http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/End2End/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from End2End en-us Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:11:59 UTC Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:11:59 UTC And so here I am in Dublin. But before I recount any tales from this city the journey here must be described.Leaving Cousin Steve and the hardworking hardplaying Soundsaver's crew in Lancaster I struck out along a lovely stretch of smoothly tarmaced cycle path which took me to a supermarket and then disappeared. Many of the cycle paths I've been on seem to be secret only to be discovered http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Dublin/blog-79959.html This is a bonus blog dedicated to some of the people I have met on my travels.The McBeath father and son van driving team who took my bike and me from Inverness to Wick. I was supposed to be catching the train on to Thurso but John pointed out that Wick was closer to John O'Groats than Thurso and offered to take me along with him and his son in the van. I was happy to go along for the ride sinc http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lancashire/blog-78532.html this trite and anodyne maxim was the greeting I received from a piece of plastic stuck up beside the road as I made my way into Lancaster drawing to a close the first leg of this journey. In the past nine days on the road i spent a total of 48 hours in the saddle covering around 900 kilometres. Within hours of arriving in Lancaster I was luxuriating in a hot bath back at Cousin Steve's my a http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lancashire/blog-78251.html Well after a train journey from swansea to inverness and a van ride the rest of the way to wick I got underway on wednesday morning. A bang on night's sleep at John's harbour BB and the use of his laminating machine to make a durable poster advising drivers considering knocking me off that I am doing the ride for charity and not just to get in their way and generally piss them off and I was on http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Fort-William/blog-76499.html Cycled from Bettyhill to Lairg 76km. Total distance from JOG 161km. Met some dutchies and a fellow cyclist who fancied a couple of drinks. My right knee is aching but the beer is helping. Found out here that there is a Toft tarten Och aye the nooFollow daves progress hereDaves Progress http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/blog-76210.html Travelled from Wick to John O Groats today where I had my picture taken then rode to Betty Hill. Managed 84km. http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/blog-76206.html I left swansea at 5.45am and arrived in Wick at 8.00pm. I haven't got onto my bike yet. I managed to catch a lift with John and Ross McBeath a very friendly father and son who bundled my bike into their van and drove me from Inverness to Wick. It was a very pleaant and informative journey. I'm now going to sit down to a chinese meal before heading to an early bed for the big off tomorrow. Haven't http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/blog-75699.html The first real test of the manbiketrailer machine was passed successfully last week with all three of us covering the 70 odd kilometres between Swansea and Cilycwm the site of the Small nations festival in the encouraging time of 3 hours 45 minutes and one second. The only two problems I noticed were the tendency of the clamp attaching the trailer to the frame of the bike to slip and the bu http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/United-Kingdom/Wales/Swansea/blog-73450.html Since it is my birthday I have decided to treat myself and you to the delights of tight fitting clothing. The getup you see me in in these photos is what I will be wearing for the cycle ride. I have a dark blue top as well but all my shorts are tight black lycra. I took the trailer for a test run to Lidls yesterday to stock up on cycling essentials like cheap red wine and dried fruit. In http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/United-Kingdom/Wales/Swansea/blog-71538.html Now the weather has got back on track in proper summer style me and the old girl are enjoying the ups and downs that Swansea has to offer. Yesterday we took a trip up to Dunvant which involved a couple of steep battery acid in the leg inducing climbs followed by the joy of free wheeling down to the front overtaking cars all the way. Then along to the Mumbles before taking on the slow and s http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/United-Kingdom/Wales/Swansea/blog-70660.html Welcome to my first blog.These pages will be a way for anyone with an interest in my legpowered jaunt through the British Isles to keep up with the preparations and eventually the main event itself. I will be raising money for CICRA Crohn's in Childhood Research Association.I am taking my bike plus a trailer containing everything I need for my journey except food and water. The journey begin http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/United-Kingdom/Wales/Swansea/blog-70372.html