Day 9 - Kyle of Sutherland to John O'Groats

I am back and so it’s me (Justyn) writing up the final day, apologies for the delay in typing this up. 

The final day really starts with the night before as having given Joy my brief update on how day 8 had been I headed to the tent and got my stuff sorted for the next day as with the planned departure time of 06:30 I wanted to have everything ready.

Finally settled down to sleep around 22:00 hrs with the alarm set for 04:50 hrs as didn’t want to miss the lads in the morning.  Sadly I was yet again deprived the luxury of a decent sleep as awoke at 02:10 with the need to get my arse to the toilets ASAP!!!

Got back to the tent, took another Imodium and tried to settle down but just dozed till 04:30 when decided may as well get up.

There was a marked difference this morning with the whole camp up early and everyone moving with purpose as we all have coaches / taxis etc to catch at the finish.  The morning was dry , the clouds high and it felt warmer than we had had for several days but I stuck with the clothes I had prepared the night before.

Had 5 slices of brown bread toast with marmalade on (no butter) for breakfast as figured that would be the best option in view of my dicky tummy which was still giving me trouble (more Imodium taken).  

Met the lads down at the bikes and we headed off the start at 06:35hrs, the bike racks where only a quarter full so could tell that most people where already on the road.

The first half of the route basically headed straight north on a lovely quiet single track road which with the complete lack of traffic the cyclist made their own.  Initial pace of the group was pretty high (sitting around 20mph) as we swept past other riders, this was mostly being driven by Neil and I went with the flow contributing with him until the rest of the group said to dial it back a bit as we had plenty of time. 

An hour in and the morning was turning really nice with occasional breaks in the cloud and the road generally sweeping along with undulating terrain which provided fantastic viewpoints of blue skies above highland hills either side, some crowned with clouds and others not.  We passed lovely still lochs with reflections of the surroundings and skyline in them so stopped to take some photo’s.

Reached the first pit stop around 30 miles but did not hang about as the midges where in force there so we all grabbed stuff for jersey pockets (biscuits for me as should be safe!) and headed straight back out.

Around 40 miles I started to feel really really positive and was truly enjoying riding my bike (something which there has not been enough of on this trip) and drinking in the surroundings.  Even when we reached Bettyhill 10 miles later and turned to head East along the coast (now riding into a 15mph wind) I was still hugely enjoying just being out on the bike and kept getting waves of happiness as I contemplated how we finally had some nice weather and were nearly finished.

The terrain now became quite challenging as we had six 300ft climbs with some additional bumps to conquer, all head on into the wind.  Second pit stop at 70 miles and whilst we did not hang about I threw caution to the wind and ate a sandwich with Mexican cheese, dried onion, chillies and bacon in it as it sounded fantastic.  It was certainly spicy and very nice but probably not my wisest choice under the circumstances.

The group got into chain gang mode for the last 30 miles and whilst we didn’t push hard we kept a reasonable pace going, conserving effort and sharing the load.

About 3 miles out from John O’Groats I was on the front and could see the finish so started celebrating putting my hands up and giving out a big “woop” “woop”, looked behind at the bunch and they were all beaming with smiles from ear to ear.

Crossing the finish line I celebrated with my arms aloft feeling an immense sense of achievement.

I have a lot more to say, especially on the thankyou front and want to share some of my reflections with you all but I am getting tired now so will stop here for now and continue the blog in the next few days as hopefully will get some more photo’s from others to share as well.

Day 9 Stats

Start: Kyle of Sutherland

Finish: John O’Groats

Distance: 104 miles

Climbing: 1,548 metres

Average speed: 14.2 mph

Duration: 7 hours, 18mins

Day 8 - Fort William to Kyle of Sutherland (the beginning of the end)

My tummy was no better overnight but I managed to eat some breakfast and got ready to start the ride.

The Vodafone group were waiting for me and despite me still feeling delicate [Joy: that's my paraphrasing], we set off. I had in mind that I'd see how far I could get and if I needed to abandon part way, so be it but I was certainly not going to give up without a fight.

The group made good time and kept up a pretty fast pace despite us having decided to take it easy today.

We hit a big hill after about 20 miles and it was clear I wasn't performing well.

At the pit stop, I suggested they go on without me as there was not way I was going to be able to take my turn at the front. The group however insisted I stick with them, no need to lead, and they helped me to the end.

Tomorrow we start early again, setting from 06:00, so the group plans to leave at 06:30. We're expecting a headwind so I'm definitely best off sticking with the group.

Something missing from yesterday's blog was mention of a little school we passed on the ride whose children were out waiting for us to pass as they tried to raise money for a school trip by selling postcards.

