just finished your book, probably the first book iv'e read start to finish in two years!! Brilliant read for someone who just completed mizen to malin this summer and is thinking of letjo in 2014. would loved to have met up when you in ireland. smally tyrone
Thank you, glad you liked it! We thoroughly enjoyed cycling Mizen to Malin, hope you did too. Its a great end to end to cycle. Hopefully more people will discover it, Ireland is such a beautiful country. Good luck with your Lejog ride too.
Hello, I am doing A-level ICT, and I need a couple images of the coastal area around Bude,so i can edit them for my coursework. I found one of your images of Summerleaze beach in Bude, and I was wondering if I could use it for my work, as i have to make sure it is copyright free, thanks Sam.
Just coming to the end of your book Mud Sweat and Gears its hard to put down. I love how you easily switch to history mode. A great read and very informative.
Apologies for late response, I was side-swiped by Christmas. Thank you for taking the trouble to comment, I'm very glad you enjoyed it. Very gratifying to hear how many people like the historical asides, I enjoyed researching the places we visited and it's nice to know you enjoyed those bits too.
Hi Ellie, I've just finished 'M,S & G' what a fab book. It had me regularly laughing out loud and at one point in hysterics. No other book has done that for me!. Thank you. I liked the diversity of facts, history, general knowledge and diary details of your journey as well as hearing about the beer. I am planning a LEJOG trip this year and now use the elephant technique for hills and am looking forward to sampling real ale beers on route I look forward to reading more of your adventures. You are an inspiration.
Hi Ellie, just finished your wonderful book mud, sweat and gears!
very inspirational, as i had planned to do my own JOGLE around May/June time. I will be doing mine in memory of my old dad who sadly passed from his short battle with Cancer last June.
If you have any hints or tips i would love to hear from you.
i also wondered if you would allow me to put my just giving page up on here for others to sponsor me. Its for St Barnabas hospice in Lincolnshire, who helped my dad and step mum through out.
Thank you for your kind comments Sallyann. I'm glad you found the 'elephant technique' helpful, I hope you do not feel the need to engage 'expletive mode' too often! Good luck with your Lejog too.
Thank you Ben. My number one tip would be: take your time! I know it's difficult when you're taking time off work but take as long as you can get. Second tip: do some training, certainly more than I did! Good luck with your ride, I have posted a link to your Just Giving page on my blog - it's on a new page entitled 'Lejog Fundraising'.
seriously looking forward to this trip, but training in basrah Iraq is a little more difficult in the sand!! rest assured i will be taking my time as i have at the most my full 4 weeks "R+R" to complete the task.
You probably don't hear from many folks in the middle of the US (Minnesota), but I just finished your book after reading a fun review of it in Adventure Cycling magazine.
You certainly made an entertaining read of your LEJOG tour,and I'm going to look into making that trek myself. Thanks for inspiring!
Great - I didn't know that Adventure Cycling magazine had reviewed my book - good to know it is getting some exposure over there in the US. I'm so glad you enjoyed reading it - if it has inspired you to come over here and do Lejog too, that is fantastic.
Hi Ellie !! Like all of the above, I have read and throughly enjoyed your scribblings. I plan on following in your tyre tracks in April - ish of 2014. I've contaced the 'streetcycle.com' site for set down routes with a slight detour through Nailsea and Bristol and Poulten - le - Fylde nr Preston/Blackpool. I have also just joined a Cyclechat line and to date have been keyboarding with lovely people who have had very sound advise regards kit and enjoyment. I'm planning to cover the 1100 or so miles in 21 days, if I can get the time off work and will stay with family in the two regions already mentioned. Thanks for this nudge. If U fancy a sequel to 'M,S and G's ?? ... join us ( me and Jimmy hubby) for a beer on route!! Shine On Moonbeam!! Cathy Griffin
Thanks for your comment - glad you enjoyed MSG. great to hear you are planning to ride Lejog - I'm sure you will have a fantastic time & 21 days sounds like a sensible amount of time to do it. Let me know when you are setting off - may well join you for that beer! Ellie
I've just finished your fabulous book Mud Sweat & Gears - I laughed, empathised, snorted and enviously read my way through each page. Brilliantly witty and informative - really sucked me in - I couldn't put it down.
