Lands end John o groats (walking) LEJOG

[Bonefish Blues]

You're looking very well on it, for sure

[croyde]

i4got said:

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.

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.

Thanks for answering my questions. All the best for this last stint, cheers.

[Boringvolvodriver]

Thanks for the update - hope all goes well for the last 10 days - a fantastic achievement.

Here’s hoping the weather stays kind for you

[i4got]

You can guess how bored I am on my day off sitting in my Wetherspoons hotel in Inverness. I thought this would be my last Spoons but just discovered there’s one in Wick.

Assuming I get there, that will be my 18th Wetherspoons on this walk - a long Spoons golf course.

The list so far is;

Penzance - The Tremenheere

Camborne - The John Francis Basset

Bodmin - Chapel An Gansblydhen

Liskeard - The King Doniert

Crediton - The General Sir Redvers Buller

Taunton - The Coal Orchard

Okehampton - The White Hart Hotel

Wells - The Quarter Jack

Gloucester - The Regal

Gloucester - The Lord High Constable of England

Tewkesbury - The Royal Hop Pole

Worcester - The Postal Order

Glossop - The Smithy Fold

Keighley - The Livery Rooms

Glasgow - The Counting House

Fort William - The Great Glen

Inverness - The Kings Highway

I knew this trip would broaden my horizons

[Bill]

You need a 19th hole!!

[The Rotrex Kid]

What did you think of the JFB in Camborne? Decent size ain’t it?

[i4got]

The Rotrex Kid said:

What did you think of the JFB in Camborne? Decent size ain’t it?

Its impressive. I had an American IPA sitting out in the sunny beer garden.

Edited by i4got on Sunday 12th June 20:23

[i4got]

Bill said:

You need a 19th hole!!

Unless they create a new one between Inverness and John O Groats in the next 9 days I’ll have to make do with 18.

[The Rotrex Kid]

That place has a lot of history, it has been a cinema, a roller skating rink, a (two level) nightclub (twice). It was originally the corn exchange in the town as well.

[LeadFarmer]

How is your kit holding up? Things such as trainers, socks, clothing etc? And are you finding your air bed comfortable enough, or is sleeping uncomfortable when camping?

Also how do you cope when you are soaking wet in the rain, do you have a system for drying cloths as you go, using hotel radiators etc as I imagine it takes ages even on a sunny day?

[i4got]

LeadFarmer said:

How is your kit holding up? Things such as trainers, socks, clothing etc? And are you finding your air bed comfortable enough, or is sleeping uncomfortable when camping?

Also how do you cope when you are soaking wet in the rain, do you have a system for drying cloths as you go, using hotel radiators etc as I imagine it takes ages even on a sunny day?

I’m on my third pair of trainers but I knew when Inset off I’d be treating them as disposable.

I’ve replaced a couple of pairs of socks.

Ripped a pair of trousers but had them repaired.

All else OK.

I haven’t really had to deal with wet clothes. I get the rain gear on quickly and its been pretty effective. (And I haven’t had that much rain)

I’ve washed socks, pants and t-shirts in hotel sinks and dried over radiators and do a full laundry wash every couple of weeks at most.

The inflatable sleep mat is pretty comfortable but I had to add a reflective roll mat to stop the cold ground coming through. Since I replaced the sleeping bag with a down one I’ve been cosy.

[croyde]

Are your third pair still Hoka challengers, I think they are called?

[driver67]

Brilliant achievement so far. Congratulations and thanks for keeping the thread updated.

Cheers,
Dougie.

[fttm]

One final push OP , will be cheering you over the finish line from afar . Great achievement

[i4got]

croyde said:

Are your third pair still Hoka challengers, I think they are called?

No. The good thing about Hoka is the cushioned sole and comfortable fit.

The bad thing is the toe box is quite narrow.

I had two toes rubbing together for a while with the result that one swelled ip a bit. Just enough to make it uncomfortable in the Hokas.

So when my wife met me in Glasgow she brought an ordinary pair of Asics I had at home with a much wider toe area.

They’re not as comfortable particularly on the soles but no toe pain.

[croyde]

Thanks again. So you are using running shoes?

The two long walks I did last week I used my Merrell walking boots on day one. Great in bad conditions, mud, soil, fording streams etc but were too hard for pavement walking.

Day two, as I was mainly on tow path, I used my very lightweight running shoes. Much more comfy but they would disintegrate in a mere drizzle and certainly couldn't do mud.

For your walk it must be hard to have one do it all pair.

Cheers again.

[i4got]

croyde said:

Thanks again. So you are using running shoes?
.

Yes. Hopefully they’ll be ok for the JoG trail. They were fine for the WHW anyway.

[i4got]

Seven days left and I won’t be sorry to finish. I’ve now gone through 1000 miles and into the last maybe 120 ish.

First two days on the John O Groats trail from Inverness to JoG have been a bit of a drag but I hear from others further up the path that it turns pretty spectacular as it turns more into a coastal walk.

Currently in Tain. Its as lively as you’d expect Tain to be on a Tuesday night. I’m eating in the Royal Hotel restaurant and I’m the only diner.

I guess the main A road must have bypassed Tain as theres no traffic on the high street. I wasn’t expecting Mardi Gras but I thought it would be busier than this.

If all goes to plan tomorrow will be my last Wednesday walking as I hope to finish next Tuesday.

The videos for the first 2 days on the JoG trail aren’t really worth posting. We all know what lanes and roads and bridges look like - you aren’t missing anything interesting.

And many thanks to Mick Dastardly, Phil and “Another PHer” for the donations.

[i4got]

Tain high street rush hour.

[interstellar]

Amazing stuff mate. I think today is day 77 so if next Tuesday is possible you will have done it in 84 days so probably under 80 walking days.

Super job.