saturday 21 may day 8 jogle 2011

sleeping along side the ferry port,we were up early,but kellie very nearly missed the ferry as she dorddled down the slip,the ferry started to lift its bow with her still at the top.lucky the capitain spotted her and dropped it again.they were on amber alert because of the weather



arran should have been such a pleasure,in reality it was horrid,rained heavy all the way over to brodrick




what a shame we didn't enjoy arran,we had a lovely breakfast at the pavillion in lochranza,the climb over to corrie was one hell of a climb,on top three cyclist who regularey do arran as a training route passed their simpathy at missing a beautifull island due to the rain.but still found the heart to donate £15 between them to our bucket.lunch was at the golf club before heading down to a waiting boat at brodick,we headed for the cafeteria once on board.as we arrived at ardrossan the weather was showing no sign of improving so we opted for a b&b.finding a self service b&b in irvine,showered,washed and dried our clothes,pub for a couple of pints then a take away for supper

friday 20 may,day 7 jogle 2011

ready for the off,one of the nicest rest stops



lovely cafe,pity same can't be said for upstairs staff,id like to bet people dont revisit,but the shop down stairs completely diffrent,very welcoming.



looking at the sign,are they machanical cats? or just big moggies,keep going just in case they are the wild type of cat.



time for a break,ill just have 5 minutes




some lovely scenary but you have to pay the price,some long climbs on our way over to tarbet.but roads nice and quiet.




arran our first views,looking dark n dismal



with no available b&b we pushed on till we got to the ferry terminal.and a welcome piece of grass to pitch tent

today was hard going the hills dragged kellies knee locked up and she was in quiet some pain,tramadol to the rescue. with very few food stops,energy levels had to be topped up from time to time with choc bars n oat bars infact anything with sugar in it,lochgilliped saw us sat in sunshine having pop n crisps on the village green.kellie getting very tired after dinner(tea)in tarbert,"just a bit further kellie"until we eventualy got to the ferry port,don't think she thought much of me today i became the slave driver towards the end of the day,young legs may be faster but i have the edge at the end of the day to keep going

thursday 19 may.day 6 jogle 2011

a tea room was this the begining of civilisation,lovely home made lemon drizzle cake.very helpful local informed us of new cycle path been constructed just over the loch that runs to oban,well will do when finished



impressive and its not finished yet



tea and coffee good,food very expensive at the old station hotel on the trail



we now know why highland cattle have such wooly coats(bloody weather)



oban at last,feels like we are making progress.








just a selection ,the trike attracting intrest where ever i park it

today saw a break in the rain,beautiful ride down the soon to be completed cycle path to oban,lets hope they mark the cafes and tea stops when finished ,we tried to find the castle cafe but finished up with soup and a sandwich at the sea life centre(they dont charge entry fee if your only using cafeteria)
after oban the rains started again so on finding a b&b at kilmore as the light was fadeing(due to weather not time)we sort refuge,and very welcoming too
we had done our milage so no point pushing on into the wilderness

wednesday 18 may day 5 jogle 2011

"not windy today kellie" well why is that flag not drupping !



leaving the hobbit village and into the head wind




commando monument.ben nevis in the background,under the rain clouds


another tough day strong head winds all the way,and still very little in the way of cafe etc. 35 miles and average speed 7.4 mph.kellie ripped another shoe plate,and the day finished in fort william with a meal for the price of what time it was.so we got ours for £5 as it was five o'clock.nice if you are early but expensive if its going up ten o'clock

tuesday 17 may.day 4 jogle 2011

sun!what a suprise cooking breakfast in the sunshine,the group of cyclists doing lejog who were camped along side, were up and gone around 6am.we tendered to have a little more laid back approach especially with it been sunny



1st day of sunshine and kellie was suffering hay fever,not helped by following a tractor grass cutting for about 2 mile.so no sooner had we set off then we had to stop for her to take medication.dingwall station tea rooms,tea cake and tablets.tramadol for my knee as it was still playing up



a long climb up over the hill then a massive drop in to drumnadrochit.and the banks of loch ness.as we were having tea and more cake the rains strarted,we decided to head for a campsite we had stayed at about 12 years ago on the banks of loch ness.head winds all the way down the A82



on arrival at loch ness campsite we were informed the no longer take tents but offered a hobbit hut



dinner was a throw it all in a pan.pasta cooked in soup with sweet corn,roast beef,onions mmmm well it filled a hole,washed down with a bottle from the camp office

today was gemma my other daughters birthday,funny the last time we visited loch ness it was for gemmas 16th birthday.how time flys.43 miles hard going strong head winds all day.but still managed 7.5 mph,the hobbit was welcome shelter from the wind and rain.A82 is a horrid road traffic travelling far too fast for such a lovely road along the banks of ness.still about an hour behind time as we were supposed to be in fort augustus.

