Brad bikes from John O Groats to Lands End (JOGLE)

Thursday 22nd July 2010

A little bit dehydrated due to the Guiness last night, but got up tried to hydrate as much as possible, but feeling good as this was my final day of cycling in 2 weeks. Had a good breakfast and left he B&B at 9:00 and headed to Par where my dad was staying. My dad Rich was to cycle the last 60 miles with me today, plus I had finally got rid of my panniers, so any extra weight had been removed.

The weather started off quite mixed, very light rain which got heavier for a while as we headed for Truro, 20 miles away. We were going good this morning and it didn’t appear too hilly and we made good time, completing the distance to Truro in under 2 hours. We stopped off and met uncle Frank for tea and croissants. I took some painkillers to help relieve a slight niggle in my left thigh.

We left Truro originally heading for Redruth, but after reconsidering my route, we headed cross country along the quieter B roads, this was a more direct route, but again was hilly. My left thigh got worse as each hill arrived, to the point where again, I was cycling with less than half power and pushing with my right leg to get up every hill. The pain in my left leg was constant, but by the time we arrived in Penzance at 15:20 the painkillers had reduced the thigh problem to an ache on each turn of the the peddle. Knowing that I only had 12 miles to go was a real incentive, and also having the support of everyone, plus Ash, Dad, Frank, Bob and Butcher here today was good. So more tea and food in Penznace for the final hurdle.

The last 12 miles were quite fast considering, adrenalin had kicked in and the pain in my thigh was nearly non-existent. Every hill we approached, I was peddling with extra enthusiasm. With about 3 miles to go my brother Ash passed in the car with the horn going. So at least they would be there to meet us. We could see Lands End, or at least the water and knew it was only a few minutes away, then sun started to shine and it was finally a great achievement to arrive at my final destination. Lands End had finally arrived. I crossed the finish line, found the Lands End sign-post and got the official photo taken (which you have to pay for standing next to the sign).

There beers were then cracked open, I got off the bike and vowed not to ride it for at least 2 weeks, which would be a nice relief for Lara and the girls being bored everyday with dads plands to ride from John O Groats to Lands End.

I had achieved my goal and raised nearly £2300 for the Rowans Hospice.

Thanks to everyone for their support and reading my updates, everyone has been very generous and I’ve update the pictures soon.