Lands end John o groats (walking) LEJOG
Discussion
i4got said:
Walking the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Drymen and what’s that a couple of hundred yards off the path? The Glengoyne distillery so popped in for some provisions.
I didn't want to mention the distillery as I thought it might be too much of a distraction and diversion, but well done for visiting, I hadn't clocked it was so close to the WHW. Also pleased to hear The Clachan delivered, and that the business sounds like it's doing well. And now I'm sad I don't get to visit very often...Onwards and most certainly upwards now! Amazing progess you've made, you are an inspiration, OP.
It’s been a while since I posted some videos. Here are the first 4 days from the West Highland Way.
https://www.relive.cc/view/vYvrL8QMWL6
https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqDA22Pwwv
https://www.relive.cc/view/vNOPo5jy3Yv
https://www.relive.cc/view/vevYokgwKJ6
The walk from Carlisle through south Scotland was starting to get me down (hence the route change to get off the roads).
What a success the route change was. Great walking - tough at times but those are the best types.
Weather has been great so far - today has been like Costa del Sol. No midges yet so all in all pretty perfect.
I booked 3 campsites, 1 hostel and one pub with 1 night wild camping.
Some great pubs, plenty of friendly other walkers of all nationalities.
And a little pic of my Glengoyne nightcap at last night camp.
https://www.relive.cc/view/vYvrL8QMWL6
https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqDA22Pwwv
https://www.relive.cc/view/vNOPo5jy3Yv
https://www.relive.cc/view/vevYokgwKJ6
The walk from Carlisle through south Scotland was starting to get me down (hence the route change to get off the roads).
What a success the route change was. Great walking - tough at times but those are the best types.
Weather has been great so far - today has been like Costa del Sol. No midges yet so all in all pretty perfect.
I booked 3 campsites, 1 hostel and one pub with 1 night wild camping.
Some great pubs, plenty of friendly other walkers of all nationalities.
And a little pic of my Glengoyne nightcap at last night camp.
Rest day in Fort William.
Finished the West Highland Way yesterday. Fantastic walk but tough in parts and superb weather start to end.
It was strange after so much solo walking to be walking with the same people day after day. Its surreal walking into a pub in the middle of nowhere and knowing half the people in there. Felt like Norm arriving in the Cheers bar.
I’ve just gone through 900 miles - so about 220ish left. It feels like the end is in sight.
The weather is due to break in the next couple of days so probably back to rain gear on the next stage the Great Glen Way. Four long days to Inverness due to shortage of places to stay. Got one hostel and one camp site booked. Theres also a shortage of places to eat or shop so I’ll have to carry a bit more food and water.
Today I’ll be looking for a laundrette, hair cut & shave and this evening probably meet up with a few of the people I’ve been walking with the last week.
I’m booked into the Travelodge and didn’t check its location. When I arrived at the WHW end point, my hotel was 10 yards away with a Spoons next door. Perfect way to end the walk.
Yesterdays walk…
https://www.relive.cc/view/vPOpZxxVVEq
(Oh and thanks to Tom on here for the JustGiving donation)
Finished the West Highland Way yesterday. Fantastic walk but tough in parts and superb weather start to end.
It was strange after so much solo walking to be walking with the same people day after day. Its surreal walking into a pub in the middle of nowhere and knowing half the people in there. Felt like Norm arriving in the Cheers bar.
I’ve just gone through 900 miles - so about 220ish left. It feels like the end is in sight.
The weather is due to break in the next couple of days so probably back to rain gear on the next stage the Great Glen Way. Four long days to Inverness due to shortage of places to stay. Got one hostel and one camp site booked. Theres also a shortage of places to eat or shop so I’ll have to carry a bit more food and water.
Today I’ll be looking for a laundrette, hair cut & shave and this evening probably meet up with a few of the people I’ve been walking with the last week.
I’m booked into the Travelodge and didn’t check its location. When I arrived at the WHW end point, my hotel was 10 yards away with a Spoons next door. Perfect way to end the walk.
Yesterdays walk…
https://www.relive.cc/view/vPOpZxxVVEq
(Oh and thanks to Tom on here for the JustGiving donation)
i4got said:
Rest day in Fort William.
If you want to treat yourself I can recommend the Crannog Seafood Restaurant on the pier overlooking the Loch.I've always had great food and service there, and the views are delightful.
i4got said:
I’ve just gone through 900 miles - so about 220ish left. It feels like the end is in sight.
From some of the LEJOG books and blogs I've read, some folk get quite sad and emotional over the last few days of the walk knowing the challenge is coming to an end, and with the return to normal life afterwards. What started as a challenge with fears of not competing it, turns into sadness that its all coming to an end.Sorry if I sound gloomy, but I can sympathise with that. But at least there is the satisfaction of knowing you did it.
