My Ride Across Britain journey - Lands End to John O Groats

I’d decided to cycle LEJOG as it had been on my bucket list for over 10 years and as I was also celebrating my 50th year when the entries came out I registered. I knew it would be important to have another motivation so decided I would raise funds for Mental Health UK Mental Health UK Lloyds Banking Group – link below ??, as during the pandemic a number of friends lost sons through mental health.

You can donate to my JustGiving page by clicking here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gary-watts10?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=gary-watts10&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=9c0d2a1baf3d496383b8b59719dec2c4.

Although training went really well through the winter, a routine appointment to the optician in February meant I had to go straight to hospital as I had a detached retina. The next morning I had the retina fixed through emergency surgery – but the recovery meant 12 weeks of doing absolutely zero – which was to be critical to the recovery. Following that I had a couple of weeks riding before the infamous Fred Whitton sportive in the Lakes – I didn’t want to put pressure on myself and midway through the ride that I would bail out and completed the lesser 78 mile course, even that was probably too much. The next few months were intermittent with a decent bout of COVID striking, but I did get numerous 100+ mile weekend rides in.

Next was getting the kit list together, which wasn’t easy (or cheap) given that I hadn’t camped for 25 years and making sure it could fit it into the allowable – one bag.

To get to Lands End I was going to travel into London to meet Si and stay in the Armed Forces digs, and although once again Avanti trains decided to cancel my train I managed to get there without too much issue (travelling with a bike you cant always say that). As I entered the base the announcement came of the Queens death, now being in a UK armed forces base at that time was quite surreal and certainly put a dampener on the night (they closed the mess bar immediately). So next morning was a hearty breakfast in the officers mess – followed by a long drive down to Lands End.

Day 1 – Lands End to Okehampton – 105 miles with 9000ft of climbing?

? So staying in a tent was a new concept to me, especially a one man tent when you are 6’2 but the excitement was there and off we went to bed after the nightly briefing for an early start. A great breakfast in the main tent was followed by getting into our lycra and off we go

? Each day we had two pitstops, normally around 35 and 75 miles, which were the things we focused on, just get to the next for the great food (pies, pasties, scotch eggs ,sandwiches) as we needed to consumer somewhere around 8000 calories a day.

? The weather was hot on day one, with not a one flat mile throughout. St Michaels Mount being the highlight of the views for the day. As we travelled through Cornwall we tended to naturally cycle along with similar pace riders – Michael from Chicago and Mark from Birmingham, unfortunately Michael didn’t like ether the heat or the hills. Another guy we met with one arm was an absolute beast of a cyclist and he had only just recently did the Isle of Man TT course averaging over 100mph – this guy had no fear on the descent’s either, watching these people really does inspire you.

? There had been a bad start for 3 of 750 participants – 3 bikes stolen overnight, a first and major issue for the event organisers – who managed to get them on loan bikes to complete the day.

? Nightly routines – get your tent ready, charge your lights-garmins-mobile, etc check in with the family and eat, sleep, repeat.

Day 2 – Okehampton to Bath – 113 miles and over 8000ft of climbing

? Early start again and everyone is tired from Day one, but day two isn’t much better. Again it was a case of getting to the next pit stop and out of Devon. A bit of flat going into Somerset was followed by the Cheddar Gorge – certainly a highlight of the day in the hot weather again – after that we were up and down into Bath, but unfortunately the camp was at the top of the hill, another 3km steep climb right at the end.

Day 3 – Bath to Ludlow – shortest day at 93 miles but still 6000ft of climbing

? Because we had done the big climb the previous evening, the morning ride to Chepstow was relatively easy with a few little bumps and then over the Severn Bridge. This day was certainly one of the most picturesque, as we later entered the Wye Valley which was simply stunning and again the weather was great apart from a few head winds. Each day we had been passing and then been passed by the Bawra Foundation a charity formed from the Special Forces (true hardcore) following Mark’s major stroke back in 2019, Mark and a colleague were riding special incumbent bikes along with their support team - truly inspiring.?We got to the beautiful Ludlow racecourse in plenty of time (with a free ice cream) and the routine was starting to get easier

Day 4 – Ludlow to Haydock – 106 miles and 4500ft of climbing

? Today I would be passing home (well, 15 miles or so)?on a flatish day and I finished feeling fresher than I had actually started the morning. Americans love history and Michael from Chicago looked in?amazement when a canal boat went over us going through Nantwich (certainly made me smile) – Michael constantly asking questions of how old the house might be ??

