Day 1: Land’s End to Porthleven

I don’t think I will ever forget today.

After everything it has taken to get here, today was the day the journey finally became real. Not a plan. Not an idea. Not something sitting in my head waiting for the right moment. Real.

This morning, I started at Land’s End.

Even writing that feels strange.

For so long, Land’s End has been the place I was trying to reach before I could begin. It was the line between planning and doing. Between talking about this journey and actually setting off. And today, with the piano loaded, the dogs settled, the Vok ready, and the support vehicle behind me, I finally crossed that line.

The staff at Land’s End were incredibly kind and helpful. On a day that already felt overwhelming in every possible way, their support meant more than they probably realise. They helped make the start feel possible, and memorable, and I am very grateful for that.

I busked at Land’s End before setting off, which felt like the only way this journey could properly begin. A piano at the edge of the country, the sea behind me, the road ahead of me, and years of planning all coming down to that moment. It was emotional in a way I am still trying to process.

11/07/2026

Day 1: Busking LEJOG - Land’s End

From there, I rode from Land’s End to Porthleven.

The views were spectacular. There were moments where I looked around and could not quite believe this was actually happening. Cornwall has a way of making everything feel bigger — the cliffs, the sea, the hills, the sky. Today, all of it felt part of the journey.

It was also hot. Really hot. Around Penzance, temperatures reached about 32°C, and by the afternoon the heat was impossible to ignore. I had hoped to busk Penzance one last time before moving on, because that town has been such an important part of the final stretch of preparation. But in the end, it was simply too hot, and the sensible thing was to keep moving.

I did stop and busk in Mousehole, and I am glad I did. There is something special about playing in places like that — places where the piano feels completely unexpected but somehow still belongs. A huge thank you to Nicki, who stopped and played with me. Moments like that are exactly why I wanted to do this — unexpected, human, and only possible because music brings people together.

11/07/2026

Day 1: Busking LEJOG - Mousehole

The dogs had an amazing time on the road. Seeing them settled into the rhythm of it, taking in the day, being part of the journey in their own way, means everything to me. This was never just me setting off alone. This is all of us moving forward together.

For the last while, I have been staying in Penzance, finalising the planning, testing the setup, fitting out the rig, solving problems, and trying to get every last piece ready for the road. I cannot thank the people of Penzance enough for their kindness while I prepared. From conversations in the street to practical help, encouragement, and support, it has meant more than I can properly put into words.

There is so much people do not see before something like this starts. The late decisions. The route changes. The mechanical checks. The legal side. The insurance. The risk assessments. The safety meetings. The equipment. The power. The dogs. The piano. The weather. The support. The small things that become big things if they are missed.

This journey would not be possible without the people behind it.

I cannot thank my team enough for the time, work, support, and belief that has gone into getting this far.

The van is now officially the support and chase vehicle for the journey, and that changes everything. It means there is someone behind me helping with the day-to-day reality of this — the road safety, the logistics, the equipment, the dogs, the timing, the stops, and all the moving pieces that have to come together each day.

Some say The Stig stepped up and volunteered his time to drive the chase vehicle.

That is not a small thing. This is not just a day out or a simple road trip. It is long days, responsibility, patience, problem-solving, and being ready for whatever the road throws at us.

Having that support makes this journey possible in a way it simply would not be without it.

The Chase Stig

Today felt like the door finally closed on the past, and another one opened to whatever the future holds.

The first attempt, the setbacks, the delays, the doubts, the things that went wrong, and the times this journey almost disappeared completely, all of that is part of the story. But today proved something important to me.

With tenacity, dedication, and the right people around you, almost anything is possible.

Tonight, I am in Porthleven.

Tomorrow, I will busk here before continuing on.

For now, I am tired, grateful, overwhelmed, and proud. Day 1 is done. The journey has started.

The journey has started not started over, just started.

This is not about going back to finish an old version of the dream. It is about stepping forward into the new one. The chapter that brought me here has closed, and today, another one began.

— James

Day 1 Counter
Land’s End to Porthleven
Miles travelled: 28.1
Average speed: 12 mph
Elevation gain: 1,575 ft
Elevation loss: 1,600 ft
Towns busked: 2 — Land’s End and Mousehole

Journey Total
Total miles travelled: 28.1
Total towns busked: 2