I've spent a lot of time thinking about the route that I want to take.
Being on a moped with L plates automatically excludes me from motorways which suits me fine. I have no desire to look at motorway embankments for 12 days! I'm also going to try and avoid dual carriageways as well.
After much studying of the map I have a good idea of how I'm going to get to the top and back again.
I didn't just want to travel from Lands End to John O'Groats but to do a back to back journey going back to Lands End. But why do that when you could also incorporate the other corners of Durness and Dover!
In a nutshell I'll be leaving Lands End (LE) and heading up the Cornish and Devon coast where I will be scooting towards Bristol and plan to stay around the Ledbury / Hereford area for the night
Day 2 will see me heading towards Shrewsbury, through Oswestry and Wrexham finishing the day at Heswall and at the home of my old army mate Mark and his family.
Day 3 and through the Mersey tunnel to Southport then Lancaster before I turn towards the Lakes. Going past lake Windermere to Penrith where just after this I pass into Bandit Country or as they like to call it Scotland! Continuing North sees me through Dumfries and Kilmarnock. The next part of my journey takes me through Glasgow, thankfully I know Glasgow well as there are some places where not even the police venture! Heading towards Loch Lomond will eventually see me at Crianlarich for the night.
Day 4 off to Fort William before I switch coasts from East to West and Dingwall. From here its due North to Lairg.
Day 5 and on to Tongue, turning right and following the coast through Thurso and finally John O'Groats. (JOG)
An approximate mileage of 993
After a quick photo shoot of my arrival its off again the way I came, back to Tongue keeping the coast to my right as I head for Durness.
Day 6 and it's all down hill from here! Once more I hug the coast as much as possible through Scourie, Ullapool and hopefully end the day around Invergarry.
Day 7 A return to Fort William and depending on weather and progress have an easy day. Trying to push on to Inveraray before resting my head.
Day 8 on to Helensburgh, back through Glasgow and towards East Kilbride and heading slightly East to Moffat and Selkirk. Over the border at Carter Bar I'm heading through Otterburn towards Ouston where in 1983 I started my army career. Stopping the night at Catterick.
Neil if your reading this I've just bagged your sofa for the night!
Now not only is Neil an old army mate but also a childhood friend from Shaston. I feel partially responsible for him following me into the Royal Signals and doing his 22 years service!
Day 9 a big push today! Heading for Scarborough, Grimsby and Skegness will see me end up around the Sutton Bridge area for the night.
Day 10 heading for Norwich and the coast at Great Yarmouth continuing South to Lowestoft which also boasts the most Easterly part of my journey. From here to Ipswich and on to Colchester. Across the Thames and towards Gravesend and on to Margate.
Here lives another old Army mate going by the name of Diggers! He doesn't know it yet but I'm hoping to kip on his floor!
Day 11 and home is in sight! Following the South Coast through Dover, Rye, Eastbourne, Brighton, Bognor Regis, Fareham, Totton and finally into the New Forest and home to Lymington.
Day 12
Not that this is the end as I have the last 238 miles to do along the coast all the way back through Dorset, Devon and Cornwall to arrive in Lands End that evening!
So that's a rough guide as to my route a total of approximately 2700 miles!
What could possibly go wrong!
Till later..........
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