Day 10 Moffat to Luss, Loch Lomond...93 miles....767 miles to date

Today's journey took us out of beautiful, peaceful Moffat through Abington, Blackwood, Chatelherault Country Park, Glasgow, into Loch Lomond. I am staying just north of Balloch in a small village called Luss overlooking Loch Lomond ( Loch = lake). After a rough night (up at 1 am with my head in the toilet) I had a shaky start to the morning. I was not able to eat breakfast and felt weak starting out. However, the flat grades along with just eating bananas and granola bars and drinking lots of water helped me recover. We started up the Clyde River valley. Very barren with forestry and wind farms along the way. It was an unusually warm 84 degrees, and the sun was shining all day. Stopped for lunch and a sandwich at Chatelherault Country Park, a great expanse overlooking the City of Glasgow. Then teamed up with the group to navigate the difficult path through the City of Glasgow that stretches over 17 miles. Fortunately they have great bike paths by the river and canals. In Glasgow I saw a Clansman in full uniform performing for a wedding. Did not have chance to get his photo though. The final part of the ride for the day was up the Fourth and Clyde Canal up to Loch Lomond wherethe scenery is spectacular. Completed 93 miles from 8:45 am-6:15 pm. Burned 3961 calories and climbed 2,269ft.

Ran into Dave Buck, from Jackson, MS. who decided to come up here for a quick vacation. Enjoyed a nice dinner with him at the Loch Lomond Arms Hotel. Completed exhausted by the end of the day and hit the sack early.

Wind farms up the Clyde River basin leading to Glasgow

Looking back on the valley floor we had just ridden up from.

On the road to Blackwood

Stopped here for lunch at Chatelherault Country Park

The downtown City of Glasgow. 

The Fourth & Clyde Canal

Loch Lomond from Balloch

Luss Harbor

A cottage in the early evening with the mountains in the background

Loch Lomond Arms Hotel (small Inn) where I'm staying tonight.

Tomorrow off to Glencoe. Short day but many hills to climb.

Day 9 Keswick to Moffat...73 miles...674 miles to date

Compared to the rest of the journey, today was relatively uneventful. Our route today took us out of Keswick, along the flank of Skiddaw, through Dalston, Carlisle, Longtown, Lockerbie, and into Moffat. 

Started off the day making a wrong turn adding 2 1/2 additional miles and some steep hills to maneuver. Enjoyed pea soup and an egg salad baguette sandwich with tomato and watercress at Crumbs in Dalston. After getting through Longtown, I stopped off at Bikeseven. Shane was able to make a quick adjustment on my derailleur, and I was quickly back on the road.( Need LEJOG help, contact www.shane@bikeseven.co.uk or (0) 1228 792497. Did not have chance to visit the Lockerbie Memorial where 288 people died. Tonight the Inn is taking care of doing my laundry. It will be nice to have clean clothes for the next few days.

Today I climbed 4,022 feet and burned 3,437 calories. Tamar won't recognize my body. Zero fat, all muscle.

The Inn at Keswick where I stayed last night was in the heart of downtown.

Leaving Keswick this was the view on the way out of town.

Over the mountains near Bassenthwaite Common

There were four ( not two) sheep staring me down as I rode by. They were sitting on top of the hill and I swear they were saying there goes another sucker who just got lost.

This one posed for this shot. It was literally standing in front of me  20 ft away for several minutes waiting for me to take the photo.

On the descent, the city of Carlisle is in the distance to the left over the river Eden.

The Carlisle Castle

Some gypsies I ran into along the road. 

Leaving England and entering Scotland. 

Standing with Mc......something or other in the lobby of the Inn. Do you know the Tartan? Looks like it's my size. I'll sneak out in the middle of the (k)night, ( no pun intended), and try it on for size!

The Inn on Main Street in the heart of downtown. Comfortable and modern amenities.

Sharing great food and company with Nick's tour group over a few pints at the Balmoral Hotel, right across the street from the Annandale Arms. Nick Mitchell is first on the right.

Notice everyone is still smiling. Had a hearty meal of lamb, neeps, tatties, yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy and treacle pudding for dessert.

Tomorrow off to Loch Lomond via Glasgow. 

You may have noticed I raised the goal again, now to $20,000. Let' s see if we can coach some friends or family to help reach the new target! Anyone?

Day 8 Clitheroe to Keswick (pronounced Kezick) 82 miles......601 miles to date

Today I reached an all time low and then an all time high. I started out from Clitheroe at 7:45am towards Slaidburn 8 miles away. Along the way I kept telling myself if I can't find Nick from the tour group, I'll never make it to Keswick. The weight of my panniers would have been just too much. As luck would have it, I ran into Nick and he gladly took my panniers, and I was off. Nick Mitchell wrote the book I have been referencing for the journey and leads group bike tours on his route for LEJOG. You can contact him at www.pedalnation.co.uk. Having done several LEJOGs, Nick knows all there is about LEJOG. How about liking him on facebook. Luckily I picked the same 14 days that Nick was leading his tour. After leaving Nick I climbed 1,300 ft over 4 miles (did I say STEEP!)  Then it was smooth sailing through High Bentham, Wray, Gressingham, Kendall down to Windermere. Stopped for lunch outside Kendall and had Tomato & Basil Soup and Ham & Tomato sandwiches with tea. Yummy! Onto the Lake District where the scenery was spectacular (reminding me of Yosemite). Rode along the lake valley floor from Windermere through Grasmere into Keswick. Many times today I felt like Sir Bradley Wiggins, England's Lance Armstrong, ( without the tarnished record). Today was in the mid 60's with the sun in and out, but mostly out.

