{"id":1838,"date":"2022-12-17T12:53:39","date_gmt":"2022-12-17T12:53:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bendingtherules.co.uk\/home\/?page_id=1838"},"modified":"2026-01-01T14:22:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T14:22:58","slug":"lejog-2012-part-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bendingtherules.co.uk\/home\/lejog-2012-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"LEJOG 2012 \u2013 Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Liverpool to Edinburgh<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LEJOG \u2013 Preparation<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

LEJOG \u2013 Getting to Penzance<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

LEJOG Part 1 \u2013 Land’s End to Liverpool<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

LEJOG Part 3 \u2013 Edinburgh to John O’Groats<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

LEJOG \u2013 Video Clips<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A trip to The Orkneys<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n
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Strava for Day 19 \u2013 23rd June 2012<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After our day off in Liverpool our next waypoint was Morecambe. Leaving our B&B we passed by ‘The Kop’ and made our way to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal which took us north until we cleared most of the built-up areas. Bypassing Formby a little way inland from the coast, the flat fields had all been given over to growing mostly salad crops and we threaded our way between the fields and pulled over to let the big HGVs full of greens pass by on the narrow lanes. Further north we needed to do a short stretch on the A59 to cross the River Douglas. I had planned to get off it again as soon as possible and use back lanes to the west of the main road into Preston, but the road was relatively quiet, so we stayed on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just before a place called Much Hoole we came across an Italian Restaurant (San Marco) and being lunchtime decided to grab a bite. While there we got chatting to another cyclist and I explained our original route would have been through the lanes to the west. He said they were chest deep in water in places, so the decision to stay on the main road was a good one!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Jubilee year, and I got to meet The Queen!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Strava for Day 20 \u2013 24th June 2012<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Preston we headed for Morecambe and as a treat, the folks I worked with had paid for us to have a belated wedding anniversary evening meal in the 1930s style Midlands Hotel<\/a> by the beach. It had recently been renovated and reopened so it was all fresh and new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Karon outside the Midlands Hotel. We were back there later for an evening meal paid for by my work colleagues.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Strava for Day 21 \u2013 25th June 2012<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We left Morecambe by taking the beachside prom as far as we could then picked up the Lancaster Canal for a stretch but needed to make our way to Kirby Lonsdale. After getting there we had time for a riverside walk and ended up sitting in the churchyard sketching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The River Lune from the cemetery at Kirby Lonsdale. We’d be following the river the next morning through Sedbergh and Tebay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Karon’s sketch of a Kirby Lonsdale grave.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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My sketch made in the churchyard at Kirby Lonsdale.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Strava for Day 22 \u2013 26th June 2012<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Kirby Lonsdale we followed the River Lune Valley to Sedberg where we grabbed a coffee, then we took the back lane towards Tebay. Leaving Sedburgh we had the closest call to coming off all ride… a rather wide post van came the other way and looked like it wasn’t going to stop or pull over far enough. I tucked in as much as I could but the edge of the lane was broken and disintegrating. The front wheel got caught in it and nearly pitched us off but somehow we managed to prevent the bike falling completely. The Postie was quite apologetic having come to an abrupt stop in front of us, mouthing ‘Sorry’ through the windscreen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lane that follows the Lune is on the opposite side of the valley from the M6 and I’ve often looked across at it as we’ve been driving to Scotland in the past. Now were riding it and the views were pretty spectacular. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A screenshot from Google Streetview, as I didn’t take any shots at the time.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Crossing the River Lune, heading for Tebay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At Tebay we found a cosy pub and tucked into some typical good pub food. The afternoon’s route would take us up the Orton Scar and across the moors to Appleby-in-Westmorland where we stopped for the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Topping out on the Orton Scar after a lunchtime stop in the village of Tebay. This was a long, hard climb. Some young chap on a road bike was dancing on the pedals and trying to convince us that it wasn’t that hard… but he didn’t have 120lbs of bike and luggage to haul up it \u2013 even his girlfriend on an equally svelte machine had to give up and walk for a bit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Considering it was the second wettest summer on record, and most of the rain seemed to be centred upon us, we encountered only a few floods. Karon was forced to relinquish her seat so I could put the Arkle bags on it to keep them from being half-submerged as I rode through this. I did however, get wet feet!