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!