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!!!
3 comments:
I just wanted to say one last 'well done' to both of you,you did yourselves proud, it was a great pleasure to show you the high life of Penzance and then have to get up 4 hours later sill drunk.... And watch you over the finishing line in thick sea fog!! To think that you managed to cycle the last 9 miles after our night out, and still have the biggest smiles on your faces..So if the offer is still open for next year, I'd love to be part of team Everest!!!!!!!!!! jennifer
No need to call me a legend. All we did was show support and donate a bit of cash to two people who are the real legends. Many congratulations on the achievement and now back to normality. Hope to catch up with you soon and the beers (as promised!!) are on me and Ureshini. Top marks chaps.
Fitz and Ureshini. xxx
Bit late, but well done chaps!
My 3 half marathons in 4 months looks pretty rubbish compared to this!
Always a pleasure, never a chore!
Dubbsy
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