Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
I'm raising money for The Doris Banham Sanctuary by biking from John 'o' Groats back to Lancashire solo! The reason why I have chosen this specific charity is because since owning my own wonderful dog Merlin I realise how wonderful dogs can be in terms of companionship and I have had such great times with him, he has really enhanced my life so much. I feel so sorry for all the dogs that have not had chance to live a happy life and end up unwanted and unloved due to no fault of their own. So I would really appreciate your support in raising some money for these lovely faithfully animals. I will be starting at John 'o' Groats on the 17 May hoping to finish in Over Kellet by 26 May! I will be putting some photos and additional info about my journey on the web site when I can, so check my page out when you have time.
19th May 2010 - Invergarry Lodge - Day 4
Just like to say a big 'Thank you' to all the people who have donated so far. I have just finished my 3rd day of cycling and feel alittle tired!!!!! Only 6 more days to go!! Started my journey staying at the 'John 'o' Groats youth hostel, never stayed in many hostels before and never on my own!!! There were a lovely old couple running it who made my stay really enjoyable and they saw me off on my challenge with a hug and a wave!! The day was sunny but with the wind in my face which stayed there all day, stopped off at some wonderful beaches with no one on them!!! The day got harder heading for Betty Hill, with long up's and short downs!!! Arrived at the Tongue hostel exhausted and in badly need of a hot shower. This hostel was in a fab location right on the edge of the causeway and looked over the loch 'Kyle of Tongue. Again the people were friendly and hostel great, I had two nights there and explored the area on the Monday, yes I did do alittle cycling of 12 miles!!!
Set off on Tuesday in the sun shine and after a hilly start the route seemed mainly flat and downhill!!! The views were wonderful, mainly on single track next to Lochs and very wild moorland. Seemed the only building for miles and miles was a pub called 'The Crask Inn' which I stopped at and had lunch. I finally rolled into Alness at about 6pm to my first BB. The experience there was quite something, won't go into details but quite strange!! Got you guessing now!!!
Today, again weather good is this really Scotland???? With a cooked b/fast in my tum set off towards Dingwall to see if I could buy a new carmara as I dropped mine on the 1st day and a car ran over it!!!! Did buy another at Tesco's now I have to work out how to use it!! Where's Nige when you want him!!! The rest of the ride was not that nice as was mainly on the A9 so really busy and very scary!!! Will try and put some pic's up and will keep you all informed on my progress.
Just one last thing please keep donating as I know the charity really needs help keeping the lovely doggies a live and giving them a second chance Thanks alot Kx
INVERGARRY to OBAN - 67 miles of mainly main roads, found back road 2 fort bill which was nice stopped there 4 a camera card did I say about a car running over my camera! Its seemed very busy! Ride from fort 2 Oban not that pleasant lots of heavy traffic and ups downs! B+B lovely with free whiskey & sherry! Out 4 meal falling asleep at table after 1 pint!
Next day Oban 2 Arran felt tired all day roads mixed. Last road a killer & missed the 1st ferry but visited castle nearby and nearly missed next ferry!. Hostel lovely. Tough start 2 mos 2 ferry at Brodick and then on to Ayr.
ARRAN to AYR - 46 miles. Misty start but as I climbed the 'BIG' hill it cleared and the mountains of Arran came into view!! However as I decended the mist was with me all the way to ferry which was a shame as the views over to the mainland would have been great. Caught the 11.05 ferry, seemed strange to be taking my little bike on to such a big ferry!!! Journey lasted 1hr and the mist did clear and the rest of the day was very warm and sunny, hard to believe I was in Scotland still!!!The route to Ayr was mostly on cycle ways no73 and no7 which in some areas were a little hard to follow. They seemed to take you in odd places around industrial and housing estates!!! Met a couple who were going back to Ayr so followed them for the hard bits!!! Passing the beaches of Troon, Preswick and then Ayr the atmosphere was one of summer, sea and sand, people were on the beaches sunbathing and swimming many getting very drunk and loud!!!!!Found my BB, Linda the owner was away for the day and had left my key under a plant pot so I could let myself in, how trusting was that!!! Also need to say a huge thanks to her a she gave me everything free of charge!!!!
