Lands End to John O\'Groats Progress Report
 

The sponsored Charity ride is on at last after the wettest August for 50 Years.

See the other thread for the full story, and for details of how to donate money, or win a slap up meal for 2 for guessing the actual mileage covered. Just post the mileage on this thread before the weekend.

Top chap, guest1 will post a few updates as i go along.

Come folks PLEASE, PLEASE give us a couple of quid for a good cause.

Huge thanks to 4D for having the faith to cough up in advance, bet you thought i'd done a runner with your money after all this time:D

My guess...............865 miles.

And i bet your **** will be able to recall every single one.:lol::lol:

Hats off to you mate.........

Ride safe.

Regards

ScottyB

Best of luck Shaun.
I'll take a guess at 845 miles

Good luck Shaun.

888 miles

853 miles!
Good luck ;)

Hope the seat is broken in Shaun........

855 miles is my guesstimate........

Andy

All the best for the trip. Couple of stops at greasy spoon and I reckon you're on for:

868 miles

Cheers,

Ali

Good luck and all the best.
My guess 852 miles
Cheers
Stevo

Latest from BDG, So far so good:
BDG is on his way up to John O'Groats, I believe he will be in strict dietary training tonight prior to his main journey. that could mean a few pints of heavy will disappear in the bar.
Just completed 235 miles in 3.5hours, which means an average of around 67mph.
In BDG's own words: "Now for the slow stuff up to John O'Groats"

BDG can be recognised by Red Rose on lapel and copy of Times under right arm. Also, on black multistrada, black leathers and white arai.
Well done DCR for spotting the not so wee beastie.

Wouldyabelieve it!!!!!:o
BDG has landed at John O'Groats and has set up base camp.
And I quote:
"Any Scottish lads want to join me for a pint I am in the Seaview hotel in John O'Groats tonight"

Notice how he waited till he is at the furthermost point before extending the invitation for a pint.
Still, he's made it, and no doubt he'll be fuelling up both the bike and himself.

Go Shaun...Go Shaun...

Ok my guess is 910 miles...Cheque will be winging it's way as soon as you are home!:)

Terrific stuff ! Great to have a member of the DSC attempting some thing challenging . Oh! how I would love to do it. But after leading a bunch of runner a couple of time and breaking the record for the JOGLE (John O Groats Land End) I no what he's in for . Go Shaun Go All the Best 4D

According to my autoroute 851 miles-so that will be my guess then.

John

Well, he's awake, he's up, and he's on his way:

Set off at 5:45, nice sunrise. B1oody freezing.
Will give eta to J36 when he gets to Glasgow.

Late addition to previous message:
Nearly hit Deer and lots of suicidal rabbits.

Yep, that's Scotland!

Deer? Rabbits?
Tell BDG to beware the Jabberwocky!

In case that sage advice isn't enough, I have transferred a small donation to the LEtJOGCR fund.
Very best of luck, BDG!

[Edited on 9-9-2004 by Loz]

Loz, would that be the wee small beastie with the big scary teeth?

By my estimations:
Starting out at 5:45 means Glasgow maybe around 11:45 (this would be without Warp drive)
Allow say half hour for pit stop/refresh
J36 round about 14:15-ish.
I've cut down the estimation of 6hr50 JOG to Glasgow and 2hr34 Glasgow to J36

I'll post definites when the next text arrives.

[Edited on 9-9-2004 by guest1]

849 miles

Best of luck mate :burn:

[Edited on 9-9-2004 by flanker]

916 miles, probably way out but it's a nice number :lol:
Good luck matey.

Darren

Well done Shaun, what a guy! Fingers crossed for sunshine all the way.
My guess is 800 miles - take a few shortcuts.
See you at the next NW meeting with the promised dosh.

Enjoy the ride!

Shaun is now south of Glasgow, having done approx 330 miles so far.
This sun is out at last.
East coast of Scotland was very slow, cold and overcast.

For those of you with access to route finder (those without, I find www.theaa.com route planner pretty decent) you may want to revise your mileage estimate, not that this is a clue mind you:
AA route JOG to Glasgow: 293 miles
Shaun's mileage so far (just south of Glasgow) 330
Oh dear, average mph so far is down to about 50, he'll have to get a move on.

hmmmmmmm, all those near deer avoidance swerves must have added up to a few extra miles.

[Edited on 9-9-2004 by guest1]

Junction 36 estimated 2~2:15.

i've sent text to Shaun to warn of queuing traffic around this junction but after checking his avatar I don't think that'll be too much of a problem.

Knutsford services, 512 miles.
Just passed home turn off.
Nice and warm now.
The next part of the message was slightly awry but I think he meant to text:
“repeat after me, “M6 is nice motorway with no hold ups” “

Oh dear, I think he may have encountered the little guys in the orange robes.:o
Based on current wind speed, juxtaposition of wagon slip streams and azimuth angles of solar winds, he should be making it for 22:00hrs.

But then again, he just texted to say he’s aiming to be there in time for last orders.

I'm beginning to suspect Shaun is spending more time in services than he is admitting to:-

660miles so far, at Bristol now.
Bikes going really well.
Shame my body is not doing as well.
Numb bum set in after 600 miles and right wrist is aching. (I kid you not, that is what he wrote. Titter ye not in the back row!)
Averaging 150miles per burger.


Still 52mph, still on target for last orders, but I don't think he'll be wanting to sit down at the bar.

20:43 hrs...
780miles.
Passing through RedRuth soon (sure I've seen that name on this board somewhere).
Nearly there
Stopped for petrol.

