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08 Jun 11 - 10:32 AM (#3167115) Subject: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Hamish Bit off the wall but I'm cycling the length of the country in September and was trying to find any folkie events en route. Thought I was doing well to find Tiverton on day 4 has a singaround... but I've not turned up anything else. So if any of you can point me at a suitable venue on any of the nights I'm in town, village or hamlet I'd be most grateful. The itinerary is: Sunday 4th Perranporth Mon 5th Tavistock Tue 6th Tiverton (sorted! (I think)) Wed 7th Cheddar Thu 8th Chepstow Fri 9th Weobley Sat 10th Bomere Heath Sun 11th Acton Bridge Mon 12th Blackburn Tue 13th Dent Wed 14th Armathwaite Thu 15th Moffat Fri 16th (rest day!) still Moffat Sat 17th Strathaven Sun 18th Luss Mon 19th Loch Awe Tue 20th Fort William Wed 21st Drumnadrochit Thu 22nd Bonar Bridge Fri 23rd Bettyhill Sat 24th J o' G ..and by suitable I mean within a very short stagger or wobble or taxi ride. All suggestions - constructive and/or humorous - gratefully considered :-) Thanks Hamish |
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08 Jun 11 - 01:28 PM (#3167187) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Herga Kitty Worth contacting Dick Stanger, who cycled from LE to JoG about 4 years ago...? Kitty |
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10 Jun 11 - 05:31 AM (#3168236) Subject: RE: Land's End to John o' Groats Sept - folk? From: Hamish I think Dick's journey was more like eight or nine years ago... ...but I did find the "Le Jog" thread which was about a walking session earlier this year. Unfortunately their route was very different from the one we'll be taking. We're taking a more western route up through England whereas they seemed to go up the Pennine Way. We'll be going through Glasgow, whereas they seemed to zigzag from Edinburgh across to Drymen. The only stopover in common seems to be at Drumnadrochit a few days before John o' Groats. Anyway, if any of you are likely to be nearby on any of my stopovers it would be lovely to meet for a natter and a song or several, perhaps washed down with some local restorative ale. It's only 12 weeks away, but the training is fully underway, with The Rob Roy Challenge (16 mile walk + 39 bike ride from Drymen up through Aberfoyle, Callander, Balquidder and Killin, along the south bank of Loch Tay and finishing with a ceilidh in Kenmore) on the 18th of June as a suitable (in)sanity check. |
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10 Jun 11 - 06:17 AM (#3168316) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Ross Campbell http://www.langdalecharityfolkfestival.co.uk/ (September Festival Sept.9-10-11 2011) is a great week-end (whatever the weather - and the May w/e had 100mph gales blasting down the valley) but may be a bit out of your way. Langdale is not quite a cul-de-sac, but routes north from there are mountainous, to say the least! And it's a way back to the A6. But if you can contemplate the Rob Roy Challenge AND ceilidh the night away, you might easily fit Langdale into your itinerary. (I lived in Aberfoyle for a few years and got to know the hills around there fairly well). Ross |
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12 Jun 11 - 02:28 PM (#3169404) Subject: RE: Land's End to John o' Groats Sept - folk? From: Hamish Thanks, Ross: it certainly looks like a fabulous place and a great wee festival... ...but I really think that I'll be doing well to complete the prescribed milages without going so far off the planned route. Maybe next year though, eh? But I can tell this thread hasn't really caught your collective imaginations, Catters. I'll just have to do Tiverton and hope my fellow cyclists can be cajolled into the odd chorus or two (and those who know me wil know what I mean by "odd") in the nearest hostelry. Maybe I'll try another thread closer to the time with "free beer" in the title. |
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12 Jun 11 - 03:25 PM (#3169441) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Ross Campbell All the best, Hamish. Incidentally "free sandwiches" is the name of a group who attract more than the usual numbers when they play at Fleetwood Folk Club. A change of name could work wonders for your project! Ross |
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12 Jun 11 - 03:46 PM (#3169458) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Richard from Liverpool I can honestly say, the thread's caught my imagination, I just can't help because I don't know anything about the places you're passing through! I love the idea though. |
