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Updated Fri 14th at 09:30 

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Day 9 - Glasgow to Glencoe

The hostel in Glasgow was in a fabulous pecinct and was an impressive building with Hogwarts style staircases. It sent me on a memory trip to my youth with the view across to the back of some tenements I was suddenly 12 again wanting to shout to my mate to see if he wanted a "gem a fitba". Unfortunately the window only opened 3 inches and all I could manage was a feeble "help I'm suffocating!..." The room was overcrowded and a bad night's sleep was had by all. GB was up at 4:30 walking the streets then updating this account for your delectitation (what?) dear reader.

The ride out of Glasgow was pretty much as expected - pot holes and industrial decay along the Clyde (with the exception of BAE Scotstoun and their 'state of the art scum facility':-)

We struggled on the remains of General Wade's roads - un-changed since the '45 rebellion, but eventually found ourselves mesmerised by the giant Highlands. Truly put into perspective we arrived at Crianlarich for tea and scones on the train station platform - ironically this is the line where they film much of the footage for the Hogwarts Express.

From there we were on our way with a tail wind onto the top of Rannoch Moor, where the wind (or our track) changed and we ended up leaning into corners to keep going straight - scary! At one point we struggled to make progress downhill!

Swiss Tony joined us at the Glencoe hostel in his hairdresser's car and gave us the benefit of his culinary expertise emptying 1kg pasta into a 10 gallon cauldron with 3 teaspoons of water (or was that me?). Somehow Carl, Tony and Graeme knocked up a great meal and Ronnie supplied the wine and chocolate - how romantic!

We retired to the 'quiet room' and soon our wit and humour (noise) had cleared the room and we were left to hear how quick the hairdresser's car is from a standing start at traffic lights... especially when you don't realise it's in reverse!!!

(GB:- this is my last day - Tony takes over from here as support driver (slave and general dogsbody) - you'll wish you brought some marigolds mate.... Good luck with the rest of the ride and keep applying the cream...)

Day 8 - Dumfries to Glasgow

A long day ahead today - over 90 miles - so full bellies were required. However they were both well beaten by the massive breakfast at the B&B...A change of bikes for Mr MacLeod (but the same comfy saddle), lashings of 'Assos' and away they go...

With weary hearts, expecting rain, we set off from Dumfries and our spirits were soon lifted by the sun peeking through and some very quiet roads in beautiful countryside. We had feared the first big ascent but it turned out to be long and gentle (just how I like it!) and the ascent was fast and furious (I think you get the picture!) and at the bottom we paused for breath and had a cigarette - but that's another thing...

Some lovely rolling hills and big wide valleys saw us arrive in CCarsphairn which has one of the oldest inns in Scotland. Passing on we came to a cozy Post Office which seemed to sell everything including tea and scones which we had to try. As we spent the time knocking out the miles we re-wrote the Owl and the Pussycat to reflect our recent exploits... more of that to follow. Teatime saw us rolling into Glasgow and Mr MacLeod's birthplace. Despite a mere 30 years absence the rebuilding work is almost complete and the gaff seems respectable despite the plaque denoting "Here is the birthplace of...".

The first night in a Scottish Youth Hostel had mixed reception - a swanky building in a posh area, but we still spent the night in a small room wedged with 4 bunk beds and 8 sweaty bodies!..

Tomorrow we head for Glencoe and Scotland's ski elite!

Day 7 - Troutbeck to Dumfries

It was goodbye and a big thankyou to Ally Harper this morning who has been with us since Bristol - he's done a fine job!

A good night's rest and a hearty breakfast saw us in good shape to tackle the Kirkstone Pass straight out of the starting gate. It was just as well as it is a long tough climb! The weather was perfect and the scenery magnificent - which helped us to take our minds off the "please stop now" message from the old tired legs.

As we crested the top and looked down Patterdale, what remained of our breath was taken away. The descent was a blast - our brakes were on the limit several times. As the road levelled out, Carl found a Scottish flag lying at the side of the road - I nearly wet myself when I saw him approach from behind with it sticking out of his helmet!!

The contribution of the new seat, some new shorts and the now legendary "Assos" cream seem to be working well and everything was looking rosy (rather than red) until we stopped for a cup of tea and the toilet - I was less than happy to discover (too late) that there was no toilet paper! I won't divulge the solution to the problem but suffice to say that as I emerged and to find Carl chatting with the staff and other guests I had to stifle a chuckle as I saw him head off to the same location...

