Carlisle to Lancaster 14 Sep 07

Friday 14th September. After a good night’s sleep under the protective wing of the Fire Service in Carlisle, the team headed towards Penrith with sugar in the blood from a couple of light refreshments sampled the previous evening. The firemen of Red Watch extended themselves beyond what was expected and not only called ahead to Penrith to have them prepare a cup of warm, sugared tea for the team as they passed through, but also made a generous donation to our charity. As promised yesterday a photo of Red Watch:

The slow, sweeping hills are no longer testing for the seasoned cyclists, they simply slow the average split time for the amount of miles covered per hour. With a cold and crisp feel to the air, the team pedalled on through the villages of Cumbria to Kendal where a well-earned lunch stop was taken. The team were elated to find the streets lined in anticipation of our approach; only to find Kendal was actually the next stop for the Tour of Britain cycle ride with contestants mildly more capable than the End-to-End charity cyclists.

Nonetheless, the team received many gestures of goodwill. Not as many as the bits of advice stating we were ‘going the wrong way’ – the ribs are still in a state of repair! We also got apprehended by a couple of Krusty the clown look-alikes collecting for Rag week, and another opportunity for Mark ‘Borat’ Edwins to get his kit off!

After Kendal it was time for the final push through Lancaster to the campsite 14 miles further south. A tip for the uneducated; NEVER try to cycle/drive through Lancaster during rush hour on a Friday afternoon!

Morale was lifted when we realised that we had put a complete county behind us (Cumbria) in 1 day, and that Lancashire is already 1/3rd cracked, and we arrived at the site in ample time to set up base camp, get showered, watered and fed. The only down side was watching England demonstrate how not to defend the world cup! Travelling South to Chester tomorrow.

Miles done today: 77
Total Miles done: 493 (over ½ way!)
Calories on the Tankieometer today: 5400

New Lanark to Carlisle 13 Sep 07

Thu 13 Sep 07. So with morale high after 2 stunning victories in the football the team left the New Lanark Heritage Site and headed south to make a break for the border. A cycle path through gentle undulating hills following the M74/A74 all the way down to Carlisle was a result and the sun shone as England approached!

En route we bumped into Angus Hughes who is actually running from JOG to Lands End over a 4 week period. Big respect Angus and we hope you make it in one piece.

There have been some strange sightings in the Scottish Hills of a “White Van Man” in various lay-bys and bridleways. The Police have issued a warning notice and if anybody comes across the van beware of approaching as you may wake him up!

So onto Gretna Green and despite an extended stop of at least 6 hours none of the team had an offer of marriage although as you can see some members have become quite close recently!

Morale soared at the significant milestone of reaching England and we were able to ditch all the wet weather clothing and change onto something more suitable:

So onto the final push for Carlisle and the short cut via the A74 that was actually an extension of the M6! So much so that the team were stopped and prevented from carrying on and had to be lifted to a more suitable road for the team to make their weary way down into the Fire Station for the overnight stop.

Pictures of Red Watch on the Blog tonight we promise!

And so we leave Carlisle and head south for Lancaster and the Hills.

Miles done today: 77
Total Miles done: 416
Calories on the Tankieometer today: 5100

Faslane to New Lanark 12 Sep 07

Wednesday 12 Sep 07 – Well so much for a bath and early night to recharge the batteries! A visit to the bar for nightcap resulted in many of us meeting up with ‘shipmates’ past and present and one thing led to another……drink. Unbeknown to us we had a born entertainer in our midst; Marty ‘X-factor’ Sutherland who kept the audience entertained well into the night. Move over Robbie Williams!

Can he sing? Is he a born entertainer? Or just a clown? We have video that technology willing will be posted tonight and oh yes, we have more than one! To post another song on the blogspot pledge now to our cause, or to keep him off the blog pledge a lot more!!!!

