This year we began on the 13th June when 60 riders and support crew cycled 200 miles over four days across stunning East Anglia. Starting out from Chelmsford, we rode to Colchester, on past Ipswich to Felixstowe. Then towards Lowestoft where we turned north and cycled along the coast of the North Sea. Eventually turning in land again for the finish line in Norwich.

Thursday 13th June:  Chelmsford to Colchester

Friday 14th June:  Colchester to Felixstowe

Saturday 15th June: Felixstowe to Lowestoft

Sunday 16th June: Lowestoft to Norwich

Click here to see what some of our riders had to say.

This year we cycled the coastline of the beautiful county of Kent, travelling inland and ending in the spectacular cathedral city of Canterbury. This was the 22nd annual long distance cycle ride raising funds for BECOME, the charity for children in care and young care leavers. Cycling roughly 50/55 miles a day from Sittingbourne to Canterbury – we covered a total of about 200 miles.

Day 1 - Thursday 15th June: Sittingbourne to Margate

Day 2 - Friday 16th June: Margate to Folkestone

Day 3 - Saturday 17th June: Folkestone to Ashford

Day 4 - Sunday 18th June: Ashford to Canterbury

This year was the 21st annual long distance cycle ride raising funds for BECOME, the charity for children in care and young care leavers. Cycling roughly 50/55 miles a day from Durham to York – we covered a total of about 200 miles.

Day 1 – Thursday 23rd June

Our starting point was the Durham Premier Inn East Car Park setting off South via Bishops Auckland to Darlington.

Day 2 – Friday 24th June

On Friday morning we headed towards Thirsk stopping at Richmond in the morning, Bedale for lunch and North Allerton for our afternoon stop finally arriving in Thirsk.

Day 3 – Saturday 25th June

On Saturday morning we cycled through beautiful Ripon, stopping for lunch at the Jennyruth Workshop premises on the Boroughbridge Road, Jennyruth is an organisation which supports adults with learning disabilities making wooden products (bird boxes and garden ornaments and jewellery). We then continued on to Knaresborough and on into Harrogate.

Day 4 – Sunday 26th June

We set off on Sunday morning for the last leg. Having lunch in Tadcaster, cycling via Wetherby (morning stop) and Ricall in the afternoon and ended up in the wonderful city of York,

20th Anniversary Ride

Biking for Children in Care have cycled for young people in care every year since 2002. This was our 20th anniversary ride, raising vital funds for the charity Become.

The immediate and long term impacts of coronavirus means that this year, Become's helpline, support services, and youth-led campaigning are needed more than ever. Many young people are facing multiple crises, with their finances, their education, their housing, and their mental health.

The ‘Cymru Beicio’r Gogledd North Coast’ ride set off from Crewe on Thursday 24th June, divided into two groups to adhere to the current Covid-19 restrictions, cycling west along the North Wales coast and then south to Aberystwyth.

The route was mostly on minor roads and cycle paths and the surface mostly paved but there were also some cycle paths. We cycled about 30 miles on the first afternoon and roughly 60 miles a day for the other days – covering a total of over 200 miles.

Day 1 – Thursday 24th June

We set off at 12.30 from Crewe Premier Inn West Car Park. Cycling North West to Chester.

Day 2 – Friday 25th June

On Friday morning we continued west towards Llandudno with a lunch stop in Prestatyn.

Day 3 – Saturday 26th June

On Saturday morning we cycled on to Anglesey for a morning stop, lunch at Caernarfon Castle arriving in Porthmadog late afternoon.

Day 4 – Sunday 27th June

We set off from Porthmadog travelling South with a morning stop at Barmouth and lunch at Dolgellau. We finished the ride in Aberystwyth on Sunday afternoon.

Lockdown 200 is a fundraising challenge for 2020 organised by Biking for Children in Care.

Biking for Children in Care is an annual cycling event which, because of coronavirus, has transformed into a stay-at-home challenge to abide by social distancing whilst still fundraising for Become.

We are hoping to be back next year cycling the planned North Wales route for the 20th Biking for Children in Care fundraising ride.

The annual biking distance is commonly 200 miles, hence Lockdown 200.

Many of our fundraisers chose to cycle individually or in small family groups closer to home. The result was a network of routes across the UK and beyond!

Gill cycled 200 miles
“I cycled the 200 miles which we had planned to cover in North Wales. I clocked up the miles over the weekend of 18th to 22nd June by cycling from my home and on three or four circular routes into Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire and Sussex. I biked on my own, or with one or two of the Biking for Children in Care Lockdown 200 team."

Aileen biked 200 miles AND made face masks
"I’ve made 133 masks so far, hoping the recent change in government advice prompts a late surge in sales to take the number to 200. I've cycled and raised sponsorship for Biking for Children in Care since 2004 and been the treasurer for 15 years."

Eduardo cycled 200 miles in June
“I'm happy to continue my support of Become, taking on this Lockdown 200 Challenge for which I cycled over 200 miles on my rides in June.”

Yvonne & Nicky made face masks AND cycled 200 miles
"We have been raising money for the charity by making and selling fabric face masks. We have sold 449 already, raising a total of £2,455. Additionally, we cycled 200 miles over the weekend of 19 June to raise further, much needed funds. If you see us out in the wilds of Essex and Sussex, give us a wave!"

Kate cycled every weekend in June to reach 200 miles
“This was my eighth cycling challenge for Biking for Children in Care. I was attempting to cycle 200 miles in June in between other commitments. I had completed just over 100 miles (as of 15th June) and am hoping there are less hills on the next 100!”

Hugh cycled 200 miles in a single ride
"My Lockdown 200 Challenge was on a Saturday and I cycled four laps of a 50.2 mile circuit around the reservoirs west of London. Doing the 200 miles in the one day."

Stephen ran 200 miles around his hotel bedroom
"With friends James and Tommy, we travelled a combined 200 miles over 10 days, however there was a catch! We are in quarantine in a hotel in Equatorial Guinea, confined to our rooms. We moved furniture to create a running track and completed appox 5,600 laps each. We did mix it up and run the other way occasionally!"

Mike cycled 200 miles over four days
"I’m broke out of Lockdown by cycling 200 miles for Become and their support of children in care. Go Become."

Guy cycled 200 miles with 2000 metres climbing
"My Lockdown 200 challenge was the Shepway Hills 200/2000. From lockdown near sea level the only way is up so my aim was to do rides totalling 200 miles with climbs to a minimum of 2000 metres. It is worth it though to support Become and I hope everyone’s efforts will bring in much financial support for them."

Biking for Children in Care 2020 Awards

Welcome to the unique BfCiC 2020 Lockdown200 Princess Isla Awards! These awards began in 2010 to recognise the enormous contribution of many of our riders and for a little bit of entertainment at the end of some long rides. A BfCiC ride is now not the same without them!

Thank you so much to everyone for all of their brilliant effort so far. It is phenomenal how we have all come together despite being all over the country and it is a real testament to the community spirit of BfCiC and the commitment to Become that has evolved over the last 19 years. I am privileged to have taken part in 9 of these rides despite resisting for many years and having 4 years off for maternity leave! I continue to be amazed by my mum’s drive and determination to be able to organise the rides every year with a little bit (or a lot) of help from her friends.

We usually mention the amazing effort of the Planning Team who did actually plan and organise a trip to North Wales which we hope will be going ahead next year. Thank you for all of your time and effort again this year which we all hope will be put to good use next year.

To the awards (which we have had to change a bit this year) are to celebrate some of the achievements of Lockdown200. We have tried to keep some of the traditional awards but have left a few out and added a few extra (which if you know from previous years, I am very resistant to do!)

The Sewing Award
Firstly the Sewing Award (new and unique to Lockdown200):

Honourable Mentions - Peggy (sewing scrubs for hours and hours) and Aileen sewing many many masks

Winner of the Sewing Award - Yvonne - absolutely amazing effort with sewing well over 200 masks

The Outstanding Design & Production Award
Secondly, again a new and unique to Lockdown200 award, for Outstanding Design and Production

Honourable Mention - Suzy for producing a ridiculous number of badges

Winner of Outstanding Design & Production Award - Eduardo - designing and having our Lockdown200 t-shirts produced in only a few days.

The Innovative Challenge Award
Next is the award that has to be unique to Lockdown200 due to the nature of the year that we have all been having and that we have been able to go beyond cycling for some very different challenges this year - the Innovative Challenge Award

Honourable Mention - Stephen (and friends) for running round and round and round and round and round (etc) their hotel bedrooms for over 60 miles each to get to a total of 200 miles while in quarantine in Equatorial Guinea and being fed fish head curry for their lunch! Absolutely phenomenal effort from them all

Winner of Innovative Challenge Award - Pip for being a true inspiration to me and everyone who knows her or her story for being brave and stoic and getting through a gruelling 300 plus days in hospital and raising a brilliant amount of money for Become in the meantime

The Static Cycling Award
The last new and unique award for Lockdown200 is to return to our cycling routes but to acknowledge those who are unable to go out - Static Cycling Award

Honourable Mention - James Preece who has done 205 indoor miles and trying to keep elevation heavy and clocked 4260m and aiming for 7500m by the end of the month

Winner of the Static Cycling Award - Maria who has completed over 400 indoor miles during June

The Newcomer Award
To return to the traditional cycling awards, the next prize is the Newcomer Award who is a new cyclist or cyclists to the group who have shown remarkable cycling or stoicism during the ride

Honourable Mentions - Will (for being a brilliant advocate for Become, putting up with our idiosyncrasies and getting on his bike despite a very sore bum), Adrian (top of the Strava BfCiC leaderboard) and Isabelle (joining and surviving a BfCiC Zoom meeting)

Winner of Newcomer Award - Jane Anderson who has been a fantastic cyclist, contributor to the Whats App group and fundraiser for Become. We very much hope that all of you (and any other newcomers) will join us for the real ride next year.

Cyclist of the Ride
The much coveted and final prize is for Cyclist of the Ride

Honourable Mention - Anne Groom who not only waved happily while going up an incredibly steep hill to Mum and I but while completing her 200 miles has also climbed 11636ft!

Cyclists of the Ride - Hugh, Yvonne and Eliot for doing 200 miles and 150 miles in one day. We are really not worthy.

Thank you so much to everyone again and I look forward to seeing you all soon

Kate xxx

In June 2019 we celebrated our continuing delight in all things French by cycling from Caen to Versailles, another amazing Ceppi di Lecco route. On Thursday the 27th June 55 cyclists traveled by Eurostar to Paris and then on to Lisieux via Caen by SCNF to the starting point.

