Arjuna and Steffen are cycling from John O'Groats to Lands End (thats the hard way round apparently, due to prevailing winds). They're aiming to raise £1 for every mile of the 986 mile route. This write-up is made up of Arjunas facebook posts and photos from the first part of their journey - from John O'Groats all the way through Scotland and over the border into England on Arjunas birthday!
24th September
Work has been mental lately.. lots of stress.
Off to scotland this Saturday with Steffen and after 24hrs of trains, 1 night in Edinburgh and 1 night in thurso we will then cycle 20 miles to john o groats. After that it's only 900miles of cycling to go and we will be in lands end!
Have had zero hours training as it's been non stop work and haven't seriously ridden a bycicle in a least 10 years so this will be challenging to say the least.
But am really looking forward to the adventure, lots of wild camping and it's all for an amazing cause; the Yak Pack Theatre Project!
Will be posting a link for sponsors soon hopefully and will be sharing posts, pics and videos of the journey so watch this space
26th September
Bikes packed and on train to Edinburgh via london
Haven't given this a moments thought until this point...
Not sure if I'm more nervous or excited
27th September
Turns out scotland is colder than arctic ice...
Slept on top a hill last night by some old church ruins, (st Anthony chapel ruins)... well i say slept, shivered the whole night through is more like it wearing every item of clothing I have lol... Going to mountain warehouse today to get a sleeping bag liner and an extra sleeping bag .. I want it like a sauna in there!
Train to thurso leaves this arvo, then we will work out how to get to john o groats on Monday morning
Thanks so much to everyone who has already donated! That's amazing ... its putting lots of pressure on me to make sure I keep moving forward and not let any doubts get in my way...
Well Scots rail can do one. Went to board a train and they wouldn't let us because they were already 'at capacity with 2 other bikes. We asked if we could go in one of the many disabled areas with our bikes and they said no because if a disabled person got on then we might not get off.
We reserved tickets for our bikes on other legs of the journey except this one but Scot rail dont reserve bike spaces, it's a first come first served basis.
So long and short of it is we now have to go to Inverness and wait until 7am for a train to thurso which we may have to pay again for the privilege and there may or may not be space for our bikes ... buying a Scots rail ticket for you and your bike is basically a gamble
Oh well dont let the assholes grind you down
28th September
Its interesting moving through this country by train. The changing landscapes are really incredible! When you look there is so much wildlife in all places. Mind blowing ancient sites and historical buildings. So much beauty to behold. Even some things considered ugly can be really interesting through the lens of inquisitive eyes!
I am guilty of taking it all for granted a lot of the time so it's nice to have this time of reflection. So much on our doorstep, mostly within the reach of a day or two travel.
Makes me realise I have been a little stuck in my head of late. Too much time in phone-world and way to much time work-head, suffocated by stress and fatigue.
There is adventure out there beyond the imagined walls we sometimes project.
I am positive that It is the foundational purpose of my life, to squeeze every last ounce of zest, until the lemon is nothing more than a dehydrated hardened pip with nothing left to give.
If it is curious, explore it. If it moves you, play with it. If it excites you, see how far you can push it. If it nourishes you, eat it. And if it dont kill you then you know in your head that there is more to be had from it.
As a kid they said it was ADHD ....
As an adult I know that's bulls***, I'm just one of those people that like to find out where the boundaries are ... and then see if I cant push them on a bit
29th September
Day 1, thurso to john o groats via dunnet head (the most northern point in mainland England)
Legs are feeling it.
Beautiful weather, crisp and bright
Nicely situated abandoned building just outside wick
30th September
Today has been slow going. 50mph winds to the face all day and it only stopped raining to occasionally hail.
We found another abandoned house, this one with a sofa lol. So many empty buildings around here.
Although we didn't get many miles in today it feels like we pushed through what was very challenging weather. Cycling along the coast on an A road with lorries up your ass every 5 mins. Really had to tap into that endorphin rush to get me up some of those never ending inclines.
Soaked to the bone now. It turns out cycling with all your gear is tuff going. Legs were really burning on some of those hills.
Tomorrow the weather doesn't look so bad, especially the wind, that really was the hardest part today.
We aren't setting any major goals as a rule but I'd like to try and push for Inverness tomorrow. However that's about 90miles from here which is definitely beyond both our comfort zone.
