Where camping is fun for disabled and able-bodied together

Wednesday 22nd August

James is in Scotland with his bike, enjoying time in Edinburgh before setting off North (by train) to meet up with Phillipa on Friday evening. They will travel to John O'Groats on Saturday morning and begin their journey southwards on Saturday or Sunday.

Here's a photo of James, taken just before he left home the other day

Cycled 30 miles to Wick

Friday 24th September 7.25pm

The weather is fine in Scotland today. James was at Wick, lying on the grass on the top of the cliff looking out to sea when we checked in with him.    He spent last night in a hostel at Thurso which was also a Fish and chip shop. Today he went shopping to get a few things he needed before cycling the 30 miles to Wick today, taking about 3 hours.

Phillipa is still on the train, travelling to Wick, due to arrive just after 10pm. She has met someone else on the train who is also planning to cycle from John O'Groats to Lands End.  He's planning to get from Wick to John O'Groats tonight by taxi, with his bike on a trailer, and James and Phillipa have now decided to join him, using the same taxi to get there themselves.

The trip from John O'Groats commences!

DAY 1

Saturday 25th August

James and Phillipa started out at 10.20 today and found themselves cycling against the wind and occasionally in drizzly conditions.  They stopped at Thurso for lunch eventually getting to Betty Hill in the evening where they stopped for the night.

50 miles travelled today.

Cycling on beyond Bonnybridge.

DAY 2

Sunday 26th August

The intrepid duo have had a good days cycling, stopping at 3pm for lunch before continuing. At the time of report (about 8pm) they had had passed their target for the day (Bonnybridge), and Ardgay and had cycled 63 miles.

James and Phillipa are pushing on to get to an inn ahead, where they hope to find somewhere to camp tonight.  There has been no wind or rain today, but James reports that attacks from midges have been problematic.

Update:- James and Phillipa cycled another couple of miles only to find what was marked as an inn was no such thing. They were allowed to camp in someone's garden, and fortunately there was a convenient outside toilet available!

Damp day by Loch Ness

DAY 3

Monday 27th August

To ensure an early start, there was an alarm call at 6.30 am. (by arrangement), courtesy of a beep on the car horn by the house owner.  The weather was wet in the morning, and their belongings got somewhat damp. Today's route took James and Phillipa by the side of Loch Ness, and James says he found he got himself into a good rhythm with his cycling on that stretch.

After cycling a total of 68 miles, they reached a hostel at Invagarry tonight, where they are glad of the opportunity of spending the night indoors.

On through Glen Coe.

DAY 4

Tuesday 28th August

A good day's steady cycling in good weather took the pedalling pair about 66 miles today to their free campsite for the night at Bridge of Orchy.

James particularly enjoyed seeing the splendour of the scenery in Glen Coe as they cycled through. This evening they saw three deer, two with antlers locked, just a few metres away, and they managed to get some photos.

Phillipa's knee had been giving her some "jip", but it has been OK today, with the knee bandage providing good support.

Further midge problems tonight when they stopped to set up at the camp site. It started to rain at about 9pm, as James was about to start cooking their meal (pasta).  66 miles today.

...On past Loch Lomond

DAY 5

Wednesday 29th August

James and Phillipa made their way south along the side of Loch Lomond, then east along the southerly part of the Loch.

The weather was fine today, and they finished the day at a small campsite at Drymen.  55 miles cycled today.

Separated near to Glagow...

DAY 6

Thursday 30th August

The route today took James and Phillipa to east of Glagow. The roads were busy, and cycling through built up industrial areas was a bit depressing.  The two accidentally got separated, but met up again Carluke.

The weather remained good, and they cycled a total of 65 miles today, ending up at a campsite at Abington.  James was chef tonight for their evening meal, and for the second night in a row rice and dahl (lentils) were on the menu.

Across the border into England!

DAY 7

Friday 31st August

81 miles cycled today, as James and Phillipa crossed the border and pressed on down to just north of Penrith, where they arrived late at a campsite at North Dyke farm near Great Salkeld.

