3000 MIles to Heamoor, Coda: Those that made it happen

A Tour like that, doesn't just happen and is not just reliant on the planning in advance along the way, there are dozens of people and organisations that help make it develop, continue and go to plan and If I leave anyone out, I apologise..... there's a lot to remember.

Motorcycle (Ripley) provided by Honday (CB500x. Never missed a beat)
Motorcycle maintined and prepared by Bikeworks Penzance.
Clothing and accesories by J&S Supplies Plymouth (I wouldn't buy from anywhere else)

For and on behalf of the Cornwall Bloodbikes Charity. Thankyou so much for sending me off and welcoming me back. 

https://localgiving.org/fundraising/3000miles/

Working for and alongside Merlin Cinemas. Thankyou to Daisy Wren for moral support and Ben (My Boss) for putting up with my ridiculous ideas. And very much to Daren and Sarah for Not only seeing me off from Lands End, but escorting me to St Ives. Lovely to have company.

To the managers and staff of all 16 cinemas across the country who met, issued tickets, gave me guided tours and made me so welcome.  |I will be back and this time, I'll watch a film!

Accomodation providers. 

The Dutch Army, for having one too many bivouacs, meaning I got to sleep above reservoirs, next to lochs, and in the woods,

 protected from the rain, wind and midges.... so many midges.

My dear Mother and Gran (night 1). Brother and family (Chester), Scottish Youth Hostels (Glen Nevis, friendly, great (essential) dry room and well equipped. Helmsdale Hostel (Marie), fantastic stop over, nothing was too much trouble, beautiful layout and so very relaxed and comfortable. Deep Dale Campsite and rooms, again, very friendly and a great layout, with warm and comfortable rooms. Paul & Abbie Guymer and Family, Always welcoming and with lots of ideas for the local area.  

Hospitality. 

Bacon Sarnie - Tallyllyn Railway

2 or 3 MacDonalds, who deserve a mention as they provided charging points and wireless along with being friendly  and having a thick shake machine that works.

Black Horse Hotel and Bar, Newton Stewart. Put up with so many questions and fed me well along with the free wifi.

Calum Macfarlane, whose highland relatives were cattle rustlers (but don't tell anyone) So much local information and places to visit and a lovely 90 minutes catchup.  

The incongrouous, yet brilliant burger van at "Rest and be thankful" viewpoint. Egg and bacon bap spot on.......

The Albatross Cafe, Lochcarron. THE friendliest breakfast stop I think I've ever made. The bacon and egg bap was delicious and my host, the owner, stopped and chatted and shared the view. 

Wonderful wonderful, wonderful.

And the team at Great Glen, Great Food Van, yet another lovely bacon and egg roll. 

Other transport providers.

The Corran Ferry Crew.... lovely bunch

The Glenelg ferry Dog (Boat was tech, pupper was delightful)

Various bridge providers from across all three countries

S G M Cars (Lochalsh) for tightening and greasing the bike chain at short notice  and being so accomodating 

To the two individuals who helped me lift Ripley after she was dropped on two occasions (One at the top of the Wrynose Pass "Mr cyclist raising money for Mind over mountain) and the Scouse lad in Northumberland near Sycamore Gap after she toppled on a junction. 

Technology.

Chrome for the Chromebook that saw me round, Apple for the iphone and trace my track app which did just that, right around the country. Samsung for the Galaxy that did everything for me along the way. 
Relive, a fantastic tracking app which plots your route and flies over it with googleearth. 

Google maps which accompanied me, misdirected me, rescued me and helped me plot and scheme each day. 

The dozen or more strangers who conversed with me after being approached (sometimes in the middle of nowhere) 

And of course to my family for allowing me to take 14 days to get from Lands End to Home, in Heamoor. 

Day 14 (Up) 5th July 2022

 I slept like an absolute log. Solid through the night and on the comfiest of sofas. The hospitality of friends cannot be beaten. After breakfast on a gloriously sunny Wiltshire day, I packed said farewell and headed off into the 13 of 15 National Parks on my hitlist for this trip, The New Forest. 

