Kindness and generosity rolls on....

Since finishing the ride three key things have happened that bring all the kindness and generosity I was shown during the ride flooding back, as well as the emotion.
1) An unsolicited very generous donation from my physio.
2) The offer of a beautiful holiday cottage for a week to auction to raise more funds for the charity.
3) Pierre and Maureen the Scots living in Canada who I met on the ferry from Gourock to Dunnoon have made a generous donation via Just Giving now they have got back to Canada.

They and so many others have shown me the basic goodness in the majority of people, we need to celebrate this more, rather than the negative side of modern life that is often portrayed. So ends the sermon for today.

Final thoughts...

Been looking at the final stats for the whole 10 day trip and they make very interesting reading.
Total distance 1029 miles
Time taken 66 hours 7 minutes
Average speed 15.8 mph
Total ascent 53,562 ft
Total kcals burnt while riding 58,045

Here are some comparisons -
Mount Everest is 29,035 ft above sea level, so I climbed it 1.8 times over the 10 days.
Ben Nevis is 4,409 ft above sea level, so I climbed it 12 times, more than once every day.
Mount Snowdon is 3,560 ft above sea level, so I climbed it 15 times, 1.5 times a day.
Scafell is 3,209 ft above sea level, so i climbed it nearly 17 times, 1.7 times per day.
These are the three highest peaks in Scotland, Wales and England and the total for the three would be 11,178 ft, so I climbed the combined height nearly 5 times.
Where would 1,000 miles get me from home in Liverpool?
Trondheim in Norway
Uppsala in Sweden
Warsaw or Krakow in Poland
Budapest, Murcia, Rome or Lisbon to name but a few more. It makes you think, all I did was ride from one end of our country to the other and we live in a fairly small country.
Alternatively, the 1,000 miles would have got me 1/3rd of the way across America coast to coast. Now there's a ride....

Day 10 of the ride, the last day

The final day of an amazing adventure dawned with bright sunshine. I wanted to get out early to make the most of the day, hit the road at 8.15. Went past the Dunroamin Hotel, who stayed open and fed me last night. If you ever go to Bonar Bridge don't go to the Bridge Inn, spend your money at Dunroamin and tell them I sent you. Filled my bottles and pockets at Lairg as there is nothing after this for 30 miles but wilderness, the road is single track with passing places. The bad weather came in as I left, back to cold, wet through, frozen hands and feet with 'ice cream' headache. It stopped as I got near to the Crask Inn, a pub that opens when they feel like it in the wilderness. It was open, just a Belgian couple inside as the owner had gone out for 10 minutes. Took on the traditional coffee & cake. The cake was a German recipe for friendship cake, made with yeast. The idea being that you pass some of the yeast on to friends. Not what you expect to learn in a Scottish wilderness. Caught up with another ender just before getting to Tongue. Tom and I shared some experiences. He was stopping there so we went our own ways. I had reached the north coast and turned east, the road is a rollercoaster for about 25 miles. I was still having the same problems with my right thigh as yesterday but my odd riding style was also causing me an achilles problem. Reaching Thurso was a key moment, 19 miles to go, time for a last coffee & cake infusion. The last 19 miles passed and I turned left 1/4 mile from John'o'Groats. Took off my rain jacket and gilet, it might have been cold and rainy but I wanted to arrive in my Help for Heroes top. Rolled into the car park and up to the post. Guess what, just like Lands End, the sign is private and as it was 5.30 the photographer had taken it home. I had my photo taken with a post minus any fingers. After phoning home I went back up the road to wait for a bus. Waited in a bar with a pot of tea. An Aussie couple chatted about what I had done and I got a final donation from 2 cyclists due to start tomorrow. They and their wives joined me to ask for advice. I told them to take time to enjoy it and meet other people. When the bus came the cyclists paid for my tea. The bus driver had lots of questions for me too, a nice way to round up the trip. The ride was the physical challenge I expected but brought emotional and mental challenges I never expected. Every rider I met lost track of time, days and places. The lesson was about the journey, not places, days or times. I beat the negative thoughts that came through, I didn't let the weather stop me. Today I even growled at it, testosterone running high. Every text, call or message helped me to get through this, everyone who encouraged me, rode with me or took time to wish me well motivated me. I didn't do this on my own, I did it with all of you. Thank you all for helping me to help the real heroes. Biggest thanks to my wife, Gill, she gave me the time and encouragement to do this and I will never forget the adventure she made possible. A final thought, get out there and challenge yourself to do something extraordinary, you will never regret it.

