Day 9 Helmsdale to John O’Groats!

 

Arose early, slightly jaded from night before but spurred on by final assault on the End to End challenge. The wind had changed overnight although not quite behind us did not hold up progress as it had the day before. It was cold and drizzly however we formed a ‘chaingang’ approach and helped each other on. We had done some killer hills the night before and so today was just a steady, rolling 44 miles which we did by 12 o’clock.

Like , John O’Groats was underwhelming. We had a chat to a few other groups, took the photos and jumped straight back in the car for the long trip home.

Well, what are my thoughts on the week. It’s a long hard slog. My bottom hardened up but was never comfortable and my legs do feel tired but much more was the mental strain of just keeping going. I’m not sure I would like to do such a long (in time) ride again. We could have done it a bit faster, say in 7 days, this would have just meant another 20 or so miles a day, which whilst physically I think I could have done, it would have changed the nature of the trip. Jay, Meurig and Ray have been great and a harder trip would have subtracted from the time for chat and banter.

Once again I have been overwhelmed by the response from friends, colleagues, patients and family. There are more than 5 pages of donations which are still coming in. I would like to thank everyone for help, my clinical team, especially Richard, Caroline and Carly and those in cancer services who have covered my leave. Andrew, Martyn, Jonathan, Jan and Chris (photographer), who supported the appeal and all the messages, songs and calls of support that kept us going from friends and family.

I am convinced that staff, services and research at Velindre are worth supporting to improve even further the quality of care that we provide. We recently had a meeting of leaders of service, planned to take place from 4.30 to 7.30. We did not finish the meeting til 10.30 am, everyone staying on to passionately discuss the future strategy for Velindre Cancer Centre. I do not know of any other group of staff that would show this commitment, they are a wonderful group of people.

I would lastly like to direct thoughts and support to the group that are planning to climb Mount Kilamanjaro later this year to support Lung Cancer through the Stepping Stones appeal.. This has grown into a tremendous group raising monies for a very worthy cause.

Personally, I am determined to keep the ATTAC appeal going….Right….what will the next adventure be?

 

 

Day 8 Aviemore to Helmsdale

Despite the sun shining it was a bitterly cold and windy start to the day. I started off in my full winter gear of long trousers, jumper and full gloves. We had done most of the highland climbing the day before so we had a relatively easy downhill run into . We did not see it at it’s best, it had become grey overhead but it just looked like an industrial sprawl. So we crossed the bridge over the and cycled on to a Café in Tore which gave us a perfectly adequate breakfast, albeit without a smile.

From here we set off along the . The sun came out again but at times the wind was so strong we had to angle the bikes 10-15 degrees into it to prevent being blown off the road. The wind was a direct Northerly, and as we were going North East we occasionally had the relief of ‘just’ a side wind.

Still, no rain, and a lovely bowl of homemade soup in Tain saw us make steady progress. Meurig had his first puncture of the trip (I had my only one on Day 1 so pretty lucky here (touch wood)). In fact it wasn’t a puncture, more that he hit a pothole and split inner tube. Now some would consider this unlucky but since he spent all this session tailing (or draughting) Ray and me (at one stage I looked behind and actually thought he had got onto my bike!), he deserved the ribbing he got over tea.

As we were just flagging, tea in Brora was perfection, a home made ice cream and pie shop outside a very welcoming pub, a Scottish cycling heaven. This, together with is wounded pride, clearly hit the spot for Meurig as he refused to let the lead of the 'mini peliton' go, helping us through the wind to our destination in Helmsdale. Once again Ray made the whole leg, which after virtually learning to ride again during the first few days is quite remarkable. Now as we have mainly stuck to main roads we haven’t seen ‘wild’ , but this place is so far North that it had a small town remote feel that was perfect. Jay found us a gem of a pub, the Belgrave Arms, with rooms for B+B. Very quaint complete with local drunks, quiz night and lumpy mattresses it was just what we needed.

