Day 8 Stirling to Dalwhinnie

85 miles in 6.5 hours. Really tough day but worth all the effort - what a fabulous part of the world. I've not been able to upload photos from my mobile onto this blog but I've managed it to my Facebook page - take a look! The day started well really quick ride from Stirling to just south of Perth. Spot of lunch just north of Perth and that was main mistake of the day. I've worked off between 7,000 and 8,000 calories a day on this tour. I've not been able to consume that many calories (believe me I've tried!) as exercise takes blood away from digestive system - the result is I've lost just over a stone in weight. I didn't eat enough for lunch then ended up working very hard to get up to Dalwhinnie - result was I was totally cabbaged by the time I got here - driving rain and gusty winds didn't help much either. Worth it in the end - what an amazing isolated place in the middle of the Cairngorms - check out the location on my tracker. 90 more miles tomorrow - though hoping will be less demanding. Meeting a mate's parents in inverness for lunch and should end up in Tain. Keep up the support and comments. Thanks to all, John.

Day 7 Lockerbie to Stirling

93 miles in 7 hours. Talked of feeling lonely yesterday and response from you all has been magnificent. Fantastic ride from Lockerbie to Crawford up the A73 - scenery amazing uplifting and inspiring. Lunch shared with friendly forestry workers. It all fell apart when I read your comments to yesterday's blog - some more tears and deep breathing. It's not really fair to single individuals out but can I give particular thanks to Tim (I'll treasure your encouragement for a long time), Murray your texts and voicemails are always timely, Dave Wilko (was it you who got Burnley fans involved - Burnley MAD - now getting comments and donations from complete strangers), and Ian (you have mad me laugh outloud). Made the EDP today - they got the dates wrong but hope that's all. Anyway journey through Lanark was fine but things took a turn for the worse North of the A80. Airdrie makes Burnley look like Soutwold! I had to take my satnav off my bars and hide in my pocket - everyone seemed to be drinking either strong larger or vodka!! I'll never speak badly of Gt. Yartmouth again. Anyway I think that's all my urban riding done - next few days should be beautiful - let's enjoy it together. Cheers John.

Day 6 Kendal to Lockerbie

73 miles in just less than 6 hours. Thanks mum for coming out to Kendal, dinner last nite and the send-off this morning. The climb over Shap was tough - shades of the Dragon ride back in June. Early lunch in Penrith - lots of happy memories from my formative years. Good run up to Carlisle which was surprisingly busy and difficult to ride through. Then a nice run out on the A74 to Gretna Green, the Scottish border and on to Lockerbie to end with a fish supper and a pint of beer. Finding handling the emotional/mental side of things tougher than the physical side. Felt lonely, miles from everyone and heading further away today. Missing my amazingly supportive wife and kids. 85 miles to Stirling tomorrow. Thanks once more for all your messages - you'll never know what a difference they make to how I feel. Good night, John.

Day 5 Northwich to Kendal

90 more miles in 7 hours. The best day of the tour so far. Weather wet and windy for first few hours - through Warrington and Wigan. Then into God's County (Lancashire for those who don't know me that well) - I even got off the bike and took photo of County sign! Then into Preston and a brief meet-up with my brother David - amazing to see him looking so well. Then a push on through Lancaster and late in the day as weather improved into Kendal - what an amazing place Cumbria and the lakes is. Dinner with mum to end a perfect day - no comedy satnav, cycling through fields or over fresh tar moments! Tomorrow just 73 miles into Scotland and over Shap Fell, piece of cake! Halfway there now, let's finish this off together now folks - still need all your support and encouragement. Cheers John.

Day 4 Hereford to Northwich

Longest day of the tour - 102 miles in 7.5 hours! Things went well with bike and rider, less well with satnav - more on that in a moment. Steep, long climb out of Hereford but legs felt OK. Good progress through Westminster, Ludlow and Shrewsbury. Just north of Shrewsbury satnav took me on a bridlepath (which by itself was fine as guidebook had warned me) which got more and more muddy, impossible to ride on and upon dismount mud went over tops of shoes! Bike was covered author did more effing and jeffing and to make matters worse bridlepath disappeared leave me stranded in middle of fields. After crossing bogs and barbed wire fences (not a pretty sight) I emerged on A49 200m from where I'd left it 75 mins earlier. The drivechain was making some sick noises and I limped into next village where I found today's hero - local garage owner who provided detergent, hose, buckets and sponge. Turns out he himself had kidneys destroyed by cancer and had been given a transplant. Talk about a small world working in mysterious ways. Also shows how many lives are affected by kidney problems. Cruised into Whitchuch had roast dinner and final 20 miles into Northwich - very much Beckham territory! Bum very sore (I'll spare you details) but did resort to 2 pairs of padded shorts mid-afternoon. Only 90 miles tomorrow but hope to meet brother the focus of the ride charity is all about for lunch in Preston and dinner with mum in Kendal. Got a feeling it's gonna be an emotional day. Keep the support coming - I'm loving it. Cheers John.