AYR to St JOHN'S TOWN of DALRY - was ment to be only 33 miles a sort of rest day but I got a bit lost and ended doing 53 miles!!! Very hot again today thought I was going to end up with sun stroke!!! In Scotland what's going on!!! Quite hilly in places, lovely rolling landscape, about 10 miles to hotel decided to take a fairly straight road and avoid the main one and some how and I still do not know how I did it I went 13 miles East in the wrong direction!!! I was a bit fed up as it was hot and I want today to be a chilled one! But being on your own you have noone to blame so just got on with it and thought I can do this with my music!!! But it had run out of battery!!! So with the wind in my face I carried on!Arrived at hotel which was huge and a little run down but Laura and Gordon who ran it were so lovely and friendly. Gordon had done the End to End last year so knew what I was going though!! He very kindly pumped my tyres up and oiled bits that needed oiling!!! Food was great and when I was at the bar a complete stranger gave me £10 for the charity and then a litle old bloke gave me £1!!! Bless. When I went to leave I had to only pay a little towards my room and Gordon gave me a £ 10 too. This trip was restored my faith in human nature, people have been so great!
DALRY to GRETNA GREEN - 60 miles. Again a beautiful day, so set off with a smile on my face, even though my knee which had been sort of ok was hurting alittle. But with a few pain killers it seemed to settle down. Took lots of little roads into Dumfries where I soon got lost!!! But with a little help from the locals got back on track, onto a minor road which went a long the coast and to Caerlaverock Castle. I stopped off here for a few hours!!! Anyone would think I am Holiday not a tough bike ride!!!! It was amazing castle with moat and all well worth a visit!!! Then seem to fly to Gretna Green as wind was on my back Hurray!!! Lovely BB with free internet so this is why I am able to update this page!!! Off to Appleby tomorrow, think it will be harder to navigate as lots of little roads.!!!
GRETNA to APPLEBY (Bolton)- 46 miles. Not a very nice start to the day weather wise, cold and overcast, made me think just how lucky I have been with the weather!!! I decided to go along way east of Carlisle and stay on the minor roads to Bolton, the downside to this is that it was quite up and downy!!! Did begin to fell tired and it did seem to take longer that I had expected. The BB was in fact the best I had stayed in with no detail over looked. I could get use to this!!! Nice meal in pub with Great homemade chips!!!! Looking forward to getting home now.
APPLEBLY to HOME - Well last pack up of those bags and off on that comfortable saddle!! Nigel said he was going to meet me half way around Sedbergh. Had a nice ride though villages like Kings Meaburn and Cosby Ravenworth, it was trying to rain as I climbed the last big hill after Tebay. Met Nige as I stopped to check for directions, it was good to see a familar face and to have a tow at last!!! We stopped at Kirkby's famos bike stop for a tea and Nige just had to have a bacon butty as he had ridden so far!!! The rest of the ride home was on old familar ground and it felt great and sad to be nearing my journey end. Nige had made a huge poster and stuck it on the big green car (see photo) and we had a bottle of bubblely to celebrate my return! My little doggy Merlin was there to greet me, I told him I had missed him loads and all he wanted was me to throw his ball!!!
Reflecting now a couple of days after, I am so pleased I did managed to complete this challenge, it was touch and go 2 weeks before as Merlin did run into my knee with his very hard dogs head, while I was out running and it really was painful and swollen for days afterwards. However, it did hold up and I did it!!!! Also, when I was feeling a bit low and some days were tough I would only have to think about the poor doggies at the rescue centre and hope that the money I have raised, even though I know it is only a small amount will help in a small way towards there keep and vet fees.
I would like to thank all the people that have given money and have supported me in this challange, especially Nige my hubby who sorted my bike out for me, funded me and did not mind me taking the time to fulfull my dream. To my wonderful mum who kept in contact with me all the way, making sure i was ok and not too lonely and to all the wonderful people I met along the way, Linda who gave me a night BB for free, Gordon who maintain my bike and his friendly wife Laura and Phil who is still on his way to Landsend!
I will complete the journey down to Landsend this year poss in Sept and will still be collecting for this worth while charity.
Love to all Karol xx