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12 Jun 11 - 04:54 PM (#3169492) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: GUEST,Gallus Moll Hamish, you could post the Q on footstompin forum for some ideas re the Scottish leg of the journey? - a few weeks ago someone sent me a link(which I probably can't find again!)about some people who were (walking?) from Land's End to John o' Groats, passing thro' Scotland round about now and seeking to host folk nights / sessions at some of the places they were staying - trouble was they appeared to be having very few sessions in Scotland, certainly at the places anywhere near me - -! (I jotted down The Tass, Edinburgh on 1st June, The Winnock, Drymen on 4th and can't read the rest of my scribbles - maybe someone else heard about this venture?) Think there is still a folk club in Strathaven, certainly should be some folkies around if you can contact a local paper? And there is a Lomond Folk Festival at Balloch in the summer so should be some support can head to Luss to have a wee night with you? - There is a good fiddler lives at Tarbet - -- . You could also maybe get some of the BBC Radio Scotland folk programmes to put out word - or you can add info to their calenders, they include it in their diaries and 'what's on' spots (also community radio, tourist offices etc) Good luck! |
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13 Jun 11 - 03:34 AM (#3169710) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Hamish Sounds good, Gallus Lass, about Luss. My e-mail address is here: my e-mail. As for the other suggestions: great stuff, but perhaps a little off the mark. It's first and foremost a cycling holiday and I'll be using most of my limited energies just getting from a to b to c to d... etc to about t or u. A session or two "within a very short stagger or wobble or taxi ride" would be great, but it's most definietly not an extended session linked by a little bit of cycling. The walking tour you mentioned sounds like the "Le JoG" thread I mentioned in my earlier post. (Folk Trail - Le JoG) Thanks |
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13 Jun 11 - 05:42 AM (#3169753) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: nager Good luck Hamish. My wife Helena and I did the ride about six years ago and it was fantastic. But we took our time, zig zagging for seven weeks, plus another week riding around Orkney. Then it was a ferry to Aberdeen and cycle to Edinbugh before flying back to Australia. We stayed at 39 different YHAs most of the way including a few places you mention - Perranporth, Cheddar (cycling up the gorge is a delight!,)Tiverton and Bonar Bridge - where we stayed at nearby Carbisdale Castle. From Bonar Bridge we went up to Helmsdale and then inland and round to Thurso - one of the best stretches of the ride - before Jo'G. You are going the best way too - generally you have a tailwind South to North. On the music side I found some of the YHAs had people staying there with guitars and we had a few good music nights along the way. Good luck and let us all know how you got on. |
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13 Jun 11 - 07:30 PM (#3170144) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: kendall That's quite a trip in a car, let alone a bike! I remember a few places, The Black Bitch in Linlithgow, the Perth folk club, Kirkaldy, The Ceilidh Place in Ulapool. Gordon Menzies would know about Scotland, John McKenzie probably would too. |
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14 Jun 11 - 04:46 AM (#3170310) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: John MacKenzie Pity you are in Bonar on Thusday, smack between 2 local sessions, Dave Goulder and I on Wednesdays in Rosehall, and a loose confederation of bods at the Invershin Hotel on Fridays. |
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14 Jun 11 - 07:00 AM (#3170354) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Hamish Yes - that's a real shame, John. But the dates are all set in stone. It's an organised holiday with all accommodation booked (and our luggage being taken from one stopover to the next) so I have no flexibility over dates. But hopefully some flexibility in my legs throughout :-) ...and no YHAs or even SYHAs, Nager/Helena. |
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14 Jun 11 - 07:06 AM (#3170360) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler There did used to be some ad hoc singing in the White Hart(?) in Cheddar on a Wednesday night a few years ago. I don't know if it still happens. I think Pete and Pat Slade were involved. You might be lucky. |
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14 Jun 11 - 12:30 PM (#3170510) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: doncatterall Good luck with your trip Hamish. A couple of us are cycling from the southeast (Dungeness, Kent) to the northwest (Gallan Head, Isle of Lewis)from 27 August to 15 September. Although our routes will cross, we will be a few days ahead of you. Good idea to try to line up sessions - maybe I should try the same with a new thread. Don |
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14 Jun 11 - 01:23 PM (#3170533) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: greg stephens There are three pubs where music has happened at(or just by) Acton Bridge. Will enquire what is going on these days |
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14 Jun 11 - 01:29 PM (#3170535) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Herga Kitty Hamish - Dick's LeJoG cycle ride was within the last 5 years ie after he'd reached threescore and ten (and preceded by a year his ride along the Danube). Kitty |