A turn off the main road at Watermillock saw us through Greystoke and the cycle cafe back onto the quiet roads and great views. A deviation along national cycle route 7 into the back of Carlisle rewarded us with empty roads and good surfaces, so despite being old and knackered we were able to get some miles in at over 20mph.

We were joined in Carlisle by the redoubtable GB - not as good-looking as Ally (hang on a minute... who's typing this up?... much better looking than Ally) and the tight git didn't even buy us lunch! Having covered hundreds of miles in the blink of an eye (I must have been asleep!) it's amazing how long it took to get round and round the one way system before we could head off for the borders.

A triumphant photo shoot on the Scottish border at Gretna and 600 miles on the clock lifted our spirits. Or it did until we saw Carl's PDA bouncing down the B721 (think it overtook them for a short distance!) after catastrophic failure of the mounting bracket. Finally, after reaching Dumfries - our destination for the day - and our only stay not in a Youth Hostel, we found we'd been transferred elsewhere by an absent B&B proprietor.

Tomorrow sees the modelling roadshow roll into Glasgow - European City of Culture 1990... (apparently).

Day 6 Liverpool-Troutbeck(Windermere)
Thinking ahead to our longest day we made our earliest start from Liverpool-only to be greeted by some “ scouse” sunshine in its liquid form accompanied by howling gales.
So ideal conditions to venture out into the Liverpool City traffic

Onwards and upwards our intrepid voyeurs ploughed to Samlesbury  for a photo shoot- unfortunately Ronnie was laid low by a nasty recurrence of " le balloon neuf`", a condition he picked up in the Balearics some years ago. Anyone who thinks this is a jolly-trip, needs to try to stop a Ducati 900 from spinning its back wheel at 15000 RPM, with only what is available between their legs. If you can do that for 8 hours a day and still enjoy it then we want to know your name. (and how you do it)
The staff at Ribble Cycles were very helpful- when asked which is the most comfortable seat for long cycling journeys- the reply was “ I’ve only tried 4 or 5 but I still feel like I’ve been buggered, they did recommend some “ specialist” cream from a popular brand called- by shear coincidence “ASSOS”
It felt nice going on but I couldn’t actually enjoy it as much as I could have liked.

The hostel was a gem, set on the hills above Windermere – we opted for in-house delights (too tired to do anything else) and were treated to a fantastic 4-course meal and great service whilst we watch the sun set over.
 The Furness Fells- suddenly the next 500 miles seemed possible

Now for the technical bit turn away if easily disturbed:
Over 6 days and 543 miles, we have ridden for 40 hours, longest day was for 102 miles, shortest 76 miles, Max speed was 47.4 mph(no sheep were harmed in the making of this record, however one kamikaze squirrel failed in its attempt to abort the speed-record)

Tomorrow we reach Scotland and go in search for Ronnie forebears………..

Day 5: Ratinghope to Albert Dock(Liverpool)

Without drying facilities the team set off again, whisked there way for a brief encounter in the Welsh marches we didn’t encounter any dykes however and made good time to our ferry cross, the Mersey. They were actually playing the bl%+* song as we disembarked the ferry and made our way to the overnight stop at YHA Liverpool. A short day and our earliest stop so far, just 80 miles and a 1615 finish more to follow………..

Day 4: Slimbridge to Bridges Long Mynd

Looked easy in comparison to the last 3 days that had climbs of 8000, 7900 and 5000 feet but it was until the last 5 miles when we were presented with a monster climb of 1500 feet in 2 miles. We must have looked tired and desperate because we even had a motorcyclist offer a tow up the hill. It was getting cold and dark by the time we got there      

And we were looking forward to a cosy hotel a good shower/bath and a hearty meal.

The hostel had the feel of a hippy commune but the rich folk had stopped bringing their money-the location was fantastic and the owner friendly which helped take the edge off it.

Carl`s Teresa and Adam joined the team and we all got a great meal eventually at pub number 2 the Green-Man, many thanks for the kind donation from Anne at the pub

Day3:

1330 Support driver handover at Sexey`s Pub in Blackford

Carl couldn’t put the sun umbrella up, had to be shown the way by a small blonde.

