Withdrawal Symptoms

Finally the bike was put back together and on the road today! The back wheel has been in having a set of new spokes fitted (for two weeks). You can imagine our relief having some time off that coincided, the weather to enjoy it, and the bike!

Richard cycled the tandem solo into Helston to pick up Joules from work. Lucky girl! Not only a half day, but a carriage with style! Off with the white coat and on with the lycra, ahh bisto!

Coverack had to be the place today.





Who needs the Caribbean when you've got Coverack? Lunch on the harbour, idyllic.

A cycle ride would not be complete without an ice cream, and Coverack came up trumps with the local Roskilly's variety. As you can see from the photo, Joules had chocolate! No surprises there!



Cycling without the trailer today was vastly different, so much easier and faster! The hills, no, sorry, efforts melted in the heat, along with the riders (and in places the road!). When we got home the stifling feeling that has been growing in us for the last two weeks had been blown away in one afternoon! Free spirit rules!

P.S. Hi Peter!

Photos and Thank You's

Apologies for the 36 hour delay, we'll blame it on volcanic ash! We were catching up with real life, sleep and back to work.

As you can imagine looking through the zillions of photographs has taken us right back to the beginning (not that we want to bore you with holiday snaps!). Hopefully our selection will give you a flavour of the ups and downs (literally) and the outstanding scenery that Great Britain has to offer. Click on the Photo Albums link on the right to see what we've done!

As with everything, none of this could have happened without enormous gratitude and thanks, so pick your name out from the list and if its not there its because you're just too special to mention!

Thank you to...

Dad (for having faith in us and being our control tower and support guiding us home)
George (for all the encouraging texts), Oliver (for getting us used to waking at 5.30am), Harry (for not! and for being our ace photographer)
Mum (for the spelling corrections!), Dad (for his encouragement, he really should read this blog!), Alex (for the comments on the blog) and Liz (for encouraging texts & phone calls)
Paul, Jean, Verity, Ashley & Kerris (flowers, wine & chocolate)
Auntie Pauline (for taking on Radio Cornwall & local press), David (for interpretation on mobile phone), Uncle Robbie (sitting patiently), Keira (homecoming flags)
Bonnie Pat & Alex (Scottish knowledge)
Mhairi & Jim for picking us up, putting us up (up with us?) and dropping us off again at an ungodly hour at Edinburgh Station on our way to John O'Groats
The Grafitti Grannys (you know who you are and you know why! for giving us loads of fun along the way)
All Joules' Patients, especially to Peter and Sabine for being there at Land's End.
People we met along the way, especially Careys Guest House (for looking after the bike), the guys at John O'Groats who took our photos, Mr & Mrs Fleming in Tain for encouragement at a low ebb, Crask Inn (for the best water in the Universe), Jessie at Off Beat Bikes of Fort William for rebuilding the wheels, Mr & Mrs Moss for directions through Glasgow, Alice, Andrew, Alistair and Jan at Robert the Bruce Caravan Park (and Kevin for running us to the pub!), Ian Walton (hope you made it too!), the lady from Devon we met at Rowardennan Lodge, Eva and John Gardener in Kendal for the best b&b we had, Barbara, David & Allan for being our guiding light in to Wigan (tail winds forever!), James & Sammie for doing the washing, feeding & bedding!, Andy at the Worcester Cycle Centre for getting us back on the road, Mike for everything he's done (including buying us lunch!), Sheila & Mike for a wonderful evening, Sian for the Avon Cycle Path advice, Roger Bennetts for keeping us company out of Taunton while he was looking out for Mick on his Chopper, Gavin in Bridestow for not running over the bike (handbrakes are useful things when applied), Launceston Cycle Centre for the loan of the pump, route advice and encouragement, Alan & Jackie Winter (a brief encounter with another tandem, many thanks for the donation! The Brooks is on the Christmas list!), Hilary and Dr Steve for the health Spa experience and medical attention, Lynda Thomas for meeting us at M&S (and the bottle of wine), Jim & Gill for coming out of their way to meet us en route and for all their texts & support, Mark Oliver who cycled along Eastern Green in Penzance with us (Good Luck for your JOGLE, and many thanks for the donation!), Rachael the Marie Curie Nurse for giving up her time to be at Land's End. Everyone who turned out on a grey miserable day to see two people finish a bike ride, Peter James for collecting the bike from Land's End and looking after it. Helen for the flowers that waited for us when we got home. To Andrew Chance and Rowes Honda for sponsoring us and bringing us home safely.

Thanks to all those who took photos at Land's End. There are too many people to mention!

Thanks to all the strangers we met who showed us so much kindness, generosity and encouragement the whole length of the journey.

And finally thanks to all those who have generously donated to Marie Curie.

If your name isn't on the list, we haven't forgotten you!


P.S. look out for the book!

1,028 miles - We're There!

What more can we say? Except a very emotional journey from start to finish.



We left Hayle at 10.30 this morning and were escorted along the causeway by 15 elite Sunday morning cyclists, all congratulating us on our achievement. Toots and waves from motorists, thumbs up from motorcyclists and then a rendez vous with Jim and Gill at Long Rock. Our Coast Watch, Road Watch mentor for the trip (the Coast Watch boys got the prevailing winds right for Cornwall, if nowhere else!).

Passed our starting point at Penzance Station, and then the family tooting and waving as they passed us at Newlyn. Five minutes later we passed them as they waited in a layby with Cornish Flags waving us on our way!

Leaving Newlyn we met two cyclist we had last seen at John O'Groats, amazing! Congratulations and Good Luck were shouted across the A30! Huge grins all round, suddenly the hills felt easy! Well, sort of...

From Drift onwards the GG's had decorated signs and bus stops with knitted daffodils, it wasn't until we went to collect the bike this evening we realised they had risked life and limb to decorate signs on the Heamoor and West Cornwall roundabouts! The encouragement they gave us is incalculable. A flicker directory of Daffodil photos WILL appear... Soon... There will be a link from this blog.

The final mile into Land's End. Predictably the bike had a say in this with a spoke twanging off as we went through Sennen! Who cares, we were within spitting distance! The barrier was held open as we swept past the queue of traffic and into Land's End and the Finish Line!

Roars and Cheers greeted us and the tears began to flow. 1,028 miles in 16 days.







What a wonderful greeting, what more is there to life than family, friends and patients?

Keep watching, there is lots more to say yet!

Ibuleve We're Nearly There Now!

HUGE thanks to Hilary and Dr Steve! Their care for Joules was amazing - ice pack, hot tub, Ibuleve gel. The perfect combination to get us on the road this morning. They should open up as a health spa!

Wearing most of the contents of our bags, plus a support bandage for Joules' ankle, we set off. As you can imagine, our day started uphill as usual. Bodmin is not the flattest of places! For the first time in two weeks we started off in full rain. Accompanied by a strong head wind.

We picked up the not very old A30 across Goss Moor. A fantastic cycling route, hard to believe so much traffic thundered along it only three years ago. Then onto the new A30 at Carland Cross. Reality hit big time.

Bank holiday weekend, Run for the Sun, and cabbage rigs thundered past... Only to hit road works at Chiverton Cross combined with sheer volume of traffic. We serenely coasted by, chatting with some through their car windows, making our way further and further west!

