The aftermath...

Oh joy, washing...! 

And a few more choice moments...

Where do we go now?...

Chief cook and bottle washer... 

Bradley Wigggins eat your heart out - these are real cyclists' suntans!!

A few more photos from the final day

The final arrival - we weren't sure where to go - you'd think that there would be this huge sign or something saying THIS IS THE FINISH!!!!

And now with the correct mileage and date!!!

We're here!! We did it! All 992 miles of it!!

I did it Daddy, for you xxx K xxx

20 miles to go! Just got to Thurso.

When it was 80 miles to go!

Setting off from the Crask Inn - out of the vortex! 

55 miles to go!!

Our last meal together

Very wind burnt faces!

The Crask Inn

We've just arrived in a vortex of the1950's. This inn is in the middle if nowhere, where the inn keeper and his wife are really quite weird!! Still it's a bed for the.night and some hot food to eat!

Glencoe to Inverness

After our mammouth day in the saddle yesterday, we set of this morning for a not quite so mammouth 82 miles to Inverness!

We were hoping for a relatively easy ride with no major climbs but instead spent 6 hours on a rollercoaster of a road all the way. Ian and Sam abandon us and bombed off and left us to fend for ourselves for the last 20 miles, which would have been fine except we didn't know that's what they'd decided to do so kept expecting them to have stopped for us around the next corner!!!

The B&B was a welcome stop and we are now sitting in an Inverness bar having filled ourselves with nosh!

Apparently there's an England vs Scotland football match tonight so we're hurrying back to the rooms before anything kicks off.!!

Yipee only 2 days left!!

Loch Ness

I looked and looked and looked and looked but saw no monster today :(

Day 11 - the day that went on and on... and on...

After our stop in Glasgow last night with Kate's lovely friend Jane who was the best host ever - washing and drying our smelly gear, making us an amazing breakfast, and giving us all the home comforts we could possibly need - we set out for Glen Coe. Aching legs, knees, ankles, arms and backs aren't making the going easy, but we're in Tyndrum eating as much hot chocolate and fruit cake as we can as there will be nothing to eat in Glencoe village (except for banana recovery drink!) It's a long day - we've done 60 miles so far, with another 30 hilly miles to go... Bring on the hot shower and comfy bed...!

Crossing the Clyde. 

Head winds

We hate head winds, we hate head winds, we hate head winds!!

But safely at the wonderful Jane in Glasgow eating Chinese and chilling. We love her lots xxx

The end of Day 9...

Sitting in a lovely warm Moffat pub, nicely full of food and looking forward to a good night's sleep in our palatial bedrooms back at the hotel! A fairly uneventful day apart from harsh winds and heavy rain - and losing Sam who went speeding past our turn-off, with no phone signal! We caught him up eventually, having been forced to go his way instead, but thanks to Sam we managed to avoid the very big hill - so we're all super-happy! Onward to Glasgow tomorrow...

The Series of Unfortunate events continues...

Today's bike incident was my chain coming off and getting stubbornly stuck between the inner ring and the bike frame - luckily a passing cyclist came to my rescue again and after half an hour of heaving and tugging and poking with an allen key, it was free. 

Like Kate. I found today hard going too - and the last straw was the zip on my bag breaking just as we came in to Keswick... 

But a lovely big hug from lovely Kate and I felt better. 

And while you're all feeling sympathetic, here's a picture of my elbow that I nearly broke last night when I skidded out of the shower! Thank you Student Nurse Kate for all your tender loving care and pandering to all my needs! (putting my socks on was, after all, beyond the call of duty!)

Slaidburn to Keswick

Some of the most beautiful british countryside ever but I had the worst day in the world today. If it wasn't for a phone call from my sis at just the right time and Judy being the best friend ever and some awesome pacing from Ian out of Kendal, I'm not sure I would have made it to Keswick.

Thanks guys xxx  Here's hoping for a better day in the rain tomorrow!! Kate xx

Ps picture of Lake Windermere

Especially for Emma, Giles and Em!!

There's nobody here!!!!

Especially for Emma, Giles and Em!!

There's nobody here!!!!

Day 7 HALF WAY!!!

We made really good time and arrived in Slaidburn about 5.30. We met some crazy Australians along the way who had flown to Holland to pick up their touring bikes before touring Belgium, Denmark and Holland before crossing to Dover, cycling to Lands End to start the end to end - and you all thought we were mad!!!

In the YHA Judy managed to slip over getting out of the shower and crack her elbow on the floor! We all thought bad thoughts but luckily I had picked up a few hints from Nurse Judy when I smacked  my shoulder and with Judy's
bag of tricks by the beginning of the day, she could flex it enough to ride. Yipee!

Between the 2 of us , we're not doing too bad for accidents!!

