21st April - 29th April 9 days, 901 miles 63 hours in the saddle...
Thanks so much to everyone who followed our epic journey we are now all recovering and preparing to get back to work and normality...If you would like to give that would be great we will be keeping the site open for a couple of months. Thanks again for your support it is very much appreciated. If you want to read the story it is now set out chronologically.
Day 1
21st April Land's End - Exeter 128 MiIles!! a little more than we expected! The hills were extreme a very hard day we started at 8.30am after dealing with mechanical problems with the support car ( thankfully got fixed but meant the day was unsupported) finished at 8.30pm! (A very long day and tiring day and in which I don't think we got stops or food right. After this day we were looking at each other and wondering what we had let ourselves in for - bodies and spirits pretty jaded/ plain exhausted could we manage 9 days!! ed.) We can be thankful for beautiful weather almost too hot, not much wind, car got fixed!!, great hospitality at Exeter, Lukes' riding with us to Redruth, random guy giving us money on the way and no bike problems. Rest and refreshment now needed in preparation for tomorrow!!
Day 2
22nd April Ide Exeter - Chepstow 103 miles
A much easier day than the previous day we enjoyed some flat roads and were able to enjoy the scenery. Staggering views from the Severn Bridge A few aches and pains are coming through and generally sore butts!! Big Thanks to Nigel for a great lead out in Exeter took us round the cycle routes lanes! the Hawkin family for an excellent lunch and for 20 miles on the front by Pete thanks!! Now enjoying hospitality at our B&B and looking forward to a meal at local pub.
Day 3
23rd April Chepstow - Wem 97 miles
Beautiful valley to begin the day and then quite a haul along the A49. Reasonably flat pretty hot and some opportunities to really work well together. Highlights of the day Pete joining us for 20 miles our eldest brother, lunch at the castle with all Pete's family, Dave getting a new pair of cycling shoes（and being decisive in buying them!!) Michael slip streaming a moped and then keeping up with it. Some aches and pains and sore bums but generally ok and we are more than a 3rd of the way through!!
Day 4
24th April Wem - Heversham ( nr Kendal) 115 miles
Long day but reasonably flat, good weather warm, and winds fairly light. Travelled through much of the built up North West with it being Easter day traffic was much lighter and so not too grim!! Highlights visiting the hospice for which we are raising money great to meet Julie and Mike and to have a cup of tea and have some moments there. Then onto Heversham greeted by welcoming groups of people clapping us on- felt like Tour de France (need more of this!!) We stopped off for an emotional visit to our Dad's grave and then onto Mum's for a great meal and refreshment. Tomorrow we go up - Scotland here we come!!
Day 5
25th April Heversham - Moffat 107miles
Long hard day good ride up Shap and then a long slog up to Moffat good weather and coming out warm by the evening. We had our first puncture and a gear cable broke so some challenges. Day 5 was the day when we had to have mental toughness as the 9 hours in the saddle took its toll and Dave did the last 30 with one gear - respect!! Really appreciated the support in Sedbergh and then in Orton. Said goodbye to Rachel after 4 days of support thanks so much - new support team took over doing well Mum and Fran.
Day 6
26th April Moffat - Perth 104 miles
Late finish with lights on but one of our quickest days. Thankfully Dave got his bike mended in a bike shop in Dumfries not only new cable but new shifter not cheap!!(but thankfully they had the part!). 12 noon start so always conscious of the time. Travelling up from Moffat, Abington, Carnwath and then over A70 to Kirknewton made for beautiful scenery on a warm sunny day. Local knowledge from Andrew meant that navigating Edinburgh was made easier. A slightly rubbish cycle route was taken after Forth Road Bridge Andrew's one major error in map reading!! There was a little help from the wind on this day which was good. Thanks to Fran and Mum for their excellent support and for Lenny Burnett helping by picking up the bags so Fran could return to her family. Everyone had to be very flexible with the timings due to the repairs being done.. thanks. Great to see Andrew's family welcoming us to Scone.
Day 7
27th April Perth - Kincraig 80 miles
Beautiful ride up the A9 from Perth, Scottish countryside looking at it's best!! Slightly interesting cycle path around Dunkeld ended up doing some off roading with our road bikes beautiful but perhaps not ideal!! Many great views and we were glad of a vehicle escort through the worst bit of roadworks on the A9. Thanks to the support team great job!! Thanks to random hotel man who opened up to give us a cup of tea in the garden in Newtonmore at 6pm great spot magnificent views! We were all glad of a shorter day and we had time to enjoy the Cairngorm Christian centre.
Day 8
28th April Kincraig - Helmsdale 113 miles
Hard long day in the saddle a good start with some quieter B roads and then along the A9. Cup of tea in Inverness after a fairly slow morning enjoying back roads. Cold day with our only significant rainfall - lunch taken very late and fine ride up to Helmsdale. Competition was started between Dave and James, Michael clearly out in front and Andrew just about hanging on!! Good hostel for overnight thanks to Karen, Mum and Kathy for support and excellent evening meal.
Day 9
29th April Helmsdale - John O Groats 54 miles
Last day really excited about finishing. Faced some seriously big hill climbs which we just about had the legs for and Dave came off second best to James. Good to have a coffee in Wick and then pushed on to John O Groats. Sun was shining, wind was slightly in our faces so the road to John O Groats which took quite alot out of us after the steep hills. Emotions running high as we headed down to towards the end greeted by our support, balloons, banners and bubbly!! A great sense of achievement and the obligatory photos. A great celebration meal in the evening. We are sad it is all over but our bodies need a rest!!. A great experience.
Thanks for reading this and donating....
Please do still give to St John's Hospice the place that looked after our Dad so well before he died it makes this ride and pain worthwhile!!
Thanks to Clif, 2 Pure and No9 Dental Practice our Sponsors!!
