I reached the goal of completing the London Marathon and would like to thank all the hundreds of thousands of supporters whose voracious cheering somehow spurred me over the line. It was one of the best things I have ever had the fortune to be a part of: a truly, truly inspirational experience. If you would like to share the experience yourself...I've made a video of the thrills, spills, calamities and triumphs along the route, just click on the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtBrj78uUGQ
Thank you again from myself and all the animals at the Blue Cross. xx
Thanks again everyone for sponsoring me in my cycling odyssey! The next challenge approaches in the quest to raise money for Blue Cross. I shall be running (potentially crawling...) the London Marathon on 26th April 2009. I have run over 500 miles in training since January, cycled another 500, suffered sprains, strains, tweaks and tendonitis, sweated profusely, lost two toenails, tenuously held on to a third and scared the general public on 3 continents by pootling around shamelessly in unflattering lycra outfits. In fact the only part of the preparations I have truly excelled in has been carbo-loading! If you are around London on 26th April please come along, try to suppress your giggles and give me a cheer - I'll be the one near the back in the Blue Cross vest with horse chew marks in it!
I'm not going to ask people to "double-dip" into their wallets but if you haven't already sponsored me, I would be very grateful of your support.
Wish me luck!!
Tina xx
PS There's quite a lot of scrolling through text ahead until you reach the donation section but please, please don't let that put you off - it's only my whitterings on about last year's cycle expedition!
PPS Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me. The Blue Cross 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 additional cost to you.
-----John O'Groats to Land's End Cycle Challenge -----
Hi All,
I have completed the challenge arriving at Land's End on Saturday 18th October 1224 miles and 28 days later cycling into a head wind. 'Twas a fabulous (and challenging at times) journey and thank you so much all who have donated funds and to everyone who turned up at the Severn Bridge and didn't pelt me with rotten tomatoes! Please note all donations go direct to the Blue Cross - the journey costs have been 100% self-funded.
Thanks again, Tx
*** Day-by-day Voyage Account Below ***
I, a mere, mere mortal, will be attempting to cycle accompanied by "Walter" (my ancient Raleigh mountain bike) and my "Chariot of Fear" (so-named due to calamitous stability issues that have previously landed me in a French canal & other worse places...) from John O'Groats to Land's End during September and October 2008.
The distance as the crow flies is 847 miles although I'm sure I will be topping 1000 miles as, anyone who has travelled with me before will be aware, I will be taking all the scenic routes available. The route will take me through the Highlands, Lochs, Glens, Cairngorms, Lake District, Dales, Pennines, Peak District, the heart of the Midlands, the Cotswolds and the West Country. Feel free to join me for any of part of the route as well. Uberathletes beware, you will be required to pedal sedately.
Please, please, please support me, the aforementioned mere mortal, in this daunting but exciting challenge and all your contributions will go directly to the Blue Cross and their vital animal welfare work.
Thanks, Teege xx
Day 1 - 17/09/2008 - Set off from John O'Groats on a near perfect sunny day, immediately commencing in the wrong direction due West, as many passers by were happy to mention. I thought I'd ease my way in by following the coastal roads through Thurso and Melvich passing the night at Strathy. Beautiful, vast empty beaches with rolling sand dunes and schools of porpoises visible from the shore and the first donation from a blind man in the village of Castletown (£10). Thank you! 45 miles cycled.
Day 2 - 18/09/2008 - Continued along the coastal roads to Tongue via Bettyhill. The name is no coincidence as there is certainly no shortage of hills in the area (cars needing third gear) and combined with a strong head wind and torrential rain, a fairly tough day. Stunning views though and a great pub at the end of the day in Tongue. 28 miles cycled.