I then routed through Dorset and "accidentally" took a wrong turn and ended up in the Winterbourne Valley where I first lived and went to school and chapel. 

Headed for Dorchester, Charmouth and notched up the 3500 mile mark 

and onward to Exeter and the A30. The countryside became more and more familiar and there went the "Nearly Home Trees". Down to St Austell to take a different route home than I made out of the county through Grey cloud and overcast conditions into once more sushine and blue sky approaching Helston. Down the Lizard, to the Lizard Village and parked up. By the time I got to the actual point it was a stunning day and I got the requisite photo at the plaque. 

Back to Helston, Marazion and then off to St Ives, as I love the coastal drive from St Ives, via Zennor to St Just. 

I had estimated arriving at Lands End at 1615 and made it there just before. I met up with John and Mark from the Blood Bikes and once again we were allowed to make use of the signpost and the official photographer took the shots. 

Once again the weather played ball for the shots, we chatted and passed some time and then headed off, myself in tandem with Mark on his Marvellous machine. 

It's over, done and completed. My hands ache from holding the grips and my forearms are mottled from the Midge Army. I can still hear the sound of the engine and the young lady's voice saying "At the roundabout take the third exit for goodness knows where...". 

There is one blog left to go, just as in the movies, we need the credits. And maybe there will even be  apost credits scene.....

Day 13 (Born on the) 4th July

 Slept like a log at the Deepdale Bunk house and managed to leave dead on time at 8am. This really was a straight run, through Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, the M25 (not that bad) and into Sussex to catch up with some friends who happened to also be out of Cornwall, for lunch.  

I crossed from Petworth to Petersfield across the South Downs and into Wiltshire/Hampshire. The GPS took me through some lovely little villages and towns and I actually ended up at Figsbury Ring, an iron age hill fort near to my friends house where I was staying for the night. 

Not a lot else to say aboput today, It was very very warm and sunny, Ripley was handling beautifully and I reckon the best of the countryside I saw today was Wiltshire/Hampshire. 

Tomorrow is the final day, out at 8am, through the New Forest, Dorset to Exeter and then the A30 North of Dartmoor, a run down to Lizard Point and back to Lands End, where it all began, 14 days ago.   

Here's a Donkey I met. 

Day 12 (Angry Men) Sun 3rd July

 I had camped on a bit of a steep slope but it didn't stop me sleeping well and after getting up and striking camp, I heard a hideous rasping cry of some kind of animal, probably a pterydactyl and on looking up I could see a heron chasing off some kind of bird of prey. 

I set the route planner and headed off, through Sheffield (quiet Sunday Morning) and down the A1M. It was long and boring... well it would have been if I hadn't spotted about 8 Rolls Royces of differing ages, a Bentley, ford cortina and a few classic cars thrown in for good measure. I pulled over just after checking off the 3000 mile mark at around Bury St Edmonds and on setting the map running again, noticed that Lowestoft looked awfully "South". I then realised that having planned on Lowestoft, mapped the route to Lowestoft and aimed for Lowestoft, I had actually typed "Felixstowe" into the planner. Turns out it added about 25 miles onto the route which wasn't so bad. 

I headed slightly northwards (now) and made it to Lowestoft, expecting a seafront and pronm, maybe a pier  near the Easterly marker. What I got was an industrial estate (deserted on a sunday) and a whole lot of roads barred. I did find the Most easterly point marker and had a lovely chat with an old boy who comes out here 6 or 7 times a year as his Dad always used to bring him ....On Up the coast and then through the Norfolk Broads (Gonna have to come back) to Cromer and the Regal Multiplex was a doddle to find and a warm welcome and chat with Michael the manager. The requisite Maverick Ticket and photograph out the front

 and then on to my bunk house near Hunstanton. Past lowlands, cornfields and the broads themselves.  

Not many photos today as it was mainly motorway driving, may be a similar situation tomorrow.....