My entire body is aching right now
2nd October
Onwards and downwards as the saying goes.
I nearly fell off my bike yesterday... steffen was miles up ahead so just me cycling along with my little pot belly and lycra pushing myself through the Scottish highlands and I all of a sudden had a realisation of what I was doing and starting laughing uncontrollably... eyes watering, the proper job. Laughed so hard I nearly fell off and actually had to stop.
Anyways we pushed on in the rain yesterday and eventually crawled into a thick spruce wood where I sparked up a much needed fire. Managed to half dry everything before the rain started again but all was pitch black out by then.
Today's been lush! Really beautiful scenery and a nice crisp autumnal glow to the day. The climbs have been many and seem to go on and on forever.
Just pausing at a cycling cafe by the beautiful cromarthy firth, nearly at Inverness and subsequently the river ness then along lock ness for some monster spotting
My legs hurt, especially my left knee, its agonising on hills and at night time. It's been so long since I did any endurance training I'd completely forgotten I get the bad knee... need to look into that.
Haven't had a cigarette since I started the ride and haven't as yet missed em. Very hungry all the time though, not sure if that's the cycling or nicotine withdrawal haha
Was nice to get off the A road yesterday... that's a stressful experience. We had intended to avoid A roads but ended up on one for a long time. Going to stick to the scenic route as much as possible now and avoid main roads like the plague.
Thanks again to all my sponsors.. definitely keeps me pushing forward
This is what my evening looks like.
Beautiful woodland. .. heavy rain forecast tomorrow so I'll make the most of this fine Scottish evening
I think I'll sleep out tonight next to the fire
4th October
5th October
So I stop at a petrol station today. Park the bike outside. Grab myself a coffee and go to pay . As I set my coffee, snacks and bottle of water on the counter dressed from head to toe in castelli cycling gear with a cycling helmet and gloves the guy at the counter genuinely asks me..... any fuel with that
6th October
Today has been a tough one to say the least.
The beautiful spot we camped in gave me a lovely tranquil environment to enjoy this morning. Was really difficult to get up, the cold and the damp stalking me, waiting to pounce like a creeping white tiger just as soon as I leave the warm comfort of the sleeping bag.
The hardest part of this trip has been the wet. Putting wet socks onto warm feet is soul destroying (accidental pun ) Everything has been tainted by the soggy weather! It's all damp, smelly and wet, the lot of it!
After we set off I felt the burning in the thigh muscles straight away. You know, very occasionally I get the odd moment when i feel they might be right... all those idiots that told me I need to train for this kinda thing! But the thought is as ephemeral as the feeling itself and is soon pushed through until gone and forgotten.
My stubborn nature pushes me on, besides I'm cycling right through what is absolutely breathtaking scenery. And this is why I'm here, it is one of reasons I'm doing this in the first place, to experience the changing landscapes that travel through me as I descend the country. Humbled by the resplendent nature that exists all around us, all the time.
So we push, and I really feel the buzz and excitement of movement again. I'm quite ahead of steffen now and at the beginning of a big descent, I love these bits... I tuck in and hammer the pedals as hard as I can. The wind and the rain working hard to keep me just out of reach of full speed but even so, this is pretty quick. Lorrys coming up the hill towards me remind me to hold steady but the voice in my head is strong, it tells me that no matter what comes ahead, no matter how sharp the bends, ye shall not touch the breaks!!! This is about as much adrenaline as is to be had from cycling fully loaded, touring style. And it'll do just fine at this time in the morning.
Before I know it I'm a good way ahead of steffen when I see the symbol of an incoming phone call on my garmin. I notice its steffens number. Turns out he has gear related bike problems. I have all the tools and he is quite far behind me.
After a while we meet up and I have a go at sorting the issiue. It took about 2 miles of road, loads of taking on and off of wheels, stopping and starting and tightening and loosening of this and that, extremely vexing, I nearly lost my s*** a couple of times... But we eventually got there!
Down the road a bit and we found a nice little restaurant. After eating and a cup or two of really good coffee's we were just about to go.
However I noticed they had lodges for rent, so I just decided to stay here lol. I really will appreciate the rest, a warm shower and dry morning.