On our way to Slaidburn

Had a good morning powering our way through  Warrington, Leigh and around Bolton. Stopping for lunch at Bobs Smithy Inn before more climbing. Oh yipee!!

The Ups and Downs of Day 6 -

Clun youth hostel gets the prize for the most picturesque setting - and Clun's pubs served us a good dinner and hearty breakfast.  As for the cycling, it wasn't long before we were greeted by an enormous hill (getting a wee bit fed up with them now!) - then the first disaster of the day - I had a puncture - just as Sam, Ian and Kate disappeared over the brow of yet another hill. Standing forlornly looking at the back wheel, I had to put my non-existent bike mechanical know-how into action. Got as far as trying to get the tyre back on when an elderly (but hardened) lady cyclist arrived and saved me! Just got the wheel pumped up and on the bike when Sam, who had cycled 4miles back up the hill, arrived!

Later, Ian found some well earned comfort in a pack of four chocolate eclairs, and Kate did some impressive run training trying to escape a very persistent bee who seemed convinced she was a yellow flower. Meanwhile, Sam was earning yet more Yellow Jerseys powering up all the hills. It was a long day and our longest so far - 80 miles - or 88 in Sam's case (sorry Sam but hooray for the lady!). And, I have to say, I have never seen such a welcome sight than Runcorn's Holiday Inn!

Two full bellies, ready to start the day...

Kate and family!

And here's the evidence...

RRUNCORN!

We're here 80 miles dome!

We're being attacked by a bumble bee!!!

On our way to Sunny Runcorn!

Motoring along but un beknown to us Judy had punctured so poor old Sam had to ride 4 miles back to rescue her! It's always best to be the youngest and fiittest!!!

Day 5

Lunch in Canon Pyon.

Then a steady up hill slog to Clun, through some of the most beautiful Shropahire countryside. The only trouble is there is never any reception!!

(writing this without glasses on, while Judy mends her puncture, so please excuse mistakes!)

Day 5

Just had quite a steep climb out of Monmouth on our way to Hereford but countryside beautiful and not too much traffic.

Ian  and Sam vying for yellow jersey status up the hills but I think Sam's just pipped at at the moment!! But the day is young!!

Day 5

Just had quite a steep climb out of Monmouth on our way to Hereford but countryside beautiful and not too much traffic.

Ian  and Sam vying for yellow jersey status up the hills but I think Sam's just pipped at at the moment!! But the day is young!!

Opps

Ops meant to post the picture!

Thank you!

Thank you all for your kind words and well wishes. My shoulder is rather bruised and a little stiff but it's quite lucky that you don't have to move it too much to ride a bike!!

Nurse Jooooody is amazing with her bag of special tricks and I'm sure it will be right as rain in a couple of days.

It will take more than a silly fall to stop me!! xxxx

The Severn Road Bridge!

Is very very high and scary, went over looking at the white line as quickly as possible! All the others dawdled across taking lots of photo!!

Love Kate xx

Day 3...

After our night at the Sparrowhawk Backpackers in Moretonhampstead, and a hearty breakfast, we cycled off into the hills. Halfway to Exeter more roadside repairs were necessary after Ian's tyre-valve decided to spontaneously combust. Exeter is not an enjoyable place to go cycling, as Kate found to her cost when she fell off - on the pavement. fortunately nothing broken but she now has a very sore shoulder. But we stopped at a very helpful and kind cafe where we consumed tea and bananas and had a chance to ice and dose up the wounded Kate. Minutes later she was off to tackle the next big hill. This one was a walking job for most of us - 16% and 2 miles long - but the yellow jersey goes to Sam who pounded his pedals all the way  up! That boy deserves respect! Then the rain came down - in torrents - with a scarily steep 2-mile descent to negotiate, hindered further by glasses that were steamed up and splattered with rain. But we got to Glastonbury eventually, after 75 miles of cycling, very hungry, very wet, very dirty and very smelly. But all part of the course for four tough End2Enders, who just get tougher.

Our luxury 14 bed dorm! Beds make useful clothes dryers!

Men at work! 

Day 2!!

After setting off from Lands End in a blaze of glory, supplied by Mike and Keith, the enormity of the task ahead of us truly hit home. We hit the first huge hill within 2 miles and they just didn't stop all day!!!
We arrived in Fowey hot, tired and very hungry! The sun had shone all day and we all caught it down our right sides only and so look completely ridiculous!

However, we woke up this morning to torrential rain and gail force winds! Typical summer's day......

The ride to Plymouth was wet and uneventful but after the short ferry crossing we were powering our way towards Yelverton up yet more hills(!) when Ian's chain snapped!!!! Eeeeekkkk!!!

Just as well he's a nerdy cycle head because not only had he the tools in one of the bags, he also just sat at the side of the road in the pouring rain and just fixed it!!! 20 mins later we were back on our way.