On Friday 28th June we cycled from Lisieux to Evreux. Then from Evreux to Chartres on the Saturday and Chartres to Versailles on Sunday. On the Monday 19th June we traveled back from Versailles to Paris Gard du Nord then Eurostar to St Pancras

On Thursday 21st June 2018 we set off from Durham and cycled over 200 miles across country, along the coast of Northumberland and over the border into Scotland. Ending up in Edinburgh on Sunday 24th. We followed some of the Sustrans route known as Coast and Castles Cycle. 

Thursday 21stJune:  Durham Station to Newcastle 

Friday 22ndJune: Newcastle to Alnwick

Saturday 23rdJune: Alnwick to Berwick

Sunday 24thJune: Berwick to Edinburgh  

On Thursday the 15th of June we set off on our Bike Cymru, cycling through South Wales in the Brecon Beacons and along the South Wales Coast.

The route was mostly on the Sustrans paths (The Taff Trail and the Celtic Trail) on cycle paths and minor roads. We cycled roughly 50 or 60 miles a day ( although the Saturday was a pretty long day ! ) covering a total of about 200 miles.

Day 1 – Thursday 15th June

We set off promptly from Brecon. Going East along the Taff Trail first on the Brecon and Monmouthshire Canal to Torpantau and then South up the Tal y Bont and Pontycil reservoirs. Then we made our way down to Merthyr Tydfil at the end of our first day's efforts.

Day 2 – Friday 16th June

On Friday morning we set off towards Newport where we stopped for lunch and then headed to Cardiff on the Taff Trail again.

Day 3 – Saturday 17th June

Saturday was a long day. We cycled North out of Cardiff to meet the Celtic trail out to the West from Pontypridd and on to Swansea and then to Llanelli. Stopping for lunch at Margam Country Park.

Day 4 – Sunday 18th June

We set off on the last leg to Tenby biking up to Camarthen and then South West to Tenby again mostly along the Celtic Trail. Stopping for lunch somewhere around St Clears, we arrived at the finishing line in Tenby next to South Beach Bar and Grill (where we returned for our celebratory dinner).

Between Thursday 19th May and Sunday the 22nd of May we cycled through Belgium, a bit of Southern Holland and into Germany. The route took us between Brussels and Cologne following a section of the Meuse river and later meeting the Rhine.

The bike route was mostly on minor roads and cycle paths, many alongside rivers and canals. We cycled roughly 50 or 60 miles a day although the Friday was a pretty long day - a total of about 200 miles.

Day 1 – Thursday 19th May

We set off from Gembloux in a south east direction towards Namur and then a few miles south of the city.

Day 2 – Friday 20th May

On Friday morning we headed North and then North East. Most of the day we followed the Meuse river stopping for lunch just north of Liege. We left the river at some point during the afternoon crossing the border into Holland and leaving Maastricht to the North West.

Day 3 – Saturday 21st May

On the Saturday morning we biked to a morning stop at a Dutch design museum in Kerkrade and then crossed into Germany. We cycled through Aachen and stoped for lunch to the south of the city. We then cycled through a forested area and stopped for the night in the small town of Durens.

Day 4 – Sunday 22nd May

On the Sunday morning we cycled East to meet the Rhine at Wesseling. Approaching Cologne from the South and arriving mid afternoon to the finale next to the Cathedral.

Between Thursday the 25th and Sunday the 28th of June we cycled across Brittany in North West France from St Malo to Carnac (just West of Vannes). Our route took us roughly North to South with a bit of a dog leg to the East.

The majority of the route was along cycle paths by rivers, canals and old railway lines and included some minor roads. The route surface was mainly gravel trails and tarmac roads. We cycled 70 miles on the first day and about 55 on the second and third days, finishing with 20 miles on the last morning - a total of about 200 miles.

Day 1

We set off promptly once off the cross channel ferry biking to a small ferry taking us across to Dinard. We had a long first day cycling stopping for lunch at the village of Evran. stopping over night in Rennes.

Day 2 

On Friday morning we headed South East stopping for lunch at Messac. We stayed overnight in the little town of Redon. 

Day 3

On the Saturday morning we set off to bike to Malestroit for lunch and on to Vannes to stay in the Kyriad hotel. 

Day 4 

On the Sunday morning we cycled West to the Alignements at Carnac to the bike ride finishing line where we were picked up by coach to travel back to St Malo where we celebrated with our final group meal inside the St Malo walls at the Cafe de St Malo restaurant.

Day 5

We made our way to the ferry terminal and boarded the ferry at 9.00. The ferry arrived back in Portsmouth at 18.00 and we traveled by coach back to Richmond arriving back around 21.00.

Day 1  http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4689504 

Day 2  http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4690665

Day 3  http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4693044

Day 4  http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4693132

On 20-24 June 2013 54 riders embarked on a 300 km charity ride to Gelderland, the SE region of Holland bordering on Germany and Belgium.
The ride was broken down into 4 legs / three and a half days, commencing in the village of Rhenen, about 20 miles South East of Utrecht. We cycled to Tiel on the north of the River Waal, crossing the Neder Rijn (Lower Rhine) on route. 

On Friday we followed the River Waal on the south side to Nijmegen (the oldest town in Holland) where we crossed the Waal again. Then we pushed on to Arnhem, first crossing the Lower Rhine again, and over the John Frost Bridge (an arch style bridge) made famous in Second World War and in the movie "A Bridge Too Far". We finished in Oosterbeek, a suburb of Arnhem with WW2 significance.  On the way we stopped for lunch beside the magnificent Doornenburg Castle and for an afternoon snack at the beautiful gardens and orangery of Rosendael Park.  We then headed north through the forests and massive old sand dunes of the Veluwe National Park. This is the hilliest bit of Holland. Yes, there really are hills in Holland. Most of the landscape of the park and the Veluwe was created during the last Ice Age.

On Saturday we headed north back through the old sand dunes of the Veluwe National Park and on to Eerbeek for our morning stop alongside an old railway station. We also stopped at Twello and Elspeet on route to Harderwijk on the shores of a large inland sea called Wolderwijd.

On Sunday we cycled West to Amsterdam to the south of a string of lakes, called Wolderwijd, Eemmeer and Gooimeer. Our afternoon stop took us to Naarden fort, a perfect example of a star fort, complete with fortified walls and a moat.

The scenery in this part of the Netherlands was stunning; from the ancient sand dunes to the primeval forests to the lakes and rivers, this trip had it all. We cycled through some crazy weather; rain, hail and storm force 8 winds! The wind and rain as we travelled alongside the totally exposed lakes on Sunday are known in Holland as the “Dutch Mountains” as you really feel like you are climbing Everest battling through such strong winds. It certainly made it more of a challenge and a feeling of achievement to have made it to Amsterdam!!

The team effort
Everybody in the 63 strong team pulled their weight to make it all work
…….biking, buttering, heaving bags and bikes, first aiding, bike mechanicking, truck driving, navigating, reccying, food shopping, clearing up after the stops, chatting, marking, leading, back marking and last but not least, fund raising. 

Fundraising
This year’s target was £40,000 and amazingly this has already been achieved at just over £45,000 with more sponsorship still coming in!

On 21-25 June 2012 55  riders embarked on a 310 km charity ride around the Burgundy wine growing area in France.
This year’s trip was given the rather fractured French title of ‘Burgundy Premier Crew’, a reference to the fact that we would be cycling through some of the most famous and most expensive wine growing areas of France such as Montrachet, Mersault and Vosne Romanee, the Côte de Nuits' brightest star, which produces the finest and most expensive Pinot Noir wines in the world. 

The route
The ride was broken down into 4 legs / three and a half days, commencing in Vougeot, 10 miles south of Dijon, late on Thursday afternoon and ending in Lyon on Sunday.

We cycled via Nuits Saint Georges along the Route des Grands Crus to Beaune. From there we passed through more wonderful wine country along the ‘Voie des Vignes’, stopping at Puligny Montrachet before continuing on to Seurre. We rode along cycle route Euro Velo 6 for part of the day then continued through Verdun, along the SaonRiver to Chalon sur Saone. 

Saturday continued along the Voie Verte, following an old railway track via Buxy, Cormatin and Cluny with the highlight of the day cycling through the longest cycle tunnel in Europe, the Tunnel du Bois Clair on route to Macon. We even managed to stop for an official wine tasting at a lovely Cave outside Macon. Sunday, our final day took us mainly along the river tow paths of the Saone River via Thoissey, Trevoux and Neuville-sur-Saone ending up in Lyon, outside the church of Sainte Blandine for a celebratory glass of bubbly and group photo.

The scenery was stunning; the Saone remarkably uncommercialised, wide and slow flowing; the vineyards were perfect, as you would expect from such famous tipples!  We cycled through some crazy weather, everything from a massive downpour complete with numerous lightning strikes and hail to extreme heat and humidity which resulted in many lobster coloured exposed bits of flesh amongst the group!!

Fundraising
This year’s target was £40,000 and amazingly, given the current economic climate, this target was well and truly smashed with an amazing total of £58,512 raised!!!

On 23-26 June 2011 53 riders embarked on a 225 mile charity ride across Luxembourg and then on to Germany and along the Mosel river ending up on the confluence of the Mosel and Rhine rivers at Koblenz.
This year’s trip was given the Germanic name of ‘Mosel Radweg’ which actually means Mosel Ride and in keeping with the German theme.
The ride was broken down into 4 legs / three and a half days, commencing in Steinfort, in Luxembourg on Thursday afternoon and ending in Koblenz, Germany.

We cycled across Luxembourg, staying in Luxembourg City, to the Mosel valley at Remich. We then crossed the river into Germany and cycled along the winding Mosel valley until it met the Rhine at Koblenz. We stayed in Trier, the oldest city in Germany, stopped for coffee at the beautiful ‘picture postcard’ village of Beilstein, where a number of German movies have been shot. Other stops along the Mosel included Temmels, Leiwen, Zeltingen, Traben-trarbach, Lautzenhausen, Zell, Tries-Karden and Brodenbach. We marked the finish at the famous Maximilian’s brewery at Lahnstein on the Rhine River and toasted everyone in true German tradition.

The scenery was stunning; the Mosel wide and fast flowing; the vineyards hanging on the gorge –like high sides of the river were wonderful to behold. We crossed no less than 11 bridges: the amazing Pont Grand Duchesse Charlotte Bridge in Luxembourg; the Mosel 9 times and the Rhine once.

The team effort
Everybody in the 62 strong team pulled their weight to make it all work
…….biking, buttering, heaving bags and bikes, driving, water pouring, first aiding, bike mechanicking, truck driving, navigating, reccying, water collecting, food shopping, clearing up after the stops, bike lending, chatting, marking, leading, back marking, taking one of the cyclists to hospital (3 stitches in her leg then straight back on her bike!) patching up 2 others and last but not least, fund raising. 

Fundraising
This year’s target was £40,000 and amazingly, given the current economic climate, this has already been achieved with the highest ever total of £51,569!!          