Yep, this is very true. I cycled from Lands End to Cape Wrath (everyone does JOG, I wanted to be different, and I'd been there in the car before).
I distinctly remember getting off the bike at the lighthouse and thinking 'well that's it then'
It seemed that all the planning and effort ended in a split second.
I distinctly remember getting off the bike at the lighthouse and thinking 'well that's it then'
It seemed that all the planning and effort ended in a split second.
Whilst strolling home from the shops last week I looked at what at first glance appeared to me to be a tramp. A second look, beyond the long dreadlocked hair and beard showed someone with decent walking shoes and high grade walking poles.
I asked him if he was walking far, and it was less than 200 miles to go, but he'd already gone about 1400 miles.
I asked him if he was walking far, and it was less than 200 miles to go, but he'd already gone about 1400 miles.
i4got said:
Rest day in Fort William.
Finished the West Highland Way yesterday. Fantastic walk but tough in parts and superb weather start to end.
It was strange after so much solo walking to be walking with the same people day after day. Its surreal walking into a pub in the middle of nowhere and knowing half the people in there. Felt like Norm arriving in the Cheers bar.
I’ve just gone through 900 miles - so about 220ish left. It feels like the end is in sight.
The weather is due to break in the next couple of days so probably back to rain gear on the next stage the Great Glen Way. Four long days to Inverness due to shortage of places to stay. Got one hostel and one camp site booked. Theres also a shortage of places to eat or shop so I’ll have to carry a bit more food and water.
Today I’ll be looking for a laundrette, hair cut & shave and this evening probably meet up with a few of the people I’ve been walking with the last week.
I’m booked into the Travelodge and didn’t check its location. When I arrived at the WHW end point, my hotel was 10 yards away with a Spoons next door. Perfect way to end the walk.
Yesterdays walk…
https://www.relive.cc/view/vPOpZxxVVEq
(Oh and thanks to Tom on here for the JustGiving donation)
I was in that travel lodge on Friday night. Bit noisy :-)Finished the West Highland Way yesterday. Fantastic walk but tough in parts and superb weather start to end.
It was strange after so much solo walking to be walking with the same people day after day. Its surreal walking into a pub in the middle of nowhere and knowing half the people in there. Felt like Norm arriving in the Cheers bar.
I’ve just gone through 900 miles - so about 220ish left. It feels like the end is in sight.
The weather is due to break in the next couple of days so probably back to rain gear on the next stage the Great Glen Way. Four long days to Inverness due to shortage of places to stay. Got one hostel and one camp site booked. Theres also a shortage of places to eat or shop so I’ll have to carry a bit more food and water.
Today I’ll be looking for a laundrette, hair cut & shave and this evening probably meet up with a few of the people I’ve been walking with the last week.
I’m booked into the Travelodge and didn’t check its location. When I arrived at the WHW end point, my hotel was 10 yards away with a Spoons next door. Perfect way to end the walk.
Yesterdays walk…
https://www.relive.cc/view/vPOpZxxVVEq
(Oh and thanks to Tom on here for the JustGiving donation)
Well done so far and good luck for rest of the walk. What an amazing accomplishment.
Boringvolvodriver said:
Thanks for the update videos - that really looks lovely and better than walking in the rain.
Impressed that you can still manage 14 miles in a day - if I do 10 miles in a day, then there is no way I could do it again the next!
Hoping the weather stays good for you.
As a test I got a train to 16 miles from where I live and just walked back with a view to do it again tomorrow. Just to see if I could manage a week on say Offa's Dyke or similar.Impressed that you can still manage 14 miles in a day - if I do 10 miles in a day, then there is no way I could do it again the next!
Hoping the weather stays good for you.
I'm knackered, my legs are sore and my feet....owwww
Despite decent walking shoes.
I'm not a stranger to walking but normally 5 to 6 miles round the park every other day or a week away somewhere nice and walks of 6 to 8 miles a day. Throw in the rare 11 miler.
So bloody well done OP.
LeadFarmer said:
i4got said:
I’ve just gone through 900 miles - so about 220ish left. It feels like the end is in sight.
From some of the LEJOG books and blogs I've read, some folk get quite sad and emotional over the last few days of the walk knowing the challenge is coming to an end, and with the return to normal life afterwards. What started as a challenge with fears of not competing it, turns into sadness that its all coming to an end.Sorry if I sound gloomy, but I can sympathise with that. But at least there is the satisfaction of knowing you did it.
Tabs said:
Yep, this is very true. I cycled from Lands End to Cape Wrath (everyone does JOG, I wanted to be different, and I'd been there in the car before).
I distinctly remember getting off the bike at the lighthouse and thinking 'well that's it then'
It seemed that all the planning and effort ended in a split second.
I'm not sure I felt "sad and emotional" at the end of my cycling LEJoG last May-June.I distinctly remember getting off the bike at the lighthouse and thinking 'well that's it then'
It seemed that all the planning and effort ended in a split second.