monday 16 may day 3 jogle 2011

leaving altnahara b&b,after a lovely breakfast,weather brighter than the previous evening



climbing up through the burn was slow for me,the previous two days had left knee grumbling,photo stop to give it a rest.thinking we had brought far too much equipment



as we had set off.mentioned to kellie,we would stop at crask inn for coffee.this fell on deaf ears,because she climbs hills quicker the only time i saw her was when she stopped to take photos.i eventualy caught up with her at lairg her belly told her it was time to stop,as usual no where open for lunch,we pressed on to falls of shin visitors centre.



lovely restored old AA box,this marked the start of a long climb,short cut to dingwall.after dropping down towards the A9 we opted for the old road and soon came accross a nice campsite near a pub in evanton.ideal




one of the few times i actually had kellie behind on a hill(in the mirror)

a better day today 54 miles and average 8mph still behind schedule but only by about an hour. had our fair share of rain as will become the norm for scotland ,tramadol pain killers keeping my knee quiet.nice meal at the end of the day,couple of pints then bed

sunday 15 may .day 2 jogle 2011

Water proofs again, at least camping on top of the moor meant we did not have much climbing to start with.



Café closed at melvich, breakfast cooked with the protection of a bus shelter. Was this a sign of things to come?



After breakfast we had only been traveling 10 minutes when I realized the rear Tyre was flat, the first of only two punctures for the trip, had to strip everything of the trike to get at rear wheel, time to sit down on the job



Traffic jam. Highland style



Pity the weather was so dismal



altnahara b&b room with a view strathnavin burn

day 2. 45 miles, average speed 6.9 mph .soul distroying to start with,next to little open,maybe because it was sunday or just remote,bettyhill took forever to reach.after which the fact that we were heading south lifted moral.travelling south down strathnavin was uplifting till the rain set in.altnahara b&b was a welcome resting point

saturday 14 may 2011.day 1 of jogle

All set for the off. We actually started at duncansby head, weather very windy and wet. Very wet






We had planned to include the most northerly point and southerly points much to kellies disgust




first day was a very tough 44 mile, average speed 7mph,as the day concluded a patch of heather was the best we could find to pitch tent in the shelter of gorse on the exposed moor

Extracts from Face book of the last few days

28 May Camping at Ludlow. Very nice view of the castle.

29 May Sunday lunch in Hereford. Monmouth then Wye valley. Camping at Monmouth. Wye valley in the morning.another day without waterproofs.but still have the head winds that are pretty blustery.

30 May Having tea at Tintern station bottom of the Wye valley in the rain.

31 May Bridgewater.route change heading for Crediton Oakhampton instead of Barnstable.

1 June Great Torrington heading for Holdsworthy. Stibbs Cross for the night. 45 miles of hellish Devon hills but still just in front of schedule.

2 June 11.40 About to cross into Cornwall.
18.45 Wadebridge just deciding weather to carry on over a pint of guiness.

3 June Sat in Truro avoiding the mid day sun.

4 June In Helston having tea n cake. Dunnit head to lizard point sorted to got to get to Lands End and we will be done. 15.55 "Penzance fish n chips". It's sea side. Trying to waste time as we are instructed not to arrive early.
20.49 We have competed 1085 mile jogle Dunnit head and lizard. A fantastic reception by all thank you everyone especially Kellie and Julie.

Yes we have finished!

Sorry I have not posted that we had finished. We finished on time with a brilliant reception at lands end organised by Julie and tosh thank you. I'm fishing this week in Cornwall will write a full report on Jogle when we have proper access to internet and not just phone and plenty photos will be posted. Thank to Kellie and to everyone who helped and supported us. Michael.

one week left.and going strong

sat camping above ludlow castle. a bit bhind schedule but noy worried.55miles today and looking a map we should catch up tomorrow.two days now without rain wow.kellie doing really well.my knee is playing up a little but julie managed to get me some tramadol to birkenhead so im sorted.should be down at chepstow tomorrow woth a bit o luck.

very tired tyre

leaving carlisle after breakfast it was a steady slog up to penrith, intermitant showers. stopping at a garden centre for tea and scone.penrith we found a nice rather pc cafe/bar.


from here we had a very long climb up to shap summit.the leyland clock replaced by a memorial stone, to the drivers and crew of transport days gone bye.on the decent kellie neaded the call of nature,while she was gone looking round the trike i noticed the rear tyre was down to cords id worn it out,steady decent into kendal and search for a food stop climbing a curb the rear tyre gave up and went flat.lucky i was carrying a spare. repairing the tube, swapped the tyre and then kellie announced another plate on her shoe had broke,in to the nearest pub for food and to repair her shoe.


the leyland clock from shap was refurbished and stood proud in the gardens of the cinema complex in kendal .resited there during 1973 and refurbished 1996.


after sorting our problems ,we set of but kellie soon threw in the towel . wanting to rest for the night(time of month excuses accepted)