Day 3 - 19/09/2008 - Today I headed due south through the heart of the Highlands along an "A" road described as the most remote in Scotland. This wound around the base of imposing Ben Loyal adjacent to the lake of the same name and on through exposed moorlands and hectares of forestry commission. During the first four hours I saw a couple of deer, a red kite, legions of sheep, a herd of Highland cattle and only five cars. I was spotted by the RAF as I was coming along one valley and had several overhead fly-pasts. I then reached Lairg and followed the river Shin on south stopping at the Shin Falls where salmon were leaping trying to reach their spawning grounds (apparently they're as confused as the rest of us by the weather). I stayed at Carbisdale Castle for the evening, a very grand youth hostel complete with a statue gallery and a number of ghosts allegedly. 49 hilly miles cycled (no amount of ghosts could stop me sleeping).
Day 4 - 20/09/2008 - Early start on a beautiful sunny morning. A highland games was being held the other side of the valley and for the first mile I was accompanied by the refrain of bagpipers warming up - magical. The moorland and glens gave way to sweeping, flat vistas of rich pastureland and farmers frantically harvesting wheat and cutting silage whilst the sun was shining. I headed via Tain around the Cromarty coast to the Nigg ferry to cross over to the Black Isle. A strong head wind and hills that seemed to stretch upward for infinity made progress slow so it was late when I reached the port and found a broken down ferry. Stranded I headed the long way around the Cromarty firth towards Dingwall and luckily met some v kind cyclists who took me in for the evening. Thanks Sean and Mariette for your kindness! 44 miles cycled (but only 10 miles from where I started!)
Day 5 - 21/09/2008 - I followed the coast around to Dingwall coasting through the pretty villages of Alness and Evanton to Dingwall where I crossed over to the Black Isle. The next few miles were steep uphill that seemed endless but eventually levelled off into more agricultural land. Lunchtime coincided with me passing the entrance to the Black Isle Brewery where Christina gave me an interesting tour and sent me on my way with a bottle of fine ale, a bar of beer soap and wishes that angels would guard me on my voyage. As I crossed the Kessock bridge into Inverness I met the first angel, a cyclist who gave me lots of useful advice re my onward journey then kindly deviated out of his way to guide me across town to the youth hostel and proceeded to empty his shorts of all his change for my fundraising. 43 miles cycled.
Day 6 - 22/09/2008 - A short cycling day. I spent the morning visiting Culloden Moor the site of Bonnie Prince Charlie's defeat which was well worth - v evocative and chilling, especially as they have an immersion room which puts you at the heart of the blood-letting action - v sombre experience. I returned to Inverness and got back on the road to start the Great Glen Way along Loch Ness as far as Drumnadrochit where I visited the Loch Ness visitors centre and failed to see Nessie as I watched the sun set over Urquhart Castle. 20 miles cycled.
Day 7 - 23/09/2008 - Continued along the Great Glen Way following alternately mountain bike trails and the Caledonian Canal towpaths through Invermoriston, Invergarry, Fort Augusta and Gairlochy until I reached Nepune's Staircase, a dramatic ladder of locks on the approach to Fort William. The weather again was beautiful and sunny and the landscape stunning. Definitely somewhere to return although not with a trailer as twas tough cycling on the rough tracks. Thank you to the American ladies in Fort Augusta for your kind donations! 54 miles pedalled.
Day 8 - 24/09/2008 - A very early start as the only way onwards is along the bustling A82. I left Fort William as the sun was rising and enjoyed the breathtaking beauty of the early morning rays over Lochs Eil and Linnhe. I follwed the road through Onich and Ballachulish to Glencoe bringing back memories of geology field trips with tartan hats and orange wigs sellotaped to hard hats and people running around the hills misquoting Braveheart. The landscape was as awe-inspiring as my per distant memories and the binocular geology kept me going through some of the toughest cycling so far to the top of Rannoch moor and on to the Bridge of Orchy where I stayed the night having been displaced from my bicycle most ungallantly by a tourist bus driver (only pride dented luckily). 42 miles cycled.
