The route !

I might at one point have thought that it would be quick and easy to book accommodation for my 22 nights away from home, if I did I was lacking a little foresight. Nevermind, a lack of appreciation of the probable difficulty of things should come in handy over the next couple of weeks. The accommodation is almost all confirmed now, so here are the stopping off points with notes in parentheses:

16th July - Penzance;
17th July - Penryn (via Land's End & Lizard Point);
18th July - Liskeard (via St.Austell);
19th July - Crediton ( possibly via Dartmoor);
20th July - Cheddar;
21st July - nr. Gloucester;
22nd July - Penkridge ( following the Severn for most of the way);
23rd July - Penkridge ( feet up );
24th July - Altrincham ;
25th July - Thornton, near Bradford ( via Holme Moss & Holmfirth, possibly);
26th July - Hawes ( via Skipton & Wharfedale) ;
27th July - Carlisle ( possibly via Buttertubs Pass & Tan Hill );
28th July - Sanquhar ( via Dumfries);
29th July - Brodick, Arran ( via the ferry from the mainland );
30th July - Port Ellen, Islay ( via the ferry from the mainland );
31st July - Port Ellen (distilleries);
01st Aug - Kilmartin ( via the ferry back to the mainland );
02nd Aug - North Ballachulish ( up the West Coast via Oban );
03rd Aug - Fort Augustus ( via Fort William & the Great Glen cycle trak );
04th Aug - Cromarty ( via Inverness );
05th Aug - Helmsdale ( up the East coast ) ;
06th Aug - Thurso ( via the Strath of Kildonan );
07th Aug - Thurso ( via Dunnet Head and John o'Groats );

The total mileage covered should be somewhere between 1100 and 1200 miles, with the longest day being around 85 and the shortest being almost exactly 0 (rest days). Thanks to all of my friends and family who are kindly putting me up for the night.

There are various bits and bobs to sort out now, not least some final tweaks to the bike and plotting my route between stops.

Many many thanks again to all those who have kindly provided a donation.

Cheers,

Mat.