Day 1-Lands End to Godolphin Cross (20 mile taster!)
Today we left home at 11am,Started driving and arrived at Lands End at 2.15pm in the pouring rain. We then changed in the delightful public toilets! We went to have photos at the start line and then set off on our "holiday". Traveling down the A30 to Penzance in the torrenchial rain and mist but who cares its our holiday! Moral high everyone just wanted to get started. The rain then final lifted when cycling around the bay. Carried on until 5.30 after doing 20 miles, Fern the back up crew then picked us up at Godolphin Cross and brought us to where we were staying for the night at Sennen Cove.
Day 2- Godolphin Cross to Golant yh via King Harry Ferry (50 miles)
Today we all woke up at 6:30am, a much earlier time than usual, and set off, some with a with a bit more energy than others due to the full english breakfast which Andy,Sarah and Fernley managed to scrounge off Fernleys sister where they were staying that night. So we all got in the car and went to say hi to Chris Goddard and co(friends) who were staying in their campervan in the sennen carpark, and aswell as us they were starting the mad challenge that morning! So we finally set off on our journey heading towards Golant yh, but not very far up the road Andy got in to much difficulty whilst turning aroung to speak 2 fernley in the car and "decided to inspect the road surface which he was cycling on to see if it was up to his standards" so he says! After about 20 miles of cycling we got on the king Harry ferry which took us across the foulmouth estuary.Finally hill after hill and a hard day of cycling we made it to Golant yh which was at the bottom of a 1mile drive, which didnt go down very well after 40 miles of cycling! There we arrived to find out that there was no cooker to cook our lasagne,so much to our disgust we went out and got fish and chips,Which we all thought were the best fish and chips we have ever had! So the day was left on a high and we all trundled back to the youth hostel to our beds. Andy said he enjoyed this youth hostel in particular, but you will have to ask him to explain that one!
Day 3- Golant yh to Home via Bodinnick and Torpoint ferry (65miles)
Had an interesting night so the boys would say, with various bodily noises coming from other residents! Got up at 6:30am once again, had breakfast and left at 8am. We then caught the Bodinnick ferry at 8:30 then at the other side we had a very long climb up and over to Looe,Fern had a brew on the go waiting for us to arrive,poor ali had a knee pain when we arrived.We left Fern and followed the A374 to Torpoint ferry,where we crossed the Tamar to Plymouth where we had to go straight through the city centre and the local teenagers opened fire with winegums on a major junction,also Jack and Simon go a telling off by Debbie for traffic weaving! After all of the mayhem in Plymouth we went through Plympton to Ivybridge where good old Fern was yet again waiting with a cup of tea for us all. We proceded on through Ivybridge then South Brent and down into Dean Prior where we had a warm welcoming from a crowd of friends who were waiting with hooters,flags and cups of tea. We left Dean Prior to do the final leg of the day stopping at Big Peaks where phil and the team kindly sorted us out with some more wet weather gear and a bike repair! We eventually got home soaking wet ready for a warm bath and our own beds!
Day 4- Home to Street YH (72miles)
We left home at 8.30 after a very good night sleep and managed to get to Chudleigh before we had a breakdown on Sarahs bike, which after some heavy handed maintanence managed to cure itself! Then a long cycle up Haldon hill, then dropped down into Exeter and negotiated the main route traffic to the A38 and stopped for a cup of tea and some lovley choclate brownies made by Jean(Ferns wife) near Broadclyst.We then left Fern to clear up and had a fast cycle through Cullumpton and on to Taunton where we had Lunch laid on by michelle, Simons sister (thankyou very much!). We left Michelle and went through Tauntons thick traffic where Simon raced three teenage motorcyclists on there gutless 50cc motorbikes on our way to street. Half way to Street Andy had to stop to buy a gallon of local cider, which we strapped to our bikes! Eventually we got to the youth hostel at street at about 6.00pm.
Day 5- Street to Welsh Bicknor (78miles)
After Jack and Andy had a porridge fight, we went to leave but discovered that Andy had his shorts on the wrong way round! We eventually left and headed to Wells, which we made in good time, we stopped to have a cup of coffee.We left Wells to encounter a huge hill,we plodded on for the rest of the day. We went down the Chew valley which every place had "Chew" in its name! It was the day of the bridges where we crossed the Cliffton suspension bridge in sunshine, the severn bridge in the rain and finally a indiana jones type bridge down to our destination at Welsh bicknor youth hostel. Julie and Tony williams met us on route and cheered us along which we were in great need of at that point. Fernley then left us and that night we all had a very cosy night where we all slept in the same room!
Message for Sarahs dad: everyone says spitting in your glasses is disgusting and it doesn't even work!
