End of an Adventure

It's all over then.

For the first time in 11 days I woke up not having to worry about carb
loading or energy bars, felt very strange, but very good indeed.

It's been an amazing adventure with everything thrown at us and lots
of amazing experiences. Something I'll remember for the rest of my life.

Thanks to everyone for the mesages of support and to those who have
been able to donate. You kept us right on to the end of the road.

Is it too soon to start thinking about the next adventure...

Cheers and hopefully see you all soon.

Land's End!!!

Made it!!

Rolled in at 4.15pm after 1,010 miles in 10 days.

Chuffed to bits.
Off for a swim now.

More later...

The Final County

Rolled down some big hills in the final descent into Boscastle today
after the best day of biking yet. Some long periods of high speed
biking this morning, and a few more hillier sections this afternoon.

108 miles through Somerset, Devon and finally Cornwall saw us rack up
925 miles in total and some more burnt/sore body parts!

Staying in the refurbed YHA which took the full brunt of the floods a
few years back. The village and the Yha appear to be back to their
former glory now.

Sat on the cliffs overlooking the sea as the sun sets and toasting Tim
and Gaz who both won on the Grand National today.

Off now to tuck into dinner and a pint at the local pub.

Hoping for a finish at Land's Ebd tomorrow before 5pm.

One day to go...

Super Saturday

Lunch after a whopping 67 miles!!

Great morning so far.

Only 40 miles left until Boscastle...

Street's Ahead

Day 8 - Made it to Street, Somerset in no time.

Staying in what looks like an amazing YHA Chalet on a hill overlooking
Street and Glastonbury Tor.

Easier day today, only 77 miles, but still hilly in places and getting
tougher on the legs each day now.

Only 2 days left now and I know that the next bit will get much hillier.

Enjoy your weekends...

Wells Good!!

Not far now...

Clifton Suspension Bridge

More progress...

Severn Bridge

Good progress so far today...

Nosh-on-Wye

Met my parents for dinner in Ross-on-Wye. They're on their hols down
here and have come to show some support (cheers for the support from
New Zealand too Andrea!)

We headed to a great pub, had a good feed and far too many Abbot Ales,
great to see them and share some stories.

3 days to go and the weather for the next few days just looks
incredible.
We're so lucky...

80+ miles tomorrow, come on!!!

Ross-on-Wye - Because we're worth it!

741 miles down.
Longest distance ever today - managed 119 miles on a simply stunning
day.

We left Chester at 7am and cycled from dawn into North Wales. No hills
and no wind all morning. A perfect start.

We stopped for lunch after 62 miles in Bishops Castle and then blasted
the second half with the warm April sun in our faces all the way the
Ross-on-Wye. The last 7 miles were tough, practically the only hills
if the day and a 1-in-6 giant of a hill to do after 112 miles. Still,
we got up it and rolled into Ross for 6pm.

One of the best days riding ever.

Best start yet!

Up early today.

Left just before 7am and rode into Wales on a simply stunning morning.

Got 25 miles done before 9am and we are now sat in a lovely café in
Ellesmere about to tuck into a cracking breakfast.

The weather looks set to get better and better too.

Those sandy beaches in Cornwall don't feel too far away today...

Bring me sunshine...

Weather's looking good for tomorrow and hopefully the wind will be on
our side (thanks Nata for sending the good weather over from Miami!!)

We're heading for Ross-on-Wye, approx 105 miles, where my folks are on
holiday and might shout us a beer or two if we get there early enough??

7.30am start planned...

The rest of the route for those interested is

Ross-on-Wye
Street
Boscastle
Land's End

Then a few days rest and surfing at the end.

4 days to go, just got to keep the motivation going...

Made it to Hollyoak's

Slightly easier day today, although still pretty difficult considering
we've now got 600 miles in our legs.

Weather was a joy today, got a bit of a tan and finally some use out
of my sunglasses, which was nice. But still the hills and wind.

Rolled into Chester just after 5pm and 88 miles more cleared today.
Had the obligatory photo under the Hollyoak's clock and headed to our
Backpackers.

In a pub now full of food and beer and watching United head out if the
Champion's League - happy days...

Lunch stop Day 6

Back in the land of the living and network connections now so I can
update the blog.

Yesterday was a pain.