As we passed Redruth we paused for a bite to eat, Richard looked at the bike computer and realised we had just passed 1,000 miles! An enormous milestone! One of our goals for the ride had been achieved. The tears mixed with the rain on our faces.

We had decided that we would end the day's ride in Hayle today, leaving the bike at Joules' Auntie Pauline's. Arriving early we stopped at Marks & Spencer only to meet two of our supporters, Annette & Alan. We don't know who was more emotional! While we were chatting a lady came up to us with a donation - she had first seen us on the A30 at Summercourt!

So tomorrow we draw a close to this chapter, for those who have followed us thank you SO much for your support, for those who haven't, where've you been? Yesterday we thought it was all over, now, thanks to Ibuleve and the Bodmin Spa, Land's End is in sight.

See you tomorrow (Sunday 30th), Land's End, 1pm. Oggy Oggy Oggy!

Oggy, oggy, oggy!

Yes we are now back in Cornwall!

We left Okehampton slightly confused by the the map. Eventually we found the old A30 and got to Bridestown. As is typical of rural west country somebody abandoned his car behind us, only to find minutes later he hadn't put the hand brake on. The car gently rolled forward, narrowly missing our trailer as Gavin dived for the hand brake!

Gavin, a navy lad, had cycled JoGLE last year and gave us some good advice on the route.

The miles seemed to drag as we approached the Taymar, but there it was, the sign we had been waiting for, "Welcome to Cornwall"! It was an emotional moment.

The climb in to Launceston is nasty, but the people at the top are friendly, especially at the bike shop. They loaned is a pump and showed us the gentlest route out towards Camelford. Another road that seemed to go on forever without us getting anywhere.

From Camelford Bodmin seemed suddenly within reach and we headed out to pick up the Camel Trail to our destination.

Disaster struck. Joules' ankle suddenly gave her pain. A short rest & some painkillers and we limped on. Fortunately the Camel Trail was generally downhill and had a reasonable surface so we made good time into Bodmin, only to finish the day on a steep uphill! No change there.

Our hosts tonight could not be better. A chiropodist and a doctor! Joules' ankle was tended to immediately. Diagnosis a pulled tendon. A dip in the hot tub, some tlc and an early night and so long as we take things gently it should be alright.

Now, can someone do something about the hills between here & Lands End?
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We can smell the Pasties from here!

Today was a total contrast to yesterday, a real case of "dearest mother, dearest father, here we are at Camp Granada"!

Last night we felt beaten, this evening we feel as though we could have gone further. We're glad we didn't though.

We left Bridgwater in good time and followed the A38 into Devon. A real chocolate box county. Everything looked so green and lush after what we've seen elsewhere. We felt the excitement of getting closer to home. The smell of the pasty!

On a stranger note, we both appear to have grown in leg length as we have had to raise our saddles half an inch! What a diffrence it made - it was like having an extra gear going up the hills! Especially to Monica Selles!

One slight mishap as we entered Okehampton, approaching traffic lights up hill the lady in front of us stalled as we tried to get going. The bike fell sideways with Joules still attached. Fortunately no damage done. To the bike! Joules has a slight graze, good job we packed germoline.

This almost feels like the semi final of somewhere over the rainbow, what will you do with your time after Sunday? How will our readers survive without the updates?

However discussions of what next are already on the agenda, but let's just get home safely first.
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Hitting the wall

We altered today's route plan to make it a bit shorter. Both woke in trepidation of the ride through Bristol. Neither one of us said anything about this though.

We met Sian about ten miles from the edge of Bristol. We had stopped to change maps and she ran across the road to talk to us. Much to our relief she suggested an alternative round Bristol - the Avon Cycle Way. It was fabulous, tarmaced and following old railway lines, we were in cycling heaven!

Then came the Chew Valley - cycling hell if it exists. We were climbing for hours up what seemed to be cliff faces. Chew Valley turned into chew somebody's head off. Where were the Somerset Levels?

Dropping down through Cheddar Gorge was stunning, even though we were already exhausted. The bed & breakfast had to be the other end of town, and at the top of a hill (even the driveway).

Our short day somehow turned into a long day, finishing at 7.30 after 81 miles. Again.

Tomorrow Okehampton.
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Blowout

No, we've not fallen out, read on...

The road from Bridgenorth to Bewdley went via Highly. Very aptly named, we haven't done hills for a couple of days & it nearly caught us out!

Joules likened Richard's breathing to Monica Selles!

We arrived in Worcester feeling as though the hand brake had been on yet again. We stopped after crossing the bridge and a man complemented is on our riding style. Two minutes later there was a huge bang! People round us ducked for cover thinking there was gunfire, including Joules! A paramedic in his car went twice round the island looking for the casualty!

We had had a blowout of the rear tyre. We limped the 50 yards to the bike shop.

Mike from Milton Keynes, who had arranged the transport of the tandem to Wick for us, had offered to meet is for lunch in Tewksbury, this was hastily rearranged for Worcester. A leisurly lunch, including beer, was enjoyed while tandem was in the caring hands on Andy from Worcester Cycle Centre. What a lovely lad! One you could take home to mother!

The remainder of the day was a rapid run down the A38 to Tewksbury where we encountered the team running a non stop relay from John O'Groats to Land's End for Help the Heroes (we saw then in Carlisle too!). They arrive Saturday.

Then on to Gloucester, entering the city a lady pulled over and ran at us with a £10 note! We nearly fell off! Apologies to the lady for the snatch and grab pass!

Gloucester was full of our old friends the road works! Negotiating the traffic out of city through the rush hour was not fun, but we made it safely to Mike & Sheila's for the night.

The mattress is now calling very loudly!
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Tufty the wind sock & radio fame

We left Wigan at about 7.30, we'd have left earlier if we could! A place not to be revisited.

The aroma of farming was wonderful when we got out of the city.

Whilst going at speed Joules has developed a tuft of hair like a fountain spurting through the top of her helmet! When flat, we know it's headwind! Upright means something completely different! Make your own mind up...

Auntie Pauline had contacted Radio Cornwall, this led to a live interview as we crossed the border to Shropshire. Thank you Geoff for the offer of a pasty, we'll take you up on that! See you at Land's End!

A planned journey of 75 miles turned into 85 for today as we avoided major roads. The mention of "are we nearly there yet?" occurred regularly.
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Goodbye Kendal

Kendal was wonderful! It was a real wrench to leave this morning. This pulled all emotional strings, but we seemed to be guided everywhere we went today.

This ranged from banks of bluebells to manic magic roundabouts, testosterone & aftershave wafting from open car windows.

We've no idea what the temperature was today but it was hot, further developing our bizarre tan lines!

The traffic was so loud for most of the day it drowned out the skylarks singing their hearts out. What has happened to our world? Aren't Sunday's supposed to be quiet?

On nearing Wigan we came across a group of cyclists aged 75 to 77 all out for a 70 plus mile day! A great advert for glucosamine! They gave us a personal escort for the last five miles to our destination. Keeping up was not easy! Huge thanks to David, Barbara & Alan, our guiding lights for the day.

P.S. If it comes out, here's a photo for the GG's
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Jogle / lejog

Not some odd french term, but John O'Groats - Land's End or Land's End - John O'Groats.

Four milestones passed today:

1. Joules went the entire day WITHOUT a thermal! She even took off her neck buff at lunchtime, so she has reduced the original FIVE layers to one! It must be hot! Summer has arrived!

