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Update - Sunday 9 August
It's done! I arrived in Findhorn at 12:30 on Saturday, having ridden the final 51 miles from Kingussie in just over 3 hours. Total distance was 640 miles (or 1025 km) and I rode for 44 hours. Lynda and I had lunch in Findhorn and then started the long drive home, which itself took 9 hours.... Many thanks to all who have donated so far either on or off-line. I have added a few new photos. S
Update - Thursday 6 August
Now in Inverary (Argyll) following 4 100+ mile days, including 118 mile epic from Garstang to Dumfries on Tuesday. Yesterday rode across Dumfries & Galloway and Ayrshire to Gourock and the ferry to Dunoon. Weather was very wet on Tuesday but has since been much sunnier and the wind keeps blowing! Less than 200 miles to go. Lynda busy visiting gardens, trying to avoid getting lost, picking up mobile messages and generally driving - even bought me my ferry ticket, a real "team manager"! More later, Simon
Update - Sunday 2 August
I've completed the first 100+ miles and 5,900ft of climbing. Woken by the zoo animals in Bristol. A sunny morning with cloud, but no rain later and a favourable W/SW wind. Over the old Severn Bridge, past Chepstow and up the Wye Valley to Monmouth. Then over the hills and past the polytunnels to Hereford (and the 4th and last crossing of the Wye). Then to Leominster, Richards Castle, Ludlow and home over Westhope and Hope Bowdler. Thanks to the "Secret Wheelers" lead out team who appeared north of Hereford for the last 50 miles and joined the cake stop at Ludlow. I've added some photos. More later. S
What am I doing?
I’m going to see if I can cycle from the Bristol Channel to the Moray Firth in a week.
Why am I doing it?
Hopefully I won't spend too much of the week asking this...
I’ve always wanted to try to do a long distance ride but had never previously got round to it.
I’m fortunate to be healthy (we’ll see about the “fit and” bit after the first couple of days…), am probably just having an early mid-life crisis(!) and wanted to use the opportunity to raise some money for those who are less fortunate, both locally in Shropshire and nationally. The two charities I have chosen are; Hope House Children's Hospices who care for terminally ill children at their hospices in Shropshire and North Wales and Leukaemia Research (see my other page at: http://www.justgiving.com/Simon-LeeLR).
Both rely on donations to keep up their great work and any that you can make will be very much appreciated by the charities. Much less importantly, your generosity will spur me on.
How far is it?
Depending on the final route it should be slightly less than 1000km or slightly more than 600 miles.
I don’t know if I can do it, but I do know I couldn’t possibly complete an End-to-End ride in the time and this route also has the advantage of avoiding the hilly bits of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Sutherland (although maybe not the midges...)
It isn’t an organised event and I expect to ride it solo - although if anyone is prepared to offer me a wheel for six, sixty or 600 miles I won’t be too proud...(offers by e-mail please). Preparation has included; return trips to Powis Castle, Ellesmere, Ludlow and Lichfield, The Dragon Ride (in South Wales) and the annual “Tour de Tywyn” as well as numerous spins around Shropshire.
I do hope you are able to support one or both of the charities
Many thanks,
Simon
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