Firstly, we had to stop in Carlisle to find a sports shop so I could
buy a knee support. Got a niggle, nothing too bad though.

Then the 2 and a half hour delay due to the rear mech snapping. The
nearby Sculpturer (Donald Foxley) was a star though, as was Gaz
driving to us with the parts.

I fitted the rear mech, well enough to get the 10 miles to Penrith.
There, we found a bike shop and left it with them for fine tuning
while we got a late lunch. It rides like new after.

The rest of the day was pretty difficult too. The wind was gusting
away in our faces again, the rain lashed down, the hills kept coming
and Slaidburn YHA was nowhere to be seen.

We rode on over the moors into the darkness and heavy rain, and
eventually got there around 8.50pm.
I both loved and hated Slaidburn in equal amounts at the same time!

Showered, warmed up, then drove to Clitheroe to pick up a curry and
ate back at the hostel. I had no problem sleeping that night.

Today has been a million times better in comparison. Sunny start,
hilly but no wind. Made our lunch stop in Atherton in no time and
treated myself to a stunning Strawberry milkshake.

Shorter day today, almost feels like a rest day in comparison. Just
under 35 miles left to go until Chester.

And thanks for the blog messages, I'm loving them - keep them coming.

Made it back to England

Long day.
Late finish.
Too tired to blog.
More tomorrow.

Waiting for repair

Well, we're on the A6 25 miles in to the day and my bike broke. 66
miles left to go and it's grey, wet and still windy.

However, a very nice man who runs the local Sculpture Gallery in this
tiny hamlet has kindly provided some restbite from the elements and a
couple of hot brews.

The photo is from his Conservatory (where we are currently sat)
looking out to some of his own Sculptures in his garden. Some pretty
impressive stuff (look good to you Amy?)

Gaz should be here in 15 mins with the parts.
Quick repair then back on our way.

It's gonna be another long day...

Bike Broke

:(
Another long day ahead...
Gaz is off bike bit shopping for me, hopefully we can get it fixed in
the next hour or so.

Location Location Location

Toughest day of my life

What a day!

This is going to be short as I am so tired.

We had a headwind all day.
We had to earn every single one of our 109 miles.

There was a section round the 70-75mile mark that must have been 40-50mph in our faces. So slow going.

12 hours after leaving Stirling we rocked up in Annan just after dusk.

All the Annan jokes have been done I think - Coffee, Curry and, etc.

In a Chinese now Carb loading ready for another tough day tomorrow.

I'll sleep well tonight.

Slaidburn tomorrow...

Rain

Relentless rain.

And wind.

Did I mention the wind.

Tough day...

Song(s) of the Day

There were various Oasis songs blasted out on route this afternoon.

The highlight had to be a storming rendition of She's Electric with
help from Tim on the 'blister' section.

Stirling Work

Day Three - Fort William to Stirling - 100 miles

The best day yet.
Made it to the Hostel in Stirling for 3.30pm just over 7 hours after
we left the snowy mountains of Fort William.

Sore legs and tight muscles didn't stop us racking up a some great,
long, continuous stretches of relatively high speeds, although there
was plenty of challenging hills too.

We rode the last hour into Stirling with sunshine and showers. Met
Gaz, checked into the Willy Wallace Hostel and are currently exploring
the Old Castle area of town in glorious evening sunshine.

Off Gretna way tomorrow in our last stretch through Scotland. The
weather looks pretty bad for tomorrow so best make the most of this
sunshine...

Song of the day

I forgot to put this up.

Yesterday, Eye of the Tiger going through my head all day (thanks
Siobhan!)

Today, the theme tune to 80's kids TV cartoon 'Family Ness'

Nice.

Day Two - Wet Wet Wet

Great day today, but very different from yesterday.

We were expecting snow all day as that's what BBC Weather had
forecast, but when have they ever been reliable.
No snow, but drizzle and freezing cold.

After porridge and a full Scottish breakfast we set off waterproofed
up and with the wind behind us for a change.

7 miles in, after a huge hill, and in pouring rain, Tim had a blowout
that practically ruined his back tyre. Tim fixed it up and we headed
to Dingwall to meet Gaz and grab a new tyre.

