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***Route updated - unless something drastic goes wrong this'll be where I am and when for the next few weeks!***

After many hours spent staring at maps I have half an idea which way I'll be going on this ridiculous bike ride of mine. The main news is I'll be heading from South to North and leaving first week in August, for anyone who wants to come along for a ride for an hour/day or two. Supposedly the prevailing SW winds make up for the psychological uphill thoughts when you go in this direction, although knowing my luck with the wind it'll be a freak NE the whole way!!

The other big announcement is that I am definitely going to go via Ireland! Before anyone makes any funny comments, yes, I do realise I've gone a bit off track from the usual LEJOG routes. But I really like the idea of visiting all the main countries that make up the British Isles, plus going on a boat will curb a few of the pangs and trick me into thinking I've really gone abroad on holiday!

So here is my itinerary. I'm hoping to stick to this - boring as that is I've been having a lot of trouble getting accommodation at this time of year so can't miss bookings plus I have to move house and start a new job on the 1st September - argh!!!

August 2008
Sun 3rd: Lands End to Perranporth
Mon 4th: Perranporth to Boscastle
Tue 5th: Boscastle to Okehampton
Wed 6th: Okehampton to Tiverton
Thu 7th: Tiverton to Pilton
Fri 8th: Pilton to Bristol
Sat 9th: Bristol to Cardiff
Sun 10th: Cardiff to Swansea
Mon 11th: Swansea to Carmarthen
Tue 12th: Carmarthen to Pembroke
Wed 13th: Pembroke to Fishguard
Thu 14th: Ferry to Rosslare, ride to Gorey
Fri 15th: Gorey to Dun Laoghaire
Sat 16th: Dun Laoghaire to Drogheda
Sun 17th: Drogheda to Annalong
Mon 18th: Annalong to Portaferry
Tue 19th: Portaferry to Larne, Ferry to Troon
Wed 20th: Troon - Loch Lomond
Thu 21st: Loch Lomond to Glencoe
Fri 22nd: Glencoe to Loch Ness
Sat 23rd: Loch Ness to Carbisdale Castle
Sun 24th: Carbisdale Castle to Tounge
Mon 25th: Tounge to John O’Groats

Or something like that anyway. We'll see if I make the first 50 miles before getting my hopes up for the full 1000+ mile journey! Training has been fairly non-existent so far but having completed 20 miles on Dad's rubbish bike on Sunday with no problems that a new gear set wouldn't fix, I feel fairly confident at the moment. Someone remind me of that in a months time please! That's all to report for now. fxx

Updated 29th July:
I have been riding home every day from Winchester to Southampton (15-20 miles) so feeling a little fitter and more confident. Managed 63 miles back to Dorset the other week without too much trouble. Slightly more scary with loaded panniers on the back, I'm really going to have to learn to pack light or I'll be lucky to get above 6mph the whole trip!!

Many thanks to P&O for offering me and the bike a free crossing from Larne to Troon, come on you other ferry companies and get back to me about the Rosslare crossing! I feel almost professional with all the gear on me and the bike now it's been serviced and zooped up, hopefully I don't need too much more now, it's just time for the off, bring on Sunday!! fxx

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