The 2010 bike ride started early on the morning of Thursday 24th June. With the usual jubilation we gathered at Kings Cross Station for the train to the sunny (luckily) and undulating north!
We had a pleasant journey with the usual excitement building chatter and tactics about when best to eat our sandwiches and change into the dreaded padded shorts. So it was that a few hours later we arrived at Newcastle station. From here it was a short metro ride to the start. Not however for Barbara and Dora who decided that 200 miles wasn’t enough and started the ride early, cycling an extra 12 miles from Newcastle to Callerton Parkway. Here we joined the ever reliable support team and most importantly, the bikes.

After everyone had been reunited with their beloved bikes, we were off! Day one gave a delightful insight into what was to come over the next few days… hills. Mostly smooth sailing, apart from for an unlucky Rosaleen who had a hitch with the big gear changer (technical term). The ever dependable support team came to the rescue though and picked up the broken bike (and rider).

This was Paul’s first mission on this, his first support team bike ride and he proved he was a great addition remaining cool, calm and unflappable for the whole four days. In fact the only time there was a bit of a furrow in his brow was when he realised that there was a distinct lack of real beer along our chosen route.

As sometimes is the case, the delay at the back had a bit of a knock-on effect to those chosen ones left marking our way. Rather than let the wait get them down some made the most of their time and invented such memorable games as “swinging on the gate” and “throwing twigs at Jon”.

We cycled about 35 miles of glorious Northumberland countryside before we started to see welcome signs to Bellingham. Unfortunately for most of us the navigation team decided we hadn’t done enough and showed us the indirect route, added an extra hill in the process! Jon Hill managed to avoid this bit of extra leg work, only due to the fact that a mile previously his chain had snapped meaning him and his hero Kate were bringing up the rear as she dragged him (+ bike) to our home for the night, Riverdale Hall. This earned her the title of cyclist of the day.

Riverdale Hall was without a doubt one of the best finds by the amazing planning team. Our first impression was the smell of sticky toffee pudding, a tantalising indication of the treats we had in store for dinner. Some of us dashed off to the swimming pool for a quick dip before drinks and dinner. Brilliant food, enough wine and yes we did get the sticky toffee pudding! The staff were absolutely brilliant and impressively hardworking, the same few serving dinner, tending bar and providing breakfast!

Day two, and still looking reasonably perky, we set off… The support team again triumphed, managing to source and supply three replacement bikes from nowhere for Chris, Rosaleen and Barbara who had all had one trouble or another with their own bikes the day before. Firstly, we rode past the stunning Kielder dam which made for a delightful first stop and photo opp. In fact so nice we had a stop on both sides of the bridge. This was where we first noticed the midges who were to become close companions over the next few days... There were a number of suggestions flying around as to how best deter the bloodsuckers; Vegimite/Marmite (spurring a whole other debate) and a wide variety of lotions and potions. Not much seemed to put them off and by the early lunch stop just before Lakeside Cycleway, many people were head to toe in bites. The experience was best summed up by one of the talented members of our group!

The Midge Ride

 There once was an army of rapacious midges,

Who pursued us across a 1000 ridges,

They cried " Go faster or we'll bite",

She cried " I am going as fast as I might",

The slow ones made juicy fodder

Whilst fast ones 'marking' were bothered.

Across forest, lake and dale we went

Till midge and we stopped for refreshment.

They followed us all the way to the sea

Where the tide turned and we were free.

England's world cup came to a halt

Whilst Newcastle  was our assault... and we won!!

(Annie Hampson, 2010)

After a pit stop we started out on the off-road stretch and very quickly realised why we’d been advised not to bring road bikes. The support vans couldn’t follow so with one whizzing the long way round to the top and one left at the bottom we started the climb through the shrapnel and rubble that pathed the way. It was tough and took a lot of concentration and sheer bravery in this writer’s humble opinion. In googling the Lakeside way to find out the number of miles we covered in the two hours (approx 12), I came across some information I’m glad I didn’t know before. Apparently Kielder is the home of the adder, Britain’s only venomous snake, brilliant!  

Considering this was the most dangerous stretch of the four days, we did well to get away with only one serious collision and fall. Clive and Guy became victims of the uneven track but they both barely flinched and got straight back on despite the blood dripping down Clive’s leg. For this he was awarded wipe-out of the day. The last stretch of the Lakeside cycleway Ben and Si (along with others I’m sure) showed off their downhill riding skills, they waited at the top of a frankly ridiculous slope and bombed down the trail, petrifying just to watch!

We had reached the border, good job really as the t-shirts all said “borders marauders”.

The afternoon continued in the now familiar challenging fashion, we scaled a narrow steep track, rode downhill though a forest and reached one of the high points of the trip, literally, approximately 1200 ft. All of the scenery was absolutely stunning, the only trouble was catching your breath for long enough to look up and appreciate it! We passed a sign for “Gill”, which was a perfect excuse for a photo for our infallible, indestructible, unquestionable leader.

Lunch/afternoon tea was taken at the Bailey Mill pub. They laid on tea and cake and we all had a well deserved sit down and chat with the friendly if slightly eccentric owner and his dog (who seemed to take a particular shine to us and ran alongside us for the next mile or so). 

We were heading for Brampton, and after a slightly agonising complication involving some local roadworks and then a lay-by and a cow we boarded the bus to Carlisle where we were to spend the night. This was the most westerly point of the journey as day 3 would see us start our journey back towards Newcastle to complete our figure of eight.

Day 3

Roseleen’s friend, who had helped guide the coach the night before, joined us for the stretch from Brampton to Birdoswald. We cycled along Hadrian’s wall (with photo opportunities a-plenty) across a stunning stretch with Scotland to our left and England to our right. We then had a very unassuming but well supported pit stop at a service station where we were joined by various of Andy’s in-laws in the lay-by. After a much welcomed break of all the usual cycling must haves and delicacies at Once Brewed (provided by the wonderful support team) and after a surprise visit by John T’s auntie Joan and her friend (all the way from Yorkshire!) we were off again towards our evening residence, Otterburn hall.

This turned out to be our most challenging day of cycling. The hills were relentless and unforgiving. We battled on and on, and on. Where we would have been without the practice runs to Box Hill and Brighton is a mystery! Everyone showed real determination and resolve and none more so than Steve who after finding the Brighton ride tougher than he’d liked, had been in serious training leading up to the main event and somehow, contrary to normal practice, seemed to get stronger with each day of the ride!

On arrival at Otterburn Hall we were met by the familiar sight of a London Routemaster bus. I’m sure many would have believed it was a mirage as we wearily collapsed off our bikes. We now had a new kind of challenge to embrace: finding ones room at the aptly dubbed Fawlty Towers.

Once we’d all found our rooms (which turned out to be quite variable) in the bizarre topsy turvey layout other little quirks soon became apparent. In response to complaints the staff seemed to operate a general shrugging policy and seemed as confused about the place as we were! However, all these idiosyncrasies just added to the charm. It was a beautiful setting and although we were all completely exhausted, it was a great setting to relax at the end of a long day. So long in fact that Noel of Team Glaxo fame couldn’t generate much of a following for his last night blowout that he’d been looking forward to all day!

Firstly, wipe-out of the day came very early. Not even out on the road and Anne took an almighty tumble. It was a spectacular fall necessitating a trip to hospital thus earning her at least a 9/10 on Jon’s very strict scale. She was whisked to the hospital and thankfully was patched up and joined us for celebrations later in the day much to everyone’s relief.

The morning trip to Blythe was spectacular. Gorgeous, rolling countryside with only a few Sunday cyclists or the occasional cow to remind us that we were not quite on top of the world. No longer troubled by the odd hill we soared across them, gaining as much speed as possible just in case it would be enough to propel us over the next summit. It invariably didn’t and there was the odd groan when what we thought was the top became just a short plateau before the next and then the next! Downhill was fun though!

From Blythe we took the coastal route to the lunch stop where we were met for the last time by Dog and Duck (JG’s camper van) and the rest of the camp. Just in time for kickoff. For of course FIFA had not taken us into consideration when scheduling the games for the 2010 world cup and some had to make the hard decision about where their priorities lay. All chose the bike ride! This could have been different had England been winning by the time we were due to set off but we’ll never know.

The last stretch took us through the outskirts of Newcastle picking up score updates along the way.. It was punctures galore as we took the towpath for the last few miles but undeterred we flew into the striking city of Newcastle and crossed the finish line with gusto! 

Cyclist of the day

On the scraps of notes made after too many glasses of wine at the Slug and Lettuce this starts Dimity, Dora, Dotty – not sure quite whether we’re going anywhere with this? Anyway it continues and there is so much crossing out that it seems cyclist of the day can’t really be pinned on any four people! Well done everyone!

Wipeout of the day

Day 2: Clive

Day 3: Kate (I think Jon only gave her a 3)

Day 4: Anne

Honorary cyclist of the day:

that dog

Most useful:

James Hampson – fixed something for everyone at somepoint! He was even spotted filling up people’s waterbottles when all the bikes were shipshape.

Most dramatic improvement:

Steve!

Best marker:

Simon – if he ever bores of props, he would make an awesome lollipop person.

Best dressed:

Jackie – this was originally going to be an “of the day” category but after day two we decided that would be a waste of time so room for improvement here next year every one!

Wimp of the weekend:

Suzi

Best cyclist to get stuck on a long mark or impromptu stop with:

Gary – but only for his figs.

The hottest weekend of the year and there we were, cycling along the Loire Valley in France raising money for the Who Cares? Trust.  Do you know that at any one time there are at least 74,000 children separated from their families living in residential or foster care?  The Who Cares? Trust was established in 1992 to help address the needs of these children.
 Last year Biking for Children in Care raised over £40,000 to help foster carers and residential care workers to better support the children in their care and help them make informed decisions about education that will improve their life outcomes.  This year we hope to raise at least £30,000 which will support a project helping to improve the literacy skills of children in care and help them to express themselves through creative writing.  My sponsorship totalled £890 – thank you all so much!

The four support vehicles provided generously by Citroen, Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot included one enormous lorry in which we loaded the 50 bikes, crossed to Calais on Wednesday morning, a day in advance of the bikers’ departure from St Pancras.  The vehicles and crew stopped off in Chartres where we enjoyed soupe de poissons under the flying buttresses of the Cathedral.  Thursday morning we set off to meet the bikers at Muides sur Loire after their journey by coach from Paris.

There were almost 50 of us setting out on the ride with ages ranging from 22 to 60+, we included lawyers, judges, social workers, teachers and gardeners!  Reunited with our bikes, the team set off to Blois 23 miles away a bit later than planned due to the coach being delayed.  We stopped off very briefly at Chambord to see our first chateau which was very grand if a little touristy!  Accommodation that night at the Balladins Express hotel was fairly basic but an excellent meal was provided by La Boucherie nearby. They were however rather overwhelmed by the size of the group. 

