Updates!

Hi!
We are still updating the blog adding to each individual day as time & IT permit (if you'd seen my laptop you'd understand!) So dip in and out now and again.

This weekend Andy & I are riding from Cardiff to Tenby (101 miles)  with 600 others and we have persuaded Allison Tiff & Liz to join us. Ken will be providing his support skills (which now run like a well oiled machine). There may even be a guest appearance by Brad another avid blog follower and rater of beer! You may wonder what of Rich? but he is wining and dining Helen for her birthday so he has a valid excuse!
For Dragon fans watch out for a guest appearance - we will hopefully post some pictures on Sunday.

Day 11 - Dornoch to John O'Groats

 I'm sorry LeJog Blog fans but a minimal post tonight as some serious celebration is occurin!!!!!

The team in action in sun, snow, hail , WIND +++ & 1.5 C on the last day of Le Jog

  The Final Full Team Photo at John O'Groats

No official photographer on a Saturday - so they whip out the signs!!!



And the winners are - Andy, Richard & Sarah!

Congratulations guys on a truly fantastic effort over the whole 10 1/2 days.

 

Enjoy your celebrations!

Day 9 - Kinross to Newtonmore

(Written by Ken after 3 very large whiskies!!!)

Following a fab overnight stay at 'Burnbank' B&B in Kinross, which we can recommend to anyone visiting the area, the riders started off under a cloudy overcast sky and there was a distinct chill in the air. Day 9 of base layers.

The ploy  to catch Ken out today was that after about 6 miles Sarah suddenly remembered that she had left the Dragons and a polo shirt in the bedroom back at the B&B.
Ever dedicated Ken headed back to the B&B but the missing polo shirt appeared in Sarah's bag before he got there. Surprise, surprise!!!

Magic and the other dragons were found immersing themselves in Scottish culture, with some caber tossing practise ready for the Birnam Highland Games!

Perth was negotiated with ease and the conditions became far more favourable, with the appearance of blue sky's and warm sun. Finally, a chance to remove the base layers for the first time on LeJog!

The guys flew into The Highlands via Pitlochrie and were rewarded with amazing countryside and views. Progress was in fact so smooth that the team didn't even stop at their normal 30 mile break, even though Ken had all the food and drink laid out and awaiting them.

Arriving at Pitlochrie, the stroppy cyclists were not satisfied with the coffee, flapjacks, welsh cakes and fruit cake on offer, Andy 'didn't want any more sweet stuff'. They wanted meat pies and pasties. 

'Goffer', Ken, was dispatched to purchase them. 

Ken had a quiet smile when after a few miles Richard & Sarah were asking for Rennie's from Ken's own stash. Revenge of the pasties!!!!!

The dreaded 10 mile hill climb passed with few problems and at the summit the team were greeted with snow!

Although the the A9 was busy, the fearless trio made amazing progress though the Cairngorms, to arrive at Newtonmore well ahead of schedule.

To allow clear access into the town for the LeJog train, the Dragons had tackled 'The Beast of Newtonmore', with amazing team work, passed on by the Grand Slam Winning Welsh Rugby Team.

 .
We all changed quickly and wandered down to the 'Glen' pub, we can still walk amazingly!. The food was great and the beer, another from the Caladonian Brewery, rated 8/10 by Andy and Richard, went down a treat. 

Tomorrow, onward to Dornoch and a stop at the famous Glenmorangie Whiskey Distillery for Ken, as a reward for his team support role!

 Not many miles left now. More news later.

Day 8 - Moffatt to Kinross

The team left the B&B in fine but windy weather for the first full day in Scotland.

Day 8 quickly saw, for the third day running, the riders lose Ken (not a happy bunny). This time the cause was false route information at the start of the journey!

The real route saw the 'train' pass through some stunning countryside, although the first few miles were uphill, topping out at 1400 feet and into a strong wind.

The source of the river Tweed and a good stretch of this majestic river were passed during the morning, while the dragons cheered the team on.

A Spot of lunch in a traditional venue for Richard. 