View from the Inn at Whitwell in Clitheroe at 7:30 a.m.

YES, I came up this mountain. Had to walk part of the way. 1,300 ft...41/2 miles. Knackered by the end!

Beautiful garden in Grasmere.

Sunday afternoon flea market near Kendall.

Stopped for an ice-cream in Grasmere. Your right I cannot see a thing under that helmet.

On the valley floor between Keswick and Ambleside

Hard to concentrate on riding when you have these views to ponder.

Commemorates the first stone laid to construct the lake in Thirlmere in 1890. This reservoir feeds Manchester water supply.

Arrived in Keswick at 5:15 pm and had a nice dinner at Casa Bella with Nick and his tour group. Staying downtown off the square at the Inn at Keswick. Today climbed 4,258 ft and burned 4,190 calories. Tomorrow off to Moffat and will enter Scotland.

Day 7 Runcorn to Clitheroe..... 64 miles....519 miles to date

After a porridge breakfast at the Travelodge, I was on the road by 8:30 a.m. I immediately passed the chemical plant at Swanton that probably covers two sq miles. Anyway the fumes from the plant were downwind and I had cover my face until I past the plant. Most of the road was filled with industrial plants. After Runcorn I went through Warrington, Leigh, Bolton, Darwen,  Blackburn & Clitheroe. The weather was cool, slightly breezy, yet dry and comfortable. I was forced to stop every ten minutes or so to check my guidebook, so that I could properly navigate the changes in direction. It slowed me down a lot and took away any momentum I was able to garner. The route in today's  journey was 64 miles, but tomorrow is a very challenging 71 miles to Keswick in the Lake District. I climbed 4,258 ft and burned 2,984 calories.

Plants off in the distance.

Bob Smithy's Inn in Chorley, leading up to the hill over to Belmont

A fourteen month and two year old being walked on the road I was on. You make up their names, I didn't  ask!

Sailing Club on the Belmont Reservoir. The wind was tough here so the sailing must have been as challenging as the cycling.

The Wainright Bridge in Blackburn. Can you spot my bike?

The Inn at Whitewell near Clitheroe. Beautiful spot where I'm staying tonight. Food superb!!

It's now 10:00 p.m. and still light out! Time to go to bed. Need a good night's rest.

Hope you're enjoying the blog. Please tell your friends just a few more days to sponsor my journey.

Day 6 Clun to Runcorn....80 miles...455 miles to date

What a difference a day makes. Today was a beautiful day, sunny and about 68 degrees. Rose early to take photos and get organized. Enjoyed a restful night at the White Horse Inn in beautiful Clun. After poached eggs on toast, I ventured up the hill and then down 51/2 miles into Hope Valley. After passing through  Hope Valley, up north by Chester and onto the industrial area south of Liverpool called Runcorn. Very little wind until the mid afternoon. Completed 80 miles, burned 3,631 calories and climbed 4,262 ft.

Outside the White Horse Inn in Clun

Clun Castle built in the middle of the 12th Century.

Looking back at Clun Castle

Downhill into the Hope Valley

Beautiful Hope Valley

City of Shrewsbury on the River Seven

Downtown Shrewsbury green

Quantum Leap in Shrewsbury. 120 ton artwork honoring Charles Darwin, born in Shrewsbury. Built in 2009, evolves images of a double helix.

Sailing Club on lake near Chester. 

Throughout the UK there are many beautiful and historic churches. Penny tells me many of them are in jeopardy due to the lack of interest in Church of England from the Gen. X, Y & Z. 

For those US friends following my blog who have never been to the UK, let me enlighten you on some of the cultural observations that I've observed. Brits love their dogs. They even bring them to pubs. They also love gardening, and keep pristine gardens spending hours on their upkeep. Most Brits don't use dryers for their laundry, but hang their clothes outside to dry. It preserves the clothes and saves energy. Brits love their tea, football (soccer), betting on horses, Ales, politics and are generally very concerned about the environment and sustainability. Brits are very reserved, compared to Americans, and are still very class conscious. They enjoy their holidays and take anywhere from four to six weeks per year. Pubs serve as the social gathering place for local communities, where locals catch up on local news with lots of chatter about sports and neighbors. More later on this......

A garden I passed.

Tonight I'm staying at a Travelodge near a Mall and Expressway close to Runcorn. Tomorrow on to Clitheroe...