Day 9 - 25/09/2008 - Another day of cycling along the A82 stretched ahead of me so I had another early start. After the climbs of the previous day, the route ahead of me was a doddle with only a couple of long hills to Crianlarich followed by some level and then undulating routes to the head of Loch Lomond. The A82 wound its way through pretty deciduous woodland to Tarbet where I picked up the traffic-free cyclepath (joy!) that traced the shoreline all the way to Balloch. Another night and another youth hostel in a castle! This was almost more spectacular than the last with stunning views over the lake. Thank you to the lovely tourists in Tyndrum at the Green Welly Stop who made kind donations. 50 miles cycled.
Day 10 - 26/09/2008 - Today was a treat of, for the most part, traffic-free cycling for which I was grateful after the traumas of caravans and psychotic bus drivers on the A82. The river Clyde has a cyclepaths all the way into the centre of Glasgow. Fuelled with horror stories of violence and attacks by a couple of people in the youth hostel, I had set out early trying to miss the drug-dealing hours in Dumbarton but it turned out even the whinos were friendly with kindly waves and wishes of good luck as they tucked into their real ales. The route was very picturesque with swans and even a kingfisher sighting along the way. I crossed over the Erskine Bridge rather than go right into the town centre and picked up the Sustrans cycle route the other side of the river. Several miles of well-maintained and well-used disused rail track later, I started to look for accommodation but it was another three towns, fifteen miles and nearly dark when I found a B&B in Irvine practically on the waterfront. 54 miles cycled.
Day 11 - 27/09/2008 - Today was a little blustery but the dry and occassionally sunny weather continued as I followed the shores of the Irish Sea around to Troon and Ayr past miles and miles of dunes (nearly entirely devoted to golf courses) before cutting inland through agricultural land. A dearth of accommodation meant that I only made it as far as Ochiltree where I stayed at a lovely dairy farm. Thanks to Alistair for access to your workshop that helped keep Walter on the road. 25 miles cycled.
Day 12 - 28/09/2008 - Another glorious day with quiet, only gently undulating and occassionally downhill roads all the way to Dumfries. I stopped off at Drumlanrig castle, not a youth hostel but home to the Duke of Buccleigh, where they had a cycle exhibition including replicas of the original prototype as invented by a blacksmith from just down the road. The monthly farmers market was also on so thanks to a multitude of freebies I was fuelled all the way through Dumfries and on to Glencaple on the banks of the River Niff leading into the Solway Firth. Unbelievably 60 miles cycled!
Day 13 - 29/09/2008 - Today was a really four seasons in one day with every thing from fog, sun, clouds, rain and hail but all in small amounts. I followed, for the main part, quiet roads along the coast of the Solway Firth through Annan to Gretna where I stopped for lunch and had my photo taken at the famous "Olde Blacksmiths Shoppe" under the horseshoe arch to a few wisecracks about I should be having my picture taken with a man not a bicycle. It was then a few miles on through quiet windy lanes to the border with England at which point I said a fond farewell to Scotland and the rain commenced. Another 12 miles took me on to Carlisle and a mission to find accommodation which led me on a tour of all the main sights i.e. castle, bridges and cathedral. 42 miles cycled.
Day 14 - 30/09/2008 - A shocker of a day with torrential rain and strong winds. I battled out of Carlisle and spent the next twenty miles consistently climbing hills to the Lake District all the time battling into the head wind. After 20 miles I reached the village of Uldale desperate for a hot drink but the pub was closed and the coffee shop had shut down. A local couple spotted my plight and invited me in for a cup of coffee and to warm-up by their Rayburn. They were Blue Cross supporters and also introduced me to their family of eight cats plus a hen and two ducks. An hour later filled with hot coffee and revitalised I set off again and continued on to Keswick where I refuelled again with soup before carrying on via Grasmere (stop for the local speciality gingerbread) and eventually Ambleside where I drained the tank of hot water in the Backpackers' defrosting in the shower. 49 desperate miles cycled.