Day 9 of the Ride

Two things broke today. Firstly, the weather which was grey, cold and wet from the moment I woke up. Spent extra time faffing around at the b&b, probably didn't want to go out in it, left at 9am. There were showers all day, you would just start to get warm when the rain would start again, a couple of hail storms were particularly nasty. Peeling frozen fingers off the handle bars is not something you would expect to do in late May. Met up with a group of 10 riders from Essex on a 15 day end to end. Rode with them for half an hour but had to leave them as they were too slow. Visited the commando memorial at Spean Bridge which was very emotional. There is something about this ride that really exposes emotions. Shortly afterwards saw some riders at a cafe with Help for Heroes tops, I pulled in, unzipped my rain cape and said 'snap'. Turned out they were a group of 6 squaddies from the gunners plus a commando all doing the end to end from north to south. Their support driver was an Everton fan. Took a coffee break with them and then continued north. Next stop was sitting on the ground at a petrol station with Dave, a young Edinburgh guy on an old bike, no training, no plan, fuelled on Coca Cola and chocolate, very laid back. You seem to form an immediate bond with other enders, part of a shared emotional experience. What else broke today? After the last 2 days of feeling invincible on the bike, ready to ride all day I developed a problem just over my right knee. Not sure what it is but know I can't put full power through my right leg without causing pain. Had to slow up and take it very easy up the hills, riding up them with one and a half legs. The combination of the weather and my leg made for a difficult day. I expected this to be a physical challenge but it is also mentally and emotionally challenging. Arrived at Bonar Bridge at 7.30pm, cold, wet, tired and sore. By the time I got cleaned up it was about 8.30 so I headed to the Bridge Hotel for a meal and a drink. Turned out I was 10 minutes too late to order and they would not feed me. They said there was nowhere else in the village to eat either. Looked like it was a Ginsters from Spar, turned out that closed at 8. Went back to the b&b to find out where else I could go. She rang around and a hotel at the other end of the village agreed to stay open if I was ok with soup & a sandwich. The place looked nothing special but the couple who ran it were absolutely brilliant. The beef sandwich was local beef slow roasted for 18 hours in their Raeburn. The soup was leek & potato, equally delicious. They saved the day for me. Total today 116miles, 15.0 average, 5160ft climbing, 7hr 42 riding. One day to go, I'm going to be there tomorrow after another 110 to 120 miles.

Day 8 of the ride

The day dawned bright & sunny again but still a cold northerly headwind to ride into all day. Anyone riding from north to south has had an advantage on me so far. Saw the Firth of Clyde for the first time as I rode north to the Gourock Ferry. Time for the first coffe & cake infusion while I waited for the 11.20 sailing. On board met a Scot now living in Canada, here with his wife for a bereavement. Pierre, unusual name for a Scot but he had a French father. He had lived in Ayreshire so I showed him my route. He picked out a place called Stair where I stopped at the pub for a coffee yesterday. He described the pub perfectly. He has cousins living in Maghull, which is where I am from because an uncle moved to Liverpool. He has taken my details to make a donation lovely couple. The scenery changed after the ferry, water, mountains and forest everywhere with huge skies. Made a stop in Inverary which looked magnificent as I approached. Continued to head north, magnificent views everywhere and quiet roads. Planned to stop at Connel for tje final break, filled up on cake and some fudge. Crossing the bridge on leaving was dodgy as the wind was blowing me sideways. 28 miles still to but the force was with me, I called for more power and it was there, covered the final miles in 1hr 45, man on a mission to get to the pub! Longest planned day of the trip, 137miles, average 16.1mph, 4800ft climbing, 8hr 30, 7600kcal. Fuel consumption - tea, juice, fruit, porridge, honey, toast, marmalade for breakfast, two coffees and three cakes on route, 4 1/2 litres energy drink, 7 carbohydrate gel sachets, fruesli bar, 3 squares of fudge, 1 pint protein milk shake, evening meal casserole, dumplings, potatoes, veg, sticky toffee pudding, cream, 2 pints Magners! Two days to go, crossing my fingers the dry weather holds.