Meurig and I decided to do one more stint, to shorten the final leg on the last day. We asked if it was hilly, to which the owner just smiled and said ‘oh yes’. He was right, we only managed 10 miles but these were some of the hardest of the trip, with almost comical steep inclines and gale force winds, at places we were down to 3miles per hour. On one hill after stopping I couldn’t start again without pulling a wheelie. But we made it and with the wind hopefully changing, tomorrow should be straight forward.

Supper excellent, bangers and mash, just what the Dr ordered. Hopefully the few too many beers to celebrate last night won’t hold up our progress to much to the holy grail of JoG!

 

 

Day 7 to Aviemore (and beyond!?)

We’re all feeling very weary so please excuse weary blog! Yesterday woke up in ‘most friendly B+B’ to a hearty 3 course breakfast, an excellent start. The route today was uncomplicated ie the A9…the A bloody 9!! I’m sure given more time we would avoid these types of roads, it’s like cycling on the A470 (or even the M4). Occasionally there is a few feet of a 'cycle' lane but this is usually full of stones, roadkill and other detritus.

The road gradually rose, nothing too steep and the scenery was stunning. We could see the Cairngorms approaching but generally for the first 40 miles we followed several rivers which looked idyllic. All 3 of us made it to the ‘’ together but then the wind separated us. I think this was physically the hardest stretch of cycling, about 30 miles into a 30-40 mph headwind, at times I had to get out of the saddle to be able to cycle downhill! We all made it to Dalwhinnie though for lunch, although Ray was so knackered he curled up into a ball by the roadside! He has done amazingly well to keep up given his previous experience (although it did slip out over tea that he was once a more enthusiastic cyclist and an endurance eventer!!).

After another fine lunch and chat, that our relaible driver, mapreader, mechanic and team motivator Jay had found us, we set off again with about 25 miles to Aviemore. We even found a cycling path, but then mechanical disaster, Meurig’s derailleur snapped off, in fact we were lucky not to have been on the A9 as it caught in the chain and seized the bike! Ray (on the spare bike) and I carried on to Aviemore whilst Jay took Meurig back 30 miles to a very good bike shop we had passed. They stayed open to fix it and to my surprise (Meurig must have been teasing me when he has been constantly saying ‘let’s jump in the car…..who would know?’), he insisted on being dropped at the exact spot and completed the ride into Aviemore. There he was joined by hundreds of Scottish kindred spirits in cheering on ’s abject performance against !

I managed to do another 15 miles late at night to get a long ascent out of Aviemore to Schlod Summit and so get it out of the way for tomorrow. Supper was good. Ray’s tummy seems better thanks to ~ 300 ‘Windies’, medicines I have never heard off but I will now recommend all my patients who are, well, ‘windy'!. So we all had a few beers. Given that we ordered an ‘as much as you can eat’ Italian buffet, the extra chips and garlic bread were probably unnecessary, and predictably untouched, but hey ho!

Right….back on the bikes….and that ****** A9!

 

 

Day 6 Lockerbie (Moffat) to

What a funny old day! Started out with Meurig outvoted on Little Chef  breakfast…..and not sure he ever picked up from this.  We all found it hard to start this morning.  I was totally miserable and found it really hard to do the first 20 miles…what was ‘just’ an hour and a half of hard cycling, being just 1/5^th of one day and about 1/50^th of whole trip….not sure cut out for this endurance thing! Didn’t help when Ray had first of 5 punctures, obviously no fault of his own, but frustrating our progress.

Slow cycling (13mph) to Abington, small village, one of many with seemingly little purpose since motorway takes all traffic and passing trade by. But, welcomed by full English, ooops sorry, Scottish breakfast.  This was one of several places that didn’t give us financial discount but a hugely warm welcome, support and helpful advice. ‘F’s son from the Abington hotel, had had bone cancer and was receiving treatment in the Beatson Cancer Centre.  He had had to have an amputation of his leg as well as chemotherapy.  Another apt reminder of the need for better treatments and support for existing services.  Next a pub in Whitburn, who made one of the best brie/bacon baguettes ever….no wonder we’re wondering why our waistlines aren’t contracting. In between pedalling went on, weather and roads appearing gentle and kind.  Meurig willing us on with motivational speeches such as ‘as long as you’re pedalling, you’re making progress’.

