WE DID IT

Well we did it Jim and I covered the 945 mile from Lands End to John 'O' Groats in 11 days through sun wind and rain ( more wind and rain than sun) but we did it and a brilliant experience from start to finish and something that I'm glad to have done with a great mate like Jim who put up with all my mind less rambling my bad temper and who kept us on course with some excellent map reading.

the big day

Well it finally here i have dropped of my bike and packs at Jim ready for the train south tomorrow. I will post some pictures on face book most days so please follow me there.

Training with Simon

Well the training is going well. Out today with Simon an old running buddie. We meet at the Rob Roy Hotel just out side aberfoyle and did a curcuit through Port of Monteith Arnprior, Fintry and Balfron. Where we stooped at Simon from a brew I then carried on Back to Callander totalling 50 Miles. The whether was windy but the rain held off. It was great to catch up with Simon good company on a long cycle with any luck he may join use for a leg or 2 of LEJOG.
I have finally set up my Just giving site ready to take donations so please take a look its www.justgiving/nickparkes.com. I hope you find it okay let me know if you don't

Nick Parkes is fundraising for Callander Youth Project - JustGiving

Nick Parkes is fundraising for Callander Youth Project - JustGiving

My first 100 mile day

I am please to say I've just return from a great weekends cycling in the highlands of Scotland with Jim. We entered the diageo 100 mile challenge from Dalwhinnie to Elgin. It was a beautiful sunny day as we arrive early on Saturday morning at the Dalwhinnie distillery to sign in a get our route details and meet a few other cyclists. Setting of a 9am we enjoyed a very scenic cycle through beautiful highland countryside passing through villages and towns such as Newton-more,Aviemore Grantown-on-Spey,Cardhu, Dallas, Forres, Duffus and Elgin. Over mores, through forests and long the river side with plenty of opportunity to stop and enjoy the countryside. Arrived in Elgin about 4 45 for a BBQ and a couple of well earned bottles of cold beer. Then a quick shower at the B&B and out for a couple more beers,Elgin is a great town to walk around and enjoy the pubs bars and restaurants.
An early night ready for the 6am start to the return journey. We set of at 7am heading out in the rain very different from the previous day. The rain got stronger until we where cycling in streams of water, our speed slower than yesterday as we left forres heading up over the Dava more. Very quite roads let us cycle side by side which was great, lots of chat and banter helped grind out the miles in the pouring rain. Stopped in Carrbridge at a very friendly CTC listed cafe for scrambled eggs and coffee. The staff didn't mind the fact that we where soaking wet. A change of cloths and on our way to Aviemore then linked up with cycle route 7 the rest of the way to Dalwhinnie. Total miles 172 total time 11hour 30 mins. A great weekend and a good confidence boost for lejog.

Killin

Well we cycled to killin on a beautiful Sunday afternoon/evening. I found the climb up through Glen Ogle once into Killin we went through the village and carried on until we hit 25 miles then turn back stopping for a quick half in the village.The best thing about long climbs is long descents. 3 1/2 Miles of free wheeling then back to Callander with a tail wind.

Well Jim and I got together for a cycle for the first time in over 4 weeks. We decided to keep to flat roads and aim for about 50 miles. We headed out of Callander toward Doune on the main A84 this road often has quite heavy traffic, so it's not ideal for chatting. We then picked up the cycle path to Dunblane catching up on each other busy life's. I then back on to the main road though Dunblane to Bridge of Allen through the Stirling Uni and out to Menstrie. Jim was flying, we were averaging over 16 mile per hour which is fast for me (I was fully loaded with panniers and the usual extra cloths, repair kit and snacks). We came back in to Stirling and the back roads to Blair Drummond and Deanston finishing with the four bridges on the invertrosachs road around to the lade inn for a couple of well earned pints and finally home. Total 46 miles average speed 16.8.
We started to plan our fund raising activities starting with a malt whisky dinner in my restaurant Callander meadows. Jim has a contact via Diego who will come and help out with a talk about each whisky. We are also planing a auction after dinner with lots including a day in the kitchen, a private dinner for 6 at your house, and lots more probably wine / whisky related. So if your interested get in touch.