They couldn't initially find the camp site, and there appeared to be no one at the main farm house, but a helpful neighbour provided some refreshment and showed them where to go to camp.  81 miles cycled today.

Detour on route to make a visit

DAY 8

Saturday 1st September

The beginning of week 2 of the ride- about 450 miles cycled so far!

The two cycled via Penrith to Keswick where they dried out for a bit and charged up their batteries as they visited a relative of Phillipa's.

They set off again in the early evening for a further leg, heading towards Kendal, stopping the night at Ambleside near the north of Windemere.

44 miles covered today.

Past Windermere to Preston

DAY 9

Sunday 2nd September

They cycled past Windermere to Kendall, then heading south, ending up at Preston.

At Preston James and Phillipa have booked into a hotel for the night, where they can dry off and get some clothes washed.  The key jammed in the lock of Phillipa's cycle lock, but hotel staff assisted in getting the problem resolved.  They are going out for a meal this evening.

54 miles cycled today.

On and On past Shrewsbury

DAY 10

Monday 3rd September

They finished up at Cardington, south of Shrewsbury, and stayed at a cottage, which they reached after cycling on in the dark.  This accommodation was provided free for their use as they were going to be arriving at the site late.

A record day's cycling took James and Phillipa all of 97 miles today!

Into Wales....

DAY 11

Tuesday 4th September

After a good night's sleep James felt rested this morning before they tacked the day's leg of the journey.  ames' knee was aching a bit after yesterday's marathon stint.  Today they cycled on south, stopping for the night at a site just north of Chepstow.  The camp site they'd booked ahead turned out to be disappointing, as there were no washing or toilet facilities available.  Another couple camping there tonight have been generous in sharing their water and wine!

71 miles cycled today.

...Back into England- ants in his pants!

DAY 12

Wednesday 5th September!

Cycling over the Severn Bridge back into the UK, our intrepid pair continued,   ending up at Woolavington, Somerset. (They stopped for a rest and a nap in the afternoon. and James was bitten by red ants - on his bum!

At the end of the day's ride, the kindly campsite owners waived their camping fee, saying it could be put towards their sponsorship.

54 miles today.

Up and down on the Devon roads.

DAY 13

Thursday 6th September

A good day today, and a more hilly route as they headed through Devon. They aimed for a campsite at Sampford Courtney, above Oakhampton, but it had closed down.    They used the facilities of a local pub for a well-earned drink, and the landlord agreed that they could camp in a nearby field, and gave them mugs of hot chocolates before bed!    James’ knees are still aching, and the red ant bite on his bottom was sore!

65 miles travelled today- about 835 in total (Phillipa's total is slightly different from our cumulative one).

Pedalling on through Cornwall...

DAY 14

Fruday 7th September

Taking a route along by roads near the north side of Cornwall, they cycled through Bude, and on to a campsite at St Kews near Wadebridge.  Today ends the second week of the expedition!

Mileage unconfirmed at present, but estimated 65.

Start of week 3- nearly there!

DAY 15

Saturday 8th September

Today at a service station James and Phillipa saw and spoke with Clem Munckton, who James knows.  Clem lives in Farnham and was visiting St Ives.

They ended up at a campsite at Gwitherian.  James had his first puncture, which had to be repaired.   The start of the third week of cyclinghas brought them close to their goal, but they have decided to complete their ride tomorrow.

They cycled 47 miles today

They made it!!

DAY 16

Sunday 9th September

The final push for 20 miles saw James and Phillipa arriving safely at Lands End at about 11am.  They had their picture taken by the Lands End sign, and then relaxed for the afternoon, going to a local pub, for a drink.

Tonight they plan to stay at a site in the area, previously used by James when on a cycling trip.  James and Phillipa will be catching the train home from Penzance on Tuesday.  Some further entries from James may appear on this site afterwards.….!

WELL DONE TO JAMES AND PHILLIPA FOR THEIR PERSEVERANCE!