Day 7 of the ride

Yesterday was the toughest day of the ride.Feeling a lot more positive again today.Rode with my first other end to enders before and after Dumfries and shared a cafe stop with them. Made another cafe stop 2 hours later on my own, got my 1st donation of the day and set off up the road.20 mins later stopped at the side of the road for a minute, noticed a car reverse back up toward me. When driver got out realised it was the guy from the last cafe. He produced my maps that I had left lying on the cafe table.Stopped 2 hours later at the pub for a coffee. Headed on to Stevenston for tonights stop. Another 115 miles, 7hrs 11 min, ave 16, 4500ft of climbing. Back on form today.Struggling with technology and can't send my photo's at the moment. Starting to get excited about reaching the end.( New shorts allowed sun through and I,ve now got sunburn stripes on my rear!)

Day 6 of the ride

Met up at the shop in Ormskirk at 9am, very pleased with the turnout. Alex and the Pirate were there yo wish me well. The General. Pete M , and Ian H all rode North with me. It had been a strange feeling leaving home again but the guys at the shop raised my moral.Pete ant the General only had an hour or so free so we went to a cafe at Brepherton for an early cuppa before they had to turn around. Ian and I carried on to the cafe at Scorton for the first cake of the day. It was a good ride out and the temperature picked up. After the stop I headed north and Ian went home.I hope I have convinced more people to have a go at the end to end. I planned to stop in Kendal but decided to carry on when I got there. The next stop was Penrith but only after climbing Shap Fell. A big old climb with at least one summit which fooled me into thinking I was over it, but I wasn't it descended and climbed again. The run to Penrith felt like a long one, should have taken on coffee and cake at Kendal. When I got there everything was shut apart from Morrisons. The store was being rebuilt so was housed in a temporary marquee. The best I could find was carrot cake, soreen and water. All consumed on a bench outside. The sat nav stopped giving me directions after Penrith and part of the route disappeared. Hope its ok tommorrow. Big day today, big days now all the way to the end. 120miles, 15.5 average, 7hrs 45, 4900ft of climbing. Of to Scotland in the morning.

Day 5 of the ride

The day dawned bright and early in Church Stretton ready for day 5, the half way point in time when I get home tonight. Top breakfast at the B&B and got my first donation after breakfast, before we had even left.
The tandem was looking resplendent with various essential items taped to the frame, sun cream, after sun, puncture repair foam, spare zip ties, etc. The pole for the pirate flag was not long enough so the first stop was at Dobbies Garden World outside Shrewsbury, see the photo.
Headed for Wem but is was shut, a bit of a ghost town on a Sunday, carried on towards Whitchurch and found a cafe, petrol station, bar, farm shop, coffee lounge, petting zoo and barbers all combined (made the last 2 up, but this place had something for everyone).
Thought we would attract all the attention as we arrived, it's not every day you see an end to end rider accompanied by a tandem flying the skull and crossbones but it wasn't to be. There parked outside was a gleaming tandem trike.....the proud owners sitting outside taking coffee and cake.
Heard from Steve and Kev, who are tackling the end to end from 10th June who had ridden south to meet us and we met up a bit later at Tarporley. We made quite a group. Two end to enders on a tandem. Me, an end to, well the middle and two would be end to enders from 10th June.
Made another cake stop at a nice garden centre somewhere in rural Cheshire, very nice, very expensive, very polite but everything kept arriving in the wrong order, too many staff involved, various things duplicated. But in true end to end spirit, it really doesn't matter.
Headed back through Warrington and I was starting to feel excited about getting home. Hit some familiar roads from Newton and lost my outriders at Long Lane as we went our separate ways. Thanks to all the guys for riding with me today, very surreal group, great fun, another smiley day.
Made home 15 minutes later, very exciting to be back although i am sure it will feel odd tomorrow leaving for another 5 days riding.
Todays totals,93m, 16.9average, 2800ft of climbing (flattest day so far), 5hr 35 riding. Another top day and apparently it gets better from the lakes into Scotland!

Day 4 of the Ride

Great roads today, no traffic, quiet, peaceful and great weather. Seemed to be day for roadsigns. Standish is close to home and loved the one that said 'Fools speed ahead'. Could be my motto for this week. Stopped at some roadworks in Gloucester and a guy crossed the road to shake my hand. Ice cream stop for the first time today at Gloucester docks. First coffee and cake taken on board in Newent. Everyone claims to have the best coffee in the village. I need a sign 'the only end to ender in the village.' Came across a town crier competition in Bromyard so stopped to take a look. They were all sheltering from the sun, not dressed appropriately for the weather. More coffee & cake taken on in Tenbury Wells, still being given donations whenever stop. Eating more cake = collecting more money. The road into Tenbury was melting so I really know what riding through tar feels like. Ended up with pebble dashed tyres. Got to Church Stretton minutes before El Pirata [Steve Hodge, Marco Pantani body double]. Knightrider [not sure why aka Colin Jones] arrived later by train. Good to have some company, great meal in local pub. Then an end to end coincidence, Julliette who left the company I work for about 3 1/2 years ago came in the pub on a hen party. James, if you are reading this she said you are into cycling, then you have got to do the end to end! Todays scores 94m, 4600ft climbed, average 15.4mph, 6hrs riding.