Day 11 (Days, Eleven Nights)

Well I never expected that. I thought it was a fairly straightforward run from Kielder Forest to The Snake Pass. Country lanes and Motorways with a couple of stopoffs along the way. But It was stunning (Most of it) and went on for longer than I expected. The Yorkshire Dales were lit up beautifully in the sunshine and blue sky. They reminded me of Scotland (But Scotland was bigger). I came down the spine of England, the Penines and the Peak District Still stunning and wonderful, just like Scotland (But Scotland was bigger). It was the Snake Pass at the end of the day to get me to the Ladybower Reservoir and beddie byes. A dramatic view, much like Scotland.......


I made a point of two stop offs along the way though. There was the Sycamore Gap on Hadrians Wall a very famous spot, but pretty distinct for being in the opening sequence of Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves, where Robin arrives at Dover, goes up to Northumberland and then back down and home to Nottingham. At the cross roads before the car park, I stopped, put my foot to the floor and it wasn’t there, instead my foot floated through a pothole and the bike went down again. Second time this trip, There was a scouse lad on the other side of the road, missed what happened, but saw the aftermath and jogged over to help me lift it back. And on I went. Parked up in heavy rain, popped on my waterproof top and headed alongside the wall....

it went on and on, and up and down. A long way up and down and to top it all, the sun was out and I was melting. Stripped off a few layers and carried on. Met a lovely group out walking with their Cocker Spaniel Lottie. So much like Albus, zipping around, left and right with her nose to the ground. There was so much to see and smell out there (and that was just for the Humans!) Arriving at the “Gap” was a lovely moment,




the tree, the wall and very few other people around. Andrew and his group had just got their photos and were moving on, but not before pointing out there was a flat(ish) path to head back on, after I had commmented on the ups and downs of getting there. I matched up a couple of shots as best I could, from the film.




And rested a while in the shade of the tree. There was a stiff breeze coming through and it was very refreshing. I headed back, loaded up the bike and set off again.

The zig zag route I had plotted took me through more lovely countryside and led me to “HIgh Force” waterfall which had been highly recommended by another of our pilots, Dan Rutter. I was surprised and disappointed to see they charged to go up there, but I’d made it this far and it was worth every one of my 250 pennies…..


A roaring cascade over a small cliff, swollen with recent rain, and I simply could not imagine it drying up (wonder if it ever has?)

My journey continued, I cut across the corner of Cumbria, down through the Yorkshire Dales which when I got on top, the views were magnificent and it was crystal clear.

My thoughts once again went back to Scotland and how much of the scenery I saw today compared so well…… But the thing is, we have AONB’s and National Parks. Scotland is simply like this all over a stopoff at a fast food joint with a thickshake machine that works, to get a few bits charged up and then on through Glossop and over the Snake Pass. The sun was low in the sky, shadows were long and I was in no rush. Good job too as there were several sets of traffic lights and the GPS took me straight past my planned camp spot.

When I did make it there, it was gone 9pm and I got the thing set up quick. Birds were singing (and strangely did so off and on during the night) and the river feeding the reservoir could be heard trickling away at the bottom of the valley.

Day 10 (Things I ate About You) Friday 1st July

 The Helmsdale Hostel is perfect, everything I could have wanted and I want to come back to Scotland now just to stay there again. 

I was about 30 mins behind time, but there is so much flexibility built into my plan, it's never a stress. It was a long old run down the A9, but with some lovely coastal views. Through Inverness and along Loch Ness. Which frankly was a disapointment. I'm sure it's just as stunning and remarkable as the other Lochs I have seen, but the road alongside is lined with trees and there is not much to see. I reckon it HAS to be seen from a cruise...... 

Next was Loch Lochy for a (late) breakfast stop and this one had a huge impact on me. It felt as though it needed exploring more and for as short a time as I was here, it's definitely one of my favourites. 

Onward and up to the Cairngorms another incredible area, but with a very different feel to the Highlands and North East. Again, somewhere to focus on next time. 

Then it really was the long haul down through South Scotland, across the Queensferry Bridge, skirted Ediunburgh and onward, and onward, and onward. At one point, coming towards me off a roundabout was a family car with smoke billowing out of the back. I flagged him down, spun round and now he had parked on the verge, it was clear..... we checked it over and there was nothing obvious , so I got him to start the engine to rev it rather than drive b ut even that wasn't necessary, as soo as it fired up, it pumped white and blue smoke out of the exhaust. He phoned the AA and I left him to it. 