Well, it ain't over till the fat lady sings, and I guess she'll be bursting into song sometime soon.

I have been thinking about his efforts while sat at my desk today, what a great achievment, and for charity as well...........

Still reckon he his mad though;)

Oh dear....
looks like he may be doing a re-enactment of his avatar:
21:36 text......schedule up the spout. Thunder and lightning.

Sent a few words of encouragement.

Prepare to release the fat lady's gag...........

[Edited on 9-9-2004 by guest1]

Sorry I missed BDG passing through!!!!:D Be the first time a big daft Geordie has got past me without my noticing!
:frog::frog:

Fantastic - where do I send my £££££ Anyone who's prepared to suffer early mornings and whatever the British Isles can sling at you weatherwise deserves some financial support for the charity of their choice. guest1 - you presumably have the 'to whom the cheque is payable - send to ' info. Can you U2U or post it on this thread?

Release the gag,...
Sing fat lady,
Sing I tell you
:sing: :sing: :sing: :sing:

Shaun has landed at Lands End and he's still time for a much deserved and well earned pint (or two, or three, or maybe a carry out as well, and there's always the mini-bar)

Well done m8!!

Can't say the official mileage yet, I thought I'd leave that to the man himself to reveal.
From 5:45 this morning to 22:13 he's covered well in excess of 800 miles and all for a good cause.

Oh dear, I think I'm filling up (with guinness that is).

Nurse, methinks Mr Shaun could benefit from the extra cool rubber inflated ring please.

final report is awaited with baited breath

[Edited on 9-9-2004 by guest1]

Redruth, details are in this thread. (posted here just in case anyone else needs them)
http://217.199.188.40/xmb/viewthread...10786#pid95056

[Edited on 9-9-2004 by guest1]

Excellent. And Lands End is gonna be really sunny tomorrow when BDG wakes up with the mother of all hangovers.

Well done BDG. Don't forget to write your usual fab travel journal when you get back. I can't wait to read it (even if it's a bit boringly British without the usual Spanish petrol station segnoritas to liven up the scenery)

And I will be contributing to your sponsorship. Where are the details of the fund (you left guest1 in charge and he obviously hasn't got much of a clue when it comes to collecting the dosh! ;)

oooh you cheeky young filly you! I've half a mind to come down there and collect the money myself, but then again, the other half of my mind says I can't (she's looking over my shoulder) and the bikes in for mending.
;)

redruth, I shall type this s-l-o-w-l-y,
t-h-e a-n-s-w-e-r-s i-n m-y p-r-e-v-i-o-u-s p-o-s-t

Ok thank you. Cheque written, envelope addressed and stamps adhered. Will post tomorrow. S-O-R-R-Y I missed the previous post !:devil:

As I could definitely to with a slap up posh dinner, my guess for mileage is 898.5. And (please don't think I want to exert any undue influence here) if I win, can I take BDG?
:D

ooooh, late entry from Redruth there.
How close was it? Well it was about.....
Sorry, you'll have to wait for Shaun to reveal that, gotta leave the honour to the big man.
By now he should be tucking in to his meal and gulping maybe a third pint.
final text for the day:

"Whats up with this country.
I can ride for 2 weeks in Sahara with no rain, road works or Gatsos.
Go for a days ride and you get a thunderstorm for the last 40 miles.
Sat in bar, on second pint waiting for food.
XXX miles, 16.5hrs.
Bit tired but not too bad.
Bike has been great.
Who says you can't do miles on Ducatis"

I know the mileage, and obviously Shaun knows the mileage.
So to give you as much opportunity as you can get to have a guess (complete with donation of course), I'll leave it for Shaun to post the official odometer reading.
I cannot be bribed.

Big round of applause to Shaun, fantastic ride.

Thanks also to guest1 for all of the updates - haven't tittered so much in ages. Great fun!

Any chance of the mileage being posted..........

The suspense is killing me!!!!!!!!:D

Evening all
 

Big thanks to guest1 for helping with the updates, hope you don't get the sack for not doing any work on Thursday.

I was really pleased that the trip finished with a thunderstorm as it put the bonfire out which prevented the locals re enacting the Wickerman, much to their disgust.

Actually the Lands End hotel were superb, didn't mind a dripping wet biker turning up late, rustled up some food and kept the bar open until i went to bed, the receptionist Anita rides a 125 and her other half is into bikes as well.

Thanks a million for all the offers of beds for the night, guides for the roads, support vehicles, crew etc. etc. Apologies if anyone thought i was being ignorant declining all these but, if i'd taken various offers up it could have taken a fortnight, which wouldn't have the same impact (and therefore money raising possibilities) as doing it in a day.

I didn't really have time to hang about.

I'll rattle of a little story about the run but its not the most exciting of stories, (Redruth is right there). More a case of how the bike performed.

Final thing before i go to bed, for all you Multistrada owners, i stopped into to see Mike and Brian, some very old mates at GT Motorcycles in Plymouth on the way home, put the Multi on the Dyno and it produced 82.7 bhp and 61ft lbs torque.









































oops nearly forgot
:devil:
the mileage.

day 1 upto John o Groats 495
day 2 end to end 850
day 3 back home 379

Monty had 851, Flanker had 849.

I'll have to check emails and entry forms at work next week to see if anyone who has made a donation has come up with the exact mileage. If not we have 2 in the silver medal position.

Big Thank You to everyone who has donated
 

I will post the final sum raised when i know.