2. We crossed the border into England. This brings mixed feelings as Scotland has been so good to us, yet we are closing in on home.

3. We passed the half way mark! We are now officially closer to Land's End than John O'Groats! A consequence of this was that we met a large number of other cyclists heading north. Greetings and nods exchanged!

4. We crossed over Shap. At 1400 feet the highest point of the ride. This is also where we met most cyclists! The descent to Kendal was delightful as the breeze cooled us.

Our accommodation tonight could not be better, a small farmhouse from 1629 with a dairy herd producing milk for their own icecream! Guess what we had on arrival!

Tomorrow will take us to Wigan, a slight change of plan, but still en route.
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Quick links, innertubes & ice cream!

Its been a bloody good day!

Last night's haven left us refreshed and ready for anything.

The roads have been much kinder than yesterday, however we did have a chain break on a very busy main road. As Joules attempted to recover the chain an articulated lorry attempted to run over it. The language was choise and all other vehicles gave a wide berth.

Richard had the chain back on in five minutes using a quick link while Joules took self portraits with her camera of various expressions, not for publishing!

Fortunately we were only five miles from Dumfries, so a call was made to the bike shop there to get a replacement spare quick link. Not sure of where we were Joules spotted the Marie Curie shop & we were welcomed as heroes!

All replenished we set off again, only to hear a hissing sound as we left the town. Guess what, a puncture. In the rear wheel too. A quick dive off the island and in to a small field to replace the inner tube. Joules took more photos.

Shortly after this we saw signs for Drumuir Farm dairy ice cream - too good to miss! These soothed our senses perfectly and left us ready for the last 20 miles to the camp site for tonight. Baleim's ass had nothing on this!

Now dosed up with paracetamol and brufen and ready to sleep!
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A far cry from the cuckoo

Everyone said Glen Coe would be the toughest. We beg to differ. Today has been like a ride at Alton Towers - up and down all the way!

We have been suddenly thrust back in to civilisation passing through Glasgow and don't like it at all. Want to go back & stay!

As we took the cycle route and got on to Erskine Bridge it was eerily quiet, ie NO traffic at all. As the gates to the cycleway were open, we carried on, only to be waved on half way by police, fire engine, and witnesses. We were still perplexed as there had been no obvious accident. Upon reaching the south end of the bridge we met fellow cyclists who had been stopped, they revealed that somebody had just jumped off. Glad we didn't know that on the bridge.

These same cyclists also kindly looked at our route and recommended a couple of changes to get us onto the A77. These changes took us to Morrisons in Erskine where we not only received a donation, but a standing ovation from bystanders as we departed! Later pausing to check we were on the right road (it was up hill, it had to be!) we met a lovely couple who confirmed we were right and also gave us a generous donation.

The cycle route along the A77 to Kilmarnock was a delight, well recommended! Like many towns, Kilmarnock was a mix of lovely and 1960's development. We pushed on to Mauchline.

Joules said "the first b&b we see, we stop.". So here we are at Dykefield Farm feeling like Mary and Joseph, glad of a place to sleep the night.

Tomorrow Gretna!
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All things bright and beautiful

Glencoe youth hostel was amazing - clean, fabulous welcome. Rowardennan youth hostel has outstanding views of Loch Lomond.

In between we felt very insignificant in the landscape. We took close up photos of wild red deer, waterfalls and a lot of roadworks.

We met people walking the West Highland Way - could have done a roaring trade with feet! We told them we'd rather have one tender area than two!

Glen Coe and Rannock Moor were awe inspiring! So much so that we sang anything from Bohemian Rhapsody to Somewhere Over the Rainbow! We passed the highest point on the journey up there - see the photo!

Bike has run well most of the day, except when the tyres got glued to the tarmack in the roadworks. This was followed by a five mile uphill feeling like we were cycling through treacle.

We stopped at what appear to be the worst public toilets in Scotland at Crainlarich.

Richard looks rough in all the photos today. He shared a room with a man who suffers sleep apnia and has catarrah. Richard didn't sleep well.

Cushy end to the day thanks to Bob and Michael, the Loch Lomond ferry men who declined to charge is the fair as we are riding for charity! A lovely 45 minute cruise across the loch to the Youth Hostel. If you think this is cheating, think again. We will make this up by going the long way round the south end of the Loch tomorrow.

Wish you could see the view we have now. Huge hugs to everyone!
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Knight in shining armour

Fort William is where our knight resided in the cellar of Off Beat Bikes. Jessie performed miracles in less than an hour whilst we had something to eat. Cracking job Jessie, you can shine your halo tonight!
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Highs & lows

This will be a short one as we've had a very long day, 70 miles with light headwind, hot sun (both burnt a bit, top of knee to ankle rather than nice Caribbean type), and broken spokes.

For those who have not experienced this, it's like driving with the hand brake on and constantly worrying if the next bump will brake another spoke.

The highs - the weather, really warm!, the scenery stunning riding down the Great Glen, and the ultimate - in flight donation! A camper can drew alongside while we were doing about 15mph and handed £10 out the window! Huge grins for the next 5 miles!

Keep the texts coming please! They really make a difference!

Bum update tomorrow, we know you can't wait!
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Toots, waves, hugs and texts

All of the above have boosted us no end, especially when a detour added 12 miles on to the day... Plus a broken spoke leading to front brake failure, and sore bums!

We started the day badly with a late breakfast, not our choice, and then found 10 miles down the road that our route was closed. We found later it was for tree felling.

Mr & Mrs Fleming who we met in Tain were lovely, filled our bottles and raised our spirits. Beauly was beautiful, we'd recommend the coffee and gift shop to anybody, the atmosphere was like being in a story.

The descent in to Drumnadrochit was hair raising - the front brake failed half way down the 1 in 5 slope. To say we were relieved to stop at the junction at the bottom is an understatement. Richard has fixed the brake for tomorrow, but a visit to a bike shop in Fort William will be needed to sort the spoke.

Despite this spirits are soaring. Early night tonight in the same bed in the same room!
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Breaking wind

And sleeping apart...

We think the fried haggis is fighting back, but if we had a rocket motor on the tandem Richard could have supplied enough gas to get us home in one day!

Feel like Hyacinth and Richard at home in our little castle - suggest you google Carbisdale Castle. Its just a bit WOW!

Very proud that we are reaching our targets each day so far. Saddles & backsides well moulded now, no major arguments.

Leek & potato soup followed by curry for tea, we'll see what tomorrow brings! If you hear of earthquakes in Scotland, you know the cause!
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Headwind...

Excellent start to the day with fried haggis in the full Scottish breakfast.

Breathtaking scenery with sunshine & gentle cross/ head wind. By the afternoon we had to pedal hard against it to make progress downhill let alone up. It almost felt like we were being pushed backwards.

A decadent moment was eating the remains of last nights Chinese in a bus shelter in the middle of nowhere.

Grafitti grannys you would be proud of us!

We had a donation of £5 from a man at tesco in thurso, more kindness from strangers!

Spirits high and looking forward to tomorrow. Early night now in Bettyhill, hill being the operative word!
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And they're off!

John O'Groats done, in the bag! We're on our way home now... The long way!

