Epilogue

A wonderful adventure and a fantastic achievement. LEJOG is a proper challenge in that it tests not just your physical fitness but your ability to keep your body supplied with fuel; your mental toughness and on an unsupported ride, such as this, your ability to look after the health of both yourself and your bicycle.

Each day we used up to 4000 calories during the ride alone and each day we had to ensure we put them all back. Carbohydrates for quick energy release; electrolytes to stop the on set of cramp; water to keep the body hydrated and protein after the ride to help the muscle tissue repair and strengthen.

Days are long (we averaged 66 miles per day) and invariably a good morning would be followed by a bad afternoon or vice versa. My mind goes back to our second day on Dartmoor in 30mph winds and torrential rain when it would have been so easy to give it all up. In those situations it's an ability to think no further than the next mile that counts, a belief in your own ability to get through anything that's thrown at you and keep a smile on your face. Chris is an example to us all of that sort of tenacity. Chris couldn't do hills. Whilst in Cornwall, he'd try every hill before collapsing in a heap, composing himself and trying again. It was like watching a blue bottle trying to get through a glass window. I'll never know how he got from Par Sands, through 30mph winds, a raft of 15% hills and incesant, torrential rain to reach Mortonhampstead as the sun went down. For much of the trip we suspected that Chris had a secret support crew who'd turn up and ferry him to the next location. The truth is that Chris journeyed to each stage point on a treadmill of true grit. Knowing Chris, he'll have a philosophy for this, something about eating elephants and doing not trying and only having one life and...but it's not the philosophy but the actions that count and for me Chris's achievement was truly exceptional.

There are those who will tell you that you need to train for months for LEJOG, putting thousands of miles in is the only way to ensure you are capable of completing the challenge. I'd probably be one of those guys. For those of you reading this blog who'd love to take on LEJOG but can't do the hours of preparation then...meet Eddie. To say that Eddie bought his bike on the way to Lands End for the start of the tour, would be an overstatement but not by much. Eddie's 220 miles of training probably started the week before we left. His knowledge of cycling was once recorded on the top of a match head and his understanding of the challenge in front of us has justifiably been compared to Kerry Kantona's comprehension of algorithmic expression. But Eddie never doubted his ability to complete this venture, life is a series of loosely calculated risks for him, he knew he was very fit, he had a bike and if he kept the sun over his shoulders he was reasonably sure of the direction he should take. And that was enough for him to give it a go. Eddie finished the challenge even stronger than he started it. In truth he could have done it all again and he did it with a grin from ear to ear, the odd practical joke and a willingness to share his "Voice of an Eagle" with all those who'd listen or were unfortunate enough to be in ear shot! Whilst his dad was away, Harry, Eddie's son, took off his stabilisers and rode his bike for the first time. Inspirational isn't he Harry?

You can't help but wonder at the distances involved. 928 miles and I guess somewhere in the region of 90 hours in the saddle. On reflection, of course, the odds were in favour of us falling off a few times. According to our survey that happens once in every 18 hours of cycling. We got two punctures, the chain fell off once every 20 hours and every 900 miles or so one of us crashed in to a car, broke his bike or had to give up. That, unfortunately, was my fate. On reflection, a padded racing seat and a back up vehicle with a spare bike would have guaranteed a finish but part of the fun of this adventure was it's unsupported nature. I'll go back in the next few weeks and complete the last few days, how could I not given the amazing sponsorship and support we've received from all of our friends. I'm disappointed I couldn't finish it all in one go but I wouldn't change the experience for the world.
...and next year...we'll see!

They Did It!

...and on the Last Day

The journey was now coming to an end, 52 miles to go, two big climbs and a photo to end the endeavour

All we had to do was not have an injury and fix any mechanical prpblems we had.

As we left Helmsdale there was Bob at reception who told us he would be at Wick and might see us, we now know him as the famous fuel tank stalker. The hill out of Helmsdale is 800 ft and lasts for 3 miles "the Beast". Christened by a passing cyclist from Manchester, who we met again at JOG. The weather was kind to us apart from again the head on wind, we then met the 1:3 Berriedale Hill, Eddie thought it would be good to cycle, I thought it would be good to walk, this is where I met Claus from Holland who was retired and doing the end to end twice, why, he couldnt tell me but at the pace he was going we may see him on the news in a few years

With 20 miles to go the clouds cleared and the sun came out to finish our trip as we cycled over the JOG line together with the skyline of the Orkneys in the background. On the return to Inverness by taxi the seals and red kites greated us from the firth in our celebration

The last day was not as eventful as the rest with Phil's Tin mine  route in Cornwall, swimming in Dartmoor, blowouts in Bristol, Worcester races, The Wigan soul train, the witches of Pen-y-gent, Eddies non marriage in Gretna, the clyde tunnel roller coaster, the mist of Glencoe, Nessie, Bob in Dingwall- Helmesdale and Wick, the Helmsdale Beast and the view of the Orkneys and then celebrating as a team It was a road trip to remember all done to solve our mid life crisis and more importantly gain nearly £9 k for charities to save lives.