? I had bought a pair of limited edition Greggs crocs (￡6 from Primark) which were going down really well – and not just from the Northerners – although it certainly helped me to get to know quite a few fellow geordies, but the shower guys also laughed at them every day.

Day 5 – Haydock to Carlisle – 118 miles and over 6000ft of climbing

? Morning traffic through Lancashire was shocking and the morning slow but by Kendal we were half way. An 8 mile climb to the top of Shap Fell followed – but the weather turned and I had put my jacket on for the first time, shivering all the way to Carlisle racecourse.

? The accumulation of lack of sleep – earplugs – for the snoring chorus throughout the tents, getting up in the middle of the night to go across the field to toilets, miles in the legs – really starting to bite – friends and family starting to get worried as I shared pictures.?

Day 6 – Carlisle to Edinburgh – 107 miles and 6000ft of climbing

? So we entered Scotland and the weather wasn’t too bad but getting noticeably colder by the day. As we had to move from the west side of the country to the east, we needed to conquer the Devils Beef Tub, a climb over the spine of the country after the town of Moffat. Although family and friends had been worried by my photo the previous evening, I felt a lot better when we were told that Apple Face ID was starting to fail for an increasing number of people ???

Day 7 – Edinburgh to Strathdon – 120 miles and over 8000ft of climbing

? An 6am start and over the Queensferry crossing but 3 punctures and then a ripped tyre which meant we needed to wait for a mechanic all before pit stop 1 on an already long day meant we were under pressure for the cut offs. After the pitstop we had a gradual climb before the GlenShee ski station climb, we hit that in gale force winds which made it much harder, by the time we got to the top we were told we had 10 minutes before the cut off so we needed to grab food and run (we later heard 150 rides had decided to get the bus back from there, because they felt it was dangerous). Certainly descending down to Balmoral was dangerous , as to add to the gale force winds we now had torrential rain – so when we finally passed Balmoral we were too cold to stop – we needed to get to base camp quickly. The day can only be described as brutal – and certainly my worst day in the saddle EVER – but we had also saw some of my favourite views.?

? By now the under carriages of most were by now in pieces – and it was only a question of your own strategy

o One lad posted a picture of his on social media – and got the most hits and donations – not a strategy I fancied

o Increasing numbers getting taped up down there – nowhere is sacred anymore

o Two pairs of cycle shorts – ok this seems like a plan – and yes it was for the rest of the ride

Day 8 – Strathdon to Kyle of Sutherland – 109 miles and over 6000ft of climbing

? The pain that morning and for another early start, getting on the bike was definitely the hardest thing you had to do – as quite a few that morning had decided they wouldn’t be getting back on, including a couple from our group – so it was back down to Simon and myself. This wasn’t helped by immediately hitting the dreaded Lecht ski station climb – with driving wind and rain, my phone stopped working. The descent from the station was super fast but we were shivering and soaked, but by mid morning the sun had come out. The beauty all around us was amazing and my legs started working again.

Day 9 – Kyle of Sutherland to John O Groats?- 104 miles with just over 5000ft of climbing

? Another early start – cold and wet – and it just got colder and wetter, by pit stop 1 @ 30 miles, people had already had enough and started to jump into the bus – even though we were nearly there – it had broken quite a few, including me but we grabbed some food from midgie masked support team and within 5 minutes we were in another part of the valley away from the weather, then we entered the most glorious valley of the trip and weather brightened up again as we meandered down to the coast. Although it got lumpy after that, we knew we were on the home straight.

? Coming into John O Groats was certainly emotional and equally rewarding but I wont be one of those who will do it again – I will never do it again?

I’ve been asked about my next challenge –?although my cousin Simon fancies Ride Across America, but undercarriage currently says otherwise. I think I might go back to running – and looking at my bucket list, I’ve still got ‘The Wall’ (70 miles across Hadrians Wall, finishing in my home city of Newcastle - its been on for 10 years now), maybe its time?????

Btw weight wise– I’ve ended up putting on a few pounds – but dropping 6% body fat, that’s something I certainly didn’t expect – and my butt is still in absolute pieces ?