34 miles today, weather amazing - sun, clouds, rainbows (and rain...). Beautiful views from JoG of Orkney Islands and met some wonderful people, particularly Sarah & Max who took our photos by the sign, and Dave who had only just finished himself but rushed over to take some more photos for us! They've turned out fab, you can sleep well at night now!

The kindness of strangers knows no bound.

Accommodation tonight brilliant, fab power shower! Carey's guest house Wick.

Chapter 2 tomorrow.
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We're still on the train!

Edinburgh was grey and wet, there's a suprise! We're travelling north now to wick to be reunited with the tandem and the sun is breaking through to reveal some amazing scenery.

Thanks to Mhairi & Jim for ferrying us to & from the station, feeding us and giving us a comfortable bed for the night, it was great to see you both again, if only briefly.

We're still getting there..!
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Fw: We're on the train!

We caught the 07.39 from Penzance, thanks for the lift Oliver! Only 14 hours to Edinburgh... Hopefully this photo I snatched through the train window will come through - St Michael's Mount in an amazingly calm sea!

First major obstacle overcome too - we found we only had our tickets as far as Edinburgh... Huge thanks to George for finding the rest of the tickets & getting them to us two minutes before the train left!

Stay tuned for the next exciting instalment!
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Nearly there!

Nearly there... meaning, finishing work tomorrow, paperwork, housework, washing and all the other menial jobs which are manically fitted in before we head off. I think we will be sleeping most of the way on the train!

Everybody has been primed, including telling the boys NO parties while we are away!!!

The Bike arrives in Wick tomorrow, as it's been busy hopping from one lorry to another. Thank you Mike and Barbara, you've been fantastic.

Harry designed the tandem logo for the t-shirt and hopefully the von trapp family will be wearing them on our arrival at Lands End.



Little boy's sticky fingers get everywhere! Each of the boys added their fingerprint to this lovely pendant so I will have all the family with me along the route plus my locket of Mum and Dad... call me soppy, but we are a unique family.

Bags Packed!

Bike - Check, Clothes - Check, Everything else - check (we hope). At the moment it looks as though Father Christmas has mislaid a couple of his sacks!

The final touches are being added over the next two days - we need to locate a screen printer for our Rowes Honda cycle shirts and collect the repaired wheel from Cycle Logic.

Apart from that we're ready to go & VERY excited. Roll on Thursday!

A Host of Golden Daffodils

Joules met (clandestinely) with the Graffiti Grannys this evening...

Shading their identities they handed over 88 knitted golden daffodils!



As you can tell the GG's are keen to protect their identity! This is serious MI7 stuff ...

Apologies for the blurred photo, hidden cameras are never that good.

A fabulous evening was had and we are bowled over by the number of daffodils we now have to decorate the route with! Hopefully we can be as discreet! Perhaps we'll wear our helmets backwards!

A huge Thank you to all concerned.

En Route...

Last night the tandem completed the first leg of it's journey to Wick. Richard built a box out of orange boxes from work and carefully dismantled the tandem, zip tying all the parts into the box so they don't rattle around and damage each other.

After work, Richard & Joules loaded the box into the back of the car and drove up to Weighbridge to drop it off at a farm at 10pm. This may sound rather bizarre, but Advanced Turf Machinery Ltd who have very kindly offered to deliver the bike for us need it in Milton Keynes. They are delivering a tractor to this farm in the next couple of days, so the lorry will take the tandem on it's return journey to MK before the courier completes the final leg to arrive in Wick on the 12th May.

It feels rather strange knowing that it is no longer here with us. Any training we want to do now HAS to be on our solo bikes so that will feel odd.

Bon Voyage tandem! See you on the 14th!

OK Girlies, This One's From Joules!

As you can see, by my NEW Lycra shorts, I have achieved the ultimate goal of SIZE 8!!!!!

Now the reality... They have to be tight (thanks to the spandex) to suck everything in as I am still a size 12. The moment lasted all of a few glorious minutes and I'm seriously thinking of wearing them inside out to display this wonderful image!

We're on the final countdown now. Eight days till we catch the train. Somebody asked me recently "what is going to be my luxury item?" After much thought, I need two! Maybe three, four? However, it's got to be my crochet hook! (and some wool) I can hear my girlies cheering! As my feet will be up most of the way down, so a king size bedspread will be completed on my return!

We've Got a Ticket to Ride!

Well, 21 including all the seat reservations and gubbins...

We stopped at Penzance railway station on our ride on Friday to pick up the tickets to take us to Wick. This will be our starting point on Friday 14th May 2010 about 18 miles from John O'Groats.



Back to Friday, we tackled the Pendeen, Morvah, Zennor road again, this time with about a stone and a half of weight in the trailer. Very pleased to announce that we are definitely getting fitter as it did not seem nearly so demanding. We were overtaken by a solo cyclist (a girl even!) on one hill, but she did stop and get in her car at the top of the hill, we carried on.

There will eventually be some Julie photos on this blog, Richard needs to wrestle the camera off her first though!

Evening Ride

We went for a training ride on Sunday with a loaded trailer (12 lb of potatoes), big lesson learned - don't go for a ride half an hour after eating a huge pasty! During the ride we found some teething troubles following the service, and so we went out again this evening after we had both returned from work. Just a short 20 mile circuit before supper!

The gears are now changing to order, not when they feel it is time, and Joules' has a new saddle that appears to be more comfortable(less rubbing), we know you're all interested in the state of her assets! Richard is more comfortable with his new riding position (which is taking some getting used to...).

Thank goodness for Mint-Ease when we get home to settle our muscles!

All Snuggly & Warm

Those fabulously generous Norwegians have pulled out all the stops to make sure that if nothing else, we are going to be warm on this trip!

Brynje, the company that made thermals for Amundsen's South Pole expedition, have donated two of their Superthermo undershirts AND two thermal lined hats! They may just look like string vests, but they keep you so warm Joules even had to take some layers off when we went for a ride on Sunday! A complete first!

Well done Brynje, highly recommended.

The Naked Tandem

No, not us! But it got your attention...

The tandem was collected from Cycle Logic in Helston this morning after it's service. Shane helped us get all set up properly - legs, arms & bottoms all measured to check we are seated comfortably so the story may begin!

We even got a little mirror fitted to Richard's handlebars so he can check behind without alarming Joules!

Richard rode it home & all is well!

Now we just need to load up with all the luggage & kitchen sink (Joules needs something to do on the back, she felt homesick when we had a day out to Liskeard last weekend! via car). Medical bag is well stocked & will go on the rack behind Joules, cameras in a bag in front of Richard, the rest in the trailer.

The daffodil will be fixed in place when the journey commences, so keep knitting girlies! There will be lots of stops along the way to deposit little flowers.

The Route (part 2)

OK, good point Alex. Here is the route:

14th May Arrive Wick, pick up tandem, cycle to John O'Groats & back
15th - Wick to Bettyhill taking in Dunnet Head (most Northerly point)
16th - Bettyhill to Carbisdale Castle youth hostel - look it up, it's amazing!
17th - Carbisdale Castle to Drumnadrochit
18th - Drumnadrochit to Glencoe Youth Hostel
19th - Glencoe to Rowardennan Lodge Youth Hostel via the ferry over Loch Lomond
20th - Rowardennan Lodge to Kilmarnock
21st - Kilmarnock to Kirkpatrick Caravan Park near Gretna
22nd - Kirkpatrick to Kendal
23rd - Kendal to Orrell
24th - Orrell to Shifnal - if we are on schedule & are able we may have a rest day here. There is also a very good tandem shop in Iron Bridge in case we have any problems.
25/26 - Shifnal to Gloucester
26/27 - Gloucester to Taunton via Cheddar Gorge
27/28 - Taunton to Launceston
28/29 - Launceston to Home!
29/30 - Home to Land's End via The Lizard (most Southerly point)

So that's it so far. There have been a couple of minor changes today already, so we'll keep in touch!