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14 Jun 11 - 06:35 PM (#3170686) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: nager Sounds like luxury Hamish.. especially people carrying your bags for you!! |
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25 Jun 11 - 03:28 AM (#3176097) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Hamish Excellent training session last weekend: Rob Roy Challenge (see above). Started in light drizzle and it was very muddy underfoot for a bit, but at least no heavy rain. Feeling lucky cos the forecast had been for rain in the morning, then clearing... ...ah. Just as we left the second last checkpoint it started raining properly. Arrived at last checkpoint soaked through, very muddy and shiveringly cold. Quick rub down and on with the waterproofs. Just as well because it was torrential for the last, hardest and longest stage along the south bank of Loch Tay: the road just goes UP and down, U.U.U.P and down, U.U.U.U.U.P and down. But finished feelng very fit and blasted through the last four or five miles. It was a long day, but exhilerating and fab fun despite adverse weather. Managed a Dashing White Sergeant, Strip the Willow and a strangely appropriately named Flying Scotsman at the ceilidh, too. Anyway, back at the thread... feel confident about the LE2JoG thing now: so long as I consolidate the good work done thus far. Yes, I know it's different doing it day after day after day, but the Rob Roy is about twice as tough as the average day we've got lined up in September. In the meantime... any more thoughts on folkiness en route would be most welcome! Cheers |
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25 Jun 11 - 05:07 AM (#3176125) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Max Johnson If you stay in the Youth Hostel at John O' Groats, please say hi from Max to my friend Kristin Haldorsdottir, who runs it. |
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25 Jun 11 - 02:23 PM (#3176331) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Hamish Well, I guess John o' Groats is closer to Oslo than London, so Kristin Haldorsdottir is a "local" name :-) |
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26 Jun 11 - 06:01 AM (#3176606) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Max Johnson Kristin is Icelandic! |
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08 Jul 11 - 01:37 PM (#3183839) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Hamish Ooh, er: now I've gone and done it. I've set up a Twitter page for this momentous expedition. It's at @HamishLE2JoG. Looks like the lovely Dave Gibb and I will be getting together in Moffat at some point over the two days we'll be there. (Moffat is handy for his hometown, plus it's our rest day!) But I'm still on the look out for more suggestions. Now I just need this pay-as-you-go SIM card in the post and my daughter's old smart phone and I'm all set to grasp this technological miracle... |
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26 Jul 11 - 03:37 AM (#3195542) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Hamish Hullo again! Just off for a longish training run this morning... ...less than six weeks to go and I've put together a bit of a training schedule. Also set up a Twitter account to let folks know how I'm getting on. There's one of those clever gizmos on my website (you don't need a Twitter account to look). I plan to post a few photos as well. (Tests using my daughter's old smartphone completed...) But a couple more suggestions for sessions would be appreciated. Cheers Hamish |
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03 Sep 11 - 06:41 AM (#3217503) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Hamish Yay! I'm on the train to Penzance - the adventure begins... Photo stop at the famous and ever so slightly corny sign post toorrow at 9.30 then up to Perranporth. Hope the weather is kind... |
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29 Sep 11 - 05:24 AM (#3230973) Subject: RE: Land's End to John ' Groats Sept - folk? From: Hamish Well I'm back, safe and well. What a fantastic holiday it was, too. Totally enjoyed every second of it, even the tail end of Hurricane Katria... Very nice singaround in Tiverton at the monthly club there (thank you Susannah and co. for your hospitality!). An impromptu rendition in the pub in Dent (what a marvellously quaint village that is), a super singround in The Black Bull, Moffat (which happens every Thursday, despite the tourist office saying "Nuthin' ever happens in Moffat") and the wonderful Dave Gibb joined me in The Coachman for a song session which turned out to be a surprise hit. Two charming ladies from Mussleburgh proclaimed us "Brillyant" and "The new Corries". (Well, yes, they were a bit inebriated.) Finally a customisation of Navigator for the trip on the last night (Joyce she's the strangest of all that I know / She goes up hills fast and then comes down them slow. / And Charlotte's never beaten by hills – it's no joke / But she stops off halfway and lights up for a smoke, etc.) went down well. So not a whole lot of music, but some great moments. I have some pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/berkocurries/sets/72157627644125627/show |