The plan..

OK - route and dates finalised; still one or two accommodation options to consider; Kilmarnock, Chester and Barnstaple are the only two venues in which I have not yet sorted somewhere to stay, but will work on that early in new year.

Still turning the screw on Mark Lupton to make up the Dirty Dozen, haven't given up hope yet!         For those of you that haven't seen this yet; xtranormal video link  give it a view, and you'll have some idea of what I'm up against (disclaimer - it's not for the kids, viewer discretion advised!)

Steve/Gar - the dates are as below, sorry for any confusion;

Start day, May 7^th 2011 (drive up the day before, Friday. stay at this hostel )

Day…………........start/Finish………………distance

1.Saturday  7th…JOG – Inverness; 119 miles

2.Sunday  8th…Inverness – Oban; 109 miles

3.Monday  9th…Oban – Kilmarnock; 114 miles

4.Tuesday  10th...Kilmarnock-Windermere;122 miles

5.Wednesday  11th...Windermere–Chester;128miles

6.Thursday  12th…Chester–Celtic Manor Resort Newport/Usk; 126miles

7.Friday  13th…Celtic Manor – Barnstaple; 109miles 
8.Saturday  14th… Barnstaple – St.Agnes; 82 miles 
9.Sunday 15th…St.Agnes – Land’s End; 34 miles

Lunch in Land’s end, drive home Sun., pm.

Land’s end – Port Talbot (257 miles) in the van!

The Col de Cimla, Dragon ride 2010; 103kgs















Need to be 95kgs for the JOGLE; May 2011!
awaiting 12 week training plan package,
which will be included in the Dragon 2011
entry package, early in New Year,
'devised by Andy Cooke, for those of you
who are looking for a structured approach
to getting fit and fast before the ride',
i.e., me and Phil Morris!

First and last days......

I'm working on the stuff in between!

Day 1...http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=169704

Day 9...http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=189598

Another sponsor - well done Steve Hughes....

    find them here, 100m from the Lodge lights
Many thanks to Steve for getting us a couple of tubs of Torq energy drink mix from Des and Kate at Lodge Cycles, Briton Ferry........I'm sure it'll come in handy when the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!
For those of you who haven't been to the shop yet; pay them a visit - Des is a top bloke and an excellent
bike mechanic - sorted out my Rock Shox Pikes and my buggered Mavic Cosmic Carbone back wheel for me for an embarrassingly small amount of money!
It's not just me who raves about them, either, read reviews here..........trustedshops.com
Visit the shop website here

Accommodation for the last night in St.Agnes, Cornwall......

View Larger Map

and then there were ten............or 11, maybe 12!

ok - it looks like there will be ten ELEVEN of us -Gareth Rogers is the latest victim volunteer!

Shaun Tobin from Corus Tata or whatever we are this week also a strong candidate to make up the dirty dozen!

Neil Avery
Peter Bowen
Paul Boxer
Richard Davies
Steve Hughes
Phil Morris
John Morsley
Gareth Rogers
Steve Rogers
Leighton Thomas
Arnold Wilson (driver)


6 seats out - 10 bikes in!

Everyone's a critic..........

Bikeradar forum topic - naysayers!

Finally getting the hang of this blogging lark...........

Another sponsor.........

Ella's kitchen 

Many thanks to Emma for her generous offer of a batch of smoothies for the trip.
mmmmmmmmmmm........................

Another kind offer, for less than £30 per person, per night.............a hotel in Windermere  
should be £108 per room, per night, many thanks, Amy at Langdale Chase

Maybe Boots or Lloyds Chemists as a sponsor?

Sore @ss

Route planning.........Day 1

Day 1; JoG - Inverness

 Straightforward, really, as there's pretty much just one road South!

A99 then A9, just the matter of 120 miles to worry about!

Sponsors kicking off.........

Many thanks to all at Mule Bar
for their generous offer of a couple

of boxes of their delicious bars for the ride, next May.
Muchas gracias, Lily!

Many thanks to Lottie at Honeybuns for her generous offer of several boxes of their delicious bars for sustenance for our efforts, next May.

http://www.honeybuns.co.uk/

 Lottie; for reference, my postal address is
18 Rosser Terrace, Cilfrew, Neath, West Glam. SA10 8LH

Her e-mail response;

Dear Peter,

Thankyou for contacting us. How impressed are we by your challenge! 

We would love to supply some cakes, but would like to take you up on your offer of a mention and link on the blog etc..

We would be able to supply you with 2 boxes of 30 mini Cranberry and Pecan flapjacks - they're very yummy and will keep you fuelled on your way. 

If you could confirm the date you need them by and the address they should be sent to, I'll put that in hand.

With regards,

Lottie

More interest and route planning....

Couple more victims considering the trip....
Gwynne Jenkins
Paul Boxer
Steve Rogers
.......there may be 10 of us if everyone commits!

early route plans...
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=169704

http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=170469

Sponsors flooding in......

Many thanks to Eat Natural for the offer of several boxes of yummy cereal bars for the ride;

www.eatnatural.co.uk

thanks also to the Grove House, Oban for the generous offer of half price B&B

http://www.grovehouseconnel.co.uk/

Donate...........

My just-giving page
Early arrangements going well..........sussing out hotels in Helmsdale, one of which
has given us a bargain price on twin rooms (£60) instead of £100+
Bridge Hotel, Helmsdale
many thanks to Sophie at the Bridge!
Now just need to get a volunteer to drive the mini-bus from JoG to Inverness!

The reason we're doing it...........

http://www.tyhafan.org/

Early days yet

All................I am in the early stages (i.e. recruiting volunteers, setting dates, planning route) of organising
JOGLE (John o'Groats to Land's end) and have set a provisional date as 7th May start, 15th May finish,
next Spring (I've seen the forecast - it's good, 22degC, with a tailwind all the way!)
9 days, 1000miles at approx 110 miles per day.

I intend to raise funds for Ty-Hafan chidren's hospice (see link, below)
http://www.tyhafan.org/get-involved
and would hope that all who come with me, would attempt to raise at least £100 for this worthwhile, local charity.

I have been inspired by the exploits of Henry Martin (Pickle Line team leader) who, earlier this month, completedJOGLE with his son, Jack (aged 10) for BLESMA (British Limbless ex-servicemen's Association) in less than idealconditions (cast your mind back to how the weather was last week!)
If you are......
a.) Available
b.) Fit enough
c.) Keen enough
d.) Own a decent bike
e.) Willing to give up 9 days and a lot of effort to raise money for a worthwhile cause then please get in touch.

Ideally, I would hope to do the trip supported (i.e. with a mini-bus to get us to John o'Groats and as support vehicle for the duration), hopefully with a mini-bus provided by Corus (yet to be confirmed!).
If I can put together a 'team' of around 6-10 people, then each person could take a turn driving the support vehicle (and having a rest day!),transferring kit to the next B&B/hostel, laundering smelly kit, providing a mobile feed-station etc.etc

Please feel free to forward this link to anyone who may be interested in either taking part or contributing in any way. best regards...............................Peter Bowen (see contact details, below)
Peter Bowen or 07866796348