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Because I was riding solo and unsupported, I kept the gear to a minimum. What I wore, plus a spare set of under garments and a pair of lightweight trousers and a T-shirt for the evenings. In fact one pannier consisted mainly of maps and medical gear, when I had to change dressings on my knee injury and other grazes every day. I could have made a good mobile paramedic! The bike was my trusty Dawes Galaxy bought second hand in 1998. Though it a thorough service shortly before I left to sort out the brakes, gears hubs etc. Also I can't recommend the Continental Touring tires enough, having bought them paired with new tubes and was amazed to have zero punctures on the entire trip. This wasn't the lightest set up I could have, but having toured on this bike before, I felt very comfortable with "her" which is the main thing. I booked mostly English & Scottish Youth Hostels because they are cheap with heaps character and have the advantage of meeting friendly people (important when you are going solo). I also scheduled in 3 nights at B&B’s (for the luxury of my own room) and 2 nights with friends in Keighley and Edinburgh. I have made a log from the diary I kept with a selection of the best photo's, plus a small map for each day. Click on any day below. Note that the actual distance measured from Lands End to John O' Groats on my route (without Day 0 and the last bit to Wick) was 1088 miles.
Day Start and Destination: Distance(miles): Day 0: The ride to Lands End 17 Day 1: Lands End to Tintagel 85 Day 2: Tintagel to Minehead 90 Day 4: Bristol to Clun Mill (Shropshire) 97 Day 5: Clun Mill to Winsford (Cheshire) 70 Day 6: Winsford to Keighley 82 Day 7: Keighley to Langdon Beck (Teesdale) 85 Day 8: Langdon Beck to Broadmeadows 103 Day 9: Broadmeadows to Edinburgh 53 Day 10: Edinburgh to Pitlochry 95 Day 11: Pitlochry to Inverness 91 Day 12: Inverness to Tongue 92 Day 13: Tongue to John O'Groats then Wick 94
TOTAL: 1121 miles |