Here we are - happy to have arrived at John O'Groats! YAHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
Monday, 25 June 2007
WE MADE IT!
We’re here, we did it! We made it all the way up John O’Groats from Lands End by bicycle in 15 days. So I am so exhausted!
Today was the hardest day despite the distance only being 58 miles. We battled into a strong head wind the entire way which was very toug and energy sapping. I’d got good winter gear on to keep the cold out. For charity two men completed the ride stark naked, very brave in this weather!
I am so relieved that this tour is over even though I have had a wonderful time, I’m looking forward to having a bath. I am looking forward to an enormous bowl of my home made muesli. I am looking forward to eating fresh vegetables with my dinner and I am looking forward to washing my clothes in a washing machine and not the sink.
I’d like to add that I have cycled up every single hill on this route which only 25% of LEJOGGERS achieve according to the CTC, so I am very proud of myself.
Christine and the finance team: I need to book some more holiday to recover from this one! See you all next week.
Today was the hardest day despite the distance only being 58 miles. We battled into a strong head wind the entire way which was very toug and energy sapping. I’d got good winter gear on to keep the cold out. For charity two men completed the ride stark naked, very brave in this weather!
I am so relieved that this tour is over even though I have had a wonderful time, I’m looking forward to having a bath. I am looking forward to an enormous bowl of my home made muesli. I am looking forward to eating fresh vegetables with my dinner and I am looking forward to washing my clothes in a washing machine and not the sink.
I’d like to add that I have cycled up every single hill on this route which only 25% of LEJOGGERS achieve according to the CTC, so I am very proud of myself.
Christine and the finance team: I need to book some more holiday to recover from this one! See you all next week.
Saturday, 23 June 2007
Peddling and paddling
The rain everyone has been talking about finally caught up with us today, thankfully it didn’t last all day but it wasn’t particularly warm – no surprise now that we’re in Northern Scotland!
We’ve peddled and paddled our way to Bettyhill on the north coast of the UK mainland today. It’s wonderful to see the sea again! We’ve cycled through some real wilderness today and hardly seen any traffic which is absolute bliss. Our A road was single track with passing places.
With over 1000 miles on our legs we’ve just 60 miles to go to achieve our dream of reaching John O’Groats (and apparently Mary’s alcoholic relatives!)
We’re going via Dunnet Head the most northerly point. I’ve brought all my winter cycling gear so I am prepared!!
Poggle: Congratulations on the birth of your second son and Oli’s brother. I’ll look forward to seeing the photos soon.
We’ve peddled and paddled our way to Bettyhill on the north coast of the UK mainland today. It’s wonderful to see the sea again! We’ve cycled through some real wilderness today and hardly seen any traffic which is absolute bliss. Our A road was single track with passing places.
With over 1000 miles on our legs we’ve just 60 miles to go to achieve our dream of reaching John O’Groats (and apparently Mary’s alcoholic relatives!)
We’re going via Dunnet Head the most northerly point. I’ve brought all my winter cycling gear so I am prepared!!
Poggle: Congratulations on the birth of your second son and Oli’s brother. I’ll look forward to seeing the photos soon.
Friday, 22 June 2007
Ouchy!
Corr Blimey! How can I be enjoying this so much when most of my muscles ache, the pain of sitting on the saddle has become unbearable!
We left Fort William and snowy Ben Nevis this morning pedalled up and down along side lovely Loch Ness for much of the day and now in Evanton. Just up from Inverness and Dingwall.
We had some more evil climbs today particularly at the end of the day of our 81 mile ride. If we had the energy I’m sure we’d throttle our leader for designing such a route!
It’s been a beautiful day with no rain so we’ve been very lucky and able to see Scotland at it’s brilliant best.
Barcelona Troup: In the words of Richard whilst on our Explorer holiday in Spain back in September 2005 “MY ASS!!!!!!!!!!!” Hope to see you all for the reunion in York later this year which I’ll organise when I get back.
We left Fort William and snowy Ben Nevis this morning pedalled up and down along side lovely Loch Ness for much of the day and now in Evanton. Just up from Inverness and Dingwall.
We had some more evil climbs today particularly at the end of the day of our 81 mile ride. If we had the energy I’m sure we’d throttle our leader for designing such a route!