The route has been finalised at last! We've had offers of a caravan in Scotland for accommodation and asked on the Marie Curie site if anyone from Scotland down can put us up for a night along the way. Still open to offers!

Trouble with courier at the moment. Now in the capable hands of a very good friend who has offered to pay the carriage. Thank you Advanced Turf Machinery Ltd!

Regarding thighs, backsides and appetites - all growing!

One Month To Go!

It all seems to be rushing towards us at a rate of knots! A huge amount has been acheived, but there is still loads to do...

The lovely people at Brinje have written to us from Norway and offered us two thermal shirts. You look a bit like Onslow in one, but they really keep you toasty!

We have been published! Well, the Helston Advertiser has published an article about what we are doing along with a photo. Huge thanks to them, we expected maybe a few column inches, not nearly half a page! Hopefully some more people will log on and start following us (and donating!)

Today the tandem has gone in for its health check - CycleLogic in Helston are giving it a thorough service so we can be sure it will last the course.

Graffiti Grannys

These illusive knitters are very clever people who have turned their talents to decorating the world around us to make people smile. Look them up on Facebook and see pictures of their latest Yarn Bombing.

Through VERY secret channels they have contacted us and asked us to assist them in their mission. They are currently madly knitting daffodils for us to decorate our route from John O'Groats to Land's End. Here's an example of what they are giving us.

Fiona Lockhart

Fiona is the wonderful lady who gave each of us a massage a week or so ago. It was fabulous!

If any one out there would like an equally fab treatment, these are Fiona's contact details:

01326 569 930
flock@hotmail.co.uk

Thank you again Fiona!

Mint-Ease

You may recognise our Ted from an earlier appearance, we think he's better looking than us!

We had a wonderful letter and package today from Peter Teisen of Teisen Products who make Uddermint. This is the human version and is called Mint Ease (www.mint-ease.co.uk). Blooming marvellous stuff and Mr Teisen has very kindly provided us with samples of the Mint-Ease cream, roll on (NOT for underarms!!!) and their Skin Care for saddle sore areas...! Does he know something we don't?

He also generously donated £25.00. Please look up his web site, these are fabulous products!

BIG Sponsor from Rowes Honda

This is Andrew Chance, (very handsome chap!) Sales Manager at Rowes Honda, Hayle. We had a meeting with him on Friday morning and he blew us away with the news of just how generous and supportive Rowes Honda are going to be!

They have agreed to donate £200.00 PLUS t-shirts, cycling tops, overshoes, possible accommodation, and a VERY nice car to drive us home from Land's End when we finish! We love you Rowes Honda!

And relax...

Since 9am it has rained. And rained. And rained.

It has been a very productive day - Richard visited the Marie Curie office in Truro this morning and collected t-shirts that are now with Paul at Mackrelbus Design. He's designing a logo & text so we can tell the world what we're doing. We'll post it if we can.

Then this afternoon it was time to wind down. Fiona Lockhart, a fabulous massage therapist, offered a while ago to come and treat us both before and after the event. Today was before, and it was just a little bit WOW! We are now just floating gently round the house with a pleasant glow about us!

As Fiona said - it's a horrible day outside, so stay in and have some TLC! Relax...

A little light relief!

Light relief in more ways than one - this stuff is fab! It deserves a blog all of it's own.

Sport Relief

We sat down on Thursday evening unsure as to whether or not we wanted to spend an hour watching seven celebrities doing in four days what we will be attempting over two weeks.

We are so glad we did! The scenery during the section through Scotland was spectacular! As far as going over Glen Coe, their route matched ours.

There are a couple of points we'd like to make to reassure our supporters: 1. We will not be cycling at night, 2. We will not continue if the temperature falls so low we get icicles on our chins & noses!, 3. We are both cycling the whole distance, not taking turns!

Well done to those taking part in that, even Jimmy Carr who admitted he had been a bit of an arse at the end of his stint! It was a seriously good effort, their average speed was about 13mph, (we're managing between 10.5 and 12mph on our training rides) given the lack of sleep and the conditions that was seriously good.

We won't be raising £1,000,000, but if we can hit our target of £2,000 we'll be very chuffed!

Donations!

The Just Giving box on the right hand side of the screen (please click on the donate button to go to our Just Giving site and donate!) does not tell the whole story of the amount we are raising. We have also received cash donations from friends, colleagues, and some of Joules' patients. All of these are being totted up continually and an official Marie Curie sponsor form filled in so the Gift Aid (another 18%) can be claimed from the government. A HUGE thanks to all those who have donated so far.

We have also contacted a number of businesses with which we have connections, or who have strong connections with Cornwall. The letters have only started going out this week and already we have had a responce - Swann-Morton of Sheffield, suppliers of surgical blades used by Joules since she set up practice eleven years ago, have kindly donated £50! Thank you very much to them! As promised a link to their web site is now on ours - see the list of links in the right hand column of this page.

As for the ride, we're getting more excited as the days pass and can't wait to be on our way!

The Route!

Sorry, this is only descriptive for now, but I'm sure you'll be able to follow it on a map if you have a road atlas. I am researching ways of publishing a map of the route, I may need to do it somewhere else and provide a link. We'll see...

Any way, the route:

We will be starting at John O'Groats, although we want to take in Duncansby Head, as this is actually the farthest North East, as Lands End is the farthest South West. We will then travel along the North Coast visiting Dunnet Head, the farthest North point on the British Mainland, through Thurso and on to Bettyhill. We then turn South to Lairg, Bonar Bridge, Alness, Dingwall, Beauly and then down to Drumnadrochit. From here we will follow the Great Glen South West along the banks of Loch Ness and Loch Lochy to Fort William.

We will ride out of the Great Glen and up over Glen Coe following the A82 to Crainlarich and then the A85 to Lochearnhead and Crieff. We will be heading down to the Forth Road Bridge and over into Edinburgh next, where we are staying the night with our friends Mhairi and Jim.

From Edinburgh we will follow the A7 South to Selkirk, Hawick, Langholm, and then over the border and into England heading to Carlisle. The plan is to follow the A6 from Carlisle, I am informed that as most of the traffic takes the M6, this is a good cycling road. This takes us to Penrith, over Shap and down to Kendal. Staying on the A6 we will head South to Lancaster and then on to the section we are least looking forward to - Preston, Wigan, Warrington. The route through is yet to be finalised. Reaching Northwich will be a relief as we leave the industrial North West behind us and head through Cheshire.

From Northwich we will be aiming for Nantwich, Audlem, Market Drayton and then into Shropshire cycling past Harper Adams College - hopefully one or two students could keep a lookout? and on through Shifnal. We are aiming for an overnight stop at either Richard's Uncle Allan's or his cousin James' home near there.