 

Slowly signs for Edinburgh became prevalent and this cheered the team up no end.

Once in the city of Edinburgh the road layout and the surfaces were less than perfect and negotiating the route to the Forth Road Bridge proved a nightmare. However, we all passed over without any problems. 

 Forth Road Bridge

Forth Rail Bridge

The run into Kinross from North Queensferry saw the sun come out properly. The change in weather may have been what encouraged some taxi drivers in Inverkeithe to part with some Scottish £5 notes! Thanks guys!!! 

 

The end of the day saw everybody in good spirits but there were some complaints of aching thighs well,only from Sarah really (think she was just after another massage from Ken).

 

Once in Kinross the dragons relaxed in their B&B room, while the team tried to chase away the dark thoughts lurking in their minds, the 10 mile hill in the middle of  Day 10, Gulp!!!, 

The only thing for it was the traditional method of quietening one's mind!

They're leading those innocent dragons astray! 

Watch this space for more news of that after the event!!! i.e. the small climb!

Day 7 - Ambleside to Moffat (Bonny Scotland)

Left Claremont House in Ambleside in dry weather but only after Richards 8th wee of the morning.

We thought we'd never leave!

The day started with a 'nice' 800ft climb into a headwind, one way to burn off a B&B breakfast.

We rode through some stunning scenery in the morning with meres & mountains which made the miles fly to Penrith. We even managing to lose the support vehicle, by some canny doctoring of the arranged route, you can imagine how happy Ken was ;) !!!!!

We eventually found Ken 8 miles later than scheduled for coffee.

The boys, Andy & Richard, not Puff 'n' Magic, discovered the date flapjacks that Allison's Mum had baked for our adventure, their not much longer for this world! (Yum, yum! Thanks Carole!)

Magic felt at home in the mountains and enjoyed a back pocket ride, while Soup, Puff 'n' Magic were hitching a lift with Ken. 

After coffee it was onwards to Carlisle, where Sarah recognised a bar she'd stopped in before (seems to be a common theme developing here Sarah!). 

The long straight road into Gretna was tough going but the hard work was soon forgotten when we reached Scotland, our third country on LeJog.

The dragons got their Scottish visas and are getting excited about visiting their Loch Monster relatives.

Ken's getting to grips with the catering requirements of the LeJog team and came up with great ham and cheese baguettes (minus Richards Walkers crisps!) for lunch in Gretna Green.

The last leg, into our final destintion of Moffatt, was a battle all the way againest a strong headwind. 

 

Now relaxing in the Black Bull, Moffatt -  haggis & fritters with pepper sauce, Lockerbie lamb cutlets & the local ale, Deuchards IPA, going down a treat.

As always the locals are very friendly and giving us routing advice! (Maybe we'll manage to lose Ken tomorrow as well!)

We all are amazed at the generosity of those we met each day. Today we had donations from the butcher in Ambleside, the firemen and the lady selling the lottery tickets. Thanks to you all!

Day 6 - Liverpool to Ambleside.

After yesterday's inclement weather caused a change of plan, the team started today from Albert Dock in Liverpool, rather than Chorley, adding an extra 30 miles to the route to Ambleside on Lake Windermere.

The day was fine, with blue sky's and no rain, thank goodness! 

This cheered the intrepid trio as they negotiated the morning rush hour through Liverpool and out of the city, passing Aintree racecourse on the way.

 

The added solar power ensured a good pace to the first break at The Anchor Inn, Hutton, just outside Preston, where Max and Rob allowed us the use of their 'comfort' facilities. (Thanks guys).

After coffee it was plain sailing all the way

to lunch at Carnforth, Morecombe Bay

where potted shrimps were compulsory! 

Fab views abounded as we headed towards Lake Windermere and on to
Ambleside, our final destination for Day 6.

Today's ride was further than originally planned, due to the amendment of day 5's route but we're back on track and to the origional plan!

It's off to bonny Scotland tomorrow!!!

Day 5 - Shrewsbury to Liverpool (The Journey from Hell)

A somber mood hung over the breakfast table, dread I think!!!

