The final Day

I am tired, I am grumpy and I really should be in bed, and I really should not take it out on sarah...sorry.
However on the positive side it is all over I have completed my challenge, the final 59 miles is over. A fairly tough day into a strong headwind all the way. the scenery was still as desolate as yesterday but the weather was great, so great I have managed to get a little sun burnt (even through the gaps in my helmet).
The scenery took on a new light in the better weather and it was easier to see its beauty knowing I had the last miles to do and that it was not grey and over cast. The towns are very strange up here none more so than Wick which appears to be slumping slowly into oblivion, shop and amenity wise but is still putting on a great show of flowers and park areas!!!!!
a sandwich was enough in Wick to keep me going and I then enjoyed overtaking three cyclists on the way to the same destination before arriving at the promised land. HMMMMMMMMMMM not sure about John O'Groats, not really sure where the end was, had to go round a roundabout three times till I really believed I was there, but there I was (Parents arrived a little later) and it really began to sink in when another wonderful human being asked who I was doing it for and donated £5!!!!! BRILLIANT!!! We are now well over the £1000 mark.
After the jubilation of the arrival in John O'Groats and the finding of my parents we settled down in the first Costa Coffee in the land!!!!! Drank bought the t-shirt and set off back to Inverness for the night.
A brilliant experience, one of which I could not have done with out my support teams of Pat, Ron and the wonderful Sarah t first and then followed by Mum and Dad. All of which put up with tired Jonny, early nights, buying sandwiches and drinks at the drop of a hat, waving me on and replacing gel seats. They have been awesome - Thankyou!!
And thank you to you blogg readers, it has been amazing reading your comments and knowing that you are there all the way.

Brora to John O'Groats - Day 12 by jonnywells44 at Garmin Connect - Details

Brora to John O'Groats - Day 12 by jonnywells44 at Garmin Connect - Details

A job of a day

The day began well, weather was great and the smell of pine made it almost feel like the south of France. Things slowly began to change after Inverness, on leaving the Sustrans routes I had to join the very busy A9, this was very scary and the wind picked up just as I travelled over the bridge. The weather got steadily worse, no rain luckily but overcast and cold. This all starts to get a bit depressing and when the scenery starts to depriciate as well your motivation has to change.
So I started to look at it from another point of view, today was a job, I had to get as many miles done so I would have less to do tomorrow. I put my head down and peddaled away. The North East coast of Scotland is pretty desolate and not too interesting but the people are friendly and after 91 miles I stopped at the layby were Britains last wolf was shot???? I don't know why a wolf was in a layby either, I didn't even know they could drive or that gun crime linked to automotives was so rife in Scotland.
We then travelled to the highlight of the day and one of the highlights of the whole trip. I am writing this in Carbisdale Castle Youth Hostel which is a really real Castle, you can get lost in the corridors and eat in the grand dining hall, it is fantastic. i will post lots of photos tomorrow.
Well it is the last day, if I was being followed by a film crew for a one hour special on a friday night we would be in the last 7 minutes I reckon. It is a little sad that it is coming to an end and I am not sure how my body will feel about not having to ride that far every day, but it is time to stop and I am looking forward to my return.
Ben A thankyou for your encouragement you have got me through today along with you Mrs Thomas and of course SNorris. However BEN this is how you spell JOHN!!!!!!!!
Keep those final comments coming

Hot

Fastest day yet. 70 miles in 5 hours and I was finished and in the aviemore youth hostel by 3 pm!!!
Another very impressive day on the scenery part as the road headed into the mountains of the cairngorms. The road got a little busy so I opted for the easier sustrans paths and disused roads, theses really are brilliant and should be supported at any given opportunity. Today's route allowed me to play in the snow, fall off my bike into soft bracken (turnsout brakes are for wimps and people who want to stay on there bikes) and see some men messing with a formula 3 car!!!
I forgot to mention that yesterday i saw a sheep giving birth urrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!
The bike is still running beautifully and got me all the way to this strange ski town. It is very busy and full of coffee shops and outdoor clothing places, I am in heaven. Knees have been ok today and am now looking forward to dinner.
Just finished my coffee and now off for an explore!!!!

