Author Archives: nickletjog

A few days have now passed since our return from Scotland, and with the memories of our NC500 challenge at last winning through against the muscle-aches of our exertions, I would like to pass on the thanks of the Ride & Stride team to everyone who has supported our efforts over the last couple ofContinue reading “Bring It All Home”

Ride & Stride – Day 9, plus 1: Friday 16 September – INVERNESS to HOME I may be exaggerating here – Scotland is hardly the world, but it does feel as though we have all been travelling at some considerable pace for the last ten days! There has barely been a quiet moment on RideContinue reading “I’ve Been Around The World”

Ride & Stride – Day 9: Thursday 15 September – EVANTON to INVERNESS (58 miles) Breakfast today was leisurely, and for me a later start, in the camper-van with Julian, accompanying the runners to their start point at Balblair on the north coast of the Black Isle. The cyclists had already departed, from Evanton, onContinue reading “Journey’s End”

Ride & Stride – Day 8: Wednesday 14 September – BRORA to EVANTON (61 miles) As we approach the final leg of our Ride & Stride challenge it’s worth making a few comments on the NC500 route itself. On cycles and when running or walking it has not always been easy, especially on the busierContinue reading “Caravans”

Ride & Stride – Day 6: Monday 12 September – POLLA to MELVICH (plus an excursion to JOHN O’GROATS) (51 miles) Until last evening I had not realised the link between our overnight stop of Durness and the Beatles, or perhaps more specifically the relationship that John Lennon had with the village. Lennon visited DurnessContinue reading “Stinging Rain”

Ride & Stride – Day 5: Sunday 11 September – UNAPOOL to POLLA (via DURNESS) (53 miles) Once more a lovely start to the day – it is so incredibly quiet here – and after a scenic breakfast we set off together, myself in Daisy, the camper-van, and the running team in Nessie, northwards throughContinue reading “The Ramblin’ Rover”

Ride & Stride – Day 4: Saturday 10 September – ULLAPOOL to UNAPOOL (60 miles) What a wonderful place is Ullapool. I have been here a couple of times before, both for one night only, and the last time was back in May 1991 with Rachel. The weather then was fine, as it has beenContinue reading “Island”

Ride & Stride – Day 3: Friday 9 September – KINLOCHEWE to ULLAPOOL (71 miles) First of all a big thank-you to our hosts Caroline and Raymond at the Loch Maree Hotel last night for supporting our Ride & Stride charities – that is very much appreciated, thank you! The runners started things off today,Continue reading “Catch The Wind”

Ride & Stride – Thursday 8 September Given this evening’s sad news from Balmoral on the passing of Queen Elizabeth, the full report on Day 2 of Ride & Stride will follow after our exertions tomorrow. The Mother We Share was the 2013 debut single from Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches, co-written and featuring the vocalsContinue reading “The Mother We Share”