01/10/2008 - Day off resting weary muscles with a visit Wordsworth's school and the Beatrix Potter gallery to marvel at some of her amazing illustrations in Hawkshead, then a boat across Windermere to Bowness and then on to Windermere itself and back to Ambleside for a little gentle carbo-loading in preparation for the next day's action - well that's my excuse.
Day 15 - 02/10/2008 - Time to leave the beautiful Lake District and continue on the odyssey south. I left Ambleside at the crack of dawn in an attempt to beat the multitude of tourist buses on the A591 and skirted the edge of lake Windermere through the town of the same name. A long, steep climb brought me up to Staveley and lovely views when there was a break in the cloud and rain. I headed on to Kendal where Walter received some TLC at Brucie's bike shop (small matter of non-functioning brakes were making life a little too interesting) and I carried on with the carbo-loading with tea and scones in "Master's teashop" whilst I waited. I wiggled on through country lanes via Milnthorpe to Carnforth where I joined the Lancaster canal towpath. This was far more picturesque then I had expected as the clouds disappeared revealing stunning vistas over Morecambe Bay and I met many jolly dogwalkers who gave me lots of encouragement. I crossed quickly through Lancaster town and braved the A6 to head south to Galgate where I took the lanes again to the farm that was that night's accommodation. The Fleece in Dolphinholme is well worth a visit if you're in the area. 49 miles cycled.
Day 16 - 03/10/2008 - Today I headed south through the lands of the industrial revolution past many of the old mills that Lancashire is famed for passing through Preston and then literally following the "Road to Wigan Pier". Very friendly people but a nightmare tangle of busy roads for the chariot-wielding cyclist so I just kept my head down and pedalled on. A glorious sunny day. 46 miles cycled.
Day 17 - 04/10/2008 - I set off from Wigan following the A49 as all cyclists I had talked to said this was the easiest way to survive the busy roads through the Liverpool / Manchester corridor. Not much to report except extreme gratitude to the person who painted a generous hard-shoulder for much of the way on the edge giving the cyclist a bit of a buffer. I was v pleased to cross through Warrington and the gentle rolling Cheshire countryside arriving in Whitchurch Shropshire(!) well before nightfall even though a v strong headwind did its best to hinder me. 47 miles cycled.
Day 18 - 05/10/2008 - Torrential rain overnight that continued until 10 a.m. made for a late start. I continued on the A49 to Shrewsbury with the rain and wind gradually subsiding giving way to bright sunshine, the only reminder of the morning's deluge being a gentle facial "spritz" as I pedalled through the remaining standing water. The dramatic ridge of Wenlock Edge was soon visible and I cut off along some quiet lanes and traced my way along the valley to Church Stretton feasting on the views. 35 miles cycled.
Day 19 - 06/10/2008 - I awoke to another glorious sunny day and thought I would maximise on this by taking a meandering route through some of the castles built in the area to defend the Welsh Marches. This seemed a good idea until I remembered how strategically castles are generally sited on hills... A lot of steep, punchy climbing was endured between scenic village after village. I initially climbed over "Long Mynd" to Bishop's Castle then cycled down through Clun, Knighton, Presteigne and on to Kington where the YHA was a welcome surprise as was being asked for ID at the ripe old age of 32 in the local Spar of all places! 41 miles cycled.
