Click here for Matt's Official Diary

Diary and plan of Ben and Matt's sponsored cycle ride from Lands End to John O'Groats cycle ride 2005 as reported at the time. This is back to front so start at the bottom and read up or click on Matt's diary above for the story the right way round!

11/08/05

Home at 2.15 am.

10/08/05

Wick to John O'Groats. Left by car at Mid-Day - picked up by Matt's Mum & Dad.

09/08/05

Inverness to Wick.

08/08/05

Fort William to Inverness.

07/08/05

Day of rest in Fort William.

06/08/05

Loch Lomond to Fort William.

05/08/05

Wanlock Head to Crianlarich.

04/08/05

Carlisle to Wanlock Head.

03/08/05

They did it - all the way to Carlisle! After leaving fairly latish from Slaidburn 9.45-10.00; Ben and Matt argued over the exact time! The key feature of the day was the Kirkstone Pass. The Kirkstone Pass Road is the highest road pass in the Lake District.

Matt: "Wouldn't want to do it again" "thought would never get to the top" "Ben is tired".

Ben: "Legs ache - nice but had to keep on stopping and waiting for Matt"

Both: "Fantastic views". Overtook a car on the way down the other side. Ben took his crank apart reset and regreased it after it started clicking. Stopped at Kirkstone Inn for a coffee and received more donations!

Has been on/off rain but dryer in the afternoon. Still cycling in bright sunshine at 20.20. Last 17 miles into "rough" Carlisle was flat and easy going at 15-22mph all the way. Had meal from a fish and chip shop tonight. No overcharging for accomodation!

Stats for the day: Todays average 11.65. 88.57 miles recorded. Max speed 39.19. Cycling time: 7hrs 35 mins 58 seconds.

This is the last live update I am afraid - have enjoyed doing it. Hope you have enjoyed reading it. I have asked the boys to keep a written record and I will post them when I am back - Sorry!

02/08/05

8.00 rise for a farm breakfast from Anne, the wife of the farmer Thomas Strange. She also packed them up some delicious cheese & tomato sarnies for lunch. Chris picked them up, collected the biles and went off to Bill Nickson Cycles. They looked at the wheel and took the spoke out. Ben and Matt went over the road to Tesco for a "brew & bun".

Unfortunately the repair did not work as the spokes did not match up. There was no other alternative than to buy a new wheel. Bill Nixons are going to order the shimano spoke, repair the wheel and send it home. They also advised Ben that it really wasn't the sort of bike that was up to touring and carrying heavy weights. They have both left a lot of their kit, including sleeping bags to lighten the loads. These will also be packed up and sent home by the bike shop - what great service!

Chris took them back onto their route. They toddled off, stopping at 12.00 for lunch. After carried on taking it easy and larking about paddling in the river at Dunsop Bridge (up to their knees). A short mileage at 29 miles only to Slaidburn where they arrived at 16.30 (1/2 hour before opening) and a day late!

The hostel opened at 17.00 and they went in to pay for the accomodation. The fee for the night was shown as (from) £11.00 per person - apparantly it was £14.00 each so the volunteer put the amount in and asked Ben for his PIN. Unfortunately Ben did not realise that the transaction had not been fully entered, so his PIN carried on entering as money. Needless to say, Ben putting in his PIN did not authorise the transaction, so the volunteer had to obtain manual authorisation. The receipt produced was in excess of £28000!! Ben was horrified! Unfortunately there was no facility at the hostel for it to be rectified as they had no superviser card. After checking, it was found the nearest superviser card was 15 miles away. This necessitated the volunteer having to drive Ben there to obtain a refund. The poor chap had to read up the map and must have been a bit jittery as he pulled out of the car park and had a very narrow miss with an oncoming car.

Ben arrived back at 21.00 with his refund. Barclaycard should never have authorised that amount! They were only charged £11.00 each for the night.

Tomorrow they hope to cycle to Carlisle via the Kirkstone pass!

