Story
UPDATE ON THE EPIC LANDS END TO JOHN O’GROATS AREA OFFICE CYCLE RIDE
I am delighted to be able to report that the Southern Area Lands End to John O’Groats cycling team triumphantly reached John O’Groats on Friday afternoon 6 August at approximately 1628 hrs, having pedalled in excess of 970 miles from Lands End. The team are pictured at the iconic landmark which signalled the end of 14 consecutive days of cycling, with at least one member of the Southern Area Office staff (average age 53) on the road for every single mile. It was a pleasure to be able to host guest riders such as Captain Windsor for a day, and also our friends from the Northern Area Office who helped us enormously when cycling through and onto . The abiding memory that the team will have is the camaraderie, friendship and hospitality afforded to us by all of the Sea Cadet Units that we stayed at along the route. Indeed, we were humbled when the cadets of TS Lightning at presented the team with a £35.00 donation at evening colours, and when the cyclists were press ganged into performing as part of the Unit Band on practice night at TS York! From to Wick we were welcomed, hosted and looked after in a marvellous fashion by everyone. With just two punctures, one chain that came off and two minor falls (both more of relieved flops onto grass verges) the entire trip went extremely smoothly, and we were even blessed with a fortnight without any significant rain and very little wind. After a short celebratory drink at Wick Unit, and a meal of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties which was prepared by the Unit staff, we then endured a 16 hour mini-bus drive back to the (thank you TS Alamein for the invaluable loan of your Unit mini-bus!).