Shorter's End to End

Fundraising Total 27/06/08

2008-06-27T21:51:00.001+01:00

Total now stands at £4220 with more coming from Blairgowrie Rotary Club.

Fundraising Update 18/06/2008

2008-06-18T08:49:00.004+01:00

It looks like the final total raised on and offline, including a donation of £800 from the Rotary Club of Penrith is £4017.
Many thanks to all those who have contributed to this tremendous total.
Maureen & John

PS The legs have now recovered and it's almost like it never really happened.

28th May - Thanks for the welcome home.

2008-05-28T21:04:00.011+01:00

At the station.

Thanks to the welcoming committee at Penrith station, Dave & Sheila and Peter and Judith. And thanks to all the neighbours for turning out when we finally arrived home. It was great to have such a warm welcome.

Day 20...........Final Day!

2008-05-26T19:40:00.003+01:00

We made it!

Our reward!

Left B&B 8:55am, beautiful day, but as usual strong head wind, got to John O'Groats 11:20am, fortunately the sign was out. Photographs taken coutesy of a group of bikers. Had champaign and a bacon roll. Cycled to Wick, found the B&B, had dinner and crashed out. Train home on Wednesday. Thanks to everyone for thier encouragement and messages of congratulations. Will post reflections on the trip when we get home.

Many, many thanks to David for updating the blog every night. (added under instruction by my Mam.......:-) )

Day 19...............

2008-05-25T21:10:00.003+01:00

Left B&B at 08:45am, leaving our fellow guests, Leon and Lesley from Australia and David and Janet from Norfolk. Thanks to both couples for thier generous donations. Thanks to Mandy and Lynsday fro looking after us so well.
Leisurely cycle along Lock Naver, again single trail road with strong head wind for 20 miles. Climbed up to BettyHill and went straight down again, looking for the great Cafe we had been promised. Cafe closed but Kieth and Vivian kindly made coffee for us in thier Hymer.

Kieth and Vivian's impromptu cafe.

The 13 bikers arrived, so they had to put the kettle back on!

Crazy Bikers from Edinbrough benefitting from Kieth and Vivian's impromptu cafe.

many thanks to Vivian and Kieth, your hospitality very much apperciated.

Next 34 miles long climbs that just kept comming, along with head winds. Long hard day, 54 miles at average of 9.4mph, bringing the total milage todate up to 1034.

Day 18..........

2008-05-24T21:56:00.003+01:00

Left the B&B at 8:35am, a very pleasant day, allot of climbing, long and sustained not steep.

The Falls of Shinn (just to prove we were heading towards Leirg)
Called in at the Falls of Shinn to buy a half bottle of Harrods Champagne in anticipation!
From Leirg to Altnaharra, a long open road with a head wind all the way for 20 miles.
Got the first casualty of the ride, John got a puncture four miles from our stop.
51 miles at 9.6mph, penultimate daytomorrow, only 73 miles left to go!!!!!

The view over looking the Moray Firth after a long climb.

Day 17.............

2008-05-23T21:05:00.004+01:00

Started the day watching smoke come from John's tires! A man on a mission, managed 11.6pmh average to Inverness, went down hill - no UP hill from there!

We made it to Culloden but didn't fight!

Lunch In Inverness

Climbing across the Black Isle, 64 miles at 10mph average today.

Thank you to Val and Kieth our B&B hosts in Granton on Spey for thier lovely accomodation and kind donation. Many thanks!

Only 130 miles to go!!!!!!!!!!

Day 16

2008-05-22T21:25:00.003+01:00

Left Braemar at 8:25, first 9 miles to Balmoral a breeze, then came the climbing.
Top of the first climb on the road to Tomantoul

Top of Lecht, made Glenshee look like a walk in the park.

Stopped after the first down hill at Goodbrand and Ross Tea Rooms at Gougarss. Many thanks to the customers for their generous donations and special thanks to the proprietor for the complimentary lunch and generous donation.
Allot of climbing today, but still managed 47 miles averaging 9.1pmh

And we thought we had a lot of luggage!!!!

Day 15............

2008-05-21T19:31:00.003+01:00

Restful morning, reading the papers and having coffee whilst waiting to join the members of Blairgowrie Rotary Club for lunch.

John exchanging club pennants with President Spencer from Blairgowrie Rotary Club.

Our thanks to President Spencer and the members for their warm welcome and hospitality.

Thanks to our B&B hosts for their generous donation and to the lady from the Angus Hotel for her donation.

Left Blairgowrie at 13:55, arrived at the top of Glenshee at 16:55, arrived in Breamar at 17:35.

We concurred Glenshee!!

Day 14.........

2008-05-20T20:14:00.002+01:00

Change of plan today, planned B&B let us down late last night. Rerouted, direct to Perth and on to Blairgowrie. turned out to be a good decision. Cut 22 miles off the ride. Followed tourist route to Perth, lots of down hill and not many up hill.

Good B&B in Blairgowrie, collected £25.00 of donations in Perth, thank you to the two gentlemen in Perth for their generosity.

Had a half day, arrived in Blairgowrie at 3 o'clock. 44 miles at 11.1mph, a new course record!! Tomorrow will be SLOW!

Day 13...............

2008-05-19T20:36:00.004+01:00

Much easier day...... :-) Good roads and less climing gave the lungs and legs a well earned rest.

John on route.

Over We Go!

Spectacular views from the Fourth Bridge!

Reached our destination of Halbeath around 5 o'clock. Crashed out early in preperation for the next three hard days aheaad, but we're getting there!! About 330 miles to go.......... ;-)

Day 12

2008-05-18T22:04:00.005+01:00

62 hilly miles at average of 9.2mph, maximum 31.5mph. A hard day, with motocycle escort some of the way.