The next target is Worcester to Julie's cousins for lunch, so A442 to Bridgenorth, and then the B4555 to Bewdley then following the River Severn to Worcester. We will continue along the Severn on the B4211 through Upton upon Severn (provided it isn't flooded this year!) and on to Gloucester.

Like the A6, the A38 is said to be a good cycling road as most of the traffic is on the M5 and there is lots of space, so we will follow this out of Gloucester to Bristol. How we get through Bristol is still open to debate... We want to be heading to the Cheddar Gorge next, but I get a headache every time I try to map a route through. Any suggestions or help gratefully received! From Cheddar we will be riding through Wedmore and on to Taunton, picking up the A38 again to Wellington and then to Tiverton.

From Tiverton we will head to Crediton and then Oakhampton before skirting the Northwest corner of Dartmoor to Tavistock, one of our favorite places. From Tavistock we are taking minor roads virtually due West to cross the Taymar into Cornwall at Horsebridge, then carrying on through Stoke Climsland, Bray Shop, and Rilla Mill before skirting the Southern edge of Bodmin Moor to reach Doublebois and pick up the A390 through Lostwithiel to St Austell. We are then aiming to cycle down onto the Roseland Peninsular, through Tregony, to take the King Harry Ferry so that we avoid the busy roads round Truro.

From here we have a choice on roads we know quite well. Our aim is to go via the Lizard, so that we pick up the most Southerly point on the British Mainland. we will obviously be spending our last night at home, but whether we go to the Lizard the day before we go to Lands End, or do it on the same day will determine the route from here.

There is no "easy ride" from our house to Lands End, or back for that matter! Our current thinking is Penzance then Newbridge, St Just and then down to Lands End!

I'm Jake the Tandem, tiddle-iddle-iddle-um

We had our first training ride with the Extra Wheel Trailer attached today! (see the web link to the right) And it was a very hard ride. 45.62 miles in 4 hours 23 minutes, so just short of 10.5mph average. We are VERY happy with this time as the route was VERY hilly - nearly 2,500 feet of climbing!

We decided to head out West today for a change. Due to the issues with sore legs we decided to head down towards Marazion though Townshend and Goldsithney so that we could turn back and do a short route easily, however at Marazion we both felt fit and well and so carried on.

Heading out through Penzance and Newlyn we rode through Mousehole and then up our first (if you ignore the one out of home) big hill of the day up to Paul and then Sheffield. Honest, there is a tiny village to the west of Penzance called Sheffield, there are folk round here who haven't heard of it!

Dropping back down to Newlyn we discussed where we would go next, the decision was made to head out to the North Coast. Dropping down to Pendeen the sun came out and the ride round to Zennor was lovely. Along this stretch we were passed by a man on his racing bike - "Wow, you look like a train! I like it!" Joules said "It's an Extra Wheel - like Jake the Peg, tiddle-iddle-iddle-um". We stopped at the the Tinner's Arms in Zennor for a bite to eat. We should have thought about this as it was Mothering Sunday, and like everywhere else they were full. So two packs of crisps and a J2O made up our sugar and salt intake. The ride out of Zennor to St Ives was a PIG. Short hill after short hill.

The drop down from Halestown to Lelant was a relief and a joy - quick and easy! The problem is the hill up out of Hayle. It is a long hill, and at the end of the ride it seems very hard.

During today's ride we consumed five bananas, two packs of crisps each, two and a half bottles of water, a J2O, Orange & soda. Something amazing happened though: every time Richard threw one it went over the hedge or out of sight! He thinks it was the wind direction that helped, the East wind has finally left us after two or three weeks!

After the ride we were treated to the most wonderful Chinese meal prepared by Joules' Dad. You can't ask better than that!

Leedstown, we have a problem...

It has become increasingly obvious over the past couple of weeks that there must be something wrong with the saddle position on the training bike for Joules. She has started to suffer a little with hip and thigh aches.

Richard has researched his extensive library of cycling books (2) and altered the saddle as best he can. The forward, backward and tilt aspects are all now as correct as possible, however we have hit a hitch. We cannot get the saddle quite low enough by about 1/2 inch meaning that Joules is having to slightly overextend her legs on each rotation of the pedals.

The problem is that the seat post Joules uses on the tandem has a suspension gizmo in it that stops the post moving further down in the frame on the training bike. The downtube on the tandem has a lower top, so no problem there. We tried Richard's seat, but the post is too long and hits the bottom stop before it is quite low enough for Joules.

Unfortunately none of our other bike seat posts are the correct diameter - Richard tried four this morning.

It looks like the only option is a trip to Cyclelogic in Helston to ask them if they can trip an inch off the bottom of Richard's seat post, there's plenty of spare!

All Change!

We've just spent an hour or so researching and booking railway tickets from Penzance to Wick. Yes, we know we were going by motorhome, but "best laid plans" and all that, it's just unforeseen circumstances.

But hey, we're made of strong stuff & we can do this whichever way it comes!

Thanks once more to Sarah at South West Motorhomes who did her best to make a motorhome available to us. Maybe one day, for a normal holiday!

The weight is dropping off Richard at an alarming rate during training while Joules maintains her Limousin like figure (Richard entirely disagrees with this last statement).

Back to railway tickets, the first quote for the journey was nearly £500. By booking separate tickets for each leg of the journey we have managed to reduce this to £134.80 plus booking fee (about £10). That's for both of us!

A Busy 48 hours

Joules would like to add that it was a very stressful 48 hours.

By this we mean train vs. motorhome vs. train vs. motorhome... you get the picture!

Several things have been sort of sorted for the ride over the past day or so. We have sourced a motorhome as a support vehicle and Joules' Dad has agreed to be our support driver on the ride.

One of the consequences of this is that the date for the ride is being brought forward. It will now be the 14th to the 29th May to fit in more easily with the motorhome hire people, South West Motorhomes - Thank you very much for their help, I have added a link to them, and and particularly Sarah Foord for her help.

We have also plotted the route on a map. This started life as a road atlas, now it is a series of laminated sheets we can use on the ride. The route has been highlighted and each page will be discarded with great ceremony and pleasure!

Joules says, after several glasses of wine! (For those that know her one is more than enough), the wedding was far easier to organise in eight days than this is in eight weeks!

Richard also added today that he thinks he needs to up his training. Joules is already doing enough for both of them and he is feeling a bit guilty about this...

Joules adds - get off your backside then! (that's the wine speaking!)

So, we now have a route, transport, accommodation, cooking facilities, emergency backup. It really feels like its happening now.

Going Live

WOW!

We made the decision to go live with our plans yesterday and fired off a round robin e-mail to family and friends. Unfortunately a couple of the e-mail addresses we had were not as up to date as they could have been, but most arrived and the response has been staggering. We are both blown away by all the support we are being offered and the generosity of the donations we have received.

There is still a long way to go before we even leave Cornwall to get to the start line, but we do feel as though we are now taking positive steps in the right direction. With your support that will continue.

A HUGE thank you to everybody who has taken the time to read the blog and support us.

Richard & Joules.

The Tea Party Report

Results from the tea party are now in! Well they have been for a while, we just didn't get round to blogging it!

The day dawned bright & beautiful (thank God) and the final decorations were made to the conservatory - daffodils very kindly donated by Mike Mann of Varfell Farm, added to the ivy round the kitchen door.

