Lands End to John O Groats – the return journey 1st April 2022
Not long after we finished JOGLE in 2016, we discussed repeating the walk in reverse (LEJOG) and decided a good time would be 5 years later to coincide with Steve’s next big birthday.
The provisional date was set for Spring 2021 and then along came Covid.
Steve started the initial planning in late 2019, but it soon became apparent we were going to have to put our plans on hold for 12 months. Detailed planning resumed at the end of last year and we set a start date of 1st April 2022 (April Fools Day).
When the idea of LEJOG was first discussed Steve was adamant there would be no camping, but staying in B & B’s usually means a late start to enjoy a cooked breakfast and we both like to get going early in the day. So we are camping where possible, with the occasional B & B.
Lynn retired from work on 30th March, although she refuses to call it retirement and prefers ‘no longer working’, leaving a day of final preparation before setting out for Lands End on 1 April.
LEGOG – Day 1
Lands End to Botallack
An early start with a 5 o’clock alarm, at which point Lynn spotted her first ‘rookie’ mistake – she hadn’t charged her phone. Quick top up required before the taxi arrives.
Stage 1, a taxi to Exeter St David’s, for our train to Penzance.
Stage 2 – a beautiful sunny morning for a rail trip along the South Devon coast, followed by glimpses of Dartmoor before crossing the River Tamar into Cornwall. As we criss cross Cornwall the frost in the fields turns to snow on roofs and gardens in Truro, fortunately this is short lived.
We arrive in Penzance with 40 minutes to spare and as it is now hailing find a Warren’s Bakery (apparently the oldest pasty maker in Cornwall) for a coffee, but no pasty.
Stage 3 – an open top double decker bus ride to Lands End, due to the weather we decided to stay in the warm on the lower deck.
After the obligatory photos at Lands End we set out along the North Cornish coastal path, passing through Sennan Cove towards Cape Cornwall.
An uneventful walk until we leave the coast path to head inland to our campsite, where we acquire a dog, running widely around looking for rabbits, it follows us all the way to the campsite. Together with the campsite proprietor we catch the dog and phone the owner who lives 30 mins by car away!
A short first day but it gets us back in the swing.
steveandlynnwalkdotcom 
Brilliant start, snow, hail and a dog 🐶 😂!
Looking forward to following your journey north! Stay safe xxx
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A good start, hope it warms up for you!
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Wonderful to hear from you both – good grief! You’re at it again – backwards. We bumped into you in late May ‘16 while we were walking the Great Glen Way, and saved every one of your postings after that – I still have an email folder labelled ‘JOGLE’, now these new postings are going into the same place. If you come anywhere near Thornbury (north of Bristol) you’ll be very welcome… Andy & Chris x – – – All our best wishes for your new quest.
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Very pleased that you have started the walk as planned. Best wishes, I hope it all goes well. ,
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Congratulations on your no longer working Lynn! Looks like a great start, wonder if you will acquire any more animals en route?! We would love to follow in your footsteps one day – in the meantime will be doing it vicariously via your updates!
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