Friday morning we were ready to go at 8.00, too worried about what we had taken on to be late.  We were given a briefing and set off for Tours some 60 miles away.  The route was shortened so the planned morning break at Chaumont was moved to Amboise.  Amboise was a lovely little town on the Loire with a large street market providing delicious if expensive strawberries. We could have done a little sight-seeing although most of us gravitated to a nearby bar for refreshments and ice-creams.  At least one person had a nap!

We had to back-track a little before heading to the lunch stop in the grounds of Chateau de Chenonceau, it was still very hot!  It cost €10 to get in, the rose gardens were impressive but we didn’t have time to go inside the Chateau.  Some very pretty countryside that afternoon and we stopped for tea under a bridge.  The support team produced birthday cakes for Becky who turned 23 that day.  As we were leaving George got a fly in her ear, causing much hysteria.  Someone suggested drowning it by pouring water into her ear until it stopped moving – it worked!  The poor girl was in some discomfort for the rest of the afternoon but survived to tell the tale.  We finally stopped in Tours around 6.00 at an Ibis hotel where most people ate, being too hot and exhausted to contemplate anything else.  We were to set off for Angers early the next day.

We knew Saturday, Day 3 was going to be a long way!  No-one knew or was telling how far we would have to pedal.  (Only the route planners know the distances and sometimes even they don’t know.)  We started at 8.15 and somehow managed to cover 50 miles before stopping for lunch.  The support team met up with the cyclists several times to fill water bottles and to offer snacks but the lunch stop didn’t happen until most of us were quite exhausted.  It was near Saumur on an island with a marvellous view of another Chateau across the river.  Astonishingly a couple of expat supporters turned up to cheer us on.  There was a party going on but we had 40 more miles to cover so couldn’t hang around to join in the fun. 

The scenery was beautiful; we saw a number of chateaux and passed numerous caves used by troglodytes and wine merchants! The river bed seemed rather dry but we found out that they extract the river water for irrigation.  We passed many fields of maize, the staple diet for the cattle. The wild flowers were notable and the route included quite a few miles on the road as well as off-road paths and tracks.

As we neared our destination there were problems with the map reading but we finally arrived hot, tired and absolutely shattered at a sort of residential activity centre with more ineffective showers. We had half an hour to wash, change and present ourselves for supper as the staff were threatening to go home.  The bar closed at 10.00 so the party retired to the Dog and Duck (campervan) where there was an impromptu singsong which went on until the early hours.  Some of us had to retire much earlier having cycled 90+ miles, in order to cope the next day and 60 more miles!

Sunday, Day 4 was the last day in the saddle!  We cycled from Anger to Nantes starting and finishing on woodland paths.  The lunch break was at a camping site in Ancenis,   there was lots of stretching and groaning and then we heard the word, “hills”!  They were several - long and steep – the excuse was that it was a shortcut but the views were spectacular and made up for a lot!

We were almost there when we had to stop and wait for a replacement bike so we could all cycle into Nantes together.  (The bike to be replaced had lost a few spokes and was deemed to be dangerous.)  We entered Nantes, dodged the traffic, crossed over a few tramlines and rail tracks, and negotiated a pedestrian subway where someone had set fire to an old settee!  We ended up next to a rather impressive fountain which signalled the end of the ride so we celebrated with locally produced sparkling wine.  There was lots of hugging and kissing, and a few people jumped into the fountain for good measure.

By the time we arrived at the Ibis, got the bikes into the lorry we had notched up at least 237 miles which wasn’t a bad weekend’s work in temperatures between 90° and 100°F or up to 38°C.  We had an excellent meal in Taverne du Chateau before retiring to bed, ready to set off home the following day.

The Who Cares? Trust works to improve the lives of 60,000 children and young people in care and that’s why 53 bikers of all ages, shapes and sizes tackled the coast to coast Trans Pennine Trail. 
This was up north where it hadn’t stopped raining for weeks, hundreds of people were homeless and some of the trail was under water so we had to change our route in places.  Hopefully we will raise around £30,000 for The Who Cares Trust.  If you would like to know more about the trust visit www.thewhocarestrust.org.uk and you may find Harriet’s account of the trip to confirm that I didn’t just make it up!

Friday 29th saw us assembled for an 8.00 briefing in Southport just north of Liverpool looking out over the Irish Sea.  The day began well and it was expected to be fairly easy.  What hadn’t been taken into consideration was the glass strewn over the cycle paths around Liverpool and the punctures and the mud we would have to deal with thereon after!  On top of this the trail (TPT) had anti-quad bike and/or motorbike deterrents installed in the way of stiles and gates so we had to dismount and negotiate every one – they went on for ever and slowed us right down.   We must have had at least 20 punctures and one cyclist had to take to the van as we’d run out of inner tubes.  To make matters worse the hotel where we were due to stay was threatening to stop serving food after 8.30 – they did soften when they realised there were 60 odd very hungry and thirsty people heading their way, they even brought in extra staff in the end!  Crisis hit the group around 8.00 that evening when exhaustion and hunger drove most of the party into the van which left a few hardened fanatics to battle on for the final 15 miles arriving after dark.  Fish and chips that night were superb.

Saturday, the big day, the ultimate challenge and we were to go over the Pennines!  Not quite what I expected as we had to push the bikes up steep narrow paths but the views were sensational.

On the other hand going down was something else again without the views.  I can only describe it as the closest thing to extreme sports that I would ever want to do.  Charging down narrow paths which had been washed clean of anything soft, exposing gullies three to six inches deep with threatening looking boulders, stones, bits of flint and branches that had got stuck on their way down during the “rains”!   Then when it flattened out, we had large puddles and lots more mud to contend with.  The rumour was that one of our leaders became separated from his bike through over eagerness but it’s only a rumour.  I had to adjust my brakes blocks that evening as I’d worn them down so much on the descent.

We finally arrived at the Earl of  Doncaster Hotel covered in mud, I didn’t mention that it had been drizzling most of the afternoon. As we climbed the stairs to our rooms we met up with wedding guests dressed up to the nines, they kept their distance from us!  One muddy cyclist met the Bride in the loo – they had a little chat as one would!  Some of the youngsters went out on the town that night, Saturday, but they were a little quiet the next day.

Sunday - Following consultations with Sustrans we found the trail to Hull was still under water and we should find an alternative route.  This was great news as we could increase our average speed and test out the tarmac - much better than muddy tracks.  Our speed surprised the support team so they had difficulty finding a good location with a loo.  They finally found a friendly landlord with a car park and we were very pleased to test the beer and the facilities.   Just as we were about to leave the heavens opened and we were treated to an extremely heavy thunder and lightning storm.  We gathered under the campervan awning which was very cosy!

Got in early to the Premier Travel Lodge in Hull so after eating an impromptu party began, the guitars appeared, the closet singers were put through their paces and the wine flowed! 

Monday came and we were allowed a lie in.  Our final stretch lay ahead and the sun was shining.   Despite the glass around Hull, more punctures and at least one split tyre we headed for the seaside, this time on the North Sea, a little place called Hornsea.

We got a bit spread out due to the punctures but everyone made it in the end.  Some took their bikes down to the sea and went for a paddle, others were just pleased to have arrived.  We had a photo-shoot, congratulated one another and assembled one last time for champagne and speeches.  We had to thank the support team who had piled into the 3 vans and a courtesy press car provided by Volkswagon, the drivers, the route planners,  the catering team and the person who booked the accommodation etc and Gill of course for making us do it.  And then we went home wondering if there would be 7th Biking for Children in Care event ‘next year’!!!

After months of planning, training, buying more bits for the bikes and in some cases new bikes, we were off.  An early rise for all especially the drivers and crew of the support vehicles who had to catch an 07.30 ferry from Dover. 
Cyclists were up at 0500 meeting at Liverpool Street Station bleary eyed and clutching helmets and backpacks.  We were off to Harwich where we boarded the ferry, disembarking mid afternoon at the Hook of Holland where we were reunited with our bikes.  We only had 12 or 14 miles to ride to Vlaardingen that day depending on which hotel we were booked into.

The next day Friday was to be a “biggy” of around 75 miles and meant another early start.  The group was made up of 50 sort of ordinary people including my daughter and sister, most of whom work with or for children in need of support, but who were prepared to put in an extraordinary effort to raise money for these children.  One of the girls from Berkshire had written her car off a few days previous, was covered with bruises but was still game for the ride from Vlaardingen.  The support team comprised of 5 vehicles including a campervan and a lorry and 12 people manning them.

Soon after leaving Vlaardingen our average speed dipped due to punctures and some equipment failure.  Excellent map reading by our leaders brought us to a “nice” car-park at Haringvliet for our mid-morning break.  The campervan team had set up a bright red gazebo to shade us from the ferocious sun and set out on tables laden with energy bars, fruit and water to fill our bottles.

Unfortunately the guardian of the car-park, restaurant and toilets thought we’d arrived to steal his trade and threatened to call the police, although nobody could quite work out what crime had been committed.  To say he was apoplectic is an understatement - he was beside himself!  No appeasing, pleading, grovelling made any difference, we weren’t even allowed to use the toilets so we cleared everything away as quickly as we could and set off for the lunch stop some 20 miles or so further on.  The odd thing was that it had all been arranged and agreed with him in January but now he had a strong touch of amnesia.  In my five years of doing this cycling thing I have never met anyone quite so beside themselves as this mad Dutchman.

We duly arrived at Burgh-Hamsteede for lunch at another car-park but this time without a guardian thank goodness. A pretty little town with public loos which are always welcomed by the “girls”.  After lunch another 20 or so miles further along the road to Middleburg which is well worth a visit.  It was a very long day and over the last 10 miles the cyclists went rather quiet – probably concentrating on the job in hand –reaching the hotel in Goes in one piece and in time for supper.  We covered 75 miles that day arriving in Goes around 1900hrs in time to watch a World Cup match on the hotel television.  Most people went to bed pretty early that night apart from a diehard core who went off to Goes for some late night entertainment.

Saturday, an even bigger day with an even earlier start, meant on the bikes and away by 0745hrs.  The day was destined to be a logistical nightmare and it was!  The problem was to get 50 cyclists of varying levels of stamina to cover 85 miles before dark, that’s 9 hours in the saddle and doesn’t include unscheduled stops for water, punctures or even scheduled stops to eat!  On top of that England were to play Portugal in the World Cup around 17.00!

We headed off 10 minutes later than scheduled once Gill and Bob had briefed everyone, handed out T-shirts and all water bottles had been filled.  A hot sunny day was expected and although there weren’t many hills of note it was still hard work cycling against the wind when you have already covered 75 miles the day before and your body is starting to complain.