We were met, south of Eskdale Muir by Dave and Helena from Edinbrough. Good to see you, thanks for comming.

Another live interview with Radio Cumbria,just before Langholm.

Day 11 The evening

2008-05-18T21:41:00.003+01:00

Oak Tree Farm Bed and Breakfast.

Many thanks to our hosts, Silvia and Alec. A great evening, lovely meal and a comfortable bed. manhy thanks for the donation, also thanks for teh donation from the other guests at the B&B.

Day 11 Penrith

2008-05-18T21:36:00.003+01:00

Rotary club members on walk about in Penrith.

Thanks to all the members who turned out. Special thanks to the people of Penrith for their generosity, donating £145.oo in about half an hour.

Bill, Mike, Dave and Shiela joined us for part of our ride to Heathersgill.

37 miles at 9.2 mph, maximum 29.5mph

Day 10 Ingleton to Home

2008-05-16T20:55:00.004+01:00

John at Devil's Bridge with push bike instead of motorbike!

Had a motorcycle escort from Maulds Meaburn - Thanks John.

Another hilly day, 47 miles at 9.6mph. Had a very good start along to Kirby Lonsdale then towards Sedbergh, then the hills started which slowed us down.

Update from Bridgwater - lost photo

2008-05-16T20:45:00.003+01:00

Finally found this photo on the phone. Some very friendly natives in Bridgwater - sorry we had to wait till we could upload to a computer.

Day Nine.............

2008-05-15T21:31:00.007+01:00

Knew it was too good to last, had a hilly day! Smoe short hills, others long. The climb over the moors from Newton to Ingleton, the last hill being two miles long and steep in places.

Did 63 miles at an average of 8.3 mph, with a maximum of 41.2mph (achieved by Shorter of course)

A town named after our very good friend Alan.

Kath and Alan met us in Ingleton and took us our for dinner.

Rounded off our evening with friends Alan and Kath, our sincer thanks for comming to support us and for the lovely meal.

Day Eight..............

2008-05-14T20:59:00.005+01:00

Left Rose Hill Nursery with a brilliant send off from members of Market Drayton Rotary Club.
Sunny day, wind in our faces, but we did 73 miles with an average speed of 10.3 mph.

Manchester Ship Cannal Toll Bridge.

About 12 miles along the cannal tow path, had to lift the bikes over all the gates, panniers dont fit through!

8 days down, only 12 more to go!!

Last Night at Market Drayton Rotary Club

2008-05-14T20:53:00.004+01:00

Maureen and John with President Paul and his wife Chris.

President Paul presents John and Maureen with a cheque for £100 from Market Draytom Rotary Club for their Charity Ride.

A very enjoyable evening with members of Market Drayton Rotary Club. We were overwhelmed by their hospitality and generosity.

Day 7 - 13th May

2008-05-13T17:33:00.003+01:00

50 miles at 9.2mph average. Much better day terrain more friendly, weather still sunny but a breeze to keep us cool. Wind when there is wind continues to be in our faces though, so much for the prevailing wind on our backs!
Thanks to Leslie for finding us a bed for tomorrow night, and also thanks to the lady who gave us £20 in Much Wenlock where we stopped for coffee this morning.
Tonight we are being well looked after by Paul, the President of Market Drayton Rotary Club, We are going to their meeting tonight [Penrith attendance officer please note].
Tomoorow we go on north to the Wigan area.
Photos today are from Much Wenlock and Ironbridge in Shropshire.

Day Six..............

2008-05-12T19:15:00.006+01:00

53 miles at 9.6 mph, a course record, in hot sun. Met a fit looking cyclist near Leominster, he was very encouraging and said he'd make a donation on line. Thank you very much.

Stopped in Leominster for lunch, met six lads in the pub rounding off a long weekend cycling, they wish to be known as the cycling badgers, Justin, Costas, Ralf, Pete, Jamie and Colin (pictured with Maureen)

They had a wip round and donated £40, Thanks alot Lads!!

Continues to be hilly, next stop Market Drayton.

Finally, Good luck to Rob abd Hannah, fellow End to Enders, who we met in the Youth Hostel last night.

Final photo is Ludlow a picturesque Market town in Shropshire.

Picture update

2008-05-11T21:05:00.003+01:00

Penrith Station....

Land's End..... We're off!

Day Five.............

2008-05-11T20:11:00.004+01:00

Started at 08:30 this morning, a fablious day! Left teh B & B smothered in sun cream. Made our way through the lanes to the Seven Bridge, made our way over the bridge through Cheppstow follwed by a long sweeping road down into Tintern, where we found a wonderful ladyat Tintern Antiques who thought we deserved a cup of tea.

Thank you to Tintern Antiques for the wonderful cup of tea. It was very welcome. :-)

Left Tintern, climbing long and hard out of the valley (Yet again!). Rode through the Forest of Dean, thought we'd found the youth hostel, but ended up doing a six mile detour, doubling back on ourselves and down a three mile deadend to the youth hostel, a long haul up before we got to finally go down hill. Once again maureen spent teh day watching John's back (What a lovely sight).

Day Four............

2008-05-10T20:07:00.003+01:00

Left Bishops Lydeard about 09:00, thanks to David and Ann our hosts for their kind donation to the charities.
A much better day! A couple of hills, including Cheddar Gorge, but before that we stopped on the Summerset Levels to do a 'Live' interview on Radio Cumbria.

At the bottom of Cheddar Gorge.
At the top and still eating!

Day Three........

2008-05-09T20:10:00.002+01:00

Excellent B & B in Great Torrington, Four poster bed, very helpfull, even gave us a donation to the Charities.
Still very hilly, although we've had an easier day. 53 miles including Exmoor and the Brendan Hills, average speed 8 mph, maximum 39.7 mph.

Shorter on Exmoor after a mega climb!