apologise for the delay in posting. There are two, no three reasons for this. Firstly campsites like to sell you wifi access  code before you find out that it is absolute bobbins. Two, the mobile phone network in deepest Devon is a bit ropey at best. Three, I am totally wasted and want to hit the sack by nine pm.

Anyway where was I? Oh yes day two. It rained...a lot

I set off from Quintrell Downs near Newquay in heavy rain. In fact it was heavy rain for most of the day. On this trip I am trying to take as many pictures as I can for the blog but the one above is the only one I could manage without wrecking my phone.
I did however discover some inexorable truths about Devon during this ride.
1) Devon is a beautiful county (even in the rain)
2) It is a very hilly county
3) If you are enjoying a lovely coast down a steep hill. Get ready a nasty climb very soon after
4) Signposts on back lanes are next to useless (that are not national cycle routes see below)

I would also like to thank on a deep personal level, whoever had the idea of creating a network of national cycle routes. They are wonderful. They allow you to discover quiet back lanes through some of the best countryside Britain has to offer and keep you away from the busy trunk roads.

By the time I arrived at Dolton for our overnight stay I was really tired, mainly from the incessant rain. So a hot shower was very welcome. I had covered 80 miles and after Rosemary's lovely Turkey and mushrooms with bicycle shaped pasta (courtesy of Bev Wilson) I was ready to hit the sack at 9pm.

Day 1 - Lands End to Quintrell Downs

Going to have to keep this fairly brief as I have to go through some maps with Rosemary before we hit the sack. oh and I only have two hours on the wifi (£2.00 what a rip off)

Well that's a relief! I can still ride. It seems like ages since I was last on my bike proper.
We woke up this morning to glorious skies. The rain had disappeared and the sky was blue. I felt as though things were coming together at last. I had decided a few days ago that after the bout of Bronchitis that I have had, I needed to take day one easy so a short ride to just past Newquay was the order of the day.

 It's official now

Rosemary and I popped into the Lands End hotel to get my LEJOG verification paper stamped. I need to get it stamped six times en route and at JOG then send it off to the end to end club and I will receive and official certificate.

We then had the customary photo at the Lands End sign then I said goodbye and set off. It was warm enough to be in my shorts and cycling shirt so off I went heading for Penzance. i was finally rolling after nearly eight months of planning. I said to myself as I crossed the startline.

I headed through Penzance (which is a lovely town) I could have stopped and had a lazy afternoon there but I have a destination to get too. From there I headed along a very pleasant national cycle route all the way to Hayle near St Ives. I really enjoyed that part of the ride. Very few cars and typical cornish lanes. Fantastic.

St Michaels Mount near Penzance

From there I headed for Camborne and Redruth. All I can say about these two towns is 'please can you put some road signs up' I got lost in both towns and and ended up using the sun to navigate. (well sort of) From there I headed for Goonhavern and Newquay along a very hilly section. It was quite a tough section and I needed to get out of the saddle for long stretches. I finally made it into Quintrell Downs after 46 miles and found Rosemary parked up at the campsite. Its really pleasant here. The showers are warm and each pitch has its own bay in the trees.

The forecast isn't looking good for tomorrow. In fact its just started raining now. Lets hope the rain clears by morning. I'm heading for Devon along the back lanes tomorrow. I'm hoping to get 70 to 80 miles under my belt so I will let you know how I get on tomorrow evening.

My personal Everest

I couldn't get any Wifi access yesterday so I'm posting this blog after our first days ride so you will be getting two for the price of one tonight.

Bacon and eggs is so much nicer when its throwing it down outside

(7th May)

I am sat typing this blog whilst the rain is hammering down on the campervan roof. We are parked at Sennan Cove a mile from Lands End. The weather has been awful today. I took Moo out for a long walk across the fields and down to Whitesands beach. Tt was beautiful, even in the rain. However on the way back we got chased by a bunch of hooligan bullocks. I tried to look cool like a farmer (cos frames never get chased - why?) but he kept coming. mont chickened out first and dashed off on his extenty lead. So I obliged and legged it too. We just made it over the stile before we became anther agricultural statistic. Rosemary says I'm being a bit dramatic.

Rosemary the following morning trying to find the mystery bullocks

We've just had a lovely tea of eggs, bacon, beans and fired potato. It was really cosy, whist getting warm again from the long walk. In fact I have to say that as I look out of the window and the daylight is fading, I can see lights out to sea and I am thinking the this doesn't seem real? I feel kind of strangely detached the task ahead. I think I am too cosy at the moment. Its not sunk in that tomorrow I will be pedalling the first of nearly 1000 miles.

I've just seen an anonymous donation come through on JustGiving and once again I have been overwhelmed by the support and generosity I have received over the las few months.  I know that my parents and my brother Harvey have been genuinely touched by the kindness that everyone has shown. So just before I set off,  from all the family, I would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.

Now I need to get to bed as I need to be ready to "knock the b*stard off" as Sir Edmund Hillary once famously said.   

High Peak FM broadcast date

Hi all.

Just to let you know that I will be on High Peak FM on Tuesday 8th May (the day I set off from Lands End). I will be talking about my LEJOG challenge and about Ataxia and how it has affected my family. . It will be broadcast from 7AM to Midday on the hour every hour. Then at 10.30pm in a daily roundup show. I hope you all be able to tune in

If you can't tune in on FM or are overseas you can tune in on their Internet site at www.highpeakradio.co.uk

My MEGA LEJOG survival kit

My buddy Bev

I've just had a really lovely surprise. Bev Wilson who is a really good friend of mine has just brought in a home made mega LEJOG survival kit. I think it is fantastic and am really chuffed. Bev has spent a lot of time making it, cutting out the logo on the box and wrapping it up. It contains lots of goodies for keeping me on the straight and narrow during my ride. There's a mug (with cycling motif). A box of Earl Grey tea (I'm not posh or anything but I like Earl Grey. Bev calls it Earl Gay, the cheeky madam) There's a big bag of pasta (bike shapes) a camper van cookbook. Some GT85 silicon spray for the bike, lots of chocolate and energy gels a cycling diary and a notebook. It's just brill.

Thank you so much Bev

Radio interview

Earlier this week I got an email from one of my cycling buddies, Alex Kerr. He mentioned that he had a friend that worked for Radio Lancashire and that he might be able to get an interview about my challenge organised on a local station. Even though I am completely rubbish behind a microphone I accepted as any coverage of my cause is very much appreciated.
So at 9am Wednesday morning I found myself in a recording booth at High Peak FM. I was being interviewed by journalist Laura Pennington who seemed very professional and understanding of my challenge. We went through a practice at first and I felt comfortable and ready to record. However as soon as she pressed record on the PC I went to pieces, forgot things and got a bit tongue tied. Well that's what it seemed like. Laura said it was fine and that she would edit it to get rid of any mistakes. I hope so!

Radio journalist Laura and some tongue tied baffoon at High Peak FM

Anyway just to say. If I forgot to include anyone on my thankyous', please accept my apologies.
Laura has promised to email me with the broadcast date and time and hopefully also send an audio file of the interview. I'll post it as soon as I get anything. Stay tuned!
Thank again to Alex for organising and to Laura and High Peak FM for the opportunity to tell my story across the airwaves.