LANDS END TO JOHN 'O GROATS.
Savannahs Story
2008

I started my journey from Land's end to John O Groats feeling very excited and a bit anxious.
My daughter and her partner had come to see me off and after the required photo's and book signing, then lots of hugs I was off.
Full of energy and enthusiasm my first day was complete at St Austell. I hadn't booked B & B in advance so I could be flexible with my 55mile a day target. Quite a lumpy ride next day to Okehampton. Still on familiar ground on the edge of Dartmoor.I started writing poems on my way down on the train. I was inspired to write poems after the accident two years ago. Being laid up with a broken back, ribs and concussion and nothing much else to do, writing seemed a good idea.
The intention of this journey was to arrive at JOG on 29th Oct which was the date of the accident exactly two years ago. So it was a kind of letting go and personal healing mission to help regain some confidence and self value. I made good time the first two weeks getting well over my target miles on lots of days, getting up to 70 max. After Okehampton, stops were Bridgwater, Monmouth, Church Stretton and Warrington. The phone calls and texts from home really kept me going. Ursula and Derek frequently made me laugh and cry in equal amounts. Paul Harman and Graham Brodie also both knew what I was going through and said all the right things at the right times. I had a nice half day in Windermere, remembering a visit as a child.
The weather was mild so I took a boat trip on the lake enjoying the beautiful scenery. So far the weather had not been too bad, some days of rain but not too cold or particularly windy. I was feeling stronger each day and following the planned route very well. I tried to keep to the shortest route and cycled dual carriageways at times. Not the ones that the CTC said to be avoided at all costs. The Kirkstone pass coming out of Windermere was a big leg crippler but I'm please to say I cycled up all of it. (you will have to take my word for it) Rain started quite savagely that day and at Carlisle the daily ritual of tipping water out of my panniers and drying the contents started.
This was the first day I got really cold from being wet a long time. I was always very lucky with accommodation, generally finding somewhere within a few minutes of deciding to stop .
With the exception of Warrington I would recommend all of them. From Warrington I continued on to Thornhill, Dunlop, Tarbet and climbed up to Glencoe. It really hit me when I reached Loch Lomond how far I had come on my own. I got a bit weepy, feeling along way from home but really pleased with myself also. Unfortunately from Glencoe although it was stunning scenery it rained relentlessly to Drumnadrochit so I was unable to take any photographs of the beautiful shores of Loch Ness. I got a bit mentally flat that night as I had no phone signal and realised how contact from home was keeping me buoyant. Also the constant battle with rain all day had taken it's toll physically.
One thing that did make an impression on my mind, was that counties seemed to smell different. Whether it was earth, industry, crops , flora etc, but my sensory awareness seemed more acute. Noticing little things, like early morning dew on cobwebs looked like lace on the hedgerows, intense birdsong, rattley old tractors, waves of scents from gardens, heady pine in the Highlands, then downwind of Highland cattle.
What with lorries snapping at my heels and waves of support from total strangers, all these things made the journey a daily story. From Drumnadrochit ( Nasty Hill) on to Ardross nr Alness. I was concerned about the lack of accommodation available, so I stopped a bit earlier than intended. Next day weather was very bad but I was not prepared to stop unless I really had too. I got about 8 miles but the wind and rain was so strong I was struggling to stay upright and stopped a few times hoping for the wind to abate.
I got to the highest point and the wind suddenly came around the mountain and lifted me and pannier laden bike into the air and deposited me into a ditch, my bike was then spun in the air like a leaf. The rain, wind and hail made it impossible even to raise my head. I was able to find my phone and call for assistance. When it arrived the car door was ripped back and the helpers had to crawl on hands and knees to get to me. I was so scared and cold to my core. Two other vehicles stopped to help and eventually we got to safety. I begged someone to try and get my bike as they had said 'just leave it' eventually a man managed, after having it waving about his head like a kite to get it in the vehicle. I got a printout from the met office which said hurricane force wind up to 120 mph in the area. Shame I didn't check that first. I was taken back to the same point the next day so I could continue my journey.
Blind optimism again and worried faces behind me I set off again, getting only 23 m to the Crask Inn. A very desolate isolated spot, freezing wind and hail again I was unable to feel my feet or hands, my vision was wobbly and I had stress stomach cramp. Once again the weather brought me to a halt. I eventually got to JOG through a snow storm in a 4 x 4 vehicle.
Part of my journey had been a success I had reached the end by the 29th Oct . After lots of tears, soul searching, loads of phone calls, texts and a lucky break in the weather I was able to start at the end and cycle the road I had missed and slowly get back to the Crask Inn over the next three days.
Still very cold, and roads quite dangerously frosty in places. Also snow on the ground from Betty Hill to Altnaharra so slow going. Although the sun was out I got caught in two hail storms on the last day. From the Crask Inn I continued on 13 m to the next town Lairg where I was being collected. The last 5 miles I stood up on my pedals and flew like a mad woman along the road. One last defiant gesture to the hail I was riding through. One fantastic, memorable journey.

At John O'Groats - 29th October.