Had an off road adventure after lunch. I led us up a steep hill which
I had thought the CTC had recommended. The road got slowly thinner and
less roadlike, then it just ended at a Pottery where a tatty old man
with the voice of Boris Johnson advised us to take the Great Glen Way
which he said would be fine for road bikes.
He was wrong.
Muddy, stoney, steep.
We eventually ended up back on the main road next to Loch Ness (no
sightings) and picked up the pace to Fort Augustus (see pic).
A fantastic little place that the Caledonian Canal runs through. It
has a swing bridge and loads of Loch locks. Met Gaz there again, then
headed the final 32 miles at a pretty high speed drafing all the way
to Fort William, arriving just before 6pm.

103 miles today and 215 miles in total.
A fifth done and a BBC forecast of sunshine all day tomorrow...we
shall see!

Cycling through County Sutherland

> Day one

> Today has been the longest day of my life!
>
> What an epic day!
>
> 25mph wind directly in our faces all day, however, it was one of the
> best days cycling I've ever done. Stunning wall to wall sunshine all
> day. We've been so lucky. I've even got a sun tan, albeit with a
> white line across my forehead where the helmet was.
>
> 112 miles today, the longest planned ride of the 10 days. The
> weather looks set to change tomorrow, but hopefully not too bad.
> Out to the local 'Bistro' now for some grub. Full Scottish Breakfast
> at the B&B tomorrow...
>
>

Lunch in Dromnadochit

Very different day today so far.

Wet but no wind, so going faster but soaked through. Tim also had a
puncture after 9 miles.

Just made 50 miles (halfway) and tucking into soup, beans on toast and
a brew in a top cafe by Loch Ness.

No sign of Nessie yet.

Fort William next, just another 50 miles to go...

Lunch at Bettyhill cafe

A hard mornings ride.

Very windy, pretty hilly but basking on glorious sunshine.

Stunning soup and sandwich at the cafe after 50 miles. Just another 60
to go...

Dunnet already!

And they're off!!

Blue sky day!!
Come on!

Team photo

Gaz made it ok after driving for 575 miles. He drove a few more round
Thurso looking for a parking spot for good measure.

Had a large pasta meal in the hostel, chatted to a yanky trainee
surfer-vet called Jimmy and then headed to the beach to see if we
could spot any waves/surfers. Thurso is one of the best places to surf
in Europe on a good day.
Saw the Orkney's out across the sea too.

Great weather this evening, let's hope it sticks around for a few more
days...

Made it to Thurso!

At the hostel with a nice cuppa.
Room's good too.
Shower, sleep, food, explore...

Spot the real person...

Lunch on Scotland

Made it to Inverness and caught our original connecting train to
Thurso with literally 1 minute to spare.

Buffet car lunch.

Starting to get a nosebleed with how high up north we are.

The first of the snow

Stunning!!

On the buses

Managed to wedge the bikes in the bus luggage compartment, but we had
to split.
On separate buses now.

3 hours to Inverness.

Then the 2pm to Thurso.

This is gonna end up being over a 20hr journey just to get to the start!

Snow joke

Just been told there's no trains from Perth, but, there will be a bus,
and, the guard just phoned ahead to confirm we can put our bikes in
the hold.There's no stopping us!

What else have you got to throw at us?
Bring it on!

On the Forth Rail Bridge

No one painting it today

Train to (Oooh) Ladybank

Ok, so we go woken up at 5am to be told that we were in Edinburgh and
were going no further due to staff problems - they were stuck in the
snow in Inverness. The train sleeping bit was good though.

Found a train. Got the bikes on. Have to change at Perth. And then
again at Inverness. Grrrr!

I'm finding out exactly how big and remote Scotland is...

Start like you mean to go on...

Well it was only a half bottle.

Inverness Sleeper Train

On board the Calendonian Sleeper

Right.
We've made it it to Euston unscathed. Just 550 miles to go til we get
to Inverness.

The sleeper berth is pretty small so we've made our way to the seating
carriage to get stuck into a bottle of Jack Daniels.

The weather still looks pretty snowy up there but it should clear up
by Friday - here's hoping...

Injury Crisis!!

First crisis.

The training has taken it's toll and a knee injury has forced Gaz out of the ride.

He has however offered to drive the route as the support vehicle for the duration of the ride.

And then there were 2...