We stopped for elevenses at the Non Plus Ultra café in Woensdrecht 30 miles out.  This was a supported stop with food from the campervan and coffee and beers from the café.  Gill and John had been there earlier in the year to organise and the manager had arranged for a local Wurlitzer look alike machine to lift our spirits – real old fashioned fairground music with a steam (compressed air I think more likely) organ.

We moved out at 1200ish after photo-shoots and much waving and cheering.  We didn’t know what lay ahead or when the next stop was going to be although the countryside was great and variable.

We had a few more punctures on the next stretch and someone’s derailleur fell apart which meant a trip to the nearest bike shop for instant replacement!  It took some time for everyone to catch up.  The support team turned up several times along the way to fill water bottles this was a very bad sign and meant we had 15 – 20 miles to go to the lunch stop.  More struggling against the wind and the sun was getting hotter by the minute.  People started muttering.

We finally reached the lunch stop mid-afternoon in a secluded campsite having covered 45 miles. Some of the ladies were starting to flag and were uncertain if they could do another 40 miles.  We’d been cycling for 6 hours with at least another 4 to go and it was mid-afternoon!  To make matters worse, our strongest cyclists had abandoned the group, put their bikes on the lorry and taken off by taxi to get to the hotel in time for the big match.

The mutterings hadn’t abated but a plan was being hatched!  We had to cycle another 20 miles to Dordrecht where we could catch the train to  Capelle an den Ijssel which was very close to our hotel.  It did entail changing trains and platforms at Rotterdam and the group having to split up and catch different trains because of health and safety concerns by the railway staff (who were magnificently helpful to us poor tired old girls) about clogging up the carriages with all our bikes. There was a sort of bonus for the football fanatics as we arrived at Dordrecht station in time to watch the penalty shoot-out when England were thrashed by Portugal. We finally arrived at the hotel at 2100 and it wasn’t quite dark.  The excitement wasn’t quite over!

Our organisers had booked half a restaurant for 20.30 - there were 60 of us and they were very accommodating.  Tables were re-booked for 10.00 to allow sweaty cyclists to shower, change and get on the Metro – easy.  The thing the organisers didn’t know was that the ticket office would be closed by the time we got to the station and the only way to get on to the platform was to get a ticket out of a single ticket machine one by one with small change that no-one seemed to have.  What a nightmare and it took ages – a few gave up and went back to the hotel.  We finally got to the restaurant around 10.30 and no-one batted an eye.  It was a Greek restaurant but everyone was so hungry they would have eaten anything.  We slept very well that night.

Day 4, the best, water, water everywhere and more time to look around as we only had to do 45 miles or so to the finish in Amsterdam.  We travelled through peoples’ gardens, along the canals and everywhere people were messing about on, in or by the water – it was a beautiful sunny Sunday.

We stopped off for elevenses in Gouda where the bell on the State House struck every quarter of an hour.  We had coffee and dutch apple cake in the local coffee houses, were able to chat and just relax – the end was tantalisingly close.  The terrain was very rural with vegetables growing either side of the path, cows watching us go by all the way to our lunch stop at Alphen an den Rijn which featured a Chinese Palace (a restaurant now) in the middle of a park.

There was a lake in the middle of this park and with very little hesitation half of the group of hot, sweaty cyclists stripped off and plunged into it with gay abandon.  Nasty slippery rocks at the side didn’t slow down this astonishing sight, a bit like a herd of wildebeests crossing a river.  Suitable refreshed, fed and watered the merry band struck forth for almost the final leg, into the outskirts of Amsterdam and along the Amstel river/canal.

The most notable feature was the wild life along the way.  We nearly ran over a large black pig asleep with his nose in the path, and the number of stone animals and fake herons guarding the water was rather odd.  George and I had a competition to spot the real herons which were almost as numerous as the fakes.

We had a water stop in a churchyard, a break for an ice-cream before the final stretch through another park to arrive at the Bastion Hotel in South West Amsterdam where we were greeted by Susie and her husband from the Who Cares? Trust.  We’d cycled 227 miles!  We were later thanked for our efforts particularly Gill who had the idea and temerity to organise for the 5th year the Biking for Children in Care bike rides and the question that got asked the most was “Where will it be next year?”  I couldn’t believe my ears.

We gathered outside Hampton Court station on a clear morning at the end of June 2005 and headed off for the coast to catch the ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe. What excitement - actually cycling to Paris!
As we all gathered on the other on the other side of the channel I noticed that there was a very long hill to climb out of the port but I was a bit younger then and it wasn't a problem. 

In the days ahead we had a combination of weather, some rainy days and some sunny, very hot days. A fabulous memory from this ride was the evening we spent at a chateau. Sadly we didn't sleep in the chateau but were in modern student blocks. however our evening was spent singing along to the guitar of Jonathan and drinking while the rain belted down outside. Where did we get the booze I wonder?

I remember eating at a Chinese restaurant in the French countryside - very bizarre.

We rode into Paris along a canal on a very hot day and up to the Eiffel Tower. The roads were closed alongside the Seine and we cycled through a market and through some road tunnels to reach the tower. What a fabulous feeling! The subsequent ride to our hotel through the busy Paris streets was a bit less fab and really scary.

That evening in Paris we all dined in a very famous restaurant (Whose name I don't know) and then we all went our own ways to explore Paris on a warm balmy night.

The following day we met at breakfast to discuss our sightseeing plans for the day as we were leaving on the 17.10 Eurostar for London. Nikki and I decided to go to a Hamman where my sunburn was rather roughly attacked when I decided to indulge in a "gommage". (A rub down with a rubber glove!" )

An unusual and fabulous ending to another wonderful bike ride.

This year’s outing began with an overnight stay in a Travel Lodge somewhere near Swindon before getting up at some  ludicrously early hour on a Friday morning to pedal towards Bath and finishing off in Bristol. 
Fortunately, it was a lovely day for our band of cyclists from all corners of the world and the scenery off the mainroads was a delight.  It was a gentle day in some respects, designed to carefully break in the newcomers.   There were one or two punctures along the way and a few minor falls, have you ever heard of cleat collapse?  We skirted around the edge of Bath and then headed towards Bristol, the hotel being right in the centre and deemed to be a “bit rough”.  This proved to be the case when we heard at breakfast from one couple who’d been kept awake all night whilst “guests” trashed everything in the room below!  Our couple got a refund!  We’d gone Italian the previous night having taken over an entire restaurant, the meal was organised by an old friend who had gone native in Bristol!

We covered 60 miles on Friday, we woke up on Saturday morning to find it raining and it didn’t stop all day.  We got soaked and we had to raid the lorry for extra clothes whenever we stopped and the places we stopped deserve a mention.  Morning elevenses was to be in a shop car park until our wonderful support team discovered the local Methodist church hall was holding a coffee morning to raise money for the amputees in Sierra Leone.  The senior citizens welcomed us with open arms, put the kettle on, laid out more tables and chairs and produced coffee and biscuits by the plateful.  All to accommodate this very wet group of ‘driven’ cyclists and the support team – we did make a donation.  We all agreed that morning that every penny we had been promised by our sponsors was very well deserved!

Whilst in the Methodist Hall we were advised by our leaders that a change of route had been decided due to the weather and unfamiliar route through the Forest of Dean.  Now, whether it was because we were all saturated and had lost our powers of reasoning but one or two of the party still insisted on going with the original plan and take the longer route through the Forest of Dean without the back up of the Support Vehicles.  As we collected outside to restart the group split in two, 21 headed out on the shorter route south of the River Severn and the other 21 set off over the Severn Bridge and through the Forest of Dean.

The rain lashed down as the two groups set out, some people didn’t have waterproof jackets and others had them but they didn’t seem very waterproof if you know what I mean.   We never heard the full story of those who went on the northern route but the rest of us went to church for the next stop!   We hadn’t crossed the Severn but we had crossed the Severn and Gloucester Canal several times and watched the lock keeper open the lock gates manually for a pleasure yacht.

Our support team had been desperate to get us out of the rain and to find somewhere we could produce hot soup – they were becoming more and more worried about the state of the cyclists.  Following enquiries Maria was given the number of the local vicar to see if he knew where we could set our tables up, butter the rolls and put the kettle on.  The vicar paused for a couple of minutes and then told Maria we could use the church!  She thought he too may be suffering from being out in the rain too long but was ready to investigate. 

It turned out that the church at Upper Framilode on the banks of the Severn had just had built a small kitchen at the back of the vestry.  It was a perfect shelter for this rather damp group and included changing facilities and a loo!  By this time people had run out of clothes and others were delving into the bottom of their bags to find anything dry.

We made a donation to the church funds and moved outside.  Fortunately the rain held off for the last lap and people cheered up.  We were about to arrive in Gloucester and descend on the Beefeater that was going to be knocked down the next day.  The food was particularly mediocre!

Sunday we were allowed a lie-in of half an hour although no proper breakfast!  Just a box of cereal, a carton of milk and a banana as opposed to the full English to which we had become accustomed. 

Shortly after leaving Gloucester on the way back to Swindon we encountered the worst hill of the weekend, Birdlip – most of us had to get off and walk, and it rained.  That morning it took us two hours to cover 4 miles which was not good.  The view at the top, however, was superb.  The van and the lorry and the campervan had parked under a bridge for elevenses during a rain shower but it cleared.  The sun came out to dry us out and people started smiling.

We had 40 miles and a few more hills to do that day but cycling along country roads we could see for miles – the sun shone and we only had one or two punctures.  We stopped at the Head of the Thames, a pub!  The landlord let us set up at the back of the pub and a few people even managed a little shut-eye relaxing in the sun.

It wasn’t to be such a strenuous day as before which was most welcome.  We travelled through villages with names like Brimpsfield, Miserden, Duntisbourne Abbotts, Daglingworth, Kemble and Minety.  Finally, we arrived in Swindon’s Lydiard Park around 4.00.

We took loads of pictures, congratulated ourselves, ate more food and crisps.  A few people made speeches including Susie, trustee of the Who Cares Trust? and who had accompanied us the whole 160 miles, and then we went home.  We were tired, aching - with lots of wet kit stuffed in our bags but we were triumphant and one or two people were heard whispering “what’s happening NY (next year)” but we will all have to wait and see. 

Many congratulations to Gill and her team, let’s hope you will go a long way towards raising over the £16,000 we raised for The Who Cares? Trust last year and by the way what is happening next year?

When my sister decides to do something there are no half measures, so when a sponsored cycle ride is mooted there is no way it can be let’s go round the park or something simple.  Last year it was Land’s End to John O’Groats in three weeks and I found myself joining them in Glasgow, with my bicycle, to complete the last stretch – but that’s another story.  This year, the proposal was 200 miles around Kent and Sussex in three days!
Anyone who cycles at all will realise that 70 miles can take 10 hours (one is allowed to stop for refreshments) so 200 miles converts to around 30 hours in the saddle (ouch!!), which is quite a lot.