The children had painted the postcard designs themselves and were selling them for £2.00 each. 'That includes the stamp' they said ;-)

Of course my problem was not just the stamp, but that I couldn't carry or post it either but, 'No need to worry,' the children said, 'We post them for you too!' How could I refuse?!

Guess what turned up at home this morning?

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has texted and emailed me with lovely messages over this last week, I'm afraid I just don't have time to reply right now.


Day 8 Stats
Start: Fort William
Finish: Kyle of Sutherland

Distance: 112 miles
Climbing: 1,734 metres
Average speed: 14.9 mph

Duration: 7 hours, 31 minutes

Day 7 - Hamilton to Fort Wiliam

I take it back. None of the previous days has been as hard as today.

I had a comfortable night, with an unexpected stay in a real bed, thanks to Joy's cousin Chris and his family putting me up for the night. Sleep was as tricky as always but it poured with rain all night so I was more than glad not to be in a tent!

Because we had so much further to travel today than the other days - this being the longest day of the tour at 126 miles - it was an extra early start to the day this morning.

I started the day tired but OK however by the first pit stop of the day, I was suffering with an upset stomach which lasted for the rest of the day and has meant a disrupted ride with almost no food or water. This has made the day excruciatingly difficult and incredibly hard work.

I saw the ride doctors twice during the day and got some medication but that didn't do any good settling my poor tummy so I am physically more exhausted than ever, on top of which I am really dehydrated and also suffering from serious stomach pains.

Add to that, that as we were getting our bikes this morning, a fellow cyclist was none to careful in lifting his bike from rack, swinging it around baseball bat-style, straight into my thigh so my upper leg is now incredibly painful and not functioning too well.

If that wasn't bad enough, when we reached the Lowlands this morning there was an accident involving a cyclist who had hit a car windscreen. As a result, half the LEJOG contingent - a pack of several hundred riders - were held by the Police along with all other traffic for over an hour and a half while the cyclist was stabilised and sent off to hospital in an ambulance.

The cyclist is going to be fine thankfully.

The day wasn't totally awful of course. Heading into the Lowlands, the surrounding countryside was ever more stunning, absolutely breathtaking, and descending the hills through all that beauty was amazing.

 

Arrival at base camp was naturally very late today with the extra long ride plus the 90 minute delay earlier in the day but before settling in for the night, I went off to visit the Dr once more for advice and meds.

The group I've been riding with has been really supportive through the day and have insisted I ride with them tomorrow. They really are a great bunch.

So I'm hoping that I will have a reasonable night and that I will be starting the ride tomorrow as planned. I'm so close, I just have to get through the next two days.

Wish me luck!



Day 7 Stats
Start: Hamilton
Finish: Fort William

Distance: 127 miles
Climbing: 2,195 metres
Average speed: 14.9 mph

Duration: 8 hours, 30 minutes

Day 6 - Penrith to Hamilton

Today was supposed to be the second 'easy' day so of course we had a full on head wind to cycle straight into all day.

I set off in the morning with a group of five cyclists all from Vodafone - Jonathan, Neil, Paul, Phil & Tom. Me and my cycle buddies stayed together for the day, with everyone taking it in turns to lead the group so others could rest.

I spent a fair amount of time at the rear of the pack, talking to Neil however when we came to hills, that was my time to shine (as those who know me will tell you, I do like a good hill!).

A way into the ride, the group had a chaperone join to help police lead times, making sure we all got a decent amount of rest and didn't overdo out time at the head of the pack.

The road surfaces today were absolutely atrocious and with the wind at our front and the vibrations through the saddle, it was a thoroughly uncomfortable day.

The saving grace was that having reached Scotland, the scenery got more beautiful as day went on and as we had a dry day for a change, it made for lovely views as we rode past.

Overall, it was another really hard day and if it hadn't been for the group, I do feel I would have failed.




I was so happy to see the smiling face of Joy's cousin Chris at Hamilton Raceourse and even happier when I was told it had been arranged for me to leave the camp site behind for the night in favour of a comfortable bed and warm room at the lovely Shorty Towers.

The last few days of this ride are going to form the toughest challenge I've faced but I am determined to get to the end.

Day 6 Stats
Start: Penrith
Finish: Hamilton

Distance: 100 miles
Climbing: 1,230 metres
Average speed: 15 mph

Duration: 6 hours, 39 minutes

Day 5 - Haydock to Penrith

Today was absolutely knackering!

 

I set off with a couple of riders I'd met on the train from Reading and we rode really fast until the first pit stop which meant I'd already maxed out pretty much, far too early on.

The lunchtime stop today was exactly half way!! Thank goodness!! I am so glad we're over half way.