A big thank you to Aine –she has set the standard for the rest to follow being mummy, although I don’t think we need to catch Ally changing bra

Trip to Slimbridge was very pleasant but long (1900 hrs arrival) the YHA hostel was roomy purpose built to early 1970`s décor and a great place for Ally to be violently sick. In sympathy with Ally, Carl and Ronnie pass up the delights of a nice meal in the local pub to eat in the local Nissan hut (not to be confused with Pizza hut)

The highlights to the ride that was the fastest descent (approaching 50mph) which was great fun hill, we had narrowly missed a flock of Dorset Thad sheep, who had tried a road side ambush.

It was the longest day at 97 miles and they were very tired at the end of the day.

Boys seem in better spirits this morning, albeit their legs don't work very well! But moving back toward civilisation helps a little! This is Aine's last morning looking after the boys and it's all going to be in Ally's hands from this afternoon. Let's just hope that they get the same "Mammy" treatment from the lads over the next week or so! Be good to them!

Day Two: "Lets find every bleeding Hill in Devon"

2 boys, 85.2 miles, 3 bridges by foot, 2 fjords (not patrolled by Vikings), 1 farmers track

After finally managing to get "back in the saddle" - about 10 miles down the road, Carl and Ronnie were well on their way. This was probably the most arduous of all the stages - unrelentleslys steep climbs and vertical descents with precisely zero plateaus or valleys; but most likely one of the most picturesque days for views in England.  The stage took the journey away from the coast and across Exmoor National Park, in which Carltook out 3 sheep and Ronnie thought of home!

When the finely honed athletes finally found the youth hostel, after fighting publicly in the street with the Sat Nav who was telling them they were "at your destination" when they clearly were not, the boys looked up to see a YHA sign! (Albeit another 1 1/2 miles down into the forest). Aine was waiting to greet them with all cures at hand - spag bol, 2 bottles of Faustine V (thanks Mark!) and chocolate. (Makes them sound like a pair of girls!). But this will be remembered as the evening when Ronnie made a zimmer frame out of a chair and fell in love with a heat pack. There there!

Day One: "Ups, Downs, On Top and Ahead"

2 boys, 95.4 miles, 1 puncture, 0 accidents, many many laughs

With bright eyes and bushy tails, bums without numbness and smiles on their faces, Ronnie and Carl set off fromLand’s End. The route should have covered about 80 miles, but due to some intentional some not-so-intentional diversions, they covered some 95.4 miles!  The days Clown Shirt would be awarded to Ronnie - boredom set in after 10 or so metres, he decided to entertain Carl with his juggling act...with his sat nav! Thankfully the puncture didn't come until Ronnie with actually at the hostel but a puncture nonetheless.

Before the Beginning: "We're where exactly?!"

Getting to Lands End - easy-peasy! Getting to hostel – apparently “the most accessible” one in the area, not quite so easy, or accessible in any “normal” use of the word, especially with the van!

But managed to get settled, get to Lands End for a recce trip and some photos, and arrange food and watering for the lads.  Carl’s preparation, however, was probably not what would be termed “usual” either. Now we can all appreciate that sitting on a bicycle saddle for 2 weeks isn’t going to be comfortable at the best of times…But Carl’s preparation involved pulling on a pair of Treasa’s jeans for the evening.  Described at first as “a little tight but comfortable”, the evening progressed for Carl with a growing smile and a nervousness in Ronnie’s face as Carl began to become “more comfortable” in the jeans….look at the photos and judge for yourselves

Offline Donations:

Many thanks to those who have contributed to this event in methods outside of this website. You have so far raised over £800.  Some of the events that supported these monies were the Dog Shows at Norfolk, Wellingborough, Shuttleworth and Letchworth; Family’s Day at RAF Wyton, Awareness day at Tesco’s in Peterborough; and the bucket in the Addision Arms in Glatton, along with many other pledges yet to come in. – Thanks to you all for your support and please spread the word.

OverView

Ronnie MacLeod and Carl Stretton will be cycling 1,000 miles from Lands End to John o' Groats in 12 days starting on the 4th of September 2007. We have never done anything like this before but we are driven by the challenge, the chance of raising money for the BAE Systems nominated charity, and as a way of saying Thank You for the help given by MacMillan to Carl's family when his Mum was dying from cancer.

The event pulls together support members from the RAF and BAE Systems from several project teams across sites around the UK. We intend to hand over the proceeds at the MacMillan coffee morning at RAF Wyton on 28th September 2007.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Macmillan Cancer Support will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. So please sponsor us now

Many thanks for your support