And so to Lands End

Friday 21st September. As the event co-ordinator, I reserved the right to post the penultimate post on this blog right at the very start; the final one will simply state how much funding we have raised in total since we will soon have an auction night to raise even more cash. I will also take the opportunity to say a few words of thanks.

Firstly though, the shattered cyclists arrived at Land’s End to rapturous applause at 3pm today. The day started with breakfast at the Perranporth hostel with a breathtaking view over cliffs and waves breaking onto the beach. A serious lack of enthusiasm was in the air despite this being the last leg of the trip, probably due to one or two extra refreshments down in the town the previous evening. The Cornish weather was not going to allow the team to conquer her county with ease and battling the harsh wind and rain became the focus of the cyclists as they made the final push. Even more hills and crazy Cornish drivers tested the limits of the seasoned riders until the roads quietened once we closed Land’s End.

The scenery also improved as we progressed and soon we were within 12 miles of our goal. A final pair of hours’ effort with the final cups of tea and we crossed the finish line with a huge sigh of relief. A total of 948 miles in 13 days and the deed was done.

Mixed feelings followed the associated elation however, none more so than the knowledge that the requirement to climb back on the bikes tomorrow has now disappeared. Even though Del decided to throw himself off his bike to avoid completing this arduous journey, his cycle decided to complete its quest riderless and appeared at the official Land’s End post on its lonesome. After the necessary photos it was on to the ‘last pub in England’ for some chow before checking into the last hostel of the tour at Penzance. Tonight, undoubtedly the team will be somewhat inebriated as a result of the necessary celebratory drinks after this mammoth event.

There have obviously been highs and lows throughout however, they are already appearing quite distant now that it is over. Worthy of note was the occasion Tim emptied the contents of his nose onto me as he cleared out at 15mph just in front of me. I will never see Borat in the same light having seen Mark’s impressionable figure on too many occasions for men living in close proximity. I also think it will take some time before the etching on my eyelids of Del’s rear end disappears. The wannabe comedian from Middlesbrough (aka Marty) has a long way to go before he would feel comfortable on the stage of the seediest back street comedy club. The meals Andy has knocked up, often with limited equipment, have been exemplary. He will make someone a good wife! Paul’s ability to continually improve his mastery of tea wetting was particularly good – I’m sure I heard him mention everyone back at MCTA should taste one of his brews when he returns.

Before I put closure on this chapter, I feel duty bound to extend my heartfelt thanks to a few people, without whose help, this would not have been possible. Firstly, to the management back at MCTA for allowing this charity event to take place. Thanks also to the various organisations that provided the necessary equipment and transport. I would like to personally thank the two support drivers, Andy ‘Delia’ Nelson and Paul ‘Tetley’ Richardson for their continued dedication and support of the cyclists. Without this pair, this venture would most definitely have been impossible. I would like to echo my gratitude to the cyclists, Tim, Mark, Del and Marty for agreeing to this crazy idea in the first place and offer further thanks since everyone was instrumental to the planning of the event from the first meeting. I must not forget the partners back at home since in many cases, it may be the riders who had the easy part to play. Finally, I would like to reiterate my reasons for deciding to propose this charity event. We are always being asked to dig deep these days, whether it is for starving kids in Asia or charity on our own doorstep. Notwithstanding this fact, I have always watched ‘other’ people do these sorts of things and frankly the time had come to get off the proverbial backside and do something about it personally. Most of the people reading this blog will have contributed in some way to our chosen charity, FORT however, my final request is that you forward this blog to as many people possible in the hope that we continue to raise as much cash as possible over the next few weeks.

Thanks for your generous support

Ade Richardson

Miles done today: 37
Total Miles done: 948
Calories on the Tankieometer today: 3200