Come the afternoon, I was absolutely tapped out and by the time I got to Shap Fell, I really had nothing left to give.

There was a torrential downpour about 15 miles from the finish line so not only was I totally exhausted, I was also soaked to the skin and chilled to the bone once again.

Base camp is disgusting! Everyone and everything is absolutely caked in mud. I mean CAKED in it! I'm sure it's lovely if you've had weeks of dry weather but given the weather this week, it's really not an appropriate overnight stop, especially when you're a cyclist traipsing around in expensive cycling shoes and gear.

I am beyond tired today. I don't even have the words to express how I'm feeling save to say that giving up and coming home has been on my mind a lot today. It's only the support I've received from family, friends, colleagues and even strangers and the though of the money this ride is raising
for the Air Ambulance Service that is keeping me going.



Day 5 Stats
Start: Haydock
Finish: Penrith

Distance: 108 miles
Climbing: 2,011 metres
Average speed: 15.7mph

Duration: 6 hours, 53 minutes

Day 4 - Ludlow to Haydock

It was very cold overnight but yet again I was boiling and had to have the sleeping bag unzipped through most of the night.

I woke at 01:00 then dozed until about 04:00, finally getting up just before 05:00.

Setting out this morning, it was quite chilly but it was sunny which made a nice change. I headed off at 07:45 and was met by dry roads - hooray!.

Lots of people set off later this morning which seemed to be because last night was the first laundry night and everyone was queuing to collect their washing before they left base camp.

Mine was still wet so I left it with the organisers. Why not get them to carry my wet stuff so I don't have to pack it?!

Part way into the first stint of the day, the Camera Car passed me (they're filming sections of the ride) so I decided I'd stick with them to catch a nice tow for a few miles and maximise my chances of getting into the final ride footage!

After a while, I joined another rider. We were having a nice chat then all of a sudden, a group of four riders came flying past. The guy I was with jumped at the chance to join them so I did too. They pulled us along until we reached a hill when I sprinted to the front to return the favour. [JOY: Hills are his thing you know!]

I hadn't realised that they'd dropped back and couldn't keep up until I looked back some way up the road, so I slowed down and waited for them to give them a helping hand. We stayed together then until the first pit stop, riding at a really decent pace (~23mph).

I left the pit stop on my own but joined another group almost straight away. I was riding along in front for a bit, giving the group a tow, looked round and they had disappeared! [JOY: He's still got it folks!]

After stopping for a comfort break, I joined a third group who were traveling about 18mph until a faster group (~23mph) passed us, at which point I jumped across to join them.

I took another break after a while and rode to the lunch stop on my own, halting just long enough to shovel down some food (about ten minutes) and collecting some supplies for the road.

After that, I joined another small group for a while, taking turns to lead until the cyclist who had been in the tent opposite me overnight at Ludlow came past with a faster group which I then crossed to, sticking with them until the end.

I arrived at just after 15:00, the earliest finish of the day and the fastest finishing time for me yet.

I was busy doing the usual bits and bobs that need doing at the end of the day, when I got a call from my Dad to say he and Marion had just arrived at base camp.

A lovely surprise was that my baby sister Sanchia also turned up, unexpectedly as far as I was concerned, shortly after!

I was so tired, I wasn't great company but I really did appreciate the effort they went to to come along and visit me.


Unfortunately, my nephews who had also set out to cheer me on, got stuck in traffic with their step-dad so I wasn't able to see them but they did send me this lovely photo of them in the car with a fantastic poster they made for me! Thank you Ethan & Toby!!!

It's really hammering it down now - I am currently under cover in the actually quite plush facilities - I am not looking forward to going back to my tent which is about as far away as it could be!

A brief bit of advanced information about tomorrow's ride...

The forecast is for 40mph winds overnight and into tomorrow with heavy rain first thing in the morning. We're scaling Shap Fell at the end of the day which is going to be really, really, tough.

I am NOT looking forward to tomorrow's ride at all but on the upside, I will have broken the back of the overall ride at the end of the day as I'll be over half way through!

Thanks everyone for your support thus far and for all your donations and sponsorship, it's these things which keep me going!!!


Day 4 Stats
Start: Ludlow
Finish: Haydock

Distance: 108 miles
Climbing: 1,1,07 metres
Average speed: 16.6mph

Duration: 6 hours, 29 minutes

Day 3 - Bath to Ludlow - Longest short ride ever!

Today was a hard day.

Despite having a room with a proper bed for the night, I didn't have a great night's sleep. I woke up at 01:00 thinking it was time to get up! Seeing that is most certainly was not, I tried to get back to sleep but only managed to doze until it was time to get up.

My clothes and shoes hadn't dried overnight so although I had nice dry socks, I put my feet into horribly soaking wet shoes and had to put up with that discomfort all day.