The Best Day Yet

A great day Boggers.
Breakfast with Mum and Dad and then left them to tour the great city of Glasgow. I am sure that Dads blog would say how great the Glasgow Boys art thingy was and that the bus tour was worth it.
I on the other hand set off out of the city into some of the best scenery yet, snow capped mountain after snow capped mountain with the road winding through the glens so never really going up much at all. I followed 2 birds of prey along the road, riding beneath them. The route took me through some beautiful little villages and touristy towns to get sandwiches and funny pastry things that tasted great (couldn't understand the lady who explained what it was???)
I sat in a park looking at more mountains in the glorious sunshine. The ride then got even better as I went off road onto the sustrans tracks which went up a valley side very steeply and then traversed the valley side over bridges and viaducts, all very impressive. This obviously meant that it was going to go down and down it went on brilliant tarmac tacks empty of other cyclists and pedestrians went for "brakes are for wimps' approach.
I arrived at where I wanted to at about 2pm so carried on on the sustrans route on the left hand side of Loch Tay. This meant that I got to see the amazing views of Ben Lawers with snow and all. Finished the day in the slightly rough Aberfady and got a lift back to the hotel at the bottom of Ben Lawers.
The comments are great, Sarah I would definately do more training to toughen up my knees. It is not good enough to have a general fitness, you need to be bike fit and I am only really just starting to feel that now.
I had my first thoughts of finishing today and got slightly worried that I wouldn't know what to do with myself when I don't have to cycle 90 miles before the day starts. Any suggestions?
Hannah an Daniel this may be a spot for a holiday.

Glasgow to Aberfeldy - Day 9 by jonnywells44 at Garmin Connect - Details

Glasgow to Aberfeldy - Day 9 by jonnywells44 at Garmin Connect - Details

Day 7

A hard slog up the long road to Glasgow. The road really did go on and on and on. It is the first day that I stuck on my headphones and listened to a book all the way (True Blood). It really did help and got me through a tough morning of leg pain and not a particularly interesting start to the day.
The route did improve and so did the scenery, the mountains in the distance threatened snow but the increasing temperature promised potential over heat problems. The cycle paths are good on the lead up to the city but then disappear when I needed them in the city centre. Dodging in and out of the potholes and avoiding the taxis was interesting if a little scary but the centre of Glasgow is worth it. Arrived with plenty of time to do a spot of shopping which was nice and got a Nero's coffee in before dinner in a nice Italian meal.
Check out the link below to see my full route and sad boring details of speed, heart rate and distance!!!!!
keep the comments coming people.
Also did I mention that yesterday a man gave me 20 pounds toward the sponsorship which was great.

Gretna to Glasgow - Day 7 by jonnywells44 at Garmin Connect - Details

Gretna to Glasgow - Day 7 by jonnywells44 at Garmin Connect - Details

Ingleton to Gretna

Hello Bloggers
Today started well riding up a beautiful valley, well valley stroke mountain, see the photo. Amazing views all the way and a fantastic downhill to follow. After the dark times of yesterday in Warrington and Wigan the ride was wonderful. Both knees aren't hurting nearly as much and a good nights sleep meant everything. Definately need to come back to this area of the country to visit again.
I had a sandwich in Appleby and plodded on, the afternoons always take a little while to get going and are the time that I feel at my most lonely. I don't really know why and can't quite pin point what it is I am feeling but it is at this time that I think about the money you have all helped me to raise and the people following me. The comments are great so keep them coming.
Bridget - my knees are hurting me the most, surprisingly my bottom is not hurting at all, but I do feel the saddle a lot more as the bum gets more muscle - good tip fat bums are best!
Emma - I hope a lot of the kids are following and just not put their names down
Paula - thanks for all the support
The food is fantastic. After burning 11000 calories a day I can eat all I want - when I finished today I ate: minstrels, revels, coco pop bar, raisens, steak and chips, a bowl of mussels and a cadburies cream egg and I am still hungry!!!!!!
Keep the comments coming.

A tough day

Only a short one tonight as on the phone due to no Internet.
The day started well enough with goodbyes to john, cath and bill in Nantwich. It then plummeted, bad weather, awfull scenery of Warrington, Wigan and chorley along with pain in my knees lead to a real downer of a beginning.
Things then perked up with our guest star number one, hannah wells who popped along for lunch. With this lovely surprise and a bit of food I was rejuvinated and ready to go. It was a good job too with some if the hills I would encounter. The scenery improved massively around and past Blackburn and after I had taken the toe clips off the bike so my knees hurt less I was good to go. The hills were steep and put some of cornwalls best to shame. A long winding road over the fells of north Yorkshire was enough to finish me off after 70 miles. The bonus of the area was a visit from 2 more guest stars Frank and Margaret Edwards who supported me in and joined us for tea in ingleton (stunning place)
I hope tomorrow is a little easier although it doesn't look that way!!!!!!!!