Day 20 - 07/10/2008 - I left Kington with a dark cloud ominously looming overhead that soon delivered what it promised. I winded through more hilly lanes into Wales and followed the upper reaches of the River Wye into the bookshop capital of Hay. I stopped for sustinence at the Granary teashop in the hope that the rain and wind would diminuish as I carried onward. The plan for this diversion instead of going the easy way (i.e. flat) via Hereford and Ross was to cycle through the Gospel Pass, a truly dramatic mountain pass between Hay Bluff and Twmpa (or Lord Hereford's Knob as this is known in English) that I always deviate through given any opportunity. It's steep. Very steep. Much pushing was required to reach the moorland of the pass and then gritted teeth to continue. The headwind was so strong that on the level pedalling as hard as I could go I still barely managed 5mph! The chariot is as aerodynamic as a breeze-block - as am I for that matter! As I levelled the plateau though I was given a much-needed motivational boost by Sasha from the Sustainable development charity, Siren, who had stopped to encourage me and also kindly donated £10. Thanks loads - I was soaking, freezing, exhausted and was great meeting you! It was not much further before moorland gave way into the winding, wooded valley and long gentle descent into Capel-y-Ffin. I pedalled on to Llanthony Priory, a little-known jewel in the Welsh border's crown, where the gentleman in the tea-shop took pity on me in my bedraggled state and opened up specially to ply me with tea and biscuits. He probably doesn't realise that he saved me from near hypothermia, so another big thank you! In the car-park I met a group of schoolchildren from Rogerstone who were on an outward-bound excursion. Another thank you to you all and your group leader for all your encouragement on my mission. You'll be pleased to know that Walter survived the hedge-trimmer unscathed and carried me all the way home that evening to Itton nr Chepstow (passing via Llanvihangel Crucorney, Abergavenny, Usk and to anyone who lives in the Glyn valley - the Gethley - i.e. possibly the steepest hill and worst-surfaced road in Wales... ouch). 59 miles cycled.
08-09-10/10/2008 - Rest days at home
Day 21 - 11/10/2008 - On the road again. I left home bright and early with a well-laden chariot with initial destination being Chepstow library to (a) get a stamp on my challenge documents and (b) return my overdue library books. This accomplished the next challenge was Mounton hill out of Chepstow, a steep ascent to rival any in the Highlands and had me pushing for several sections and then on to the Severn Bridge where friends and family had gathered to see me off on the last leg of my journey. It was a perfect sunny day and only mild crosswinds buffetted the chariot as we crossed the sparkling estuary into England where I picked up the Avon cycleway which wends its way along the reed-lined reens of the Olveston and Easter Compton levels before diverting through Lawrence Weston and clambering across the Avonmouth Bridge. More country lanes led me through Gordano to Clevedon and then Yatton where I picked up the Strawberry Line, a disused rail-line converted into a lovely country walkway and provides the lazy cyclist with level access to the wonders of Cheddar, the night's destination without having to negotiate the Mendips thanks to a handy tunnel. This was a trial of faith in itself as only a few LED's indicate the route through the tunnel everywhere else being submerged in pitch dark so you feel like you're pedalling into oblivion with only a tiny light of the exit ahead and no idea of the dimensions or surface your travelling on. I survived and I arrived in Cheddar as the sun was setting with the gorge lit gently in the fading light. 51 miles cycled.
Day 22 - 12/10/2008 - I set off at first light on a very misty morn for Wells. As many people have gone to great pains to tell me, every detail of my trip has been conducted in the opposite manner to all "real cyclists" including kit (a mountain bike with wide tyres, ughhh a trailer and [gasp] no padded pants!) and direction (north to south, {disbelieving shake of the head} into the wind). Therefore it made absolute sense to me to start the journey south-west by heading East to do a fly-past of the majestic Wells cathedral which was unsurprisingly glorious in the ethereal morning mist with an early morning choral practice adding to the atmosphere. I then followed the "Tor trail", a route through the levels to Glastonbury that circles the Tor. However by this point the mist had descended to a thick fog and the Tor itself eluded me, as did the cycle-path signs. A few false starts later, I reached Glastonbury and had my documents stamped at the Abbey (also beautiful in the morning mist) before heading through Street and on towards Bridgewater. I soon picked up the canal tow-path, a lovely traffic-free and level route through all the way to Taunton where I passed the Ian Botham stadium and carried on to the town centre where I enjoyed a late lunch at the Flying Aubergine and met a couple of encouraging couples who both donated £5 to the fundraising kitty. I enjoyed the remainder of the Somerset levels heading on through Wellington to Rockwell Green where I rested up ready for the start of the hills... 57 miles cycled.
