JOGLE day 0

There is no turning around now, the only way home is by bike.
It's 11pm and I am sat wide awake in my tent on a temporary campsite in John O'Groates wondering what I am doing here. It was only a few months ago that I first sat on a road bike and somewhere between then and now I decided that having mastered staying upright on my bike it was time for another challenge.
My journey here (in the cycling sense) is a story for another day but I must admit it has only really dawned on me right now that this is real. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to run the London marathon, swim the channel and cycle the length of the country; I am now only a few hours from beginning the first of these lifelong targets.
I was always a last minute "crammer" when it came to school and this seems to have stuck with me beyond, I have probably not so wisely also applied this to my cycling preparation. With my last minute efforts I did manage to complete 998 miles in my total cycling career, I now "only" have to do 982 in the next nine days!
I am lucky to be doing this not only for a great cause, the Bath Rugby Community Foundation, but also a brilliant group. The bikes were all packed up in Bath and headed up ahead of us, we then followed the next day with a flight to Inverness. One night spent there it was then the final leg of the journey today by bus to the most Northern point of the UK. This long journey has given us plenty of time for team bonding and sharing all of our worries or should I say excitement.
The brilliant organisation has meant our preparation and first night at base camp has been better than expected. I am well fed, watered and now all that's left to do is get some all important sleep.