Despite all this, my sister found over 28 people to join her and complete the challenge, several others would meet up along the way.  We found ourselves getting up at 5.30 in the morning on Day 1 and making our way to Gatwick Airport or rather the MacDonald’s car park close by to meet the Support Team (the “PJ’s” – Peggy, Jane, Jean, John, John, John and Jeff) and be briefed by our leaders at 8.0.  Philip Clarke from the Who Cares? Trust was there to see us off.  The route had taken months to plan and led right through the check-in area at Gatwick, past bemused passengers and down a couple of floors in a lift!  You can only get six bikes in the lift at one time but it is a designated Sustrans cycle route!

It took an hour to get us all through but we were finally on our way heading east.  First stop for snacks and drinks was in the ground of Penshurst Place after 25 miles.  The campervan, the van carrying all the bags and food and the Discovery towing the trailer were assembled in the grounds of the magnificent Tudor stately home.  An irate worker had tried to chuck them out but he calmed down when told it had been pre-arranged, no-one had told him.  Wonderful spread of sandwiches, rolls, fruit and energy bars all designed to revitalise 28 hungry but determined cyclists.  Half an hour later we were back in the saddle heading towards Tonbridge where we met up with one more cyclist, this was also pre-arranged.  The Support Team had difficulty finding a good place to set up lunch but finally opted for their favourite venue, a pub car park at Sutton Valence.

By the afternoon we were bowling down country lanes, past oast houses and enormous farms at a good pace.  It gives you a wonderful sense of freedom being amongst the rolling hills speeding along 14 – 16 miles an hour!  We were just getting into the rhythm when disaster struck.  One group were cycling along a little close and one had to jam on his brakes a little too hard - the next thing we knew he was comatose in the middle of the road!  He came round after a few minutes and injuries seemed superficial – one dented helmet, a torn shirt, a badly bruised shoulder and grazed elbow and leg.  The Support Team took him off to Casualty for a check-up but he was back on his bike the next day – he, we, were lucky.  We were much more careful after that, keeping our distance and braking on the hills a little more so.

We had covered 73 miles by the time we stopped.  That was not before we had had to dice with death, all 29 of us, by crossing the dual carriageway of the A2 at 6.30 at night.  The Travel Lodge was on the outskirts of Dunkirk (not the real one, it was a tiny village but the name amused).  The rooms were clean, a good size and the water hot but we were only “allowed” an hour to clean up and change before being transported to yet another pub for a meal.  A room had been booked and the party had swollen to 36.  The campervan had to circumnavigate Kent before finding the place but we all met up in the end, ate well and finally retired exhausted, putting the alarm on for 6.30 the next morning!

Day 2 – We assembled at 7.45 for a briefing, we were warned it would be a long day!  We re-crossed the A2 which is not so crowded first thing on a Saturday morning and made our way to Canterbury.  We rode right up to the Cathedral, along the cobbled streets past the trendy shops and then out and away across open farmland – not before having to cross a ford, the water was over 6 inches deep.  We were heading towards Dover, stopping after 22 miles for refreshments in the coach park next to Dover Castle with magnificent views of the castle and harbour.  From Dover, we made for Folkestone which was hilly, and our little band got separated.  We had to reassemble on the seafront but people were getting tired!  This wasn’t helped by having to cycle into the wind along the coast to Hythe after which we went inland and across Romney Marsh.

This was mostly flat apart from Winchelsea where we were challenged with a real “stonker” (a very big hill).  Quite a few of us got off and walked and one fellow got a puncture, just before the hill.  Unfortunately he didn’t have quick release wheels, spare inner tube or a spanner to take the wheel off!  The day was saved by four at the back – they had a spanner, mended the puncture and John and John in the Discovery provided a pump.  The two Johns then followed them in on the last uphill stretch and they didn’t get in until 7.45.

The main group finally arrived at the overnight venue just outside Hastings around 7.00 after 76.7 miles and a number of stonking hills.  I thought this was a bit excessive and quite a few of us were having trouble standing up, let alone carrying bags to our rooms!  However, an hour later – revitalised by hot showers and clean clothes we were off to the pub for a BBQ.  The group numbered 40 by this time, we had been joined by four more cyclists and one had caught the train home from Hastings – this had been planned in advance!  It was colder than expected in the pub garden so we had to retire to the bar and forego the entertainment we had hoped for - Dotty playing her fiddle and Pete the Dentist on the guitar.

Day 3 – Full breakfast for everyone had been ordered and was duly consumed.  The service was slightly inefficient but they were probably not used to feeding 40 hungry souls in a hurry – just dying to get back on their bikes!

We assembled once more for the now familiar briefing and set off on the last stretch.  The day was extremely hot, the sun was relentless and there were more big hills, one cyclist had to retire with heatstroke.  The first bit was great, downhill for a couple of miles, down to the sea at Hastings and then all along the coast to Pevensey Bay.  We made really good time with the wind behind us.  We stopped in Hailsham, in the Waitrose car park, where the campervan was set up and refreshments provided.  Another supporter turned up.

Next it was off to Groombridge and more hills.  Much of the day was along the Sustran cycle routes, off-road, through woods and along the old railway lines.  Thoroughly recommended and safe, but maybe not for pedestrians and small children confronted by over 30 cyclists peddling madly looking as it they had a deadline to meet!

Groombridge Village Hall Car Park was where we stopped for lunch, all 40 of us.  The natives were very unfriendly and wouldn’t allow us to use the facilities so we had to trek up the road to a more friendly pub.  The riders were now beginning to suffer and the sun was very hot.

The hills after lunch were not welcome and we went the wrong way adding more hills and more miles to our task.  More people were getting off and walking the steeper bits.  Faces were getting more strained and there was frantic searching for glucose tablets, energy bars and isotonic drinks.  One or two thought of packing it in but staggered on with grim determination.

We were a motley crew but our leaders kept going and the back-markers kept us together.  We hung on in there, chatting on the easy stretches, gasping for breath when it got tough.  We included psychiatrists, psychologists, pharmacists, dentists and speech therapists; social workers, guardian ad litems, lawyers and chefs; racing drivers, journalists, those who won’t say and half a dozen energetic teenagers who just came for the ride.

We arrived at the Snooty Fox at Three Bridges having navigated the Worth Way and the Cuckoo Trail not necessarily in that order.  There were no more punctures and we all arrived in one piece to be greeted by at least 20 long suffering supporters who had been willing us along the way.  It was 6.30, not the pre-arranged 5.00, we had cycled 220 miles in 3 days and felt much more respect for the Tour de France chaps.  The beer went down rather well and the riders quietly slipped away looking triumphant after being presented with a certificate from Susie from the Who Cares? Trust.  We hope the funds we raise will be substantial and will make a difference to children in care.

So, thanks to those who masterminded the whole operation, planned the route, the food, the accommodation and everything else.  Congratulations to Gill and the “inner circle” who kept us together and of course those who sponsored us.  Thank you for being just a “Dream Team” as Gill would say and well done everyone who was “taken for a ride” around Kent and Sussex the other weekend!!

‘Just remember’ said Bob, as we struggled across Dartmoor, ‘every mile we cycle as we grind up these hills is worth £20 to The Who Cares? Trust’.  And to add to the sense of satisfaction we had just climbed from sea level crossing the Tamar in Plymouth up to 460 metres in three long difficult hours and the view over Leedon Tor was breathtaking.
This was the afternoon of our second day  – a day which had begun 50 miles earlier in Golant in Cornwall and which had witnessed an epic climb out of Polruan on the other side the Fowey river and a long slog up out of Looe a little later.  The cycling group at that stage consisted of Bob (the navigator), Bob (round the corner), Nicki, Gill (the organiser), big Peter, David (co-navigator) , Maria (accommodation organiser) and young Pete supported by Geoff , Jane and Henry in the orange truck – all but the last four cycling all the way from Land’s End to John O’ Groats to raise money for and awareness of  the Who Cares? Trust and its work with children in care.

Our first day though on Sunday 23rd June had been even more difficult.  Young (well Stephen H’s), tender, inexperienced bottoms had been glued to the saddle from 7.30 am when we left the youth hostel in St Just 5 miles to the north of Land’s End until we reached the hostel in Golant over 80 miles and 12 hours later.  Our route had taken us to St Michael’s Mount, Godolphin Cross, Porkellis and across the King Harry Ferry to the challenging terrain of the Roseland Peninsular.  It was a spectacular but tiring ride and most of us could do little more that evening than shovel in a few mouthfuls of youth hostel supper before collapsing gratefully into our bunk beds by 9pm.

At the end of our second day we ended up at the youth hostel in Steps Bridge about 10 miles west of Exeter with another 70 miles or so under our belts and a little more energy to enjoy the après- cycle and a slap up meal of sausages, mash and onion gravy (culinary standards couldn’t slip just because we werecycling all day and besides Bob the nav was a chef after all).

We awoke on the third day to aching bones, drizzle outside and the prospect of another long day cycling across the south west peninsular from Exeter to Burnham on Sea on the north Somerset coast.  Exeter in the rain and the rush hour was deeply unpleasant but fuelled by the promise of Kay and Tom’s bacon sandwiches at the wonderful Pony and Trap pub in Cullompton we powered on and reached Taunton by 2pm with a total of 185 miles on the clock.  We then picked up the tow path alongside the Taunton Bridgewater canal and despite the unforgivingly bumpy surface enjoyed the next 15 miles planet spotting in the afternoon sunshine.  We eventually reached our overnight destination of blustery Burnham on Sea at 6.15 having notched up a total of over 212 miles for the three days – an average of 70 miles a day.  The eighth member of the cycling team, Dotty from Scotland, joined us here bringing with her not only her fiddle but almost the entire contents of her pharmacy to soothe us saddle-sore and wheel weary cyclists

Day four, Wednesday, started bright, clear and sunny but soon clouded over.  We set off on the ride north towards Bristol on the A38 with its unrelenting traffic but quickly retreated to smaller lanes and enjoyed a delightful morning picking our way up towards Brunel’s Suspension Bridge and reached Clifton itself by 11.30 just as the skies were clearing and with over 240 miles on the clock.  Three hours later saw us being swept across the Severn Bridge on a gloriously clear, afternoon with a strong westerly wind scattering gravel from the road like machine gun fire down our left hand sides.  It was exhilarating to see Monmouthshire and the Forest of Dean stretched out before us and to know that we had covered nearly a quarter of the way to John O’Groats.  We sped along the Wye valley to Tintern Abbey then branched off the main road in a north easterly direction and up our second most challenging hill of the trip to the castle of St Briavels.  We picnicked there with Howard and Ed – a father and son duo – who were doing a similar but longer route via Cape Wrath only in far fewer days whilst carrying their own kit. From there we struck off north to reach our final destination for the night – Holly Barn just north east of Monmouth - arriving shortly after 7pm and making a total mileage for the day of 70 miles through four counties – Somerset, Avon, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire.  John the truck managed to meet up with us (replacing Geoff who had to go to South Africa?) and together with young Pete he cooked a brilliant barbecue supper while Dotty fiddled, big Peter piped and Nicki entertained Cath and Guy (fellow NDCS cyclists from Oxford) in a field overlooking the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons.

