B&Q

I was just looking on the internal intronet at work and I stumbled on a subject  Are you fundraising for a charity this year? I clicked on it to see what it says

'We are aware that colleagues raise thousands of pounds evvery year for verious of charities and good courses. We believe it's important to support you in your efforts, helping you to help others. Match it enables B&Q to make a contribution to charities and good courses, such as schools, scouts and guides or community centres for example, by matching funds raised by you to set a limit.

if you are planning to raise money for your favourite charity or good course, we could potentially match the amout that you raise up to the maximum of £200.'

So I am quite intrested in getting something back for the charities with all the hard work we do from B&Q. well done

Lets see if they follow through. COME ON B&Q 

training

I  do this training with the boys, so far we have made about 25 miles in one go, the result is in good time and we  feel we could do more.

This week I have been cycling to work everyday with a  half loaded bike to what we will be doing, there is one quite annoying hill between home and work (ditch really) and its only 3 miles to go. its REALLY HARD :-( but its great really I have been making it everyday non stop :-) up this annoying hill when I go there and when I finish work.

For those that know (or not) its the Southampton Hill road in Fareham. And to add to this lovely bit of training at the start of the week it started snowing when that finish it was blowing a gaile. I thought it was spring. well at least I feel I might of catch a small cold. One more night shift to go. Then back into the car for work, then training in the worm on the spinner in the evenings.

Magners Pear Cider Vs Abbot Ale

Some things are important, so very important, that wind, rain, and snow cannot be allowed to interfere. One of these things I have decided, is deciding what beverage is palatable enough to be used in place of water. Not for washing of course, but for the many and frequent rest stops I see in our near future.

So, braving the Arctic winter we seem to be experiencing, I set out for our nearest ASDA, there, I deliberated on the fact that I am not a big drinker, and have never really got along with the taste of lager/beer. I questioned for a moment, just a moment, whether I indeed needed anything alcoholic to survive 3 weeks cycle camping - I quick affirmed to myself the obvious and decided to buy the above drinks. I have endlessly heard how Real ale is completely different to beer, and so plumped to try Abbot Ale, the bottle looked good, the label read good, but alas the taste was anything but! If it reminded me of anything at all, it was the kind of cheap lager we bought in bulk as teenagers, the kind of lager than put me off lager in general in the first place!

Thankfully, the Magners Pear Cider was more than palatable  it was fantastic, sweet easy to go down and made me feel just the right amount of woosyness. In the competition for camp drink of the year, the Magners is certainly leading the way for me.

There are still 10 weeks left - That should give me plenty of time to narrow things down!

THE Bikes!

Added a page with details of the luxury transportation devices with which this JOGLE is to be completed! One such device has been itemised, the others will follow.

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THE Route!

The finalised route page has been added, I hope some other people out there will find it useful.

Please find it to the right --->

It's really happening!

Today I booked 3 tickets from Portsmouth to Inverness, and then from Inverness to Thurso. Monies have been parted with, commitments made, and come rain or shine, 24th May we are off!

Now if only we could get some miles in preparation done before we go!

The Common Cold

The common cold has neutralized me for the last 2 weeks or so, any commuting has been strictly under engine power, and all training rides have been cancelled!

Once the head symptoms subsided nearly a week ago, something of a gremlin jumped down into my chest and played havoc with my lungs. It would seem, that this is now, finally coming to an end, and I am looking forward again to the freedom and serenity that comes with riding a bike. (of the non-motored variety - that gives rise to a 'different' feeling)

However some progress has been made regarding bike and equipment preparations - more posts to follow.