After a visit to the Nuclear repair facility within the base to fix Marty’s bike (many thanks to all who fixed it and made it happen) we were off to Glasgow and a good opportunity to mingle with the shoppers in Sauchiehall St and relieve them of some spare cash. As chance would have it a passing journalist slipped us a contact in the Glasgow Herald and before you knew it a photographer was dispatched to get the scoop of the week! Hopefully we will make the front page, however if not we will settle for page 3. A worthwhile stop and over £300 collected in little less than 2 hours before we were off again, destination New Lanark. Thank you very much to the generous people of Glasgow.

The best YHA accommodation so far awaited us in this restored 18th century industrial village, which has recently been listed as a world heritage site. With knowledge that the accommodation had the only TV in a YHA hostel north of the border the team ceased the opportunity, polished off dinner and secreted ourselves in front row seats in time for the England match. Come on you 3 Lions!

As we leave Scotland behind tomorrow, the start line at JOG seems so long ago. On our trip thus far we have had laughs, met many interesting folk and most importantly raised lots of money towards our target of £5000. To that end we would like to thank all the good people north of the border for their help, encouragement and charity. Many Thanks. England here we come!

Miles done today: 60
Total Miles done: 340
Calories on the Tankieometer today: 4300
Money raised today: £330

11 Sep 07 Glencoe to Faslane

Tuesday 11 Sep 07 – The route out of Glencoe had looked pretty daunting on the upward journey to JoG, with a 7 mile long upward hill climb across Black Mount to contend with immediately after hitting the road. After a humid and restless night (accompanied by a plethora of bodily noises and Midgies!) we rose early in apprehension of the next leg. Delia laid on another excellent breakfast, though maybe the beans could be cut back a little to avoid another night like that one!

The weather was miserable, the spectacular views marred with low cloud, mist and drizzle. By 8:15 we were “prepped” and on the road, but within the first 15 – 20 minutes we realised that our concerns had been unfounded. It was indeed a long hill, but the incline was nothing like it had appeared to be coming the other way. Once over the crest of the Black Mount the team took a breather and some refreshment. It was also decided that because of the inclement weather (it was significantly colder at the top), we would stop at more regular intervals and have a cup of tea accompanied of course by Midgies.

For several more miles the road was pretty even, with no major obstacles. On the way down the other side, about 4 miles out of Bridge of Orchy, there is a lay-by with a burger van etc. Standing next to the van, without having any apparent fear of humans was a Stag! Obviously the animal is used to being fed and has become fairly tame. Wonder if it likes beans?

We continued along the A82, and after passing through Tyndrum the team decided on another brew at Crianlarich. We were making good ground, and decided to keep the pace up. Another quick stop at the Drovers pub, soft drinks for all but the hard core (who shall remain nameless!), and it was onto Arrochar. The plan had been for the team to change into the rig for the final run into Faslane, but the weather was closing in even more than before, with persistent rain, so it was decided to plod on and change just outside Faslane.

The final approaches to the Naval Base were difficult, with a very unpleasant hill just when it wasn’t needed, but we arrived just before 4 O’clock, and after a quick session with the phot section we dispersed for a well-deserved hot bath, dhobying, and a single room with no “noise pollution”! We even got the chance for Ade (the food monster) to be mistaken for Matthew Pinsent or was that Mathew Kelly?!!

Tomorrow will be used to travel across Glasgow and test the theory that the people down here are more generous than those at Fort William. Another Youth Hostel awaits and here’s hoping they have not got an age limit!!

Loch Ness to Glencoe

Monday 10 Sep 07 – Day three and guess what? All is well, in fact getting better certainly from the weather (Scorchio, honestly) and the collection point of view. But to the team: they set of in fine weather from the lower end of Loch Ness (no monsters that we can discuss on the blog encountered) with another ‘gently undulating’ road and high spirits. First point of call, Fort Augustus the pushing down towards the Great Glen with planned stops at Spean Bridge and Fort William en-route to the next stop in Glencoe. There’s a sort of Big Brother theme emerging…..day 3 on the Big Brother Bike Ride…and we have a new inmate. Tim has picked up a fellow end-to-ender Kyle, whom we had met briefly at J-o-G, and who now has joined the ‘team’ at least for a few legs.