After yesterday's epic 107 miles into the wind, the weather forecast was appalling,torrential rain and gale force winds for the duration of the day and to cap it all the cheeriest member of the team was leaving.

 Putting on a brave face before rolling out of the hotel into rain that fell like stair rods!

Today was not going to be fun!

We managed to battle to just short of Chester and were still short of the agreed coffee stop and the support guys. By this time hypothermia was setting in along with a measure of hysteria.

Sarah remembered a truck stop on the A41 that sold fab pies! (Richard was in heaven!!!)




The support vehicles were summoned back & we decided to thaw out and get into some dry gear in The Egerton Arms. The pub were brilliant and didn't complain when we hung all our wet gear over the rads, although we're not quite sure what the other customers thought.

We refueled here and as usual the mascots joined us for lunch. Magic chose curry and Merlin a more refined choice of Moules & Frites!

The support team had a tough morning too and in the struggle to keep Soup dry and smoke free and had had to resort to some unusual methods!

Over lunch Richard then had brainwave, we should try and get to Liverpool and call it a day, Chorley was just a step too far in the conditions.

A stalwart team performance got us to the Mersey Ferry Terminal, where the staff took pity on us and we were
made tea by an Evertonian Docker before the ferry sailed.
 

Andy was in heaven, he was in the city of his dreams!!!!

After drying off and getting our laundry organised we had a quick meal in The Pumphouse in Albert Dock with Val, Dave & Ken.

Our spirits was soon restored and we were buoyed by the promise of sunshine the next day.

 The longer, amended run into Lake Windermere somehow didn't seem so bad.

Day 4 - Caldicot ('Monmouthshire') to Shrewsbury

Sorry this one is 24 hours late our excuses are:-
1) The cycling didn't finish until 7.15pm!!!
2) No Wi Fi Access in the hotel on Saturday Evening without paying £7.00 and we decided we were too tight to pay that!
So here it is.......... 

The LeJog Team prepare to set off on Day 4 with some much

appreciated cycling support from Sue, Mark & Dave.

 The cheering fans
with signs at
Chepstow Racecouse.

We gain a new support team member,  Tolly (Sarah's Niece), for the route up through The Wye Valley and she quickly gets the hang of things! Dragon care, map reading and Welsh Cake

eating all at once!

First stop at Coffee# 1, Monmouth, a very familiar ride stop but today to the cheers of LeJog's rapturous supporters and the dragons.

 And look who's waiting in Coffee# 1 - it's naughty Puff the twin who went missing yesterday! He's apparently been gorging on Hot Chocolate & Welsh Cakes all day so Soup will need to keep a close eye on him today!

More changes to the support team as Val & Dave (Andy's Mum & Dad)

join us for 2 Days - get in the picture Val!!!!!!

After much chat and coffee drinking we get underway again, Puff is confined to the support vehicle!

 

The team storm towards Hereford and stop for some sign bagging!

Evidence of the dreadful rain we have mostly avoided as the team cycle into Leintwardine.
(Fab 5* Restaurant with Rooms by the bridge - The  Lion)

 Soup is having to keep a close
eye on Puff 'n' Magic the twins,
we don't want to lose Puff again!

To continue our combined culinary and cycling adventure or should it be cycling & culinary adventure, we stop for lunch at Rocke Cottage Tea Rooms, near Clungunford.

Soup peruses the menu while Merlin, Puff

'n' Magic survey the fab cake collection!

The peleton forges ahead towards Shrewsbury, always a tough restart after a good lunch stop!

                                            

Fab local scenery around White Grit!

10 miles to go and the rain clouds are gathering when disaster strikes in Pontesbury with a tyre puncture for Andy! The first of LeJog and it wasn't a Richard Puncture!!!!!

 

 Finally we arrive at the hotel after an 8.30 to 7.15pm day and 107 miles!!!

Bring on the recovery drinks (and cider!!!)

We need to blot out tomorrows weather forecast of torrential rain and gale force winds somehow!!!