Cycling long days have their ups and downs, as do the cyclists.  However whilst most survive the dips to relish the highs, we deduced Meurig also followed this sinusoidal cycling mood pattern, only to have the crests cut off…ie he peaks at ‘bearable’!

The afternoon was a comedy of errors, punctures, lost ways, tetchy moods but we all kept going, not least due to Jay’s (my brother in law) constant cheerful demeanour.  That and lots of calls and texts from home willing us on carried us through to , in what was an enjoyable day (99.5 miles). Having not booked accommodation, we have found the most friendly B+B in  (Cherrybank Guest House, ).

One of the reasons for my dip in mood at the start of the day was the monotony of painful ( and chaffing) exercise. Questioning the point of it all, my neighbour Andrew, via text, pointed out ‘It is your own vanity..and don’t forget it!’. As always the incisive wit of the ginger midget conveys truth irrespective of feelings, of course he’s right.. I wanted this ‘challenge’.  However I am soft and susceptible to inspirational actions as much as anyone, and I have been overwhelmed by the response of friends, family, colleagues and patients alike to this appeal.  I  genuinely believe this is a worthy cause and with this in mind (and in return for what has been an amazing adventure for me), my Mother and I have decided to match all donations, to the sum of £1000, for the next 5 days…ie all donations will be doubled!! 

Please spread the word, if you are reading this you will already be amazed at peoples generosity.

Tomorrow we will go from lowlands () to highlands (Aviemore) so will be hard.

Nos da!

 

Day 5 Lancaster to Moffat

A lovely day in the 'North'.  Awoke reeling from shock that curry houses in Lancaster don't serve alcohol, settled for Chinese.   Enjoyable 'having' to fill the gap left by burning up 7000 calories!

The wind had dropped today, I'm sure people must be glad not to hear me moaning in person about my aches and pains.  The ride to Kendal was beautiful.  We past the james Cracknell fleet, we were looking out for Gareth Thomas, and whilst we don't think we saw him it took 45 minutes to pass them all - made us feel a tiny team.  But there was nothing tiny about the climb out of Kendall towards Shap.  Stunning scenery but had to really suck it in.

We weren't sure how Ray managed it, but he did!  After that it was just a long but beautiful ride through Penrith and Carlisle and over the border to Gretna Green.....and Scotland (see photo). 

We planned to get to Lockerbie but Meurig pointed out that would leave 115 miles tomorrow so after a shandy (I've converted the biking purist to performance enhancing teatime refreshments) we decided to go on and that last 15 miles was a 'killer'.  The computer said 123 miles today.

They talk about it all being in the top 3 inches and they're right, long distance cycling is 90% mental agility.  I found that part very hard today but again we received some really great inspirational messages from home and Velindre, the appeal going so well and knowing we were past half way, just kept us going through those last miles.  Thanks everyone for your continued support!

 

Day 4 Shrewsbury to Lancaster

An early start saw us eat up 17 miles by 9.30. Despite a weather forecast to the contrary, the wind against us was unrelenting. I was very heavy legged this morning, weary from 3 previous days cycling and a night with Meurig, whose self diagnosed hayfever was the only possible explaination for his snoring (and not the beers the night before....Eve?).

Fiona's (from Whitchurch) best coffee and flapjacks, donated to the cause, hit the spot, but was undone by me taking everyone the wrong way round the town's ring road.... for 5 extra miles!

Eventually we got in the groove. We were cheered on by texts from Jan in Velindre telling us how well the appeal was going. We were thrilled with the generosity of everyone. Thankyou.

Ray really got into it today, completing the full leg (nearly 100 miles), which is remarkable given his lack of training and experience.

Meurig, who feels crossing towns and cities 'was not in his contract' deliberately took a wrong turn in Wigan and had to be rescued. There wasn't much to Warrington and Wigan, but motivational texts from Martyn Williams and Jonathan Davis encouraged us on. Jonathan confirmed, from his l'eague' days, the only good thing about Warrington was 'leaving it!'.

Anyway, my friend Stella worked her magic again at tea and we finished the last 20 miles to Lancaster at ~ 19 mph average.

