THE END OF A FANTASTIC JOURNEY

DAY 9 - JOHN O'GROATS

ROYAL HOTEL, TAIN

 

The group crested the rise before the long drop into John O'Groats, tired and emotional after an 86 mile ride through wind and, in the morning, incessant rain.  In the distance they could see a Manx flag flying above the end point, and on the wind they could hear the faint strains of a distant piper playing Ellan Vannin to welcome them to their longed for objective - the end of a 9 day epic ride across a rugged and barren land called Great Britain.  As the group reached the village everyone had turned out to see these Manx heroes arrive on their doorstep - kindred Celtic spirits with a determination and passion to reach out and achieve their dreams....    

END IN SIGHT

If only - The truth is that John O'Groats really isn't up to much - other than being the furthest point away from Lands End. The Tourist Information Office was closed as was the End to End official office - so no big welcome then, just a hearty cheer and handshake between friends and fellow riders. A group that had achieved a hell of a lot from a standing start, that had laughed out loud at so many things and helped each other along the way.
A bloody fantastic journey and an adventure that may well have raised up to £25,000 pounds between The Children's Centre and NSPCC. 

ARE WE THERE YET?

DAY 8 DORNOCH

Just how tough is Jim?
The Sudocrem Seven decided today that Jim is truly the hardest man amongst us. He has now almost completed Lands End to John O'Groats in one pair of shorts. Not bad considering that today we saw hail, more wind, rain and squalls over several bridges and then fantastic early summer sunshine for the final ride into Tain (100 miles of riding).

BEN NEVIS (IN CLOUD)

The early start and breakfast in Fort William set everyone up for some good early miles in seriously wet conditions. After a coffee in Fort Augustus at 31 miles the team pressed on down Loch Ness with lifted spirits and 'tapping' out a good rate at 18mph.
The bridge at Inverness was "interesting" with significant side winds doing their best to throw us off the bikes.  However the team cracked on and learnt through this experience that Andy "hates snakes.....".

After Inverness there was a moment when the final 26 miles could have become drudgery but with an application to the task initiated by Steve the group latched on to a 25mph section for 15 minutes which really helped get things done!! 

COMMANDO MEMORIAL

All royally buggered the whole team rolled in together at 6.30pm to the Royal Tain Hotel - a splendid building and a great set up for the final day!!!  All will sleep well tonight after David had a bottle of Jura to welcome us to the hotel - what a hero! 

A DAY OF TWO HALVES

DAY 7  FORT WILLIAM

9.00 a.m. - cracking start in weak sunshine at Loch Lomond Youth Hostel - the team set a good steady pace at around 14mph and soon hauled in the first turn of the day at Tarbet (15miles) before slogging up Glen Falloch and over for a 'brief' lunch stop at the Crianlarich Hotel - which actually wasn't brief and wasn't the right decision as it totally wasted 90 minutes!

And then it rained and the wind blew and the team hit the stretch over the Bridge of Orchy and Rannoch Moor - wild, wet and cold. Heads down now for the final 20 miles in to Glen Coe but totally soaked and everyone very cold and progressively hacked off!

By 3.30 p.m. the group reached the Youth Hostel in Glen Coe and took an hour to thaw out.  A change into dry kit and then a regroup for a final 18 miles to Fort William.
That's extra miles done today, to make tomorrow shorter and hopefully allow us to squeeze in the Champions League Final at 8pm.

People are starting to talk about the 'end' and actually ticking off this 970 mile challenge - but then there's two days to go and if the last two days have taught us anything - its that anything can happen - even 'Steel Legs' Shimmin suffered two punctures in the space of ten minutes today!!  Add to that a broken spoke for Chris and our lucky streak in terms of keeping the bikes in good order has been well and truly shattered!!  Let's wish for an event free day tomorrow and, of course, United the winner at Wembley......

OH WHAT A DAY!

DAY 6 MOFFAT - LOCH LOMOND (26th MAY 2011)

Anyone who thought that today's 86 mile route would be a 'short' day was soon proven wrong!
The initial climb out of Moffat was wet and windy and pretty much kept going for 29 miles - which really ground everyone down with no respite. The group had splintered as Paul and Chris went off to see a Coutts client which left the other five to work together and 'get through it'.

A lunch stop in Strathaven lifted spirits and then progress picked up in to East Kilbride and further to Paisley and Erskine.

FOOD OF ATHLETES

Finally all back together, the mood was set to get the last 15 miles done quickly - but two punctures and dodgy navigation meant the day went on and on until 9pm!!















Loch Lomond Youth Hostel is spectacular - bike maintenance is needed and a plan for the 'morrow.

VIEW FROM HOSTEL

An interesting reflection on yesterday's great and speedy afternoon is the single cyclist we picked up along the way - who rode with us for some miles and then disappeared into a side lane to throw up as the pace was too challenging!!
A82 all the way to Glencoe tomorrow and there is talk of personal best high speeds dropping into Glencoe......  For most of us that means about 25mph!!!  For Steve more like 65.....

HOSTEL

Hard to believe we've got this far in such a short space of time, and that in 3 days it will all be over - and that such a group of eclectic people can bond so well.  Speaking of bonding, we are 4 to a room in a super YHA which looks and feels like a wonderful old stately home on the banks of Loch Lomond.  Just wished we'd packed the smoking jackets...

BEST DAY SO FAR

DAY 5 - LANCASTER TO MOFFAT (25th MAY 2011)

In Moffat by 7pm - without a doubt the best day yet. Andy and Steve sneaked an early start at 8.30 a.m. all prepared for the 110 miles that included the infamous Shap pass at 1400ft. The remaining group left at 9.30 and pushed hard to catch the others in Kendal.

Quickly reaching Penrith the whole team then stopped for coffee before absolutely belting out the remaining 60 miles on great tarmac along the A6 and A7 through Carlisle, Gretna and then Ecclefechan. 

Sandwich Stop

The Lakes from Penrith

Andy Parker has been fantastic with just a little help from his auxiliary engine - Steve Shimmin - who surely needs tests if not only to determine whether of not he is human or bionic!
A great day.
Tomorrow is 86 miles to Balloch on Loch Lomond with a forecast of head winds and driving rain - great!! 

Here's a photo especially for Viv!

THOSE POOR CHESHIRE LADIES

DAY 4 - SHREWSBURY TO LANCASTER (24th MAY 2011)

Today was a mixed day for The Sudocrem Seven. An early start at 7.30 a.m. to allow for breakfast on the road to set the team up for good riding in to Tarporley for midmorning coffee. Things didnt blend in well at the coffee stop as Jim sported white sudocrem stains all across his lycra shorts which left the Cheshire ladies aghast with their own thoughts!

Moving on, the towns built up and the traffic increased slowing progress to a snail's pace through Warrington, Widnes and Preston.

All eventually arrived in Lancaster (an impressive town) by 8.30pm and then quickly adjourned to Wetherspoon's for dinner at the end of a long and challenging day.

Medical update:
Mark's knees and achilles hurt
Andy's body hurts below the waist
Steve's back is sore
Everyone else is hanging in there but organising their future work calendars for no meetings that involve sitting down!

STILL SMILING

DAY 3 BRISTOL - SHREWSBURY (23rd MAY 2011)

Day 3 ended at 114 miles in Shrewsbury and our fourth Travelodge of the journey.
A deceptively tough day, things went well up to around 90 miles and then the inevitable 'end of day' hills started to cut in.
The weather was once again fantastic with following winds and sunshine nearly all day aside from the lunch stop which fortunately coincided with an hour off in Worcester.
Everyone in good spirits - no major health issues, a few sore joints but nothing worse.