01/08/05

Route expected Chester to Slaidburn but disaster struck in Chorley at 16.30 - A spoke in Bens wheel snapped - he has only 24 spokes (It's a Canondale R700 racing bike and it has panniers fitted!). Ben borrowed Matts bike and took the wheel down to Halfords - about a mile away - they only fix mountain bike wheels.

They were outside a Bus Garage so Ben had an idea of asking if they could sleep on a bus for the night but they were not allowed, but they did allow them to secure the bikes and leave them there for the night. Next to find somewhere to sleep - opposite the garage was a lane leading down to the river - they went off to search for a place to bivvy. A local hill seemed as if it might offer shelter so they went up it and came to a farmhouse where they asked if there was anywhere to stay - yes on the floor in the front room. Pillows have been provided to accompany the sleeping bags.

Tomorrow they hope to be picked up by a friend of the farmer who does some cycling - he knows a local bike shop so they hope to collect the bikes and get a repair done and get on their way. Unfortunately they will not be able to get to Carlisle - about 100 tough miles so they will be aiming for mid to top end of Lakes possibly depending on how soon they can get moving again.

Matt sounded quite tired - he said it was a "long hard difficult day" Circumstances mainly as they managed about 57 miles. They started from Chester at 10.00, bought lunch in Lymme and finished off sharing a family KFC (Ben ate most of it!).

Did not take the days stats.

31/07/05
Sunday - No cycling - day off. Good food for dinner and tea by friends.

30/07/05
Self catering hostel so had the ham rolls Ray had made for them for breakfast. Ben discovers that his rear tyre was wearing through as a brake pad was misalligned and was rubbing on the tyre. A diversion to Wrexham was required. Halfords have a replacement.

I spoke to Matt at 16.50 while they were at Wrexham. On Multimap I calculate they hae ridden at least 62 miles to get there. I also calculate that they have to ride another 46 to get to Birkenhead. I expect they will be glad of a day of rest tomorrow!

Ok - the update - lunched in Ellesmere Shropshire then on to Wrexham - met a man who guessed they were doing the end to end and asked for their bucket so he could give them a donation! Matt says generally a boring day.

They reached Chester and caught a train to Birkenhead. £3.60 single. Will return on Monday when they hope set off for Slaidburn in the Trough of Bowland.

Stats for the day: Todays average 12.00. 77.1 miles recorded. Max speed 26.00. Cycling time: 6hrs 25 mins.

Photos from Lands End arrived at Matts parents today.

29/07/05
Left at 10.00 having had breakfast. Went to look round Ross-on-Wye. Made arrangements with Miss Cousins and Mr Roe for Saturday night to stay in Chapel House, Birkenhead. Matt needed new brake pads and also stopped at a bike shop where they had a mechanic look at his bottom bracket. The diagnosis was that it was a cheap replacement and had not been put together well.

No rain today and no mobile phone reception at Clun. Clun YHA is a tiny volunteer run hostel. Lunched in Greggs the Bakers cost £6.00 for 2. In afternoon Ben's Dad phoned. He has an old school friend in Hereford who had been following their progress - did they want to meet up? Ray rang then and invited them over for dinner. Was salmon OK? He picked them up from the hostel and drove to his house to be entertained by him and his wife for the evening. Matt said it was the first decent meal all week and the first lot of vegetables. Excellent meal - all the trimmings and ice cream. Back to the hostel about 23.30.

Stats for the day: Todays average 12.13. 73 miles recorded. Max speed 40.9mph. Cycling time: 6hrs 4 mins.

Destination tomorrow: Birkenhead.

28/07/05
Ben rang at 20.55 to report progress. Day started well for Ben. He got through the basket of toast, but still felt peckish. Fortunately hostelers from another table left without finishing their toast so Ben decided to "waste not - want not", this happened again as another table left - Ben was very happy.