Day 23 - 13/10/2008 - Another early start initially along a very busy "A" road until I picked up the canal tow-path running to Tiverton. I made a few American tourists days by playing the "eccentric English lady" whilst stopping to get a stamp at the Tourist Office. After several humiliating photos (I've tried hard to avoid all photographic evidence of myself in lycra), I retreated onwards to the refrains of "gee ain't that quaint Barbara..." in the direction of Chawleigh along minor roads whose punchy undulations were to be the precursors of the challenges of Devon and Cornwall ahead. My lack of OS maps and cycle routes for the area and a general dearth of sign-posts soon proved too much for my countrywide routeplanner but luckily a cyclist I'd met yesterday in Taunton stopped his "Eco-Exmoor" car fuelled on chip-fat to point the way and even gave me his Devon A-Z which soon had me on the right track. I carried on ascending until the hills gave way to reveal views toward Dartmoor and Exmoor until the weather closed in. I had been blessed with sun and gentle breezes until now so some moody skies and headwinds were probably overdue. I carried on to Okehampton for the evening stopping at the Tourist Information where I met an Ex-Blue Cross resident who was contentedly asleep under the desk and was tipped off about the Granite Way, another rehabilitated rail route nearby that I earmarked for the next day.
Day 24 - 14/10/2008 - I climbed the hill out of Okehampton and picked up the Granite Way with provided beautiful views back over Okehampton, the castle, the nearby Meldon Quarry extracting the obvious, over the Meldon viaduct and onwards skirting Dartmoor. As the route became more remote, a hissing sound began. Walter and the chariot have never been short of rattles and squeaks which along with my groans mean with travel making quite a cacophony of sounds. However this was more alarming, a puncture which had to be repaired in the now pouring rain and strong winds on a v exposed section of the route through the moorland. As I was packing my repair kit away, a kindly dog-walker came along with his two collies Molly (who'd been found in a bin-bag on the A30) and Lucy. He was very motivational giving a generous £10 donation and giving directions to a scenic route along back-roads to Launceston. This proved the ticket and the rain soon dissipated and I was back on track, climbing and descending, climbing and descending. I passed the country boundary into Cornwall, my final county and carried on climbing and descending until I reached the night's destination of Boscastle, the pretty harbourside town which was the site of the terrible floods of 2004 but all is now well and the town has been painstakingly and beautifully rebuilt (and is home to one of the best-run and equipped YHA's I've stayed in). 40 hilly, windy and soggy miles cycled.
Day 25 - 15/10/2008 - The morning clamber out of Boscastle really warmed up muscles and knees that were feeling the effects of tackling Dartmoor yesterday and no respite was ahead as Bodmin was the next unspoilt bit of Cornwall on the route. I followed the coastal road initially to Tintagel and then cut inland to Camelford more tough uphill pedalling followed with a generous helping of wind and rain to ensure I was under no illusions that this was a challenge. It was all worth it though as the quiet lanes of national cycle route 3 led me along the edge of Bodmin moor with dramatic vistas of the scenery and the lunar remains of china clay workings. I soon reached an off-road section forming part of the Camel trail and dodged through the plethora of well-wishing dog-walkers to reach the town of Bodmin. More pedalling led me to the "clay trails" and on to the Eden Project where I stopped for a couple of hours. Thanks to the reception ladies who looked after Walter at the door and to Dave Saunders for his informative tour of the Rainforest biome and the chocolate that helped me pedal on through Par and up the big hill through Tywardreath (or tired with breath as the locals appropriately have nick-named it) to the retreat-like Georgian manor house and YHA at Golant. Yes going east again in the wrong direction from my final destination! 46 miles cycled.