Day 6- Welsh Bicknor to Clun(70 miles)
We got up and had a full English breakfast, Tony collected our bags which we were very greatful for, back over the rickety bridge and on our way, rain on and off most of the day. We stopped at leominster for lunch very very hot, sun was out! Andy and Alice once again had a water fight, had good lunch but struggled to get started again. Darryl had joined us by now and guided on with a littli help from Jane his sat nav. Finished the day with a long 3 mile slog uphill with the wind against us to arrive at the best hostel yet. Before we parked bikes Andy had opened his can of cider, we all had a great evening.
Day 7- Clun to Chester B+B(83 miles)
Set off in the pouring rain all feeling very tired the outlook grim. Slow slog uphills all very wet and cold, Darryl kept the moral going by marking big puddles and helping over the fast roads. Stopped at Pontesbury and went in the plough pub for coffee and a warm up and the landlord must have felt sorry for us as he didnt charge us. After a change of the clothes standing in the toilets drying the lycra we set off again.At various stops during the afternoon re-fueled on Granny Gasies flap jacks. The rain eased and the roads got better and made good time to our wonderful B+B with baths and beds we didnt have to make and off to the pub for more food and booze! "Andys on his holiday yeh yeh yeh!!!"
Message for Eliza daddys beard getting longer love you lots xxxx (Andy loves Ollie!) x x x
Day 8 Chester to Slaidburn YH
We started off in the rain, making good progress ealy on where we clocked up about 30 miles in 2 hours. It was very complicated route plan to avoid the major cities, with the aid of a tomtom, Gamini (Jane and Claire) along with Darryl and map, We were able to make good progress without too many errors.We sheltered at one point under a tree to avoid heavy rain. We went over a tiny toll bridge which cost darryl 12p over the Manchester ship canal. Along the way we saw many sights such as emu's, Reebok stadium and impressive bridges. Whilst going through Bolton Sarah got verbal abuse and Andy got hit by fire crackers! We stopped at Clithroe for an ice cream followed by a the longest climb ever over 3 miles uphill to drop down to Slaidburn at the youth hostel arriving at 7:15 at which point we had, had enough and went over the lane to the pub and had a wonderful meal and a few drinks! Also Darryl very kindly volunteered to stay an extra night.
Day 9 Slaidburn to Windermere (43 miles)
Left youth hostel again in the rain having been waved goodbye by the locals! To hit yet another long hill which wound its way up to Bentham, on the way up the hill Jacks chain broke and all the others left Simon and Jack and a few sheep to sort it out, we all got together in Bentham for a coffee, crumpets, Bovril and smoothies. We left Bentham, the weather improved although a strong headwind which made cycling very hard. Stopped at Kendal for another ice cream, Kendal mint cake and a bit of bike maintenance at Bruce's bike shop. We then had a long uphill cycle to Windermere arriving about 5:30. Thanks to Darryl for all his help who delivered our luggage to the accommodation.
Day 10 Windermere (Rest day!)
At 8:30 we came down to Breakfast to find Grannie Annie sitting at the table having battled through the monsoon on the M5 and 6.
Day 11 Windermere to Carlisle (45miles)
The day started dry as we headed up to the Kirkstone Pass.The cycle was much easier than expected and was greeted by the highest pub which is haunted in England which was closed to Andy's disappointment.We carried on taking a slight detour around Ullacombe Lake which was very beautiful.By the afternoon the rain had set in and although the route was flat it was hard going and we all got wet and cold.We made our way through Carlisle with ease to our Youth Hostel, unlike our support vehicle(with the TomTom), come back Fernley and Darryl! The Youth Hostel is next door to the Mcvities factory which tantilises our taste buds but not as much as Grannie Gaise flap jacks or Sarah Chaffee boiled fruit cake. P.S.Andy would rather be next to a brewery.
Message for Alan: I bet you are having a good nights sleep, could you please forward six sets of ear plugs!
Message for Eliza:No more McDonalds now your with Grannie!
Message for Amy:Good Luck tomorrow with your exam results.
Day 12- Carlisle to Kendoon (70.7miles).
Today the weather started fine but soon the rain came.We stopped in a pretty village called Moniaive where we were accosted with money by a couple, and then an old man who thrust a fiver at us.Then in the shop he asked where we had cycled from he then gave us all his change because he was amazed.Sarah then found £1 on the road so it was a fruitful stop!A beautiful cycle up, up, up and then down, down, down though moorland on a single track road with passing places to arrive at our wooden chalet YH in the middle of nowhere but a lovely place.
