LeJog ... the journey back to John O'Groats

Day 1

Riding went very well indeed, and Nick rode from Lands End to Tewkesbury.  We stayed at the Caravan Club site adjacent to the abbey.  The wardens were lovely, and gave me a pitch close to the gates, because I would have to accompany Nick to the gates the next morning with a key to let him out.

At around 9pm I realised that when I'd done my shopping for the day, I'd forgotten to buy double cream, which is the most calorie intensive part of Nick's breakfast on cycling days, so the wardens gave me directions to the One Stop, the only shop open late at night.  I got there at 9.05pm to
discover that were closing an hour early due to staff illness, and were closed.

Not to be deterred, I spotted a coffee shop/bar next door, that looked like they may use cream.  Hmm, I thought, and nipped A trip to the kitchen to consult with the chef later, I left with a bottle of cream that had enough in it for Nick's breakfast needs :)  Theoc House is the name of the lovely establishment, and although I didn't have anything to eat and drink there, their wonderful, helpful attitude towards a bedraggled old fart in the 'middle' of the night suggests that their goodies must be great, so if you're in the Tewkesbury area, please go and have a coffee with them.

Day 2

Nick was 'up and at em' nice and early, and I got back to sleep almost immediately after letting him out the campsite gate.  Shortly after waking up though, I got a phone call from Nick, who was by then in Stafford, saying his knees were objecting strenuously to the cycling and he was stopping for the day, probably abandoning the ride altogether. When I got to Staffard a couple of hours later, we decided that he shouldn't carry on, because we didn't want to be in a situation where it took months foro his knees to heal, like the last injury he had to his ankle.
To Edinburgh, we decided, and another attempt a a double End to End in September.

We spent the afternoon/evening with a friend in Chesterfield, and staying in a campsite close by, planning to continue on to Edinburgh the next day.