Day 3 of the Ride

Into the unknown, first time I have ridden more than 2 days on the run. Felt pretty good this morning, could feel the miles in my legs during the day but went well. Sat-nav had me on a busy dual carriageway so broke out the map and ended up at RNAS Yeovilton. Next to it was the Fleet Air Arm Museum so sat outside in the sun with the days first coffee and cake. The guy in the picture got chatting, Al who has been in the servoce 30 years, helicopter pilot & instructor. His daughter was visiting the museum and he was due to start work. He was todays first sponsor too, a pleasure to meet him. Had another stop in Frome, apparently pronounced Froome. I am definitely in the right pace for this ride now. The main reason for todays route was to visit Wootton Bassett. I ended up going past RAF Lyneham so I guess I followed the same route into Wootton Bassett as the repatriated servicemen. Definitely made me think. Visited the war memorial in the town and found it very emotional, sat down nearby to have a quiet moment. Glad I made the visit to pay my respects. Headed off to tonights stop at a cottage on a farm near Malmesbury. Too far to walk to the pub though but the owners were going for Chinese takeaway so got me one. Another good day on the road. Todays numbers 93m, 5hr 55min, 15.8 av mph, 3667ft.

Day 2 of the Ride

Been riding with a smile on my face all day, although it may have become slightly twisted up some of the steeper climbs! I have to say hello to Charlotte and Sam, the children who live at last nights b&b. The only problem is that I travel all that way to find out Sam is a Liverpool fan! Charlotte gave me a present at breakfast, a Match Attax collector card of Phil Jagielka. Thank you Charlotte, Phil will come with me all the way to John'o'Groats as my good luck charm. Went over Dartmoor today which was awesome, lots of ponies with foals and sheep with lambs. The wind was against me but you can't do anything about that. I have really got into the pace for the next 10 days today. I only have to get from A to B, how long I take and how often I stop doesn't matter. I am just enjoying passing through, even taking it easy up the hills, why slog up them, get a really low gear and you can still enjoy the scenery. Todays photo is typically Devon countryside, overcast but clear and warm. Two great coffee and cake stops today, Moretonhampstead and a special mention for Boston Tea Party in Honiton. Fantastic apple and blueberry flapjack with yoghurt topping. While I was in there I was also given £16 for the charity by a group of ladies. Another moment to lift the spirits was the passer by in Exeter who called out 'well done.' I assume that was for supporting the charity rather than exposing my milky white legs for the first time this year. Made tonights stop, Chard just as the sun broke through. The high street looks great. Writing this in Weatherspoons, it's curry night, £4.99 with a pint. Todays totals 80.5m, 5hr 27, 7500ft of climbing. Average speed today 14.8mph, a combination of lots of hills and adopting the right attitude to the trip. Riding with a smile might slow you down but it feels good.

Day 1 of the Ride

Stayed in Sennen Cove before the first day, woke early, hearty breakfast, strolled to the harbour, drizzly day but who cares I am off riding my bike. Spoke to everyone at home then decided it was time to get kitted up. After spending Saturday morning laying all my kit, spares, food, toiletries, etc I spread it all out ready to dress and pack. Then that sinking heart feeling! What, no shorts! Can't understand how I managed it. Quick call to the guy who drove me down and off to Penzance to become 90 pounds lighter at the bike shop. Who privatised Lands End, the only way to get to the iconic fingerpost is to pay to have your photo taken. The Cameron/Clegg government need to put these iconic monuments back into public ownership, never mind proportional representation. Spent the entire day in a grey, drizzly mist, never actually saw anything beyond the hedgerow. Stopped at a shop near tonights b&b and a little old lady stopped to tell me she had passed me on the hill, and yes, she was in a car not on her bike. She gave me £3 for the charity which made my day. The couple at the b&b offered to feed me as I was riding for charity which was really kind and a great meal. Finished off with home made fruit crumble & custard, then cake. My mum had a visit from a nurse today who saw printed copies of my blog there and donated £10 to support me. Three acts of kindness, a good day out. Todays totals 80 miles, 4hr44, 17average.