Day 13- Kendoon to Isle of Arran (72.5 miles)
We left in misty rain at 8.00am.Crossed into Ayreshire Grannie Annie went off to do the daily shp at Morrisons whilst we went through Ayr over beautiful bridges.It was after Prestwick airport that Simon went for Olympic gold in diving (over handle bars) and has been suffering since with a very painful shoulder had to stop and feed him tea and gingerbread and then cycled on pat Troon golf links and raced to catch the ferry at 3.15pm.Grannie Annie had been waiting in the car park for 2 hours and was the only car there.When we arrived just in time the park was full but we were the first on the ferry.On board to help with Simons pain he try local beers and Whiskeys (purely for medicinal purposes).Beautiful cycle ride all along the coast of Arran we saw seals), intill we hit a 2 mile hill but the decent was enjoyable, past Arran brewery (going to fast to stop) to the YH on the edge of a beachy inlet where we saw dear and sheep on the beach.
Day 14- Isle of Arran to Glencoe (96.66 miles!)
Ferried back to the mainland in heavy seas! The car was washed off the ferry onto the dryland.Stop at Tarbet for another breakfast the did more canal though exceptional scenery.jack helped with the locks on the Crinan Canal.True to form and now come up to scratch, Grannie Annie found a beautiful picnic place by a loch and had the picnic laid out for us on the wooden table.Simon threatened to swim but was deterred by us qutie easi;y.Spirts and energy diminished fast at the 80 mile point.A mad dash to finish before dark all on autopilot.Just made it to the pub at 9.00pm for haggis, tatties and neeps.The Bed & Breakfast place was fantastic and it even had a jar of jelly babies in Simon and Deb's room much to Sarahs annoyance.We all slept like logs.
Day 15- Glencoe to Loch Ness (57miles)
Started off after a massive full English breakfast that kept us going for at least 1 hour then Grannie Annie got lunch yet again by a beatiful Loch and Simon sat on the beach talking to the fishermen.More canal cycling ending at the Caledonian ladder locks (5 of them) all electronically controlled.Had Mackies ice creams, and cycled the last 9 miles to our YH beside Loch Ness where we can throw pebbles into the water from our bedroom windows.Today was a shorter distance but was hard work after yesterday.
Message to all readers: Photos to follow when we can connect to the internet.
Message to Eliza: Postcard on its way, see you soon x x x x x
Day 16- Loch Ness to Carbisdale Castle
Set off with the midges bitting, traffic busy and started off with a very steep hill but Granny Annie was waiting for us at the top with tea and cake. Amazing views over Sutherland with fields of beautiful smelling heather, then we stopped at a view point where we could see over the Moray Firth, then had a long desente over bridges and through wooded areas before finally reaching our destination which shocked all of us at the size of the castle we were staying in. The decor was full of statues, paintings, stain glass windows, chandilers but unfortunatly we had to share it with a coach load of loud japenese tourists! And sadly the butler had retired a long time ago so we had to carry our bags to our rooms and make our beds.
Day 17- Carbisdale Castle to Toungue (55 miles)
We left the the youth hostel in the wrong direction due to turbo toad being half asleep! Back on the right track we crossed another horrendous footbridge which ran beside the railway, had to have a breather as sarah got vertigo! There were amazing views as we left the castle, passing shin falls and a pack of huskies. We then passed loch shin which was a hydro-electric loch, then we joined the A836 which is a single track road with passing places which went on for 35 miles with no Civerlization for 20 miles each side! We stopped along here for a coffee break where Grannie Annie had a rainbow yawn which was nothing to do with the wine the night before! So we told Granny to go to the youth hostel so we carried anything we needed and thought we would stop at a pub on the way to refuel, however the only pub which was in the middle of nowhere and the next village we stopped at was shut down due to the fact there was so many midgies. We carried on for another 5miles to find Grannie Annie asleep in a layby.Hurrray for a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit, this is where Jack planted spent tea bags on every cog, peddle and moving part on Andys bike. Eventually we left after Andy had cleaned the mess off his bike and proceeded towards Tongue, along this strech we hit the 1000 mile mark to our total amazment. We soon arrived at Tongue YH which was recently been refurbished to a very high standerd, to find Grannie Annie asleep with her hot water bottle and on the road to recovery.
Day 18- Toungue to Joh O'Groats( 67 miles)
We all woke up after a good night sleep and all excited knowing we were going to finish today. We started off by cycling up and down along very straight roads that seemed to go on for miles without any civerlization in sight.We carried on a along this road for miles intill we reached Thruso where we were all expecting Grannie Annie to be stopped and waiting there with a cup of tea and a piece of cake for us all but she had carried on for another 5 miles to Castletown much to our disapointment.So we carried on for these very difficult 5 miles as we were all really tired and winding down as the finish line was in sight only 15 miles away.We eventually found Grannie Annie and stopped to re-fuel for the very last time on the trip.We then set off for the final stretch, we all chugged on and before we knew it the John O'Groats sign had appeared.Finally we got there to be greeted by Grannie Annie and what we had been waiting for the John O'Groats sign post.We were all on a high so we set off to the pub for a well earned pint!