Dartmoor was misty, wet and extremely tough but we're now safely in Moretonhampstead and ready for our beds.

Tomorrow is another day!

Day One: Saturday 3 August

At the start line at Land's End, and off they go...

This next photo was just after the 'Ready, Steady Go' moment, as they disappeared off for Day 1...

Kate's report following the day's cycling at the end of Saturday was: "a hot, long, hard day".

(Pseudo-blogger: ER20130805)

Land's End - and we're off!!

 

10am yesterday morning - fresh legged and full of breakfast... 

The Last Supper!

stuffed!

Still on the M4....

It's very busy...

Sam's got the right idea!

On our way!

M4 - heading west!

Getting ready.......part 4!!

How is all this:

going to fit into these:

Getting ready...part 3

FUEL!

How many bars, hydration sachets, gels do we need? And how do we fit them all in??!!

Getting ready......part 2

MAP BUILDING!

Who needs satnav????

CLEANING!

Cleaned,oiled and ready to go 

(and yes, Callum is still asleep behind the patio doors!!!)

Judy and Sam's Chosen Charity - Teenage Cancer Trust

Our chosen charity is Teenage Cancer Trust - which does amazing work by supporting teenagers and young adults, mindful of their individual and age-specific needs, through all the stages of cancer - from diagnosis to treatment and beyond. 

Our JustGiving page is:

http://www.justgiving.com/Judy-Howard/

Please give generously!

Thank you

love Judy and Sam xx

Kate's Chosen Charity - Mesothelioma UK

My chosen charity to support to make this mad, mad ride more meaningful is Mesothelioma UK - a small charity raising funds funds to help support those who have been diagnosed with this incurable asbestos based cancer.

My JustGiving page is :

http://www.justgiving.com/mymadcycleride

Please give anything you can spare - every little helps.

You can even text your donation to:

70070 to donate now just text  KSWR66 £2 / £5 / £10 - it's so easy!!!

Thank you very much

Kate xx

Stage details of Our Mad Adventure

As I sit to enter the daily stage details of our adventure - it suddenly begins to feel so VERY, VERY real! Ian is getting more and more excited while I'm getting more and more terrified! A week today and we will have just stopped for lunch and are now on our way to St Austell and the first night's rest at Fowey. EEK!

Anyway, as promised, here are the stage details:

Day 1 - Lands End to Fowey - 64 miles
via Penzance, north of Falmouth, King Harry Ferry, St Austell and Fowey.

Day 2 - Fowey to Moretonhampstead -55 miles
via Looe, Plymouth, Yelverton,  across Dartmoor to Moretonhampstead

Day 3 - Moretonhampstead to Street/Glastonbury - 72 miles
via Dunsford, Exeter, north of Honiton, south of Taunton, (poss detour to Muchelney to visit Middle Ages hamlet) Langport, Somerton, Street/Glastonbury

Day 4 - Street/Glastonbury to Monmouth - 68 miles
via Shepton Mallet, Wells, Chew Valley Lake, east of Nailsea, Bristol, Severn Road Bridge (very scary), Chepstow, Tintern Abbey, Monmouth

Day 5 - Monmouth to Clun - 53 miles
via Wormelow Tump, Hereford, west of Leominster, Walford(not from Eastenders!), Clun

Day 6 - Clun to Runcorn - 80 miles
via Pontesbury, Shrewsbury, Hanmer, south-west round Chester, Frodsham, Runcorn

Day 7 - Runcorn to Slaidburn - 63 miles
via Warrington, Bolton, Blackburn, Whalley, west of Clitheroe and Slaidburn

THE FIRST 7 DAYS COMPLETED!!!!!!!!

Day 8 - Slaidburn to Keswick - 71 miles
via Gressingham, Burton-in-Kendal, Kendal (for mint cake!), Windermere, Dunmail Raise (not sure I like the sound of that !!) and Keswick

Day 9 - Keswick to Moffat - 72 miles
via B5299 (o nowhere!), Dalston, Carlisle, Longtown, Ecclefechan, Lockerbie, Johnstonebridge and Moffat

Day 10 - Moffat to Glasgow - 70 miles
via Abington(!), Happendon Services, Larkhall, Cambuslang, cycle path along the Clyde through centre of Glasgow, Renfrew, Brookfield

Day 11 - Brookfield to Glen Coe - 82 miles (longest day yet!)
via Erskine Bridge, Lock Lomond, Tarbet, Crianlarich,  Bridge of Orchy, Glencoe

Day 12 - Glencoe to Inverness - 83 miles (longest day yet again!)
via Fort William, Achnacary, Fort Augustus, Whitebridge, Torness and Inverness

Day 13 - Inverness to The Crask Inn - 66 miles (haaa piece of cake................not!)
via North Kessock, Dingwall, west of Alness, Bonar Bridge, Lairg, The Crask Inn

Oh thank goodness the final day.....