I was in the groove and running ahead of time so I pushed on to Kielder Forest Park in Northumberland and found my bedding down spot for the night. 

Halfway through setting up camp (about 4 minutes in) I realised that the midges were rallying and there were literally clouds of them. I coimpleted setting up dived in and hid. It was about 7pm and I set up the netbook downlaoding the cam footage of the day and fell asleep. I hadn't realised I was so tired. I woke at about 2130, packed the chrome book away and fell straight back to sleep. 

It rained in the night. I stayed dry. Good Enough. 

Day 9 (and a half weeks) Thursday 30th June

 Today was dogged by technical problems, well, "A" technical problem. Out here in the boonies (North West Coast) there is no phone signal and everytime I checked to Thurso, it was still the case. But on being told the signal was good in Thurso, I rebooted the phone and everything worked. What this had meant though was that I had been unable to call Sam, the manager ahead of time, so he was not available. By the reception from his colleagues though, he must be a lovely guy as they were so warm and welcoming. I got my ticket for Maverick (I said it would make a billion dollars) had a real look round and marvelled at how different to the others it was and yet how familiar and comfortable at the same time. It is in a modern building on the edge of Thurso and the layout of the seating and theatres feels very spacious and in a funny way, modern. They have quirky stars on the ground indoors for Elizabeth Taylor and others, but the thing I loved, as part of the Decor were quotes from films, and not just the famous ones too. I'm coming back, only next time I'll be watching a film, there's a lovely atmsphere and it has a real sense of "tech quality" too.....

So how did my day start. Another dry pack up for the bivvy and a million midges following my every move. Boots were still wet but such is life. The one movie quote that has made a huge difference to me over the last few days, comes from "The Assassin",,,, "I never did mind about the little things" a bit like Hakuna Matata, but with a rocket launcher and it really has helped to settle my mind. 

Breakfast was two cans of iced coffee and a yoghurt bar, admiring the castle on the isle that had gone before and off I set. From Loch Assynt to Helmsdale I covered about 245 miles today and much of it was wilderness. Not barren and charred, but lush rocky lumpy moorland wilderness. There was Loch after Loch, some mirror flat others stirred and rippling, there were extraordinary views and at one point An Almighty Glen which was literally breathtaking in scale. A few more deer, lots of sheep  and of course Hairy Coos . 

Durness felt like a real turning point (Sorry, couldn't resist) and I stopped at Smoo Cave for a mooch. To me the cave wasn't that impressive (but I didn't go on the tour) the inlet just outside though looked and sounded fantastic. Crystal clear waters, sheer cliffs rising and the echoing sound of the birds was beautiful. 

Then I stopped at Talmine on the Kyle of Tongue. Some where I had been before...... as athree year old. I took some photos for Mother and will see if I can match them up with the originals from the 70's when I get home.  

Across the causeway and the long haul to The Merlin Cinema, Thurso. Cars everywhere, from roads that are borderline deserted to a busy town, it was a bit of a shock, but once heading out to Dunnet Head, normality resumed. I am not looking forward to the M25 in a few days time.......

I checked off the most Northerly point in Mainland Britain 

and headed on to John O Groats where I met up with the delightful Stephanie Evens. Lovely to chat to and nothing was too much trouble. She even rounded up a couple of the team to help with and take part in the photos at the signpost. 

The weather for the day had been really good with the odd shower, but the blue skie that opened up for us at about 1530 could not have been better. As I was leaving there was the classic Highland fog drifting across, below blue skies and it wafted in and out, the whole way to Helmsdale where I had a bunkroom and midge free bed waiting for me. The welcome was delightful, the building what loked to be a beautifully converted chapel and the owner helped with everythign from local knowledge, to hanging up my socks!!!!!!

In terms of days, this is the end of 9/14. Distance, I topped 2000 miles today 

(2175 by the end) and I had estimated it would be around 3200. And in terms of way points, John O Groats was the target and now I have turned around and am heading home......... Slowly.