Joules had also broken all records completing a rag rug of daffodils in a matter of hours to be sold by silent auction on the day.



A nervous hour was then spent waiting for people to arrive... We don't live in the real world, this is Narnia and people don't just pass, they have to be guided. Fortunately not through a wardrobe, read C.S.Lewis if you're not sure of this - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

But come they did, all of a rush, about thirty in total and our little Cottage did it's Tardis impression and expanded to welcome them all! Copious cups of tea and plates of cakes were consumed and for the late arrivals homemade leek and potato soup was on the Aga.

Like all good things it ended too soon and the money was counted. The total was £300, all raised in three hours. The picture sold for £25 and doggy bags were bought to take home to hubbies who could not attend.

A HUGE thank you to all those who attended and contributed.

Photoshoot

As we are doing the ride to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care (please donate! click on the button to the right) we need to get some publicity so that people know to donate. Friday provided ideal light for a Lord Lichfield moment. Richard did not want to go to Land's End for this - he has never been there and wants the end of the ride to be his first experience of the legendary location. So number 2 son suggested St Michael's Mount as a good backdrop.

On arrival numerous sagaites were well wrapped in their cars supping cups of tea from flasks. No disrespect intended, they were the sensible ones - is was blowing a hooley, and a very cold one at that! The windsurfers were having a whale of a time in the surf off Marazion Beach being photographed by National Geographic.

We definately looked the odd ones out as we carried the bike down onto the beach and then stripped to our warm weather cycle gear - shorts & t-shirt! One photo call was for opposing feet to be bared and displayed (Joules is a chiropodist after all).

Lesson leared - if someone is taking your photo, please ensure they give you notice of when they are pressing the button...

It was difficult to get both of us looking good, but at least the bike looked its best throughout!

Still no news on a back up, and its looking more like the train and unsupported option. This is a shame.

Flying Banana Skins!

Oh how Richard wishes this had been a quote from an Adam West Batman episode! The truth is probably far more rediculous, and certainly raised a few laughs (ending in a toilet stop!), but more of that later.

Wednesday came around, and by some miracle found Richard and Joules both having a day off, and the weather looking half decent. A ride was in the offing!

It started as the reverse of Sunday's ride - out to Hayle, through, although this time along St George's Walk, and then out to Gwithian, up onto the North Cliffs, and this time DOWN HILL into Portreath. Not that it was that much quicker as the sharp corner at the bottom with the road lightly dusted with sand meant you have to hang on to the brakes all the way down.

We then broke from sunday's route by heading up over the hill to Porthtowan. We stopped above Porthtowan for a banana and drink stop - have we mentioned before, bananas are rocket fuel for cyclists! So there was this hedge there with a play area the other side, so Richard didn't want to throw the banana skin over, but into the ditch... only it caught on the bramble and stuck, in FULL view. Joules laughed.

For some reason Joules had been suggesting breaking off from the route through Porthtowan for a few miles. Having never been that way, Richard was not sure why...

Heading out of Porthtowan to the North there is a hill. It is STEEP.

One amazing thing happened though. The weather was bright and clear, sun on our shoulders, and to the left was Porthtowan bay as we climbed the hill, with the most amazing waves building to walls of water at least ten feet high and breaking perfectly as they came in. We were captivated by the sight of these waves crashing in one after the other to such an extent that we didn't realise we had almost reached the top of the hill! Maybe Douglas Adams was on to something when he said that if the distraction is great enough, gravity forgets about you for a few seconds!

From there we headed up to St Agnes, we were offered a race by a couple of horse riders, but declined. Tandems may be fast on the flat and down hill, but up hill they can be pretty slow...

We stopped for a cup of tea/coffee in St Agnes. The tea was good, the coffee was average and the scones were burnt. Needless to say we won't be stopping there again no matter how good the proprietor's collection of tea cups is.

While we stopped for our break we heard on the radio in the cafe about a rather bad crash that had closed the A30 near Hayle. This had quite a bearing on our choice of route home so as to avoid the detour. We headed back to Black Water, then Scorrier and into Redruth. By this time it was raining.

We were both wearing water proof tops, so no problems there but the experience has shown that we need some water proof covering for our legs. This may be the time to invest in Rain Legs - sort of waterproof chaps.

Riding through Scorrier, within the space of five minutes three cars undertook us on roundabouts and several vehicles came so close overtaking us we could have had conversations with their occupants. WHY? Give us some room please!

We decided it probably wasn't a good idea to carry on through Pool and Camborne with the diversions off the A30, so we picked up part of Sunday's route again and headed up the hill out of Redruth to Four Lanes and then on to Troon. We had our last Banana stop here.

So, we had set off with four bananas. Two skins had not quite reached hidden positions, the one from the Redruth stop was still with us as there was no where to dispose of it where we stopped. So Richard threw the first one over his shoulder, the thinking being he couldn't do any worse... WRONG - right on the hedge in full view. Cue laughter. As this was our last break, there was another banana skin. Thinking it couldn't be worse Richard decided to throw it over his shoulder again... Watching the reflection in Joules' glasses he thought it was flying quite well... It wasn't. Banana skins don't fly well... It landed in a tree about ten feet up. In perfect view. Richard needed a wee...

While riding up the hill to Four Lanes, Joules had received a call on her mobile from number 2 son asking if we could pick up some samples for a project from the local farm suppliers. Only a slight detour for us, so we headed down the hill from Troon into Praze am Beeble, then off to Carnhell Green to Gwinear Farmers to collect the samples and data sheets. While there Joules' Dad turned up. He was impressed with what we had done so far.

From there it was only five miles home, and we were grateful for that. After a stop of any length it can take a couple of minutes for the legs to start turning properly again. Lesson learnt - keep the breaks short and stop somewhere warm.

So, Richard had not looked at the distance all the way so it really was guess time. Joules hoped fifty miles, but we both suspected not. In fact we had covered 45 miles in 4 hours and 9 minutes, and average of 10.8 miles per hour.

We are both delighted with this!

More to come yet, so stay tuned!

The Pink Version (Training)

The alarm sounds at about twenty to six, the eyelids refuse to open, hair a mess... Slip cycle shorts over pyjamas, fleecy top, scarf and sometimes a hat (think Wallace & Gromit in the Wrong Trousers!) even though I'm cycling in the dark with nobody looking.

Start off in the racing position, but quickly find this uncomfortable as the handlebars on the tandem give me a more upright posture (sounds good, whatever it means). With eyes closed, sitting bolt upright in the dark, my legs start turning the pedals and I drift off to sleep again!

Richard can hear the whirring of the TT from upstairs, good job he can't see me!

Sarah Kennedy is a must as she covers the most bizarre range of topics at this early hour.

If it's daylight I read - I would suggest smaller books - less heavy. I tried a book I started four years ago, but at 979 pages it is not recommended!

Paperwork

It's all very well deciding to ride from John O'Groats to Lands End, takes about thirty seconds if there are a couple of you who like cycling together and have maybe enjoyed a nice glass of wine with a meal... You get the picture.

If, several days later, you both still like the idea (or are both too embarrassed to admit to the other that you don't think you can do it), the biggest thought is getting in enough training. Actually this can be the easiest part if you have a turbo trainer you can set up in the garage / conservatory. Provided you have a radio or something to aleviate the boredom you can put in the time on the saddle regardless of the weather out side. When the weather is better you go out for real rides. Easy.