I came across a rider nine miles in who was obviously struggling. It turned out that because the timings for dinner yesterday were miscommunicated, she'd not had eaten the previous evening and was really suffering as a result. I slowed down and rode along with her for quite a way, checking she was OK as we went - she was fine by the way and did really well.

The winds were very strong today, especially when crossing the Severn bridge in Wales.

At base camp this evening, I had another massage which although only ten minutes long, was much better than the first one and helped with my aching body.

Another lovely surprise tonight, my brother Perry turned up again! It was lovely to have his company at Ludlow and he stayed with me while I ate and headed off shortly before this evening's rider briefing.

Despite being the shortest ride distance or the entire ride today, it was the hardest day so far and I'm now exhausted.

Day 3 Stats
Start: Bath
Finish: Ludlow

Distance: 100 miles
Climbing: 2,334 metres
Average speed: 13.2mph

Duration: 7 hours, 37 minutes

Day 2 - Okehampton to Bath

Okehampton campsite was doing a great impression of Glastonbury at the end of a rainy festival week. It was an absolute quagmire. So muddy that you physically couldn't move without getting caked in mud or being in danger of slipping over!

The rain had stopped by bedtime and I had a far better nights' sleep as a result, from 22:00-02:30, then dozing after that until just before 05:00.

I managed to beat the 05:30 breakfast rush (porridge with Nutella plus bacon sausage and eggs - good fuel for the day ahead).

Due to all the mud everywhere, getting the bike and my bag back to the entrance, packing everything into the bag while trying not to walk around in my cycling shoes was tricky to say the least - logistical nightmare would be more accurate.

I set off just before 08:00 and was one of the last to leave base camp. The riders leave in waves, controlled by the organisers so there aren't too many of us all heading out at the same time. Generally the slower riders are encouraged to head off first to give them a head start before the faster riders leave base camp. I have been waiting until all the rider 'waves' have left before setting off to give myself more space on the road.

I left at the same time as Alan Simpson, (Rider #630), we started chatting and continued doing so for the rest of the days' ride. It was nice to have some company all the way through the day and it helped the miles pass much more quickly and even feel like less of an effort.

It was another dry but cold start. We had one light shower and then it was generally quite dry so the roads weren't as treacherous as yesterday. There were some very long climbs and despite the slower riders having set off early, the first of these had about 150 cyclists backed up, all going up together. Annoyingly, I got stuck behind a car that was stuck behind the massive group of cyclists so I got held up! Ordinarily, I would have overtaken the car AND the cyclists but I was still mindful of still having to cycle several hundreds of miles and so it just wasn't worth the risk!

I 'danced' up the long steady climbs, slowly swinging the bike from side to side, getting into a nice rhythm, breathing slowly, and feeling nice and relaxed which meant I could enjoy the myself and look around at the scenery.

A wonderful surprise was waiting for me at the the lunch stop, in the form of my elder brother Perry. He lives in the area and had seen the organisers setting up the first pit-stop of the day fairly close to his house so he decided to pop along and say hello. It was great to catch up with him and he provided me with lots of encouragement... to get eating!

After the pit-stop, I set off and proceeded to cycle straight past his house!

Cheddar Gorge was beautiful with fantastic rock formations, really a quite sight to see. When I got to the top it started raining. I thought it was a passing shower... I was wrong.

 

 

It rained for twenty miles, absolutely chucking it down. I hadn't bothered to stop to put on my waterproof jacket or my shoe covers so I got soaked to the skin. I had to ride the last thirty miles like that, gingerly picking my way down hills through torrential rain, wind behind me, blowing me along.

Despite that wet and windy finish to the day, overall, the roads were much safer and there was a lot less dirt today.

Crossing the finish I line I was drenched but feeling good, feeling even better when I heard running footsteps behind me and turned around to see that Joy had driven up from Hampshire to meet me!

I'd found out this morning that the tracking chip I was given on day one hasn't worked from the start so after crossing the finish line, I went to the timing van and they gave me a new chip that will hopefully be working tomorrow.

I spent an enjoyable evening with Joy & Perry (who had driven up to join me for the evening) at Bath University base camp which was really nice, before heading to the evening briefing and the excitement of seeing Mark Cavendish!


Report on the status of my ribs: doing well, no pain so far, feeling good.

Highlight of today (outside of the ride itself): On the ride are a 76 year old couple who celebrated their wedding anniversary yesterday! Amazing :-)


Day 2 Stats

Start: Okehampton
Finish: Bath

Distance: 110 miles
Climbing: 2,389 metres
Average speed: 15mph

Duration: 7 hours, 34 minutes