We took a little detour first thing the next day and went to watch peregrine falcons teaching their young how to fly off Symonds Yat overlooking the river Wye.  It was such an inspiring and uplifting moment that we happily dealt with the first mishap of the journey - Dotty’s puncture - though not in the split second timing of the mechanics on the Tour de France who fix these things in a matter of seconds.  What it did do was build up an appetite for the market in Ross on Wye which we raided for Cornish pasties, pickles, dried fruit and other goodies which insidiously were adding to our waist lines.  Our support vehicle, kindly donated by Volkswagon, was already groaning with supplies which we were greedily tucking into at every opportunity.  Could we be the first group of cyclists to actually put on weight cycling over 1000 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats?  It was beginning to look like it.  And no amount of hills particularly the killer Black Hill en route to our next stop in Clun in Shropshire seemed to be making any difference.  Once at the youth hostel – a converted water mill - and having mended Dotty’s second puncture sometime earlier, we discovered the depressing fact that we could no longer fit into anything that wasn’t made of stretchy lycra and were quick to blame the youthful and slim Jane who, along with Bob, was creating another gourmet meal (spicy meatballs in goulash sauce with pasta).  We took little comfort from the fact that within a couple of days she would be gone and we would be relying solely on John the truck whose bike maintenance skills were not rumoured to include cooking.

Friday morning was glorious with blue skies – and a hill in every direction.  We left Clun at 8.30 with 345 miles recorded heading for Bishops Castle.  It soon clouded over and a strong cold northerly wind picked up which didn’t help our rather fragile and wobbly progress north to Pontesbury over the steep but spectacular Shropshire hills.  We reached Ellesmere at about 2.45 (where Nicki met up with yet another friend) and had tea and cakes somewhat oblivious of the fact that we still had a long way to go to reach Chester.  We finally set off again at 4 and had an arduous 25 mile ride north along fairly busy but flat roads into a head wind arriving at the youth hostel in Chester just after 7pm.  We had done 415 miles in six days.  We were euphoric but wrecked and sorely in need of a day off.  This we spent in various ways – visits to friends, family and most importantly bike shops, the processing of a ton of washing, saying goodbye to Jane and a big hello to John the lawyer who arrived with a photogenic grin, lots of new kit and boundless enthusiasm for stage 2.

Nine of us set off on Sunday 30th June at 8am feeling a little more refreshed.  It was a glorious morning with high thin cloud to the east but rain forecast as we pedalled 20 miles northeast along flat quiet roads to the Mersey Ferry.  John was keen to be part of the team but we felt he couldn’t earn his colours until he had done a hill.  We caught the 10.40 crossing to Liverpool, Maria with a noticeable spring in her step and the broadest of smiles as she wheeled her bike off the boat 15 minutes later.  Her brother and nephew were there to greet us along with a cheque for £110 from the local cabbies and a terrifying amount of chocolate.  We had a couple of hours off in Southport while some watched World Cup footie, Dotty did a trip down memory lane and the storm clouds gathered and the westerly wind increased.  The rain as we set off was tolerable as the wind was behind us.  Two hours later it was still raining and despite John’s best efforts to cheer us up with roadside buns-to-go by the time we reached Preston we were deeply depressed (as much by the crowded McDonalds where we retreated to for warmth as by the weather).  However miserable we felt we knew we were in for an even more ghastly slog ahead as our destination was Blackpool via Lytham St Anne’s – due west along the coast.  For the first time in seven days one or two of us began to feel a bit tearful and it was a struggle not to sit down by the roadside and have a good cry.  Lytham passed in a blur of gritted teeth, bowed heads, driving rain and the hope that once we reached St Anne’s and rounded the corner the going would get easier.   Our ride into Blackpool, in contrast, was at 20 wind assisted miles per hour , the flashing lights and neon signs passing at frightening speed.  We reached our hotel at 7.30 having cycled 81 weary miles only to be informed that we had to dismantle the bikes and stow them in the orange truck.  Could Blackpool get any worse?  Well, it depends on whether you like a fish and chip supper with mushy peas, sliced white bread and butter and cups of tea with not a glass of chardonnay or a sun dried tomato in sight.

Forget punctures.  A real crisis hit first thing Monday morning….Dotty’s hair drier broke.

There she was solemnly trying to dry out her shoes with the help of Morphy Richards when the wretched thing died along with her sense of humour.  Having cajoled it back into action, we gobbled down the first of many full English breakfasts (febs) and set off for Lancaster at 8.45.  Bob had a puncture an hour later in an interval in the showers but by lunchtime the rain was pouring down and we were cold, wet and very fed up. Knowing that good coffee and a spot of retail therapy will revive most flagging spirits we settled down in Crows bar and sent Nicki off ahead to scout the shops for wet weather gear. The Ultimate Outdoors shop in Lancaster did very well out of us that day and certainly made our 30 mile ride after lunch that much more tolerable despite a return to Cornwall-type hills and of course continuing rain.  At this point we decided to let John the lawyer join the club.  You had to hand it to him – the boy was keen. He had cheerfully survived Blackpool, had tackled some serious climbs that afternoon and then as if from a hat suddenly produced two very nice parents (and a lovely aunt) who laid on a brilliant tea just outside Kendal which we scoffed in seconds.

By the time we reached the Union Tavern in Kendal we had done over 550 miles but big Peter was suffering with a swollen leg, Nicki felt full and John went home so a slightly smaller group of cyclists went out to join Maria’s sister and partner for supper.  Bob (rtc) had painful balls but still managed to keep eating. 

We gathered outside the hotel the next morning still giggling about the charming and good humoured waitress slamming down the febs, toast and coffee and delighted to talk to a passer by who had read John’s father’s letter about us in the local paper.  We also decided in future to bring nothing to wear (especially not bikinis) and to just shop as we went along. .We headed off towards Bowness 10 miles away on the east side of Windermere with the plan to cross the ferry to Hawkshead and then decide on our route depending on the weather (at this stage very foreboding).  We got a donation from the café owner at Bowness so felt justified in eating elevenses (the flapjacks now wedged somewhere between the fried eggs, bacon and several pieces of toast).  Once on the other side some of the team – Nicki, Bob (rtc), Peter and John – took a detour over the hill to Coniston which involved so many discussions and debates about the route that we swore never to cycle without either t’other Bob or David again.  The views were brilliant though and the ride north to Ambleside (and the shopping) were great.  After lunch we had a very tough 500’ climb up to Rydal Water – thankfully with a following wind – accompanied by an impressive fly past of the Red Arrows as we topped the hill.  John  H did his impersonation of standing (on) stones before we found our own 4,000 year old version at Castlerigg above Keswick.  Some (Peter) were more moved than others (Dotty) by so much ancient stuff lying around but then when you live in West Kilbride you’ve seen it all.  Nicki had a hysterical evening due to a cocktail of wine and anti-inflammatory painkillers but even taking into account her euphoric view of the world we still decided that the Hogarth B & B was possibly the best place to stay in Keswick.

The next morning we awoke to clear skies, a light northwesterly wind and the prospect of a shortish day to Carlisle so were not too fussed about a later than normal start (9.45).  Of course a mile out of Keswick we got a puncture half way up a particularly long, punishing climb and what with sheltering from spectacular thunderstorms, struggling up and around Skiddaw and Uldale Fells, hanging around while hunky shepherds sheared their flock and stopping frequently to put on and take off wet weather gear we had only done 20 miles by 2.30.  We stopped for lunch (and to escape the rain) at Hesket Newmarket right on the edge of the Lake District national park then wiggled our way north through Sebergham, Gaitsgill and Raughton to the Golden Fleece

Hotel on the A689 north east of Carlisle.  We did an unintentional detour via Irthington and Carlisle airport, the approach road to which was a slurry splattered farm track blocked as it presumably was most days by herds of cows returning to be milked.  Shame if you were trying to catch that 6pm flight.  We spent the evening playing darts, entertaining some of the kids from the local unit and eating (again) excellent haggis parcels with whisky sauce.

Ten past six, Thursday morning and Dotty was already up and in the shower singing ‘Flower of Scotland’.  She could smell the air north of the border and was going to make sure she looked extra specially good for her homecoming.  It was beautiful weather (as Dotty predicted it would be once we hit Scotland) and we set off at 8.15 cycling north to Longtown.  For the first time in days it wasn’t raining but there was a brisk and rather threatening westerly wind blowing which Dotty ignored.  Today Gill discovered the joys of being a media star and was thrilled to be interviewed by radio Cumbria.  ‘You’ve got very nice rain’ she said ‘ but rather a lot of it’.  We got to Gretna at about 9.30 and proceeded to sing Flower of Scotland down a mobile phone to Nicki’s dad in London while Bob (nav) had his first pee on (that should read ‘in’) Scotland and the rest of us trampled all over the flower beds for a variety of photo opportunities.  Our first puncture in Scotland happened about 4 miles out of Annan which we reached at 11.30 having done 25 miles.  We celebrated with some very peaty whisky and later with some icecream somewhere along the B724 to Dumfries. Having been bitten by the broadcasting bug (and having found someone in Annan who had actually heard her on the radio), Gill organised an interview with the Dumfries Standard and we got our photo taken at our lunch stop in Kirkton at 2 that afternoon.  Knowing that we were now celebrities John the truck had made even more of an effort to set the picnic table and lay out the sandwiches (was this the cheese only day?) and muffins.

We then followed the river Nith north west through Nithsdale and some stopped for tea and cakes in Penpont.  Nicki found her legs wouldn’t start again if she rested for too long so she and Dotty raced on ahead through the Drumlanrigg estate and had a wonderful fast ride along empty roads until they hit the busy A76 about 2 and a half miles out of Sanquhar.  By the time the others joined them with smug tales of avoiding the main road (but getting punctures) Dotty and Nicki had already checked their luggage at the Black Addy Hotel, bagged the best (single) rooms and downed several whiskies and a pint of Belhaven beer.  We had done 71 miles, it had been a long day and this was a terrific hotel whose facilities we were going to enjoy. Dinner was excellent – sauteed mushrooms on a puff pastry bed with a light stilton sauce followed by salmon and some good wine - at £16 per head.