Day 10, the final day, Bonar Bridge to John'o'Groats!

110 miles, 5741ft of ascent.

Day 9 Ballachulish to Bonar Bridge

115 miles, 5777ft of ascent.

Day 8 Stevenston to Ballaculish

135 miles, 5665ft of ascent.

Day 7 Carlisle to Stevenston

114 miles, 3965ft of ascent.

Day 6 Home to Carlisle

116 miles, 4633ft of ascent.

Day 5 Church Stretton to home

88 miles, 2706ft of ascent.

Day 4 Malmesbury to Church Stretton

93 miles, 4366ft of ascent.

Day 3 Chard to Malmesbury

90 miles, 3374ft of ascent.

Day 2 Liskeard to Chard

79 miles, 6886ft ascent.

My route for the 10 days

Spent this morning sorting the bike, putting the rack on, giving it a last clean. Then packed all of my clothes, toiletries, spares, etc, into the pack to make sure everything fitted, it did! Sent the first of my 'food parcels' off in the mail today to the first 4 B&B's as well. That's all the last minute stuff done, might go out Sunday morning for a gentle social ride with the club, if the weather is OK.

Attached are my routes for the 10 days of the journey so you will have some idea where I am each day. Day 1 is the start from Lands End on Wednesday 19th May.
84 miles, 6490ft of ascent.

Final week's training

Well, that's the last full week of training completed! Went out both days over the weekend, put in plenty of climbing on Saturday, I really should have counted how many times I have been over Winter Hill so far this year. This is the hill in all it's glory.

Also ended up with the club ride on Sunday back over Winter Hill again!

Since committing to do the ride back in January I have clocked up 3,000 miles in training and too many hours to count. Physically, I am as ready as I ever will be. Excited and nervous about what it will be like to ride for 10 consecutive days for some where between 1,000 to 1,100 miles. Still sorting the last details, booking B&B's, getting the bike serviced, checking the kit, etc. The target for this week is to rest up, a few steady miles to keep the legs ticking over and eat a lot of carbs, and I mean a lot of carbs.

Center Parc weekend

With 3 weeks to go everything us still looking good. Highpoint of the week was a trip to Center Parcs just outside Penrith for a long weekend with the family. Travelled up on Friday and I set out on Saturday, with a creaky bike, to cover some of the northern lakeland mountain passes. The first place to get me thinking was Greystoke, made me think about Tarzan. Somewhere in the Tarzan legend was Greystoke, or was it Greystokes? I'm still not sure but it gave me something to think about.

The weather was beautiful and the scenery looked fantastic, the lake is Buttermere which looked amazing.

The creaky bike was a bit of a worry as it had just come out of the shop but it seems to be one of those intermittent faults that mechanics must
love. Whenever you put your car or bike, in for a check the noise never
happens, but the minute you get it back, there it is. Still, it got me through the day, creaks and all.

I did cover quite a few of the northern mountain passes as I had wondered about covering the route of a very well known sportif ride in the Lakes called the Fred Whitton Ride. This covers about 112 miles and takes in all of the best known mountain passes. This means it includes over 12,000ft of climbing, a real tough ride. As I was in the wrong place to start, Penrith and my bike was creaking I decided to give it a miss. I did come across a sign for the ride, advising motorists that on Sunday 9th May there would be 1,000 cyclists on the road taking part in the ride.

The photo I took of the sign was at the bottom of the Honister Pass, which as you looked up the valley zigged and zagged up into the distance and
disappeared at what looked like a cafe. It was a cafe, the Sky High, when I got there but it wasn't quite at the top which was a bit demoralizing when I realized there was still a bit further to climb.

Sat and had a coffee and a muffin in Keswick market square, still basking in the sunshine before setting off for the second half of the ride. This would take me over the Kirkstone Pass. The weather broke just before the pass, torrential rain, dark, grey and very wet! Terrible conditions for the climb but no option but to carry on. The rain lasted about half an hour then it took the same time again to get warm, not the best hour of the weekend. Still, that was all the major climbing done for the day. Covered 101 miles and climbed 7,300ft, a tough day out but apart from the storm over the Kirkstone Pass, a good one.

Saturday night at Center Parcs we entered a pub quiz and won on a tie break about how far a mole can tunnel in a day. First prize was £30 which paid for the night out. We even beat a team that had someone who looked just like Jesus in it. He came over to ask me what our answer was for the mole question, you would have thought he would have known that. The answer was 80 yds, we put 90 and the Jesus look-a-like went for 40.