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Strava for Day 23 \u2013 27th June 2012<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Appleby we followed the River Eden as best we could without using the A66, heading for Brampton and our next stay overnight. The kind lady at the B&B laid newspapers down on the floor so we could get our soggy gear off without spoiling the floor. Then she suggested bringing the bike inside as there was no-where very secure in the garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strava for Day 24 \u2013 28th June 2012<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather the next day was horrendous but we only had about 13 miles to cover to get to my sister’s house at Sleetbeck. However, with horizontal rain and a buffeting headwind, it was probably the least enjoyable day we had the entire ride. Though the moorland was relatively flat, without much shelter, the myriad of becks and burns have cut deep gullies so every crossing meant a quick descent, hump-back bridge and an agonising climb back up the other side. By the time we reached my sister’s it felt like we’d ridden 50 miles, not 13!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strava for Day 25 \u2013 29th June 2012<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shortly after leaving my sister’s house, out in the wilds of Cumbria we crossed into Scotland, on our way to Langholm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Threatening skies on route to Langholm. We took cover under trees a couple of times later in the day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The footbridge at Langholm and a lively River Esk. Eskdale was next on our route.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Strava for Day 26 \u2013 30th June 2012<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a night in Langholm we crossed the Esk and took the road to Eskdalemuir, following the river. Shortly after passing through Eskdalemuir we stopped at the Samyeling Tibetan Buddhist Centre<\/a>. There is a small caf\u00e9 there run by some of the monks\/nuns\/students \u2013 so who could resist the prospect of a Yak Butter Tea? This next stretch was fairly isolated with few villages and it seemed the only accommodation within our limited range was the Tushielaw Inn, so I had pre-booked a night there well in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the hills above the River Esk, on our way to Eskdalemuir.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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After our tea stop. Sitting out another squall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the Tushielaw Inn we were the only guests, so we spent a pleasant evening sat with the young couple running the place, chatting and sharing stories over a few drinks. Next morning we spotted an otter in the stream below as we ate breakfast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At breakfast in the Tushielaw Inn we were treated to a glimpse of an otter looking for its breakfast in the stream below.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Strava for Day 27 \u2013 1st July 2012<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With Eskdale behind us we were heading for Peebles through more countryside covered in trees.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Our route the next morning left the Esk and we climbed the high ground to the cross into the next valley, climbing away from that too, towards Innerleithen then on to Peebles where we stopped for lunch. From Peebles we had no option but to take the A703 for Penicuik and our next stay in a hotel where a wedding reception was in full swing. Not sure what the guests thought when we hauled our bags through the festivities, looking pretty damp and bedraggled. Still, a hot shower and change then we joined in the lively atmosphere at the bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strava for Day 28 \u2013 2nd July 2012<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Penicuik we were within reach of Edinburgh and arrived around lunchtime \u2013 so stayed in the town centre and found a place to refuel. Later we called in at one of Karon’s many cousins where we would stay the night. Next day we would be crossing the Firth of the Forth and into the third part of our LEJOG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Edinburgh! Seemed like a massive milestone. It sank in that we had ridden all the way from Land’s End.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

LEJOG \u2013 Preparation<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

LEJOG \u2013 Getting to Penzance<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

LEJOG Part 1 \u2013 Land’s End to Liverpool<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

LEJOG Part 3 \u2013 Edinburgh to John O’Groats<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

LEJOG \u2013 Video Clips<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A trip to The Orkneys<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Liverpool to Edinburgh LEJOG \u2013 Preparation LEJOG \u2013 Getting to Penzance LEJOG Part 1 \u2013 Land’s End to Liverpool LEJOG Part 3 \u2013 Edinburgh to John O’Groats LEJOG \u2013 Video Clips A trip to The Orkneys Strava for Day 19 \u2013 23rd June 2012 After our day off in Liverpool our next waypoint was Morecambe. … <\/p>\n

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