Malvern to Warrington Day 5

Said goodbyes to Sarah and family and set off with Mum and Dad.

A very fast day with easy long hills both up and down. This has meant that I have been able to keep an average speed of 14mph all day. A top speed of 39.5mph (in a 30 zone) was a highlight of the day. Met up with Mum and Dad in a retail car park in Telford, not the most picturesque but it had sandwiches so it did the job.

John and Bill joined Mum and Dad to cheer me past Nantwich which was great and meant that with spirits high I could keep going that little bit more.

My knees began to hurt at about 90 miles and I had to admit defeat just south of Warrington on 106 miles. A day of looking at the front wheel all the way, head down all the way.

Finished a brilliant evening at Cath and John's in Nantwich with 2 portions of spagetti before bed.

A day of rest

A day off in Malvern was just what the legs needed. A light walk around the hills and plenty of coffee and food. Had a lovely meal at Nana's all cooked by Dad.

Sarah, Pat and Ron leave tomorrow and I will be sad to say good bye, Mum and Dad have a lot to live up to on the support team!! We will have to see if they are a little better at, 1 keeping up and 2, not getting too lost!!

Have discovered a injury and found its name on the internet. Discovered yesterday that my left hand was feeling strange and not really responding to what I wanted it to do when picking things up etc.. apparently this is common and called cyclers palsy where the nerve in the wrist is damaged. All very strange.

Off to Nantwich tomorrow to stay over at Cath and Johns which will be great, looking forward o it, 90 miles tomorrow.

Any questions kids? Any comments would be great.

A day off in Malvern was just what the legs needed. A light walk around the hills and plenty of coffee and food. Had a lovely meal at Nana's all cooked by Dad.
Sarah, Pat and Ron leave tomorrow and I will be sad to say good bye, Mum and Dad have a lot to live up to on the support team!! We will have to see if they are a little better at, 1 keeping up and 2, not getting too lost!!
Have discovered a injury and found its name on the internet. Discovered yesterday that my left hand was feeling strange and not really responding to what I wanted it to do when picking things up etc.. apparently this is common and called cyclers palsy where the nerve in the wrist is damaged. All very strange.
Off to Nantwich tomorrow to stay over at Cath and Johns which will be great, looking forward o it, 90 miles tomorrow.
Any questions kids? Any comments would be great.

Easter Day Axbridge to Malvern

Hello All Happy Easter

Very tired so this will be a little short. The day was so much easier, lovely long, relatively flat roads after a couple of slopes up the Mendips. The surface was smooth which meant that I got up to speeds of around 14 mph on average and 40 mph at one point.

Managed to get a little lost in Bristol (AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHH) don't think I ever want to go back there again!!!!

I got through it eventually and on to Gloucester for coffee and panini. Everything was closed due to it being Easter Sunday which meant that the roads were a little quieter. Saw a dead swollen frog on the side of the road which was nice.

Does anyone know why Bridgewater is the home of the Carnival????

Also what does the word combe mean when used in the name of a town e.g Butcombe tee hee?

Thank you for the comments left by Bridget and Paul, looking forward to seeing your parents in a couple of days.

Hello Blog Followers.

Sorry I didn't blog (is that the right thing to say???) yesterday but the reception was awful last night.

I am now in Axbridge after 2 days of riding. The train ride to Penzance was amazing, with a comfy bed and a wake up call with a bacon sandwich. There was then a ride to Lands End of 10 miles before really setting off with several other adventurers. Kids you will be glad to know that Mr Wells soared passed them all within the first 10 miles. The rolling hills of Cornwall while pretty became slowly more and more tiring and felt like they were getting steeper and steeper!!!!!By the end of a 101 mile day I was glad to stop.

This morning started with a 4 mile up the hills of Dartmoor, these went on and on but riding under some kind of bird of prey was pretty amazing. The snow reminded me just how cold it was as did the hailstone!!!!

The hills did not stop and one down hill was just a little too much for my nerves to deal with as I kept the brakes on all the way down. The rain poured and the wind blew and the hills got steeper to the point that I nearly cried. Eventually they all calmed down and after a tuna sandwich I managed to get a little faster and finish 99 miles just before 7pm with Sarah, Pat and Ron seeing me yet again.