I certainly felt pretty pleased that I had achieved something: the only multi-day cycle journey I had done before that was 3½ days London to Paris 6 years previously, which is frankly pretty flat and easy in comparison.
To be honest, once I reached JoG, I would quite happily have turned around and cycled home if it wasn't for family plans to meet in Edinburgh the next evening!
Any adventure/journey has those kind of moments at the end. I guess my view is to reflect back on the time, and to think ahead to "what's next". Which for me was a week jaunt between the last two iron viaducts....that was a couple of weeks ago, and also fun (up to the point my pedalling pal was hospitalised with a broken elbow 2 days from the end...).
Oh: my book hasn't *yet* been published.....more of a photo travelogue than a book
spikeyhead said:
I asked him if he was walking far, and it was less than 200 miles to go, but he'd already gone about 1400 miles.
When I was cycling through Nevada I met this guy. It was September. He had started out on the east coast in February. Heading to the west coast..
Another time crossing Nevada the other way I met this guy. It was also September. He had also started in February on the east coast
They are the only two USA coast to coast walkers I met in 4 long bike tours. I guess they are funnelled on to one road in Nevada as Route 50 is the only practical walking route as the towns are never more than 80 miles apart.
Both started outcwith rucsacs but changed to pulling their gear on wheels so they could carry lots of water. More totalvweight and less wear and tear on the feet than a big rucsac.
Edited by irc on Thursday 9th June 22:05
thebraketester said:
i4got said:
Rest day in Fort William.
Finished the West Highland Way yesterday. Fantastic walk but tough in parts and superb weather start to end.
It was strange after so much solo walking to be walking with the same people day after day. Its surreal walking into a pub in the middle of nowhere and knowing half the people in there. Felt like Norm arriving in the Cheers bar.
I’ve just gone through 900 miles - so about 220ish left. It feels like the end is in sight.
The weather is due to break in the next couple of days so probably back to rain gear on the next stage the Great Glen Way. Four long days to Inverness due to shortage of places to stay. Got one hostel and one camp site booked. Theres also a shortage of places to eat or shop so I’ll have to carry a bit more food and water.
Today I’ll be looking for a laundrette, hair cut & shave and this evening probably meet up with a few of the people I’ve been walking with the last week.
I’m booked into the Travelodge and didn’t check its location. When I arrived at the WHW end point, my hotel was 10 yards away with a Spoons next door. Perfect way to end the walk.
Yesterdays walk…
https://www.relive.cc/view/vPOpZxxVVEq
(Oh and thanks to Tom on here for the JustGiving donation)
I was in that travel lodge on Friday night. Bit noisy :-)Finished the West Highland Way yesterday. Fantastic walk but tough in parts and superb weather start to end.
It was strange after so much solo walking to be walking with the same people day after day. Its surreal walking into a pub in the middle of nowhere and knowing half the people in there. Felt like Norm arriving in the Cheers bar.
I’ve just gone through 900 miles - so about 220ish left. It feels like the end is in sight.
The weather is due to break in the next couple of days so probably back to rain gear on the next stage the Great Glen Way. Four long days to Inverness due to shortage of places to stay. Got one hostel and one camp site booked. Theres also a shortage of places to eat or shop so I’ll have to carry a bit more food and water.
Today I’ll be looking for a laundrette, hair cut & shave and this evening probably meet up with a few of the people I’ve been walking with the last week.
I’m booked into the Travelodge and didn’t check its location. When I arrived at the WHW end point, my hotel was 10 yards away with a Spoons next door. Perfect way to end the walk.
Yesterdays walk…
https://www.relive.cc/view/vPOpZxxVVEq
(Oh and thanks to Tom on here for the JustGiving donation)
Well done so far and good luck for rest of the walk. What an amazing accomplishment.
So after a 17 mile walk on Thursday, I awoke as stiff as a board yesterday morning but I pushed myself and got the train out of town and walked 14 miles back along the Thames.
After 8 miles it became a painful slog.
OP! you have my admiration. How did you train for this or did you just get on with it?
Does it get easier on the body as you carry on?
Maybe it's my age
Or pacing. According to my OS map app, my average speed was 3.4mph and I did both walks in 5 and 4 hours respectively.
Do you aim to take it easy and make use of the long days that we have currently?
Sorry for all the questions, just interested.
All the best.
After 8 miles it became a painful slog.
OP! you have my admiration. How did you train for this or did you just get on with it?
Does it get easier on the body as you carry on?
Maybe it's my age
Or pacing. According to my OS map app, my average speed was 3.4mph and I did both walks in 5 and 4 hours respectively.
Do you aim to take it easy and make use of the long days that we have currently?
Sorry for all the questions, just interested.