Bag to our story. High and fast on the road the team were intercepted by what they thought was a Japanese sniper. He turned out to be a Japanese filmmaker who was over filming the Fort William World Mountain biking championship and realising the star potential of the boys recruited them to add spice to a documentary he is making for a Japanese TV network. As a result he chased all round the 2nd leg of the day and then interviewed members of the team at the pit stop!

Whilst travelling through the highlands the team had decided to take time to visit the Commando Memorial just north of Spean Bridge. This was a very thought provoking period for us all with plaques from the loved ones of our brave comrades who have died; as recently as in the Afghan and Iraq conflicts this year. Our respects go out to our fellow service personnel and the people they knew and loved.

Whilst at the memorial several people generously contributed to our adopted charity we thank them all. Worthy of note was, by a stroke of fate, Pedro and his psychedelic cycle care truck (CND emblem) he donated to the fund and provided some maintenance items free of charge – good hit Pedro, may thanks all you people out there look out for Pedro and be sure to use his excellent service.

Lead on MacRichardson, and Ade’s next call for us was Fort William. The lads enjoyed a relatively pleasant 11 mile run down into the town. A big plus for us in Fort William was the generosity of the locals. In 20 minutes outside Morrisons and a gentle stroll up the High Street we raised over £300 pounds. A really big heart felt thank you to the highland folk who lived up to their well renowned generosity.

The end of the leg in sight, a mere 19 highland miles, it was back on the treddlies. To be fair a great ride down into the evocative, history steeped Glencoe. The breath taking scenery requires a wordsmith greater than me, here a photo.

Glencoe Youth Hostel welcomed the team who arrived relieved at the respite from Delia’s cooking and the prospect of a good pub meal at the Clachaig. Black Pudding followed by haggis, neeps and tatties for most of us, smoked salmon for those who thought some of our choices offal.

Here endeth another enjoyable, tiring and fulfilling day. Loch Lomond, Loch Long and a warm bath at HMNB Clyde awaits tomorrow. Good night and we look forward to tomorrows update.

The cyclists made better progress than the support team after Mark “ Michael Fish” drained the van battery charging his toys (laptop etc). Luckily the campsite owner came to the rescue

A promising day ahead loomed after the first few miles and the aches started to go, only to stop after 4 miles for Marty to go to toilet!! However, after the first break things started to get tough with a strong wind gusting straight into the cyclist faces for about 12 miles approaching Dingwall at which point the novelty was starting to wear off but Mark’s, “Scorchio” weather report kept morale up.
After a well earned rest in Dingwall, support driver Paul ‘Tetley’ Richardson was so prepared he had a cup of tea waiting as the team pulled into the car park. After a quick RAS (Replenishment at Station) the team headed off on the “downhill all the way” (Tim ‘Route Officer’ Fry??)

After arriving in Beauly, Ade ‘Food Monster’ Richardson decided he needed to have something to eat. Slight problem, no-one had a penny between them and the support bus was at the end of the downhill section? which was another 8 miles away?? Not a problem as up stepped Marty “Sponger” Sutherland who went and begged the local chip shop owner of ‘The Friary’ who kindly donated 3 bags of beautiful chips. Very much appreciated!!

Then came the best 5 mile downhill section to the next stop which actually turned into a 19 mile UPHILL cycle with a great 1 mile downhill section at end with 37 mph clocked, and the team asking “was it worth it?” after the pain getting there!! Having expected the team to be doing 15 miles Paul ‘Tetley’ Richardson waited at believed time but not realising they were actually doing 25 miles he got fed up and handed the waiting game over to Andy ‘Delia Smith’ Nelson at Drumnadrochit Loch Ness Monster Visitor Centre.

Which ones the monster? The clue is the one in the middle!!!

Then into the final leg of 10 miles (which Andy got right!!) which was when even more “Scorchio” weather kicked in. Translated as driving wind and rain straight into the face. Loch Ness Youth Hostel arrived at safely and another great meal served up by Delia Smith. The team on completion of this posting will find more appropriate jobs for the weather and route officer. Laundry requires doing so hopefully they will get that right!!

Most importantly the team get their first night in a proper bed!!