It has been reasonably dry today - only had to put weather gear on twice. I don't know what it is with these two, but they decided to do the YHA route prior to 4th May, but did not book any of them. The previous two nights hostels were fully booked - so too was Welsh Bicknor where they had intended to stay tonight! All part of the fun. They find themselves 20 miles short today at St Briavels - The YHA is a castle and they are sleeping in the hanging room. There is a post in the roof where the rope hung, the victims were thrown out of the window.

Started out through Cheddar Gorge and later crossed the Severn via the Clifton suspension bridge - no toll, pretty windy but good views - this was the best part of the day. They met a fellow Lejoger at Cheddar YHA taking it more leisurely and is having his maps posted ahead of him! - has been nicknamed 'the posh cyclist'. They met him again at the end of the bridge, he had crashed after losing an spd bolt from his shoes. Ben had a spare after suffering the loss of a bolt last year so was able to help him out. Ben punctured 1 mile from St Briavel and Matts bike is creaking from the bottom bracket. They have just finished off 1.5 lengths of garlic bread and half a Pizza. Naomi has found a call box on her campsite and is able to ring Ben at a rate of £0.02 per second - the last call cost £6.00! Ben says good morning to everybody but also has a disturbing habit of saying "Boo!" to workmen as they cycle silently past.

Stats for the day: Todays average 10.44mph. 54.67 miles recorded. Max speed 35.92mph. Cycling time: 5hrs 14 mins.

Destination tomorrow Clun YHA.

27/07/05
23.35pm rang Matt as he had not called after his previous update (below)! Was just a bit worried as he had promised to ring me back. They are OK, just have tired legs and hurting knees etc. The most exciting thing today was arriving at the YHA this evening at 10.05pm.

90 wet miles in the saddle. They have waterproof tops but no leggings, consequently they are riding in shoes full of water. Water is running down the lanes and spray is everywhere.

It was misty fine rain at start of day. As they stayed in a bunkhouse they had to go out to get breakfast. They cycled off, past the prison and found a local shop selling hot pasties, this was by a clapper bridge. (Matt sent us a postcard of the prison from here asking us to write back c/o the prison!)

Exeter did its usual trick and had them going round and round. Their brake pads started to go so found bike shop and bought new pads. Unfortunately they had to take the A30 to Honiton but cycled through the town and back on the A30 for a short while. Lunch stop was Talaton. They asked if there was anywhere dry they could sit and eat as it was a snack job again. The shop proprietor offered them the back of his Transit for which they were grateful. Matt managed to leave his gloves in the van and couldn't be bothered to go back for them!

Devon smells everywhere of cow manure.

When they discovered Steet YHA was full they headed off for Cheddar via Wells - it was there that Matt started to succumb to a Vacancies sign at a B&B - the lady should have had "No" in front of it, but did ring round and found a twin room for £55.00 a night. Ben managed to persuade Matt not to waste his money and asked how far cheddar was. "15 minutes by car so 25 minutes by bike" was the answer - off they set and arrived 45 minutes later.

Ben says "Matt has done very well - he would have paid £55 for a single bed. I've just had dinner" This is 23.35 and Matt says Bens legs are still covered in mud!

Stats for the day: The speedo reset itself twice with the water. Approx 90 miles - at 50 miles when Matt looked he recalls 39mph top speed and an average of 10.6mph

Welsh Bicknor is the destination for tomorrow. Metcheck has the day starting cloudy progressing to showers turning heavy later.

27/07/05
09.10pm Youth hostel in Street was full up - Cheddar has vacancies. Currently in Wells seeing if they can get a B&B! Update later!

26/07/05
Earlier call today 20.47 hours. Ben said - "Not a good day - hill after hill". Should have completed 75 miles but only managed 52. Dartmoor was the problem. The wind blew and the rain came down - it was spitting most of day and they were up in the clouds on Dartmoor which are pretty damp on their own and cold too I expect.