We took some lovely photos the next morning in the garden of the hotel standing by the river Nith surrounded by begonias, fuchsias and swarms of midges.  The weather as we set off at 9 am was clear and bright, we had done over 700 miles and had only about 50 miles to do to reach Glasgow and the end of stage 2.  The first 9 miles that morning involved a fairly steady climb up to Spango hill in south Lanarkshire at a cracking pace and with the wind in our faces and by 11am we had done 15 miles and were at the junction with the B7078.  All was looking good for an early arrival in Glasgow until Bob had a buckled wheel at Crawfordjohn and we had to retreat to a nearby hotel overlooking Black Burn to eat and drink until the wonderful John the truck could get back from shopping in Douglas to mend it.  Meanwhile the media junkie was busy trying to make contact with Real Radio in Glasgow to get some publicity for our arrival and Dotty was planning how to get into the city without cycling through Stonehouse, Larkhall, Hamilton or anywhere else on a direct route.  And so it was that we did an interesting diversion via Strathaven, Carnduff, Burnhouse, Crosshill and what seemed like hundreds of other villages to get to lunch at the Calderglen Country park on the outskirts of East Kilbride at  4 o’clock accompanied by much rumbling of stomachs and mutinous mutterings.  After an hour of tummy filling we donned our helmets and followed Dotty into Glasgow and watched in horror as her wheel hit an edge and she flew over the handlebars landing very neatly on her head and hip.  Much shaken but alive she negotiated the rush hour traffic and guided us to the youth hostel – a splendid Georgian four storey house in a handsome terrace overlooking Kelvingrove Park.  We had done 48 miles that day and a total of 750 and were going to be very sorry to say goodbye to John the lawyer (but not his Banesto cycling shirt).  We had a great supper with a friend of Gill’s called Miles in his fabulous house just across from the University of Glasgow and afterwards had the dubious honour of being asked to leave a pub called the Ubiquitous Chip at 2am possibly after one too many renderings of Land of Hope and Glory.

A larger group of us set off on Sunday morning – our numbers swelled by the addition of Roma and Bruce, Gill’s sister Pip, Pete the dentist, and the two boy racers Steve and James.  Our back up had also increased and we were to be supported by not only John D in the minibus but Peggy and John in the camper van making a very satisfactory ratio of three and a bit cyclists to each sandwich maker.  And talking of swelling, Dotty’s thigh where she had fallen was twice the size of the other and had turned an interesting shade of livid purple but miraculously still worked.

We set off early at the start of stage three but after 6 or 7 miles Gill had to stop as she felt an interview coming on with Radio Clyde.  By midday we were just south of Loch Lomond having taken an excellent cycle path out of the city following the Forth and Clyde Canal.  Sadly we now had to join the A82 north and it being a Sunday afternoon had to put up with fairly unrelenting traffic for the next 25 miles as we cycled along the west side of Loch Lomond.  Fortunately Dotty knew a pub at the northern end called the Drovers Inn at Inverarnan which we happily stopped at after 47 miles for tea (and beer and a good ogle at the blokes in kilts).  Finally after 55 miles we reached the rather unprepossessing and midge infested town of Crianlarich and got to the youth hostel just as the rain started in earnest.  Nicki met up with her most northerly friend, another excellent meal was cooked and a few more bottles of chateau wollamalloo were downed.

At 9 the next morning we regrouped, checked our mileage (about 810 miles) and set off towards Fort William. It had stopped raining, there were tiny patches of blue sky around but the forecast looked bleak and the midges were still dancing around looking for a way in through the lycra.  We stopped for coffee after about 12 miles at a brilliant place at Bridge of Orchy and then had a windswept ride across the weird moonscape of Rannoch Moor accompanied by blustery showers and ever present traffic on the A82.  We stopped for lunch at the Kingshouse Hotel at the easterly end of Glencoe at about midday and sheltered from the increasingly stormy weather with a very real sense of foreboding.  It was for some a terrifying experience to cycle on with a strong south westerly blowing us into the path of the oncoming lorries, with driving horizontal rain stinging our eyes and the feeling that we were just inches from certain death.  And then there were others who found that particular section the most exhilarating part of the journey….and who even had time to enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Seeing that Nicki was in the former category and a little wobbly about next 20 miles up to Fort William, the young ones took pity and allowed her to cycle furiously in their slipstream.  And so it was that yet again Dotty and Nicki raced on and found themselves in Fort William by 3.30 with nothing to do but go to the puband buy the boys a few drinks to thank them for their support and patience. 

We ended the day in the Glen Nevis youth hostel at the foot of Ben Nevis but couldn’t see much for the mist, rain and midges.  We had a funny time after supper at a pub along the road trying out some traditional Scottish ales which all tasted of cough linctus and were pretty syrupy and disgusting.  Dotty - one of the more discerning drinkers of the group -  reckoned they were only fit for being poured down the sink.  Bob (rtc) quietly finished everyone else’s glasses.

The beers obviously disagreed with Dotty’s constitution and she was up the next morning a 5 o’clock to practice her fiddling.  Pied Piper like she attracted a huge cloud of insects which followed her halfway up the mountain – and sadly all the way back again.

We set off at about 10 having notched up a total of 876 miles.  Some suggested that as the sign post at LandsEnd said it was 874 miles to John O’Groats then we must be there so could we go home.  This was dismissed by Bob (nav) and David who were really getting into this route planning stuff and by Gill who was getting withdrawal symptoms and needed an interview or photo opportunity soon.

It was a sunny morning and we set off along a tow path by the Caledonian canal,mercifully away from the A82 and with clear views back to Ben Nevis.  At Lochy     Bridge we ignored the signs to the Ben Nevis Distillery Visitor Centre and instead headed along a quiet road (the B8004) towards Loch Lochy.  There was a cycle path along the western shore of the loch and the cycling was beautiful if a little strenuous.  We stopped at 12.15 for lunch at Laggan Locks at the entrance to Loch Oich and sat thorough several showers (fortunately in the comfort of a camper van or mini bus) while the weather made up its mind what to do.  We continued on along the path to Invergarry where the young bloods did a detour up into the hills and the rest assembled at the Abercalder swing bridge at the Bridge of Oich.  We stopped again 5 miles later for more sustenance at Fort Augustus at the southern tip of Loch Ness and again split up with some heading up into the Inverwick Forest and others continuing along the A82.  The youth hostel was perched on the edge of the main road just out of the village of Altsigh about half way up the loch and commanded splendid views over the water.  We couldn’t check in though until Maria arrived so we sat and chatted to Bob’s mother and brother in law until the rest of the team turned up.  Our cabin was fairly basic but with great views (as long as you were in the girls dorm) but the midges clustering at the windows prevented all but the very brave, drunk or mad from walking along the shore.  Of course, Dotty went out there to practice her fiddling – not sure what category she fell into.

The next morning was grey (though Dotty assured us it would ‘lift’) and some, who had drunk their entire body weight in white wine at dinner the night before, felt distinctly unhappy about the prospect of a long day’s cycling.  We set off at about 8.30 and stopped after 8 miles at Urquhart Castle for one last look out for a monster.  We then left the busy A82 and turned north west towards Drumnadrochit – home of the Loch Ness Monster exhibition and gateway to the Highlands via a particularly long, gruelling, steep hill.  Dotty was proved right and the weather cleared as we topped the hill and we then had a glorious ride across the Aird in the sunshine to Beauly.  For some reason we split up and spent the next few hours trying to reassemble for lunch somewhere north of Alness overlooking the Cromarty Firth.  It was amazing to have started the ride on the most southwesterly part of Britain and suddenly see the North Sea.  We never did get together for lunch  but finally met up in the Ardross Forest heading north towards the Altnamain Inn. The scenery was stunning in all directions and we had a particularly memorable stop overlooking the Dornoch Firth,and the Kyle of Sutherland before speeding off down hill and mending the first of Bruces’s many punctures.  The Carbisdale Castle youth hostel was delightfully baronial, had great sweeping staircases, ancestral portraits, empty wide corridors and commodious sofas where long suffering dentists could sleep to escape the tremulous snorings of the boys dorm.

We were now only 60 miles south of the north coast of Scotland and had two more days to go to reach John O’Groats and the end of the ride.  We knew we would hit the 1,000 mile mark somewhere just north of Loch Shin so made sure we stopped to celebrate and record the moment for posterity.   We climbed up to Crask Inn with lovely views over Ben Armine forest and stopped for a brilliant picnic lunch at a hotel at Altnaharra at the tip of Loch Naver.  Roma may well be going back as she was particularly taken with the scenery ,the fishing possibilities and the friendliness of the the new hotel owner.  The rest of us might go with her because the whisky macs were good.

The afternoon’s ride was just beautiful, heading north alongside loch Loyal with huge Ben Loyal looming up to the west at over 2,500 ft.  We were bowled over by the setting of the youth hostel at Tongue on the edge of the kyle of Tongue which we reached just as the rain set in for the evening.  We had several glasses of something celebratory at the pub to mark our arrival on the north coast and joined forces to produce one of the best meals of the trip – wild salmon, stuffed with herbs, cooked with roasted new potatoes ( in the ovens of the local hotel ).  We proved that night that youth hostels are not for the young as we proceeded to entertain with Pete’s guitar playing , Dotty’s fiddling and an Argentinian playing Auld Langs Syne until the warden pointed out that some of the younger residents were trying to sleep. It was probably one of the best night we had and was partly due to the feeling that we had got to the north coast and had therefore ‘made it’.  The last day as a result was all the more difficult.

However, we had ‘See ya jimmy’ hats to wear the next day so that made everything better.  Dotty kindly shared her tartan pyjamas with Nicki who altruistically offered up lengths of tartan ribbon so that between them they looked totally ridiculous.  The feel good factor lasted for a few miles of spectacular caribbean beach like scenery until the hills (and depression) set in.  It was a never ending succession of ups and downs for 45 miles and even the normally urbane Roma was getting snappy.  But maybe that was just because she realised for the first time that she had been carrying Bruce along in her slip stream for the past six days.  Whatever, it was a pretty disgruntled, fed up group of tired cyclists who met up in Safeways carpark (in itself hugely unprepossessing) at 2pm in Thurso  One last Cornish pastie, valiant culinary support from John and John (but no Peg and 3rd John who had gone home for son’s graduation) and the decision to regroup and bolster up at a place called Gills 15 miles  further on.  It was much flatter after lunch but the storm clouds above which threatened rain were kept at bay by a strong easterly wind – right in our faces.  We went past the Castle of Mey, said a quick prayer for the Queen Mum and hit John O’ Groats at about 5pm.  Nicki looked back and saw Pip wiping something out of her eye.  Damned midges, she thought, then had a little cry herself.  1104 miles on Maria’s milometer, just over 780 on the signpost and a postcard that said that the journey had been cycled by someone in 48 hours.  What was the point of doing a trip like that and not taking time to enjoy the scenery .  More importantly, why cycle that distance and not take your message to the widest number of people.  And finally why struggle on alone when you can gain strength and support from a group of friends – the sort of friends who stay by you when you get drunk at Gill’s house a few weeks later and pass out on the floor.