Day 26 - 16/10/2008 - Perfect sunny, summer-like (well not this particular summer) day which was spent tackling more hills as I wheeled past the "Wheals" abouts St. Austell and Truro and then headed south and east (again plenty of people were happy to tell me that I was definitely not heading towards either Land's End or John O'Groats!) to ascend on to the Goonhilly downs home to the Goonhilly Earth Station and a fantastic array of satellite dishes springing up from the horizon on the level moorland. I traversed the Lizard peninsular without a serpentinite stop as I'd spotted signs for the home of Roskilly's ice-cream... I reached Coverack on the eastern side of the peninsular in plenty of time to enjoy the late afternoon sun turning the waters an almost caribbean blue before heading to the YHA, another converted manor house which had been nearly entirely fitted out from items reclaimed from local ship-wrecks including the staircase which was retrieved from a liner in the 1890's. 51 miles cycled.
Day 27 - 17/10/2008 - Another sunny day!! I have officially developed the strangest tan lines on record: brown face (not neck), shins, calfs and the lower two articulations of my fingers only ... people seem reluctant to shake my hand or accept money handed over in shops as my hands look like they've been dipped in something and then not washed. Back over the Lizard Peninsular and more wheeling past "Wheals" in the Helston direction. Today is officially a lazy day as I can't arrive at Land's End until tomorrow otherwise I'd beat the reception committee so a very idle cycle over the last few hills. I stopped off at RNAS Culrose (HMS Seahawk) the largest helicopter base in Europe and was spoilt rotten by the ladies running the shop at the public viewing area - I was plied with tea and the best fruit cake I've eaten in years. It was then on towards Penzance circumnavigating St Mount's Bay with a stop for a pub lunch at Marazion with a view toward the mount whilst the tide went out sufficiently for me to cycle over. The causeway was a little bumpy for the chariot and I was grateful for Walter's suspension (mock yea not real cyclists, it may be heavy but I challenge you to attempt this on a road bike). A few kindly souls stopped and pressed loose change on my for the fund totalling another £4 to the fund. After I had the requisite stamp on my documentation I realised there was absolutely nowhere to leave Walter and the chariot whilst I looked around so decided to leave the full tour of the mount to another visit and carried on west skirting the bay to Penzance on the esplanade cycle-path leaving the mount sillhouetted against the glittering sea in the glorious sunshine. I reached yet another mansion converted into a YHA and checked in early leaving Walter in his very own personal dungeon in the bowels of the building whilst I went off for an explore of Penzance taking in a Roskilly's ice-cream parlour on the way... to be recommended. Thanks to the lady at the YHA currently bird-watching on the Isles of Scilly for her kind donation! Never thought I'd say this but ONLY 31 miles cycled - Tut how lazy!!
Day 28 - 18/10/2008 - The final day of my odyssey started with a lie-in and then a huge breakfast before setting out on the final leg (or is that my last legs... oh the knees are feeling it). I carried on along the esplanade cycle-path and then quiet lanes through the harbourside of Newlyn and then Mousehole enjoying the views across St Mount's Bay on another lovely sunny morning. I then wound my way south and then west around the peninsular following national cycle route three or "The first and last trail" taking in picturesque villages with the occassional deviation to visit e.g. the quaint cove at Lamorna. The route passes the "Merry Maidens", a circle of diminuitive standing stones, a dolmen and a few larger menhirs. The last couple of miles were off-road along a sandy trail that winds its way around the headland to the final destination, Land's End. I reached there for mid-day and posed for the obligatory photos at the sign-post and finish line before having a celebratory pasty with friends who have come to meet me. Shocked and amazed that I managed it... only one thing left to do - burn the chariot! 17 miles cycled, 250 slept through on the car journey home.
* If you've enjoyed reading this, how about donating a little something to the fund? No amount is too small and all contributions v gratefully received! *
All the best,
Tina.