Had to leave on Monday to come home, so of course I decided to ride home. Lovely weather, even though the wind was cold it did stay behind me for a good part of the day. Stopped in Scorton at a well known cycling cafe for a coffee and cake. (Still eating plenty of cake). Just inside the door was a collection of bike locks on a rail. When I asked, the waitress pointed out they were all combination locks and that they were left by regulars so they could lock there bikes up when they got there. Had another good days training, even putting in a time trail effort from Hutton back to home, managed the first 10 miles in just under half an hour and the full 19 miles home in 1 hr 21 seconds. I was pleased with the effort as I had covered 82 miles at Hutton. Got in another 101 miles and 5,200ft of climbing.

Just 2 weeks to go, that's 1 more week training and the last week, easing up on the miles, resting and eating lots of carbohydrates.

Back to the centre of GB

First fast run of the year with the club this week, gave me a useful 42 miles at nearly 19mph. Also decided to have another go at my route around the Trough of Bowland that I had to abandon last week. With the sat-nav set, off I went on Saturday. Great weather, beautiful scenery, peace and quiet. Made it to the phone box in Dunsop Bridge that marks the centre of Great Britain, that was also the 100,000th phone box ever installed! Who said cyclists were boring!
Stopped for a coffee and basked in the sunshine for a while too. This is a picture of the box with the bike I will do my ride on, kitted out for the first time as I will ride it. I have borrowed a seat post pack which will hold all my worldly possessions for 10 days. I set it up and put some weight in it to replicate what it will feel like on the journey. It worked very well, just changes the way the bike handles a bit, but should be no problem.
Put in 107 miles and 5,000ft of climbing plus rode back into a headwind for about 1.5hours, so it was a tough day. Another 200 mile plus week.
The ride gets closer, 25 days to go. I have trained well, over 2,500 miles on the bike as well as a few hours on a turbo trainer. I have sorted out my nutrition for the ride, know what I need to fuel up on during the 10 days. I have planned a route, that now takes me through Wootton Bassett but adds about 50 odd miles. I have trained with the seatpack I will carry everything in.
What's left to do? Just split my route into 10 days, book B&B's, make sure they have somewhere I can store my bike and wash my kit, that they will take in a parcel for me containing all the energy products I will use. Arrange getting to Lands End and back from John'o'Groats. Get my bike serviced, sort some spares and tools to carry. Maybe invest in some different shorts? Used my new club shorts for the Trough ride on Saturday which have left me a bit saddle sore. (Enough detail!). I can't afford to have the trip spoilt by something like that, not after all the effort that has gone into it so far.
I think I need to get busy on the logistics, it feels very close now.

Journey to the centre of Great Britain

Why the phone box? I decided that my target for Saturdays ride would be to visit the exact geographic centre of Great Britain. It is in Dunsop Bridge and the exact spot is marked by this phone box with beautifully etched glass and a placque explaining its unique position. Only this is not my photo. I set off but just after leaving Preston, heading towards Longridge my trusty steed starting making ominous noises. If any of you know the Forest of Bowland area you will know it is one of the least densely populated and most undiscovered parts of the country. In other words, not the place to have a breakdown. So, I headed for home, swapped to another bike and continued my ride to get 100 miles in. Took my bike in to the local bike hospital (or Middletons Bike Shop in Ormskirk), later in the day for some intensive care. Maybe the miles are starting to take their toll!

Another club ride on Sunday took my total for the weekend to just under 200 miles, 224 miles for the week.

Just over 4 weeks to go, really must get around to finalising my route and booking B&B's. I have decided to change the first part of my route so that I can visit Wootton Bassett, but more about that next week.

Collecting football clubs....

No, not the latest game for billionaires trying to outdo each other, but the theme for my ride on Saturday. It's hard to keep thinking of new places to go to get the miles in, so I hit on the idea of visiting football clubs. Set off at 7am to start the day with my own club, Everton, forced myself around the park to visit Anfield. When a taxi driver asked if I wanted my picture in front of the Shankly Gates I politely refused.

Carried on to Wigan, still too early for a pie though, then through Haigh Hall on the way to Bolton. Then the slog over Winter Hill and on to

Blackburn, carrying on to Accrington for a coffee in the sunshine. I did ask a local about the famous Accrington Stanley but he couldn't tell me where the ground was, so I gave it a miss and headed to Burnley which was the furthest I intended to go before heading back to Preston and the National Football Museum as well as North End.

