The journey, one day at a time.
Daily updates, photos, videos, route notes, and the moments behind the music as James travels from Land’s End to John o’ Groats.
Journey Blog
Days 42–43: The Right Place, the Right People
From Bridgwater to Glastonbury and on to Frome, James reflects on why busking has never been about money or being “discovered.” It’s about belonging, connection and choosing his own path — with a new Stig, four very happy dogs and another reminder that there’s no single right way to make a journey.
Days 25–42: The Road Doesn’t Always Go to Plan
An unexpected stop in Taunton became another lesson in patience, reliability and adapting when plans refuse to cooperate. Through van trouble, changing faces and plenty of waiting, James found another welcoming community, a stronger team and, eventually, a way forward.
Days 16–25: The World Answered Back
What began as one of the most difficult weeks of the journey became a powerful reminder of how much kindness exists when you give yourself time to notice it. James reflects on the people who stepped forward, the unexpected friendships formed along the way, and why the loudest voices were never the majority
Days 16–20: The Loudest Voices
A difficult morning in Sidmouth forced James to confront how quickly a handful of negative voices can drown out everything else. He reflects on accountability, dignity, the power of being treated as an equal, and the decision to stop giving negativity more space than it deserves.
Days 16–20: The People You Remember
After several difficult days, James reflects on the unexpected people who changed the direction of his journey, and how moments of compassion, kindness and connection can arrive exactly when we need them most. Sometimes the people who affect us most never realise just how much they gave us.
Day 15: Sometimes the Journey Has to Come First
James reflects on a demanding ride from Paignton to Exeter, the business and route-planning responsibilities behind the journey, and what the VOK is teaching the team along the way. He also shares an unexpected realisation about livestreaming, busking and the kind of connection that brings out his best music.
Day 14: Totnes to Paignton — I’m Proud to Be A Busker
A conversation in Totnes prompted James to reflect on why busking is still so often misunderstood. He shares why he chose it as his career, the work that happens behind every performance and why he remains proud to call himself a professional busker.
Day 13: Plymouth to Totnes — The Power of “No”
After a difficult day in Plymouth, James reflects on why healthy boundaries matter, why asking before approaching somebody else's dog is an act of respect, and how one unexpected moment with Jake reminded him just how far they've both come.
Day 12 (Part 2): Lostwithiel to Plymouth — Why All of This Matters
James reflects on the two journeys at the heart of his challenge: the miles between Land’s End and John O’Groats, and the personal journey that continues alongside them. He explains how recovery, music and PianoMission have become inseparable parts of the same purpose.
Day 12 (Part 1): Lostwithiel — Words Matter
The VOK comes back to life, and James reflects on the difference between words and actions, how consistency changed his understanding of trust, and why nobody else gets to claim ownership of his recovery.
Day 11: Lostwithiel — Finding Peace in Boundaries
Day 11 brought another pause in Lostwithiel while James waited for parts for the VOK. He reflects on the work he has done over the past seventeen months, why boundaries have become essential to his recovery, and how protecting his peace is helping him become the person he wants to b
Day 10: Lostwithiel — Four Words That Became a Mission
Day 10 brought another pause in Lostwithiel while the VOK waited for parts, but it also gave James the chance to explain where the words “Don’t Judge — Just Listen” came from, how judgement has shaped his life, and why the PianoMission was always meant to become more than another mental health hashtag.
Day 9: Fowey to Lostwithiel — Progress Isn’t Always Measured in Miles
Day 9 brought an unexpected pause between Fowey and Lostwithiel after the VOK developed a technical issue. While the engineers assess what is needed to get the journey safely back on the road, James reflects on ADHD, recovery, judgement and the quieter kind of progress that cannot be measured in miles.
Day 8: Fowey — Kindness, Busking and a Piano Built for the Road
Day 8 brought a warm welcome in Fowey, kind local businesses and a reminder that busking works best when people meet each other with a little grace. James also shares what makes a busking piano different, why his battered Schreiber means so much to him, and how the PianoMission is beginning to take shape.
Day 7: St. Austell to Fowey — Planning for the Unplanned
Day 7 was supposed to begin with a busk in Charlestown, but 26°C heat, no breeze and almost no shade meant the plan had to change. Here is a look behind the scenes at the route planning, risk checks and constant adjustments it takes to move a full-size piano safely across the UK on a bicycle.
Day 6: Truro to Charlestown — My Tired is Tired
After another day busking in Truro, a BBC interview, and some brutal climbs into Charlestown, the miles are finally catching up. James has one simple way to describe how he feels: "My tired is tired."
Day 5: Busking Truro — Gratitude, Opportunity, and the Sound of Hope
A warm welcome in Truro, an unexpected BBC interview, and a reminder that sometimes the opportunities that change your life arrive when you least expect them.
Day 4: Falmouth to Truro
Day 4 brought one final busk in Falmouth, a kind welcome from the town’s mayor, and a challenging ride to Truro. From happy faces and a little resistance on the high street to long climbs that pushed both James and the PianoBike, it was another day full of music, effort, and unexpected moments.
Day 3: Busking in Falmouth
Day 3 was James’ first full busking day of Busking LEJOG, spent on the high street in Falmouth. From awkward complaints to kind listeners, it was a reminder of what busking really is: work, connection, public music, and a tradition worth protecting.
Day 2: Porthleven to Falmouth
Day 2 took James from Porthleven to Falmouth, with a morning busk by the sea, a planned stop in Helston that did not quite work out, and a longer ride into Falmouth that showed just how much planning, battery management, and team coordination goes into every day of Busking LEJOG.