Day 14 - The Crask Inn to John O'Groats - 83 miles (nothing like leaving the easiest day till last!!!)
via Alnaharra, Syre, Bettyhill, Melvich, Dounreay, Thurso, Castletown, Dunnet and John O'Groats (there is an alternative route from Castletown to John O'Groats on the NCN1, which avoids the A836 but it adds a further 1.5 miles onto the day and quite frankly, I personally will not wish to do it!!!!!!!)

WE'RE HERE!

Getting ready...

Thought I had better get started on getting the bike equipped for Epic Adventure.  Essentially - a rear carrier.  What a struggle!  But eventually got it on and I think it'll prove to be a very handy travelling companion...

Meanwhile... Sam is training hard...

SAD FACE :(

Just went for a wonderful ride through Sutton Courtney, Steventon, Blewbury, Cholsey and home via Whittenham Clumps but arrived back with the unwelcome addition of a saddle sore :(

New Shoes.........

My new - yes, I can now actually walk in these - cycle shoes have arrived! So exciting!! (Little things please my little mind :) )

Was planning to go out tonight and try them out but it's raining so I'll pop to Tesco instead and buy yummy food to entertain the girls tomorrow!

I've been trying really hard to eat well and healthily over the last couple of months but failed completely today as Nicky kept feeding me Maltesers - still they are mostly air - and MK and Katherine made me eat chocolate pudding and chocolate sauce at lunch! Tomorrow is another day.............

(ohhhh, just remembered the girls are coming round for eats- another day blown!)

Superwoman!

Judy is incredible - she runs 5k and then comes round and we go for a 31 mile cycle - the woman is a legend!

HACKPEN HILL - 17% or for those of us still working in old money 1:6!!!!!

Ian definitely looks more comfortable going up hill than I do. I was taking my mate Gemma's advice of singing songs from musicals when the going got tough - can anyone guess the song????

One Big training ride down...

Great Western Shortie

The Great Western Sportive... Lovely countryside but arriving late meant that Sam and I were a tad behind our co-intrepid explorers.  After about 20 miles Sam's cleats got stuck in his pedals which necessitated a roadside stop to inspect the problem. I used the opportunity to inspect my own shoes in an attempt to discover why they wouldn't clip in at all. The answer: I'd forgotten to put my cycle shoes on and was still wearing my trainers (I was even marvelling at how comfortable 'my new cycle shoes' were...)!  So... back on the road, but by this time we had the mop-up-the-stragglers man hot on our heels taking down the signs as we passed them! He did tell us not to rush, but when we got to the first checkpoint it was bucketing down with rain and we were advised to take a shortcut. We followed this sensible advice and joined the course further along and completed 50 miles, equivalent to the short route. Not bad though, having sustained a broken shoulder on a scarily similar route two months ago!  At the finish, we confessed to our shortened race and gratefully accepted the hot drink. We had warmed up a bit when Kate and Ian came in to finish the middle distance of 72 miles. Respect! What a Grand Day Out  - bring on the next!

The amazing pacemaker - Ian was a star! The first of the 8 'wee' stops one or other of us had to make over the course of the ride!

The Great Western Sportive

Weeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllll - we completed it! Some of us did slightly more miles than others but we all rode up the mad almost vertical hill! I can't remember the name of it but it was very steep. Ian was a star and paced me all the way round the 72 miles and only ever left me when I was travelling so slowly up the hills that he rode on and waited for me at the top. Can I please order portable loos every 20 miles on the ride from LE to JOG? Hiding behind hedges with 4 foot high stingy nettles - is not my idea of fun!

I remember the day clearly too - all sitting around the table, dressed in white robes, having a cup of tea and carrot cake, and discussing exercise. Then the plan was hatched! We've all done some cycling before but nothing quite on this scale, so it will be a true test of endurance. It's something each of us have had on our adventure wish-list for a long time, and now that Big Adventure is just a few months away! Better start training...

Land's End to John O'Groats on 5 bicycles!

I remember the moment quite clearly when I first mentioned to my best friends that I wanted to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats. It was met by a period of stony silence and then a rather longer period of raucous laughter! We were sitting in Champneys, being spoilt rotten, celebrating Helen's special birthday. I thought it was about time I did something, something that was going to really challenge me, something that I could tell my grandchildren about, something I could say -

 I DID THAT!

Judy was sitting on my right, she leant over and very quietly whispered in my ear - "I'll do it with you!" 

So between then and now, we picked up another 3 loony beings - Ian, Sam and Will - and here we are 101 days before the start of Our Mad Cycling Adventure!