This is It - The Last Day

The very best of wishes to Eddie and Chris from all of us on the last push for home. The weather for John O'Groats is brilliant sunshine with negative wind speeds, no pollen and perfect temperatures(I think). Even the midges have pledged not to bother the intrepid duo as they tackle the hills later today. So no excuses Chris and Eddie, we'll be routing for you.
And the three musketeers will be together again this evening as I'm going up to meet them in Inverness for a wee celebration.
Uncensored pictures in the Sun, Daily Mirror and the LEJOG blog ... tomorrow.
Phil

Day 13 Snaps

Day 13

As we started the day we were either going  to meet Sharon and Kevin or just Sharon first thing

As we sat down for breakfast only Sharon was there and she didn't look like a girl who was good at gymnastics, each to their own as I say.

The day started with a uphill climb to warm up our muscles then as we rode on we knew we were near JOG, it was the smell of seaweed ( it couldn't have been Sharon as we were too far away) and the north sea drilling platforms, then we saw the North Sea. Ive only ever seen it on the news before and there was not an oil sodden seagull in sight or was that in Alaska ? Apparently Golspie has award winning beaches, if you like rain and wind I'm sure they do, the sand though is pure white and beautiful.

After rolling hills and some strenuous climbs we reached Helmsdale, to be greeted by Bob in the car park who had been servicing fuel pumps there, he told us he had passed us twice and was now stopping in the same hotel, we had either picked up our first 20 stone groupie or we had a stalker. We prepared ourselves for the trial and tribulations of listening, again, to the fuel pump novel by Bob the groupie/stalker.

The night was to be very different and unexpected, we got talking to a team of people in the restaurant where two of them were walking the LEJOG route to finish on Monday, so what, the so what was they were also a group of session singers and instrument players who had come to join them for the finale. Myself and Eddie then spent the next 3 hours having a private audience in the hotels back room to some great music and singing by 13 talented people. There were mandolins, bagpipes, harmonies, some weird drum thing, harmonica and Victor from  Dublin on his guitar with solo songs. The only dodgy bit was Eddies rendition of Flower of Scotland, i did refrain from my famous song of Summer Nights by John and Olivia as it may not  have fit in with the folk song theme. It was a great night to prepare us for our finale on day 14 and we never even saw Bob.

Day 12

Today was to be the day we met Nessie

We had to travel through the lochs and passing the Caledonian Canal that allows bikes to stop at swing bridges and yachts to go through. We both looked forward to meeting Nessie at Drumnadrochit (on Loch Ness) before the 1.5 mile 15% climb to Cannon Bridge

Setting off from Old Pines Hotel ( a must stop at for food and accommodation) we discovered that although the god of rain had gone to bed the god of head on winds had not and his brother the god of mossies had woken up.  The scenery was better than the mist of yesterday and you could see the lochs and hills. After 20 miles of water and greenery and wind it does get a bit boring and then you get really excited by the sign of Fort Augustus 'Welcome to Loch Ness'

Myself and Eddie spent the next 20 miles going up and down hills along Loch Ness looking for any lorry tyres that could resemble a prehistoric animal. At one stage we thought we saw him but it was only an upturned caravan.

Arriving at Drumnadrochits (the home of Nessie and the 15% hill) one thing on our mind was how we would get up this hill. The tortoise took the lead over the hare and decided 'why ruin a nice days walk cycling' so this was the plan; push the bikes for the next 20 mins. The hare followed the tortoise and after we got to the top of the hill we cycled the long way down to cannon Bridge, a great ride out.

In the cannon Bridge hotel the staff were great, Mr Mould greeted me in my room and I am sure he will be three for the next guest, but the best thing was meeting Bob the travelling service engineer for fuel pumps who can tell you about every site of a fuel pump in Scotland and if you meet him in Scunthorpe, I'm sure there too.

The disco downstairs has just finished and I think Sharon and Kevin have just got off with each other and are practicing trampolining in the room above me.

Here’s to an eventful day 13, hopefully not as bad as Sharon’s when she wakes up?

Chris