It’s been a beautiful day with no rain so we’ve been very lucky and able to see Scotland at it’s brilliant best.
Barcelona Troup: In the words of Richard whilst on our Explorer holiday in Spain back in September 2005 “MY ASS!!!!!!!!!!!” Hope to see you all for the reunion in York later this year which I’ll organise when I get back.
Thursday, 21 June 2007
Fort William
I don't know why but I can't quite believe that we've made it all the way up to Fort William - I feel so far up the country now! We've had a superb day of cycling (78 miles with an 8 mile climb first thing this morning), setting off in hot sunshine and then getting caught in a very impressive deluge with thunder, lightening and everything and then steady rain for the last couple of hours, and now beautiful sunshine again this evening. Nothing could deter from the spectacular scenery of the lochs and mountains. And the tea and cake back at camp made the world a very happy place to be again.
Our B&B is fit for royalty this evening - it's absolutely stunning. We've superb views over Lock Linnhe as well. I love Scotland!
Rich, Ben, Nicola and John: being in Fort William brings back happy memories of of our national 3 peaks challenge whilst at uni - driving from Exeter overnight, then Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.
Greenflag Girls (Mary, Laetitia, Rachel and Vero): looking forward to seeing you for a celebratory pizza v soon. I hope you're holiday in Greece was good, Mary. I'll soon be meeting your relatives near John O'Groats!
Sister Janny: thank you for typing all my blogs and reading all the messages this past week and a bit - you are always a star!
Everybody: thank you for all your blog posts, text messages and emails sending encouragement and support - you are wonderful!
Our B&B is fit for royalty this evening - it's absolutely stunning. We've superb views over Lock Linnhe as well. I love Scotland!
Rich, Ben, Nicola and John: being in Fort William brings back happy memories of of our national 3 peaks challenge whilst at uni - driving from Exeter overnight, then Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.
Greenflag Girls (Mary, Laetitia, Rachel and Vero): looking forward to seeing you for a celebratory pizza v soon. I hope you're holiday in Greece was good, Mary. I'll soon be meeting your relatives near John O'Groats!
Sister Janny: thank you for typing all my blogs and reading all the messages this past week and a bit - you are always a star!
Everybody: thank you for all your blog posts, text messages and emails sending encouragement and support - you are wonderful!
Wednesday, 20 June 2007
Rest and be thankful
Today we are resting and thankful to be in the incredible pretty town Inverary. We rested and were thankful for a cream tea at Tarbet at 4pm this afternoon and we also had 4 mile climb up to a path genuinely called ‘rest and be thankful’. Either we are now super fit cyclists or the gradient was very kind and I know it was the latter. It has been a tough day working our way through Glasgow, Cyldebank and Dunbarton although the beauty of Loch Lomond helped make up for it. And the wonderful welcome at our B&B made it all totally worth while.
Just 4 days to go! On to Fort William tomorrow.
Bob great news about the ankle see you next week at the BBQ.
Just 4 days to go! On to Fort William tomorrow.
Bob great news about the ankle see you next week at the BBQ.
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
85 miles of beauty
We cycled 85 miles through the awesome rolling hills of the Scottish borders and Lanarkshire today. I thought I’d cycled the cold out of my system yesterday but it was back today so cycling with achy bones added to the challenge. Thank goodness it was such a fantastic day!
Both Dad and I had a superb macaroni cheese for lunch which definitely gave us extra much needed pedal power in the afternoon. Dad got a puncture one mile from the finish so I cycled on to fetch some cake so we we’re able to walk back to the camp together happily munching away and mended the tyre back at camp. Good timing really!
Another long day on the bike tomorrow to look forward to.
Brenda: Congratulations on your flying and for conquering the blog technology.
Both Dad and I had a superb macaroni cheese for lunch which definitely gave us extra much needed pedal power in the afternoon. Dad got a puncture one mile from the finish so I cycled on to fetch some cake so we we’re able to walk back to the camp together happily munching away and mended the tyre back at camp. Good timing really!
Another long day on the bike tomorrow to look forward to.
Brenda: Congratulations on your flying and for conquering the blog technology.
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