As you can see, I took a picture at each one and you might see the odd one out.

Why have I got a picture of a pub amongst all these football grounds?

Very simple, something that turned a very good day into an outstanding day. Stopped outside the pub, The Turf, just up the road from Burnley FC after visiting the ground. Trying to work on which way to go next, a guy came out of the pub so I asked him which way to Padiham. Not sure, he told me to wait a minute and went back inside. Another guy came out, gave me some directions and recognised my accent. Told him I was from Liverpool, so was he although he was the licensee of the pub. Told him what I was doing as training for a charity ride and that I had started off with my team, Everton. Turned out he was a Blue as well whose name is Larry. Asked me what charity I was supporting, Help for Heroes, when he lifted his arm up and he was wearing a H4H wristband. Some coincidences, but there is more. He then offered to try to raise money in the pub for me which was fantastic. I told him Everton had given me a signed team photo that my local pub were going to raffle. Larry then told me he had a framed, signed Phil Neville Everton shirt that he offered to give me to raise money for the charity. What can I say, just absolutely knocked out by his kindness and generosity.It also turned out his uncle lives about 400m from where I live. If you are ever in Burnley, visit The Turf and buy Larry a pint from me.

As a postscript to the day, when I was 10 miles from home, with 113 miles on the clock my chain snapped. Still couldn't spoil the day though.

Got in another 75 miles on Sunday, which, with one night ride got me over 200 miles training for the week.

Happy Easter - 45 days to go

Easter week meant a longer weekend to get in some extra training. Managed a Tuesday night ride in the dark & wet, realised that it is easier to climb hills in the dark. You can only see the pool of light in front of your wheel, not the road climbing away in front of you. Perhaps if I rode during the daytime without ever looking more than 10 feet ahead I could be a better rider! There's a thought.

Spend Good Friday touring the northwest, climbing Winter Hill again, heading out to Tockholes, Preston and then Southport. If you don't know Southport, its called 'the seaside' but you can see from these photos, one of the pier, the other looking to Blackpool, you're not actually beside the sea, it's miles out there somewhere. I could see the tower at Blackpool but it hasn't come out on

the photo. Despite the wind, it didn't rain and I didn't look at how many miles I had covered. I decided not to look at the mileage, for a similar reason to finding climbing in the dark easier, it seems to make you tired when you know you are near a target mileage. I spend 6 hours out and felt OK when I got home, the mileage? Very happy to find I had done just over 100 miles. Big chinese takeaway with the family on Friday night, no worries about counting calories though.

Sunday was a classic club ride called 'The 7 Hills of West Lancashire'. It simply links up 7 hills in as few miles as possible, making it a tough day out. Good training for all those Cornish hills in the first couple of days. Very competitive too, which means a race up every hill. Went out early and put in 30 miles before meeting the club and then a few afterwards too saw another 90 miles under my wheels.

That gives me my biggest weekly total, just under 225 miles and in the 13 weeks training so far, 1800 miles on the road and another 130 on a turbo trainer. Just 45 days left till day 1 at Lands End, getting close, feeling good and starting to anticipate the challenge.

Miles racking up and new currency in Southport

Made a comment last week about the spring weather, a little too early as I spent 2 hours in the rain on Tuesday night. Got in some hills in the dark and for some reason it is easier to climb them in the dark. I think it must be the fact that you can't see the incline or the top, just the bit of the road lit up by your lights. Still, by Thursday the weather was brighter again, out before breakfast and took this photo of the sun rising over an Ormskirk landmark. For those of you not local, that is not a UFO landing just above the tree line, just the old water tower. (It could be an extra from War of the Worlds).

Saturday was a bright sunny day, if a little too windy, but I headed out to Winter Hill again, climbed it twice, then a climb called Angelzarke and that was enough hills for the day. Headed into the wind across to Southport where they seem to have invented a new currency, see the picture for the local Park & Ride. I remember Wilmslow creating their own local credit card a few years ago, perhaps Southport has declared independence and is starting to use the Poung! Stopped in Southport for a reviving coffee before heading off with a tailwind, got in 92 miles altogether. Wonder what Sundays run will be like?

Sundays run with the club was manic! I was looking for a steady ride after Saturday but got manic pace all day. For the 2 hours before the cafe we averaged 19mph in windy conditions. I needed oxygen more than a coffee! Great ride but with very little conversation, nobody had energy to waste talking. Like a lot of things, it was great when it stopped. Average speed for the day 18.5mph, Saturdays solo ride was 16.3mph, a bit of a difference! Still, another 68 miles to give me the biggest training week so far - nearly 219 miles.