Poor steffen decided to carry on to glasgow to stay at his friends house. The only downside is I'm going to have to get up extra early and cycle about 50 miles in the morning (that's been our daily max thus far.) Just to catch up. But I know with a good night's rest and some filling food these legs will be back in business and I'll smash the granny out of that 50 mile morning ride haha!
Steff has to get to a cycle shop tomorrow with 2 broken spokes and a buckled wheel. I also have a buckled rear wheel, I think the wheels we have aren't quite right for the weight we are carrying? Any cycling people out there know what I need to do here???? Can I just keep going with a slight buckle?
Anyways, can't go on enough about how incredible this part of Scotland is! The rugged freshness combined with the gigantic scale of it all has me in a constant state of awe. There is a vibrant and lush rawness to everything, it all feels so real and in your face, green nature at it's best. I love it!
I just want to say thanks again to everyone who sponsored me, its definitely a motivational factor at times when i doubt my capabilities as a pregnant man.
Looking forward to spending my birthday on or around the Scotland boarder (HOPEFULLY)... 2 days away... wish me luck!
xx one love xx
7th October
Great day today! Been on my Jack Jones all day which defo invites a very different feel to the ride. I have cycled for 8 and a half hours pretty much non-stop today, that's more exercise than I've done in as long as I can remember, must be doing my fat ass the world of good!
Loch lomond was the start of the day, its bloody massive! I'm sure I've seen places equally as beautiful in the world but I really cant recall when. Its absolutely stunning beyond belief. Nestled within a big valley, the road hugs the lock all the way round on both sides [I think] (many, many miles).
The commercial logging spruce forests that have invaded lots of the Scottish highlands dont seem to have conquered these parts and all along the lock native trees line the valley slopes, this is my favourite type of woodland, a real ancient feel to it. The autumnal canopy allowing light to reach the woodland floor, thickly carpeted in moss and fern. Every now and then a rocky stream passing through and disappearing beneath the road, down into the loch, as much as I want to stop and be there for a while I just keep going, these miles ain't gonna eat themselves!
The views keep hitting me as I cycle along the road, an island popping up here and there. It was raining at first but later the sun came out and I felt a real moment of fulfillment. All the trees, the bugs, everything, all of it really happy to see the sunshine. Even the slippery black tarmac seemed to glisten with joy. And the mountains too of course, mysteriously hovering above like sleeping giants in the mist. Occasionally a break in the clouds allows the sun to come bursting through like a spot light. Just amazing!
I kept on going and soon hit Glasgow, along with the excited buzz that a city brings. I mostly followed the canal and rivers so happily avoided any proper built up areas.
After Glasgow I've been on country roads, my shoulder started playing up real nasty, sharp shooting pains! so now my left knee and left shoulder are both really painful and when I'm not cycling I'm hobbling around like an Irish goblin found a nice place to set up camp for the night though. All is good. Just waiting for steffen to arrive, I think he is about an hour behind me.
I really hope we can get to the border tomorrow. Would be amazing seeing as tomorrow is my birthday!!! That will defo make for a really big psychological boost. Oh well will see what happens.
Anyways, I'm really glad I'm doing this, I think I really needed to reconnect with nature again in this way. It's like spending time with an old friend very dear to me. The stress infecting me before is all beginning to fade and I'm relaxing into the cycling, enjoying the world as it changes around me.
It's also a brilliant opportunity to raise money for yakpak!! The whole covid thing has really messed up a lot of planned events, we were meant to be doing loads of festivals this year as fundraising events but all of them got cancelled so this ride is an amazing opportunity to hopefully raise some much needed money for the yakpak project. If you haven't looked into it please do it's such an awesome project which will take books, storytelling and the magic of live theatre to children who live in the Spiti Valley, one of the most remote places in the world. Right up in Himalayan mountains. The communities of people that live out there are amazing. They really know how to survive in such a remote and extreme environment. Most of the parents there are first generation readers themselves so the yakpak is set up to bring school children, communities and people with learning difficulties the art of storytelling and theatre, it's a really exciting project that already has done so much wonderful work with theatre in the spiti valley.
Good night and god bless.
8th October
Birthday bash: Over the border
If you'd like to sponsor Arjuna and Steffen, please visit their FUNDRAISING PAGE
Arjunas daily (-ish) updates will appear on our Facebook page
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