Stage 8 Brightwell-cum-Sotwell to Lewes and the final stage. 8 days in the saddle was certainly taking its toll, the five days of soakings had left its mark and Savalon was administered to the tender bits for the last three days. The stage to Lewes started fairly leisurely and Patrick a pal from Didcot Phoenix CC accompanied me for the first 21 miles to Reading and a cooked breakfast at the Gorge Cafe. I then had over 70 miles left on my own again. I managed to get within 10 miles of Lewes as the rain clouds built up again and threatened to give me one last soaking. Luckily in spite of a few drops I stayed dry to the end and the Lewes Arms. Arriving at the finish line I was applauded and greeted outside by a crowd people from Lewes, they must have been told and our good friends Stuart & Carol Bailey, early sponsors. I think they wanted to see me complete the task... only joking. Shena, my back-up, arrived soon after having found a space big enough for the motor home. Thank you to everybody that has supported, sponsored and helped me along the way, I could not have done it without you.

Stage 7 completed, nearly 700 miles and climbing the height of Mount Everest. The wind was the worst enemy, head winds for much of the way, rain, for most of the time, but yesterday was the first dry day and the sun came out, at times the wind, now from the west, blew me along instead of pushing me back to Scotland. Stage 8 tomorrow and the final stage to Lewes and The Lewes Arms, a free pint awaits.

The WiFi was rubbish in Aviemore so I could not update. Tonight we are in Old Scone near Perth. 214 miles completed. First stage Ullapool to Aviemore, 2nd stage Aviemore to Old Scone, tomorrow we go to Moffat. Check out my Strava route on JustGiving.

We are on the Isle of Lewis 20/05/22, I rode from the northern tip back to Laxdale near Stornoway, it was wet, windy and hilly, tomorrow we get the ferry back to Ullapool to start the big ride south on Sunday..

Tomorrow is the day I set off for Scotland, cycling on the Isle of Lewis on Saturday and then the journey south from Ullapool to Aviemore (1st stage) is on Sunday. Thank you to all the supporters and donations £1200+ raised together with the £1500+ I raised for not doing it during the pandemic. It will all go to Bone Cancer Research.

Thanks again, you can follow me on Strava and I will also be posting on Facebook.

The local papers have picked up on the story.

https://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/20137445.steve-luck-cycling-memory-alex-lewis/

This time next week I hope to be on my way to Aviemore from Ullapool, first stage is about 100 miles and nearly 5000 feet of climbing in the Cairngorms. Thank you to all my supporters and sponsors, my target of £1000 is not far away and that combined with the £1500 I raised for not doing it before the pandemic is looking good.

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Less than 10 days to go before I set off for the journey north to the Isle of Lewis. A circumnavigation of the island and then the ferry to the mainland at Ullapool, where it is tipping down with rain right now. First stage is from Ullapool to Aviemore (100 miles) on the 22nd May, 2nd stage Aviemore to Old Scone (nr Perth) then Moffat, Crooklands (nr Kendal) Buxton, Stratford upon Avon (a short leg for anybody to join me), Brightwell-cum-Sotwell on 28th May and then the final stage to Lewes (100 miles).

Just over a month to go before I attempt the Lewis to Lewes cycle ride in memory of Alex. 800 miles in 8 days. Am I ready? Far from it, a recent bout of Covid has left me puffing on the hills. It has been a while since I rode 100 miles in a day and the first stage, on the 22nd May, is from Ullapool to Aviemore - 100 miles and 4000 ft of climbing.

Thank you for your support.

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A few years ago Alex, the son of our good friends Andy and Angela Lewis, mentioned to me the idea of a cycle ride from Lewis (Isle of) Scotland to Lewes (Sussex), a distance of over 800 miles. I think it was a ride he would like to have done himself. I took up the baton with the intention of doing the ride nearly seven years ago in his memory. It wasn't to be, prostate cancer and complications curtailed my effort at the time. Now fully recovered, but older, nearer 70 than 68, I have planned to do the ride this May, 2022. Starting in Stornoway (Isle of Lewis) having circumnavigated the island, I catch the ferry for the crossing to the mainland at Ullapool. Setting off on Sunday 22nd May for the first stage to Aviemore (100 miles), then 23rd May - Scone near Perth, 24th Moffat. 25th Crooklands (near Kendal), 26th Buxton, 27th Stratford upon Avon, 28th Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, Alex's family home, and finally the 100 miles to Lewes in Sussex on 29th May. Finishing with a welcome pint at the Lewes Arms. Each leg is approximately 100 miles and I want to complete the ride in 8 days. There is a shorter leg from Stratford to Brightwell (60 miles) for anybody who wants to join me and for the more adventurous - Brightwell to Lewes (100 miles). I would like to thank all the kind people that donated in 2020 before the Covid pandemic stopped me from doing it then, we raised over £1500.