I've been dreaming of doing the LEJOG for about 10 years now and you've inspired me to start planning!
Thanks for the laughs and inspiration!
All the best for your next adventure – and book? ;-)
Thanks so much for taking the time to tell me you enjoyed Mud Sweat and Gears - it always gives me an immense amount of pleasure to learn that the book has inspired someone to do Lejog themselves. I can truly say it was one of the most enjoyable things I have ever undertaken and yes - if you've been nurturing the dream - then make it so! As for the next adventure - I leave tomorrow (without my bike) for Japan. Mick and I are off on an 850 mile walk…I'll be posting more about it on this blog as I go.
Hi Ellie, I have just finished Mud Sweat and Gears- a Christmas present from my brother who thinks I am completely bonkers as I have thought about doing Lejog for nearly 25 years now after first visiting JOG as a backpacker from Australia. The desire to do it has increased like you as I approach my 50th and I hope to take a gap year very soon!! I was delighted by your book as everything else I had read describe doing the ride in 9, 13 or so few days I knew I would die if I did it!! So thankyou heaps for the encouragement and making me realise that I can do this- just need to work out how expensive it will be to get my bike to the UK! (And like many others the plan is to raise funds for brain cancer research which my darling mum is currently battling)
Cathy, I am so sorry, i somehow missed replying to your lovely comment on my blog, I apologise profusely. It is so great to know I might have contributed to your plans to cycle LEJOG - part of my aim in writing Mud Sweat and Gears was to show that cycling doesn't always have to be a mad rush and there are benefits to taking one's time. I know it's not everyone's style but speed is not king in my book. Hopefully won't be too expensive to bring your bike - I've taken my bike abroad for not much extra - just make sure it is boxed up as some airport staff are not as careful as others. So sorry to hear about your mum, if you have a fundraising page let me know and I will publicise it. Thank you again for posting on my blog.
Not long finished reading Mud, Sweat and Beers - my husband is now getting through it - chuckling, laughing out loud and reading out bits to me - as I did! Loved it! We've plans to cycle LEJOG in around 5 years time when the children are off and away; mostly we walk but I think this one's a bit too big an undertaking. All the best with all your ventures; now I've found your blog I shall join you vicariously.
Hi Elizabeth, thank you for letting me know you enjoyed Mud Sweat and Gears. It's great to know it made you laugh. I hope you do cycle LEJOG when you can get the time to do it - it is a wonderful adventure. Thanks for reading my blog, I will try to post more often than I have of late!
Bought your book and read it within a week (that's a record for me). Great read and got me in the mood for cycling again. Went out and did 23.5 miles today. I'm doing the North Sea Cycle Route in 2022, a long time until then though so plenty of time for practise. My target is 50 miles per day - plenty of time to see things during the day then.
Hi Ellie! I met you at the Shikoku Pilgrimage. I am the lady with a map of "Comfort Stations" sharing about "Comfort Women" and traveling with a mini Peace Statue. I am sorry to hear about your sister and Mick's brother. I hope they and you and Mick are all doing well. I was able to finish my Pilgrimage in May. Now I am back in Dallas, Texas. Take care!
Loved MS&G & just finished it; literally!As an older cyclist (65+)I can thoroughly agree with your "slow and steady wins the race" approach to touring; I was overtaken by an empty crisp packet the other day !! As for being soaked and freezing, been there done that, then having to camp btdt,going miles the wrong way btdt,white van man (woman?)trying to flatten me btdt, almost in tears btdt,and then loving every wonderful moment btdt. Touring/bikepacking is a real roller coaster of emotions as you say brilliant book and I can't wait for your next one in the mean time I just have to follow your blog. Keep cycling and may the wind always be at your back ...fat chance.
Just finished Mud Sweat and Gears - both my wife and I enjoyed it very much! Many thanks, Look forward to more adventures.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed my book, much appreciated!
ReplyDeletejust finished your book, probably the first book iv'e read start to finish in two years!! Brilliant read for someone who just completed mizen to malin this summer and is thinking of letjo in 2014. would loved to have met up when you in ireland.