Final thought, in 2 months time I will have completed 9 days out of the planned 10 day end to end!

100 up!

The weather has turned more spring-like this week, with the days getting longer, soon be summer. Hit the road early this week, with two 7am rides before breakfast. One of 26 miles over Ashurst Beacon, (got to keep climbing hills to build up for Cornwall) and a shorter circuit around Clieves Hill of 24 miles. Had a bit of a mechanical on the Clieves run as my gears started slipping. Avoided an altogether bigger mechanical with one of these bin wagons. The driver reversed into a side road to turn around and when he pulled back out onto the main road kept looking to the right to make sure the back end didn't catch anything. He never looked left, which was where I was coming from, never heard my back wheel lock up or me shouting at him either, drove on oblivious to almost wiping me out. Incidently, found this picture on e-bay, but if you want the wagon it has already sold for £2,450, people will buy anything.

Rested up on Saturday, planning for 100 miles on Sunday. Got our at 7.15am and put in 26 miles before meeting the club. Set off towards Winter Hill and put in 52 miles with the club to the cafe in Rufford. As I was on a mission I only stopped to fill my drink bottle and carried on to get in some more miles. Put in another couple of loops of Clieves Hill and then stopped to take the photo of my bike computer as it clocked up 100.20 miles just 800 metres from home, job done.

I was stopped at the time which is why it shows 0mph but that was 5 hours and 50 minutes after leaving home my first 100 miles of the year. Just need to put a few more in now!

A little bit of Irish...

The spring looks like it may have arrived, lots of blue skies and the temperature becoming a bit warmer. Got three rides in this week, total 185 miles, a good weeks effort.
Rode out heading west from Belfast before breakfast on Thursday towards Lough Neagh (and no I can't pronounce it either). Turned out to be a decent climb away from the city and gave me the sight of the sun rising over a misty city, very scenic but really needed a decent photographer to catch the image rather than me with a phone.
Came across some stands at the side of the road and noticed the starting grid markings painted on the road, turned out to be the start/finish line for the Ulster Grand Prix. The claim at the top of the board is that this is the fastest road race in the world, I looked up the lap record which is nearly 132mph. Having ridden part of the circuit, the roads are at best country lanes, poorly surfaced and uneven. It is incredible to think they average 132mph around a circuit of 7 miles of country lanes, a lot quicker than the 16.5mph I managed, and at my speed the 0.5 is important!
Got in a long solo ride on Saturday, 80 miles in what turned out to be the least spring like weather of the week. Within an hour of leaving it was cold, with a strong headwind and it would have been easy to turn for home. Two things kept me out with a target to do 5 hours riding, when I do my LEJOG the weather will be whatever it is and I will have no choice, the other a quick thought about the guys the charity helps. No contest, stay out and slog through it.
Rode on Sunday with the club and put in another 70 miles.
Checked my countdown timer, 66 days to go, the start is starting to seem very close.

A little scotch.

Managed to fit in 3 breakfast rides this week as I have been travelling around the country. The highlight was definitely Friday. I was staying just outside of Glasgow and headed off towards the Campsie Fells at 6.45am and they looked awesome, hence the pics. The snow was still really deep on the fell itself but the road over it was dry and clear, although well gritted to keep it clear.

The first pic shows the sun rising over the trees on top of the fell. It was incredibly peaceful with hardly any traffic and I could have stayed up there for hours enjoying the scenery but had to force myself to turn back to catch breakfast and start work. The second pic shows the road itself across the fell.
Across the three rides I got in over 79 miles and was looking forward to a day off cycling on Saturday to go out with the family.
I was hoping to get in a 100 mile ride on Sunday but had not noticed that Everton had scheduled a game against Hull (5:1 win despite missing a penalty). I went out at 7.30am to get some miles in, met the club at 9.00 and rode with them to Preston but had to turn around and head back. Actually met the clubs B group out on the road and rode with them for a while until they headed for the cafe. I carried on, determined to get in as many miles as I could, also threw in a couple of hills and managed 90 miles. With another 40 minutes I could have got the 100 miles but it would have been stressful trying to get out to the match. Another good week, 170 miles in the bank. Off to Ireland this week, hoping to get in a ride there, after Scotland that would only leave me with a ride in Wales to complete my 4 Nations training!