Just a quick not to add my thanks to everyone who sponsored us and provided support and encouragement on the way.
Also the couple of nights we did have out in Bath, Exford and Penzance where a welcome break back to normality, and it was great to catch up with everyone.
Thanks Andy G for actually navigating us all that way, exceptional navigational and organisational skills as always. Had a fantastic couple of weeks and really glad I had the opportunity to do this amazing challenge, just next time you have a bright idea - keep it yourself!!!!
Monday, 4 June 2007
Sunday, 3 June 2007
Finished!
I'm delighted to tell you that at about 11am on Saturday we finally completed our challenge!!
None too fresh from our early celebrations last night, we got on the bikes this morning, extremely thankful that we had 9 miles to go to Lands End. From an initial glance at the map it looked like we had one big hill to climb then basically it was downhill all the way into Lands End. Surely nothing could go wrong now.....
A thick sea mist had developed overnight, and once again the back light went on (well, mine did. Andy W's was broken in yesterday's little penkife incident). We climbed out of Penzance and slowly edged away at the 9 mile target. Eventually we hit the highest point and started freewheeling towards Lands End when, unbelievably, I ran over a stone and got a puncture in my back tyre!
Amazed at our bad luck, we quickly changed the inner tube and carried on into the mist, counting down the miles, then the half miles, then the yards to the finish line where we were incredibly grateful to see Andy's parents, Vanessa, Jenny, Elizabeth and Beth, along with the balloons and giant banner, & of course the champagne.
Making our way to the finger post for the all important photo's the enormity of our achievements started to set in - we'd managed to get ourselves all the way - without pushing - from John O'Groats to Lands End and to say the least we were pretty chuffed with ourselves!!
I'm writing this on Sunday - it's the first day in a fortnight that I haven't had to get up and ride for 6 hours plus. My body seems to be punishing me now for the pains that I've put it through but I have no regrets at all. Many many thanks of course to all of you who sponsored us - although this was an amazing personal challenge, the fact that through you we managed to raise some well needed money for 2 such wonderful causes is fantastic. Thanks also to all of you who called, texted, posted and cheered us on. We probably would have still managed the ride without yu but it did make a hell of a lot of difference to us being able to read your messages of support. Fitzy - you're a legend. Jimmer - sorry for not including you in the Christchurch blog and thanks for your support ;-) Jen - thanks for showing us Penzance. Next time I go out for a night with you I'm not cycling the next day! Last but by no means least, Andy W - you're a star. From a hazy drunk night in Amsterdam through hours of training, new bike with all the kit, you proved what I knew all along - that you'd breeze it. Your company throughout was as I would expect - cheerful and (mostly!) enthusiastic. Thanks so much for helping me achieve a very long standing ambition - now bring on Everest!!!
None too fresh from our early celebrations last night, we got on the bikes this morning, extremely thankful that we had 9 miles to go to Lands End. From an initial glance at the map it looked like we had one big hill to climb then basically it was downhill all the way into Lands End. Surely nothing could go wrong now.....
A thick sea mist had developed overnight, and once again the back light went on (well, mine did. Andy W's was broken in yesterday's little penkife incident). We climbed out of Penzance and slowly edged away at the 9 mile target. Eventually we hit the highest point and started freewheeling towards Lands End when, unbelievably, I ran over a stone and got a puncture in my back tyre!
Amazed at our bad luck, we quickly changed the inner tube and carried on into the mist, counting down the miles, then the half miles, then the yards to the finish line where we were incredibly grateful to see Andy's parents, Vanessa, Jenny, Elizabeth and Beth, along with the balloons and giant banner, & of course the champagne.
Making our way to the finger post for the all important photo's the enormity of our achievements started to set in - we'd managed to get ourselves all the way - without pushing - from John O'Groats to Lands End and to say the least we were pretty chuffed with ourselves!!
I'm writing this on Sunday - it's the first day in a fortnight that I haven't had to get up and ride for 6 hours plus. My body seems to be punishing me now for the pains that I've put it through but I have no regrets at all. Many many thanks of course to all of you who sponsored us - although this was an amazing personal challenge, the fact that through you we managed to raise some well needed money for 2 such wonderful causes is fantastic. Thanks also to all of you who called, texted, posted and cheered us on. We probably would have still managed the ride without yu but it did make a hell of a lot of difference to us being able to read your messages of support. Fitzy - you're a legend. Jimmer - sorry for not including you in the Christchurch blog and thanks for your support ;-) Jen - thanks for showing us Penzance. Next time I go out for a night with you I'm not cycling the next day! Last but by no means least, Andy W - you're a star. From a hazy drunk night in Amsterdam through hours of training, new bike with all the kit, you proved what I knew all along - that you'd breeze it. Your company throughout was as I would expect - cheerful and (mostly!) enthusiastic. Thanks so much for helping me achieve a very long standing ambition - now bring on Everest!!!
Friday, 1 June 2007
A30 trial and tribulations
After yesterdays long day we thought an earlier start would be needed, so setting off at 8 in the sunshine (shock horror!) was all good. Only to be confronted by that same rollercoster we encountered the day before. Also a puncture to Andy G's bike didn't really help with progress.
After only 10 miles the progress was quite slow so we stopped at Bodmin had a pasty (breakfast) and decided that a more direct route to Penzance was the best option. This turned out to be a fantastic idea as we flew along the A30 making great progress. The only downside was the risk of playing with the traffic and the roadworks!
We were making so much progress it looked like we would be sat in a pub in Penzance for 2.30 which cheered us up immensely. That was until I ran over of all things a pen knife!!!! This not only caused me to have a puncture, but it also caused damage to my tire, trash my back mudguard and introduce quite a prominent buckle into my back wheel. So near (20 miles) yet so far.
After a few repairs on the roadside, as lorries whizzed past, and Mr Gough had my bike into a useable condition. A quick stop at Redruth for a new tire and we where off again - only 18 miles to go now. Then another puncture!
Luckily myself and my bike limped into Penzance at a not too shabby 3.30. Although this was helped by Andy G carrying all my stuff in his trailer for fear of my back wheel collapsing!
Anyway hopefully everything will hold out for tomorrow and our final 9 miles - thank god for that.
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