Just had time before going out to supper to note 72 emails. It is enjoyable from here to witness the 'workers' of Velindre going about their business. Seriously though, I wish everyone could see just how much extra and above the call of duty that the staff at Velindre go to to support patient care. They are truly wonderful.

 

Day 3 Bristol to Shrewsbury

As we satyed Sunday night with our families we were a little late getting going this morning.Also a change of Meurig's saddle to change his pressure points didn't help!

Sorry for boring you folks but the wind was ghastly again today. Otherwise would have been a lovely ride through Border Counties, generally flatt(ish). Some hard cycling (and a few beers for tea) got us all the way to Shrewsbury by 8.30pm.

We also detoured out from Hereford to meet up with Hillcrest School. This is a flagship special needs school which my brother oversees and who kindly agreed to support us. The kids and staff were great, though we had to count the wheels on the bikes when we left! Jordan, was chuffed to get a Hillcrest T-shirt and learn how many miles we had travelled and they were all really delighted to see us, not least cos they had permission to miss lessons! But it was inspirational for us, especially after they gave us a cheque!

Ray managed a long cycle this  afternoon, very impressive given his lack of time in saddle previously. Meurig is more experienced than anyone though I have never met such ane xperienced cyclist who seems to hate every mile! But he's always there at the end (and is never far from a flapjack...which has to be raspberry and consumed precisely every 9 miles!).

Great donations today which is great incentive to keep going!

 

 

Day 2 Okehampton to Bristol

We decided to leave A30 for the smaller lanes today, much quieter and more scenic and making good progress until one of crew took a tumble off bike. Nothing broken though confidence a little shaken. We all started together today, for Ray Calder this is the first time he's been on abike outside the gym but he did very well in doing 50 miles.

My Mum and Jay, kept the trrops happy. They met us for brucnh, lunch and tea....thakyou M+S Tiverton, the Hungry Horse Taunton and the New Inn (somewhere in Somerset!) for their support in providing refreshments.

 

We made it to Bristol, which was quite an achievement given that Meurig decided to wake up from his nonchalent attitude to map reading to send us on a wild goose chase in search of a town called Bampton, which I'm sure has many great qualities but being on the Land's End John O'Groats route isn't one of them!

 

We ground out the last 20 miles through lashing rain and howling winds but still have another long say in the saddle tomorrow, a new one in Meurigs case to change his tender pressure points!

 

I heard this evening that someone is donating £1000 to the 'cause' which is great news, I know this person has seen first hand what this terrible disease can do. This fund will make a difference and I now hope to reach my goal of £5K from this challenge.

 

Day 2 Lands End, 100 miles or so into headwind to Okehampton!

Well, we’re on our way. Lovely sunshine, beautiful countryside but oh that wind! What happened to the prevailing south-westerly. We fell a little short of our target 100 miles and we didn’t reach Okehampton….will try to catch up tomorrow.

A lovely welcome and night of entertainment with my brother and sister. Harriet, looked very well. Will held one of his famous, relaxed but fun, parties.

The cycling boys are tired and sore, thank goodness for chamois butter cream!

We are being joined by Jay, my brother in law, and my Mum tomorrow….so lunchtimes should be fun (and alcoholic!).

Right see the route attached for tomorrow.

 

Day 0 Start out Lands End, 100 miles or so into headwind!

A hopefully warm welcome awaits together with pasta and world cup party!

My brother Will and sister Alice live in Tavistock and have been wonderfully supportive of this trip.

My brother's wife Harriet, is very unwell with cancer and both of them won't be far from my mind during the whole of this trip. The hours of pain on this trip are not a drop compared to what they have gone through. They are both amazing.

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

We wanted to set ourselves a difficult

challenge to help launch the ATTAC Appeal,

and this bike ride certainly fits into that

category; the money raised from the ATTAC

Appeal will allow us to improve the treatment

and support of patients with Upper GI

Cancers. The aim is through research to

better target tumours through novel anticancer

drugs and more accurate and focused

radiotherapy treatments.

In addition, it is hoped that every patient

receiving such treatment in Velindre

should have the support of a named

specialist nurse.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.