Day 3 Bridgwater to Hereford

First the stats - exactly 90 miles in 7 hours again. Day began really well, great breakfast and although legs were stiff it was amazing how well they went - even nearly 50 year old bodies are amazing and seem to respond positively to 90 mile per day challenges - flew from Bridgwater to just south of Bristol airport then a disaster - went over freshly laid road tar and chippings and result was 2 totally locked wheels and an effing and jeffing author. One of the most important aspects of this tour is a general re-affirmation of the human spirit and support of human to human (be it "free" food at roadside cafes to donations and encouragement of complete strangers). Sadly though this didn't extend to the monkeys laying the new road surface - abuse and ridicule is all I got. The gardeners of the Holiday Inn just up the road were magnificent however and spent an hour with me with lots of petrol and rags sorting out the bike - vents you were heroes. Got very emotional crossing the Severn bridge. Thanks for the girls at Chepstow racecourse for the drinks. Murray you'd have laughed at the comedy moment at Tintern - satnav forced me on a 700 steep ascent off the valley floor only to bring me straight back down! Longest day of tour tomorrow over 100 miles with a long climb out of Hereford. Sorry to be a bore but keep the messages coming - they REALLY help. Love to all - nearly 1800 pounds now without giftaid. Cheers John.

Day 2 Launceston to Bridgwater

First the stats - 91 mileage in 7 hours. If I'd done that distance in that time in Norfolk I'd have shot myself. Truth is Devon and Somerset are not Norfolk. Really tough morning 2000 foot ascent just south of Oakhampton was my first low point of the tour. Early afternoon between Crediton and Tiverton was pure evil - knees and bum very sore. Limped into Bridgewater and after a quick shower I'm eating and rehydrating in a pub! Tomorrow is another 90 miles through Bristol into Wales then Hereford. Hope knees, legs and bum recover. Again a million thanks for all your messages and support - I can't stress enough how much it means and spurs me on. Cheers, John.

Day 1 Lands End to Launceston

What a day! 80 miles in 5 and a half hours at an average of 15mph. Cornwall would be size of Australia if they ironed it flat! What a blast! My thanks to all who left best wishes - emails, texts and comments on this blog. You will not believe what a difference they make - keep them coming! Bike and rider (inc knees and bum) doing well. Presently devouring fish and chips and dehydration in a pub in Launceston. Gotta go now, sleep, then another big day to Bridgewater tomorrow. Cheers John.

It starts

It's 7am laying in b and b bed in Penzance, taxi to Lands End booked for 9am. Raining outside but forecast is quite good. Can't help but be a strange combination of nervous and excited. Fabulous train journey down but scary 4 mile cycle ride through London. More later. Cheers John

Final preparations

OK - it's Sunday evening, I've started to pack and the nerves are kicking in. I've completed my last training ride, cleaned and serviced the bike and started writing lists!!

As of tonight the sponsorship received is £1005.50 - £1185.98 inc Gift Aid, so my initial target of £1,000 has been reached, my thanks to all who have donated so far. I've decided to raise the target to £1500.00 so for those of you who've not given please contribute - your money will make a huge impact on research that will change thousands of people's lives.

Oh, one last thing for now - I've added a live GPS tracking function so once things start next Saturday click on "Track John's progress" on the left hand side of the main page and you can see where I've got to!

OK, back to my packing.

My aim, a pound per mile - can you help me?

I've thought long and hard about setting myself a sponsorship target - the problem is that people who may be tempted to give something may not bother if the target is already beaten!

However, on balance, I'd now like to say I'd like to raise at least £1 per mile - or £1,000 for the tour! As of today (7/7/10) I've managed to secure £595 - or £726.13 inc Gift Aid.

SO JUST £273.87 TO GO - SO WHAT YOU WAITING FOR - CLICK THE "SPONSOR ME" BUTTON AND MAKE A CONTRIBUTION. IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE, I PROMISE.

My huge thanks for all those who have already contributed - I will not let you down!