ReplyDeletesmally tyrone
Thank you, glad you liked it! We thoroughly enjoyed cycling Mizen to Malin, hope you did too. Its a great end to end to cycle. Hopefully more people will discover it, Ireland is such a beautiful country. Good luck with your Lejog ride too.
ReplyDeleteHello, I am doing A-level ICT, and I need a couple images of the coastal area around Bude,so i can edit them for my coursework. I found one of your images of Summerleaze beach in Bude, and I was wondering if I could use it for my work, as i have to make sure it is copyright free, thanks Sam.
ReplyDeleteJust coming to the end of your book Mud Sweat and Gears its hard to put down. I love how you easily switch to history mode. A great read and very informative.
ReplyDeleteApologies for late response, I was side-swiped by Christmas. Thank you for taking the trouble to comment, I'm very glad you enjoyed it. Very gratifying to hear how many people like the historical asides, I enjoyed researching the places we visited and it's nice to know you enjoyed those bits too.
ReplyDeleteHi Ellie, I've just finished 'M,S & G' what a fab book. It had me regularly laughing out loud and at one point in hysterics. No other book has done that for me!. Thank you. I liked the diversity of facts, history, general knowledge and diary details of your journey as well as hearing about the beer. I am planning a LEJOG trip this year and now use the elephant technique for hills and am looking forward to sampling real ale beers on route I look forward to reading more of your adventures. You are an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteHi Ellie, just finished your wonderful book mud, sweat and gears!
ReplyDeletevery inspirational, as i had planned to do my own JOGLE around May/June time. I will be doing mine in memory of my old dad who sadly passed from his short battle with Cancer last June.
If you have any hints or tips i would love to hear from you.
i also wondered if you would allow me to put my just giving page up on here for others to sponsor me. Its for St Barnabas hospice in Lincolnshire, who helped my dad and step mum through out.
Many thanks and look forward to hearing from you.
Ben young
www.justgiving.com/benyoung89
Thank you for your kind comments Sallyann. I'm glad you found the 'elephant technique' helpful, I hope you do not feel the need to engage 'expletive mode' too often! Good luck with your Lejog too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ben. My number one tip would be: take your time! I know it's difficult when you're taking time off work but take as long as you can get. Second tip: do some training, certainly more than I did! Good luck with your ride, I have posted a link to your Just Giving page on my blog - it's on a new page entitled 'Lejog Fundraising'.
ReplyDeleteThankyou soooo much so very generous of you. :)
ReplyDeleteseriously looking forward to this trip, but training in basrah Iraq is a little more difficult in the sand!! rest assured i will be taking my time as i have at the most my full 4 weeks "R+R" to complete the task.
thanks again
ben
Hi Ellie,
ReplyDeleteYou probably don't hear from many folks in the middle of the US (Minnesota), but I just finished your book after reading a fun review of it in Adventure Cycling magazine.
You certainly made an entertaining read of your LEJOG tour,and I'm going to look into making that trek myself. Thanks for inspiring!
Hi Ron,
ReplyDeleteGreat - I didn't know that Adventure Cycling magazine had reviewed my book - good to know it is getting some exposure over there in the US. I'm so glad you enjoyed reading it - if it has inspired you to come over here and do Lejog too, that is fantastic.
Hi Ellie !!
ReplyDeleteLike all of the above, I have read and throughly enjoyed your scribblings. I plan on following in your tyre tracks in April - ish of 2014. I've contaced the 'streetcycle.com' site for set down routes with a slight detour through Nailsea and Bristol and Poulten - le - Fylde nr Preston/Blackpool. I have also just joined a Cyclechat line and to date have been keyboarding with lovely people who have had very sound advise regards kit and enjoyment. I'm planning to cover the 1100 or so miles in 21 days, if I can get the time off work and will stay with family in the two regions already mentioned.
Thanks for this nudge. If U fancy a sequel to 'M,S and G's ?? ... join us ( me and Jimmy hubby) for a beer on route!!
Shine On Moonbeam!!