After a couple of weeks you start to look at the logistics. How to get to John O'Groats, what route to take, where to stay, how much is all this going to cost?????

There are basically two options - do everything by yourselves, or have a support team. The latter can be the easiest as you then have transport to JoG, and if they are in a motorhome, or similar, you have all your accommodation sorted too. The alternative requires a bit more organisation.

It looks as though we will be going self supported, so a good few hours have been, and will be spent pouring over maps to design a route, and trawling the internet to find accommodation amongst other things.

Getting to JoG.

Fly or train? It is possible to fly from Exeter to Wick (18 miles from JoG). The tandem will not go on the plane though, so a courrier would be required to deliver the bike, and we'd have to get to Exeter (100+ miles)It would mean setting off and arriving on the same day though. The train takes considerably longer, and initial searches showed it costing considerably more, but a little careful research and it would cost roughly half the price of the flights and leave from Penzance (only ten miles away).

A little more research threw a spanner in the works though. We could take tandem with us on the train, but only as far as Edinburgh. Scotrail DO NOT carry tandems on their trains. Everyone else do, but not Scotrail. So we're back to looking for couriers.

Richard is working out how much he can take the bike apart safely to wrap and pack it to be sure it arrives in good condition. We may end up carrying a fair amount of it with us...

As a tenatative idea, we are looking at the support team method, but we need to find a support team.

We will keep you posted!

First Training Ride

Yesterday was our first opportunity (both not working, weather kindish) to get out on the tandem together to see how we are progressing with the training.

WOW!

Within the first ten minutes Joules was cursing as Richard had selected the route... Having climbed the hill out of the village we went on to the next hill - Nancegollan to Black Rock. A long steep narrow lane - Richard thought he might have bitten off more than he could chew as they passed the turn off for Bodilly...

Having read much advice from cyclists who habitually spend all day in the saddle, regular stops for water and a shared banana (five star super fule to the cyclist) were taken, the first at the top of this rise after about 6 miles.

The ride then took in Porkellis - scene of a slight accident a couple of years ago when we last came this way (the gears jammed & we fell off going up a hill!), with the idea of heading towards Helston & then maybe out towards Porthleven. However a change of route was selected and we headed to Redruth - more uphill.

The second break was taken just before Redruth, both of us feeling remarkably fresh. Another choice of routes on offer - back via Camborne and Praze, or on to the coast?

The coast won it and we headed through Redruth and out to Portreath, a nice shallow downhill for a couple of miles, spoilt by a headwind that had suddenly become very icy, and spots of rain. As anyone who has visited Cornwall will know, every downhill is followed by a climb. The climb out of Portreath is a KILLER. Bottom gear all the way. Richard was ready to stop two thirds of the way up, but Joules encouraged him on (lying through her teeth (it's down hill all the way to Hayle after the next corner)). Joules wasn't entirely wrong, there were some down hill sections riding along the cliff road.

Our third break was at North Cliffs where the Natinal Trust have a small carpark with a fantastic view. Carrying on towards Hayle (up the hill out of Hells Mouth) speculation began about the distance travelled. Richard had the advantage here as he has the bike computer that gives all sorts of information - current speed, average speed for the ride, maximum speed for the ride, ride distance, ride time, total miles ridden and the time. Joules guessed, but did not want to know the total.

After the CLIMB out of Godrevy, we rode down into Hayle, deciding to go through the town and home via Tolroy Hill. Our final banana stop was in Hayle, outside Mr Bees Ice Cream shop (closed unfortunately). Then up hill for another two miles or so as we climbed from Hayle, up through St Erth Praze to Fraddam, then on through Leedstown, the drop into Binnerton & up the other side before rolling down the hill to home.

Joules guessed 30 miles... The actual distance ridden - 35.25 miles!

Even better, Joules did not get cold!

We are both really pleased with this ride - the TT has done it's job (and will continue). On New Years Day we cycled 12 miles on the flat and had had enough (largely due to the cold), what a change! Obviously we have a lot further to go. This is about half the daily distance we will need to cover doing JoGLE, however we covered this in a little over three hours even with the hills. So 70 miles in a whole day? It looks and is starting to feel more possible.

The next big hurdle is doing this sort of ride two days running. When we will get two days together is another question entirely, but watch this space!

Tea Party

As part of the fundraising effort, we are hoasting a Tea Party this Saturday morning. Efforts to prepare are in full swing with a list as long as a piece of paper drawn up.

One of the last jobs on the list will be removing the bike and TT from the conservatory. It's getting quite a bashing at the moment and Joules has been an absolute HERO with her efforts - 30 to 50 minutes every morning at 6am! Richard is lagging behind slightly...

The Official Start of Training!

Having set up the Turbo Trainer with my solo bike, both of us had a session this morning, about 40 minutes each steady cycling after breakfast.

It was killing two birds with one stone really, Joules wanted to know how she would get on early after breakfast, as well as how she was feeling cycling. Positive answers to both we're pleased to report! Tomorrow's session will tell how we are at riding two days running, although we're only talking about short periods yet. It will increase!

The biggest problem with TT is boredom. Staying in the same place all the time. Yes we have a good view of the garden from the conservatory, but the weather was poor this morning so even the birds were taking cover. One solution we are trying at the moment is the radio, so Aled Jones on Radio 2 accompanied us today. It does help, honest!

The plan is to increase the length of the runs on the bike, maybe twice a day when we can, and slowly introduce periods of greater effort. The radio is good for this - you can have the equivalent of a sprint for the length of a song - just don't pick something like Stairway to Heaven!

That's it for now. More progress reports to follow!

The start of Training

Training has offically begun (if only in a very small way).

Richard set up his solo bike on a turbo trainer in the conservatory yesterday. For those who don't know a turbo trainer is a device that supports the rear wheel off the ground so that it is running on a roller. This has a device attached to alter the level of effort required to pedal.

While the evenings are dark, and the weather foul, Richard and Joules are going to encourage one another to spend time on the TT as regularly as possible to give us a head start when we are finally able to get out for real!

Photos to follow.

For the record Richard did about half an hour to check it was all running smoothly before the windows steamed up (even with the sky light open!) & he got bored. Need to put the radio in there!

Fundraising

We have received news of Joules' efforts in Helston!

In two hours (or so) standing in a daffodil covered coat and hat, Joules collected more than £150 from the very generous people of Helston for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Thanks to all those who generously donated.

Fundraising

Joules spent a couple of hours on Saturday 23rd fundraising for Marie Curie in Helston dressed in their amazing daffodil coat and hat! Don't yet know how much was raised but we will post it later.

We are also organising a Marie Curie tea party for the 13th February. Cakes galore! In the mean time we've got to get busy making goodies for our guests to purchase.

Cheers, R & J

First Post

Hello All,

Welcome to our Blog! Hopefully over the next few months we will be able to catalogue our progress as we prepare for, and ultimately complete, our ride from John O'Groats to Land's End on the tandem.

We are completing the ride in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care, a fabulous organisation that helped care for Joules' Mum through her illness.

Please tune in as we go along with our adventure, and please donate generously. There will be a Just Giving site set up so we'll let you know about that when we can.

Cheers for now!