After months of breakdowns, setbacks and unpredictable days, the tide is finally turning. James reflects on his emotional return to St Pancras, the kindness he's encountered along the way and a remarkable new personal record: 83.03 miles in a single day. With 761.63 LEJOG miles behind him, he's finding his rhythm again and beginning to enjoy the road ahead.

One hundred days and 568 miles on the LEJOG route with an upright piano. After months of setbacks, difficult encounters and stepping away from social media, I've been finding my way back to something I'd almost forgotten how much I loved. Busking. The south coast has brought a few reminders of the past, some unexpected kindness and a chance to rediscover the freedom of simply sitting down at a piano and playing. Sometimes that's all I really want to do.

Sometimes it takes everything going quiet to remember why you started. After breakdowns, setbacks and more than a few moments when we wondered whether to carry on, we realised something simple: this dream doesn’t have to make sense to everyone. It only has to make sense to the two of us.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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 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 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 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.

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."

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.