Cathy Griffin
Hi Cathy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment - glad you enjoyed MSG. great to hear you are planning to ride Lejog - I'm sure you will have a fantastic time & 21 days sounds like a sensible amount of time to do it. Let me know when you are setting off - may well join you for that beer! Ellie
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Ellie,
ReplyDeleteI've just finished your fabulous book Mud Sweat & Gears - I laughed, empathised, snorted and enviously read my way through each page. Brilliantly witty and informative - really sucked me in - I couldn't put it down.
I've been dreaming of doing the LEJOG for about 10 years now and you've inspired me to start planning!
Thanks for the laughs and inspiration!
All the best for your next adventure – and book? ;-)
Ian McColm
Hi Ian,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for taking the time to tell me you enjoyed Mud Sweat and Gears - it always gives me an immense amount of pleasure to learn that the book has inspired someone to do Lejog themselves. I can truly say it was one of the most enjoyable things I have ever undertaken and yes - if you've been nurturing the dream - then make it so! As for the next adventure - I leave tomorrow (without my bike) for Japan. Mick and I are off on an 850 mile walk…I'll be posting more about it on this blog as I go.
Best wishes,
Ellie
Hi Ellie,
ReplyDeleteI have just finished Mud Sweat and Gears- a Christmas present from my brother who thinks I am completely bonkers as I have thought about doing Lejog for nearly 25 years now after first visiting JOG as a backpacker from Australia. The desire to do it has increased like you as I approach my 50th and I hope to take a gap year very soon!! I was delighted by your book as everything else I had read describe doing the ride in 9, 13 or so few days I knew I would die if I did it!! So thankyou heaps for the encouragement and making me realise that I can do this- just need to work out how expensive it will be to get my bike to the UK!
(And like many others the plan is to raise funds for brain cancer research which my darling mum is currently battling)
Cathy Goodwin
Cathy, I am so sorry, i somehow missed replying to your lovely comment on my blog, I apologise profusely. It is so great to know I might have contributed to your plans to cycle LEJOG - part of my aim in writing Mud Sweat and Gears was to show that cycling doesn't always have to be a mad rush and there are benefits to taking one's time. I know it's not everyone's style but speed is not king in my book. Hopefully won't be too expensive to bring your bike - I've taken my bike abroad for not much extra - just make sure it is boxed up as some airport staff are not as careful as others. So sorry to hear about your mum, if you have a fundraising page let me know and I will publicise it. Thank you again for posting on my blog.
DeleteNot long finished reading Mud, Sweat and Beers - my husband is now getting through it - chuckling, laughing out loud and reading out bits to me - as I did! Loved it! We've plans to cycle LEJOG in around 5 years time when the children are off and away; mostly we walk but I think this one's a bit too big an undertaking. All the best with all your ventures; now I've found your blog I shall join you vicariously.
ReplyDeleteHi Elizabeth, thank you for letting me know you enjoyed Mud Sweat and Gears. It's great to know it made you laugh. I hope you do cycle LEJOG when you can get the time to do it - it is a wonderful adventure. Thanks for reading my blog, I will try to post more often than I have of late!
DeleteHi Ellie,
ReplyDeleteBought your book and read it within a week (that's a record for me). Great read and got me in the mood for cycling again. Went out and did 23.5 miles today.
I'm doing the North Sea Cycle Route in 2022, a long time until then though so plenty of time for practise. My target is 50 miles per day - plenty of time to see things during the day then.
Hi Ellie!
ReplyDeleteI met you at the Shikoku Pilgrimage. I am the lady with a map of "Comfort Stations" sharing about "Comfort Women" and traveling with a mini Peace Statue. I am sorry to hear about your sister and Mick's brother. I hope they and you and Mick are all doing well. I was able to finish my Pilgrimage in May. Now I am back in Dallas, Texas. Take care!
Loved MS&G & just finished it; literally!As an older cyclist (65+)I can thoroughly agree with your "slow and steady wins the race" approach to touring; I was overtaken by an empty crisp packet the other day !! As for being soaked and freezing, been there done that, then having to camp btdt,going miles the wrong way btdt,white van man (woman?)trying to flatten me btdt, almost in tears btdt,and then loving every wonderful moment btdt. Touring/bikepacking is a real roller coaster of emotions as you say brilliant book and I can't wait for your next one in the mean time I just have to follow your blog. Keep cycling and may the wind always be at your back ...fat chance.
ReplyDelete