The day started with breakfast 8.30. Neither overslept - surprisingly! Toast, cereal and then a full English, as much as they could eat. They set off to Fowey and caught the ferry to Bodinnick. After about 5 miles they are surprised to find themselves back at the Polruan ferry to cross the river back to Cornwall - they had gone round in a big circle. A good piece of navigating lads! Matt blames it on a lady who told him to turn left at the T junction when it fact it was a left turn. They push their bikes up the hill and get on thier way again. Bens needs to feed his tummy. A Spar shop brings a makeshift lunch of rolls, jam, cheese, pack of biccys - normal builders fare?

Matt and Ben are a little saddlesore and they have to make up the mileage tomorrow. They did not get to the YHA they intended - just as well because when they rang it was full. Accomodation is a Princetown bunkhouse (not Her Majesty's Prison!), they are in Devon. When they reached Yelverton they bought sausages and were in the process of eating hotdogs as we spoke. Ben is struggling without Naomi as she has gone on holiday and did not take her phone with her. Tomorrow they are aiming to get to Street in Somerset.

Stats for the day: Todays average 9.09mph. 52 miles recorded. Max speed 35mph. Cycling time: 5hrs 48 mins.

25/07/05
Matt and Ben were dragged out of Halland, East Sussex, at 2.15 am bleary eyed by Phil and Anna. They drove them (according to Multimap about 325 miles) in 6 hours. To get their photo taken by the signpost they had to wait around for two hours for the lady who puts up the signs to arrive, so did not get off until 10.00 am. After one hour Ben decided it was breakfast time.

Then the fun started. Matt noticed his wheel getting flat. No problem thought Matt, just pump it up and see how it goes. This early on in the trip, loads of energy, pumping away and snaps the valve!! No problem thinks Matt, just get a spare out and we'll be off. Check the spare - oh no its one for Bens bike - its too big for my wheel, never mind fold it up a bit and squeeze it in - no problem. Off we go again.

A little while later Matt notices he has a puncture - same wheel. They find a garage and explain the problem. The very kind gentleman whips off his own bikes inner tube and lets Matt have it! - (Treworran Garage - Mr Harris - well done Sir!). Matt then goes off to the nearest town and buys two more tubes, catching Ben up later. Lunch was at 4.00 pm and later, 9.00 pm, Ben was tempted by a Macdonalds - it was a "Drive Thru" but the server would not take their order and sent them inside.

I ring Matt at 9.30 pm to get the days story - no reply - must be asleep I think. 22.59 hrs phone rings - sorry i missed your call but I was still cycling!! They arrived at Gelant YHA near Fowey where they are staying for the night.

Stats for the day: Todays average 9.81mph. 65.76 miles recorded. Max speed 45mph. Cycling time: 6hrs 42 mins.

18/07/05
One week left - Ben starts to panic - how can I cope without Naomi for two weeks he asks himself.

16/07/05
Ben finally responds to the web editor regarding his question as to how he expects to go touring on an R700 "Well I don't know, but i have just fixed my panniers and racks to my bike, so hopefully the bike can take the extra mass of luggage :-)"

21/05/05
On Saturday, having been very fed up with problems on his bike, which were both going to be very costly to sort out.. and undesirable, Ben decided to go and buy a new bike - a Cannondale R700... It's extremely fast, and scary too. He had his first puncture today ... unfortunately! - he isn't used to them!

12/05/05
Matt gets write up in the local news paper: www.lewestoday.co.uk article.

29/03/05 - 12/05/05
Various sponsors added - passing the £2500 mark. Thank you one and all!

29/03/05
The website content is published.

11/03/05
They receive charity packs from Matt Forrest (Senior Fund Raising Executive), and begin raising money.

22/11/04
Matt contacts Ben to say he would like to do the LEJOG with him, (don’t blame me it was your idea in the first place!!!!!) He he he !! (says matt)(Web Editor - for the unitiated LEJOG is Lands End To John O'Groats - a JOGLE is John O'Groats to Lands End - At least I understand now!)

19/11/04
Ben meets Matt at a firework party! Nice burgers and sausages! (fireworks were ok to!!!) (Web Editor - late firework party!)

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