All the best.
croyde said:
So after a 17 mile walk on Thursday, I awoke as stiff as a board yesterday morning but I pushed myself and got the train out of town and walked 14 miles back along the Thames.
After 8 miles it became a painful slog.
OP! you have my admiration. How did you train for this or did you just get on with it?
Does it get easier on the body as you carry on?
Maybe it's my age
Or pacing. According to my OS map app, my average speed was 3.4mph and I did both walks in 5 and 4 hours respectively.
Do you aim to take it easy and make use of the long days that we have currently?
Sorry for all the questions, just interested.
All the best.
I have a day off tomorrow and I’ll post you a reply then. After 8 miles it became a painful slog.
OP! you have my admiration. How did you train for this or did you just get on with it?
Does it get easier on the body as you carry on?
Maybe it's my age
Or pacing. According to my OS map app, my average speed was 3.4mph and I did both walks in 5 and 4 hours respectively.
Do you aim to take it easy and make use of the long days that we have currently?
Sorry for all the questions, just interested.
All the best.
croyde said:
So after a 17 mile walk on Thursday, I awoke as stiff as a board yesterday morning but I pushed myself and got the train out of town and walked 14 miles back along the Thames.
After 8 miles it became a painful slog.
OP! you have my admiration. How did you train for this or did you just get on with it?
Does it get easier on the body as you carry on?
Maybe it's my age
Or pacing. According to my OS map app, my average speed was 3.4mph and I did both walks in 5 and 4 hours respectively.
Do you aim to take it easy and make use of the long days that we have currently?
Sorry for all the questions, just interested.
All the best.
17 miles is a long walk to start with. I started with 7 or 8 miles and gradually went up to 17 over about 6 weeks I think. I think 17 was the longest practice walk I did and I only did that once. After 8 miles it became a painful slog.
OP! you have my admiration. How did you train for this or did you just get on with it?
Does it get easier on the body as you carry on?
Maybe it's my age
Or pacing. According to my OS map app, my average speed was 3.4mph and I did both walks in 5 and 4 hours respectively.
Do you aim to take it easy and make use of the long days that we have currently?
Sorry for all the questions, just interested.
All the best.
I also used a weighted vest or a rucksack and gradually built that up to about 8kg.
Once I was happy I could do about 14 or 15 mile regularly that put my mind at rest that I could stretch it a bit further if I needed.
When I started the walk my calves and thighs would be painful on every hill and shoulders hurt. At some stage though everything stopped hurting. I still get knackered at the end of a long day but not sore.
Oh and you are walking fast - on the flat I average 3mph. I try go stop for water and a rest every 5 or 6 miles.
I’m now in Inverness. Just finished the Great Glen Way, 78 miles in 4 days (although my GPS said nearer 74) from Fort William along the Caledonian canal, Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, Loch Ness and then back onto the canal.
Apart from one day the weather has been holding up pretty well. Not sure what they make those forestry paths from but its been the toughest part of the walk so far on the soles of my feet.
It was a lot quieter than the WHW but a friend joined for the last 20 miles into Inverness.
Spoke with a doctor friend this morning and it seems that the toe pain I’ve been having may be athletes foot so waiting for Boots to open to get some treatment.
Had a great night last night at Black Isle Brewing when we met up with another LEJOG walker and ended up in a impromptu whisky tasting session with a couple of German tourists.
Tomorrow I set out on the final 10 days to John O Groats. I’ve only got 1 more night camping - there are not many campsites and its mostly farmland so not much opportunity for wild camping. (I may be trying to justify the fact that I just fancy a few more warm beds).
Videos from the Great Glen Way
https://www.relive.cc/view/v36APKJ7dZO
https://www.relive.cc/view/veqzmLBXGB6
https://www.relive.cc/view/vdORMe447Kv
https://www.relive.cc/view/vMv8J1AZeN6
Apart from one day the weather has been holding up pretty well. Not sure what they make those forestry paths from but its been the toughest part of the walk so far on the soles of my feet.
It was a lot quieter than the WHW but a friend joined for the last 20 miles into Inverness.
Spoke with a doctor friend this morning and it seems that the toe pain I’ve been having may be athletes foot so waiting for Boots to open to get some treatment.
Had a great night last night at Black Isle Brewing when we met up with another LEJOG walker and ended up in a impromptu whisky tasting session with a couple of German tourists.
Tomorrow I set out on the final 10 days to John O Groats. I’ve only got 1 more night camping - there are not many campsites and its mostly farmland so not much opportunity for wild camping. (I may be trying to justify the fact that I just fancy a few more warm beds).
Videos from the Great Glen Way
https://www.relive.cc/view/v36APKJ7dZO
https://www.relive.cc/view/veqzmLBXGB6
https://www.relive.cc/view/vdORMe447Kv
https://www.relive.cc/view/vMv8J1AZeN6
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