Day 13

 Sitting on the train returning home have been reflecting on the last 12 days and as much as we had hard times and very hard times and are sitting here with our numb shoulders and wrists, our excruciatingly sore bottoms and legs and knees that will never be the same again, every night we went to bed in fits of giggles over, the unbelievable indignity of every aspect of cycling long distances, the ridiculously horrible things that happened to us, our unendingly entertaining accommodation and the hilarious things people shared with us.

 In the end though, at the hardest of times, it was your sponsorship that kept us going.  Every time each one of us said “Bugger this I’m getting in the van.” The other would gently remind them “You can’t you’ve been sponsored!!”

 Sarah and Laura xx

Day 12 

The weather returned to wind and rain for our last few hours on the bikes.  Although we only had 30 miles to go we were so tired it felt like 500.  As usual we were wet through after only a few minutes on the bikes. 

 Very jaded by the scenery now.  Just wanted to get there.  It was arranged that we all meet at a café quarter of a mile from John O’Groats so we could all cycle there together.  Coming out of the café in wet clothes to the freezing wind and rain was like being dunked into a freezing bath.  We drank our celebratory champagne and took photos in record time before dashing to the café to escape the weather.

 After a 3 hour coach trip to Inverness we arrived at to the reassuringly familiar grotty standards of our hotel.  Getting quite used to it now.  After asking the staff to remove some furniture from our room so we could put our bags down and completing our ablutions to the panicked knocking of the handyman who had discovered our shower was leaking into the fuse box below we were ready for our celebration meal.  Both Danny and Rachel got a special award and standing ovation for their amazing grit and determination in completing LE JOG against all the odds!

Had a great time and managed to stay up til 2 am only being persuaded back to our luxury accommodation when a drunken scots man insisted on demonstrating his talent for playing The William Tell Overture on his teeth! 

Sarah and Laura xx

Day 11

 Better day today. 

 The weather has finally broken and we were saved from the unending wetness of the last few days.  It's allowed us to appreciate a smidgen more the beautiful Scottish countryside.

We spent the morning climbing up onto the moors which was hard  work with the return of a head wind but was made all worthwhile when we were dave and the team organised for our morning break to be in the Cask Inn which meant we could go inside and sit in front of a wood burning stove eating home made cake and fresh coffee.  A large proportion of us had a small whiskey for the road too!

 The afternoon was spent cycling along the north coast to Thurso which, again, was beautiful but hilly and our legs have just about had it not to mention our bums hands and shoulders.  

 So, very wearily, arrived at our usual sumptuous accommodation relieved that there was only 30miles to go to John O'Groats and celebrated by discarding our usual nightly washing routine!! 

 Nightly washing routine:

 Enter room and turn all radiators in bathroom and bedroom to full temperature.  Open all windows (if you have one?).  

Take all sweat and rain wet clothes off.  

Place all items not to be washed on said hot radiators eg. shoes overshoes socks etc.

Throw all items to be washed into bottom of shower and squirt travel wash generously.

Enter shower and wash oneself whilst undertaking a small jig upon  clothes and travel wash.

Leave shower on after exit to rinse clothes than spend much needed energy ringing out items.

Tussle with roommate  for radiator space then complete ablutions and leave bedroom as quickly as possible.

After dinner return to room and open door but, most importantly, do not enter for about 5 mins to allow pungent steam to disperse in corridor.

 As so close to the end decided to risk a beer tonight!

 Sarah and Lauraxx  

 

Updated on May 15th 2011 at 6:47 PM from the JustGiving API

Day 10

Gone off Scotland.

Now lost count of the days spent soaking wet. By 8.10am was cycling in torrential rain. Had no idea how we were going to be able to continue for 96 miles. We both had to borrow layers of clothes to try and stave off hypothermia. Laura borrowed a particularly fetching pair of waterproof trousers which were so big they had to be gaffa taped at the ankles to keep them out of her gears, combined with fluorescent waterproof jacket, the whole look was reminiscent of bag lady chic. All dignity gone, now!  

8 hours in the saddle later, after having weaved our way up Drumnadrochit (steepest hill on our trip!), we arrived at our accommodation for the evening. Looks like the House in the Addams Family and the shower is like a rusty Dr Who tardis! Oh for David Tennant to pop out!! Actually too numb with tiredness to care.

Have no desire to see any lochs or glens ever again. In fact now have no interest in any scenery or wildlife or cultural heritage of Scotland. Am only interested in how many miles to next water stop, the weather, how many hills to be climbed and the quality of the road surface as these are only things that impact our pain management strategy.

Have reached new realms of pain. Shoulders feel like someone is poking needles in them most of the time. When it gets too excruciating have to stop and ease them out. Hands have become so numb that can only change gear effectively periodically. Bums aren't available to be sat on at anytime other than when on bikes, in fact, by now we could make a couple of good quality leather handbags with skin on our bums!

Moral at very low ebb. Vainly hoping for less rain tomorrow!

Sarah and Lauraxx

 

Updated on May 13th 2011 at 5:47 PM from the JustGiving API

Day 9

Was soaked through by about 9.30am for the 3rd day running today. It's starting to get v boring and v cold! Cycled from Inverary, which was very beautiful, (that's more than can be said for the hotel) to Spean Bridge. Started with an 8 mile climb. Oh joy!!

This was the day we got lost. Managed to miss a turn and cycle 5 miles over a mountain to Oban only to discover we had to go back. Nearly, cried infact, might have cried but couldn't tell because there were so many rivulets of rain water running down our faces.

Our ten mile mountainous detour meant that we had to cover 71 miles to get to lunch. If we hadn't had to cycle so hard to catch up we might have noticed the beautiful lochs and mountains. As it was we could not see anything through the steam emanating from inside our waterproofs and the sweat dripping into our eyes!

Now consider Premier Inns the height of luxury. Unfortunately have left them behind in England and now frequent family run hostelries which have more variable standards. Had a major sense of humor failure last night after spending 9 hours cycling soaked through and then dragging our bags up two flights of stairs as steep and precarious as something v steep and precarious to have a shower which randomly dribbled hot and cold water until a climactic final splutter signaled it's end despite being mid hair wash. Not even going to mention the inumerable fights with shower curtains.

Tonights hotel offers 2 choices of starter, one of which is a glass of orange juice. Need we say more?  After meeting our receptionist things have become a little clearer. She appears to have led a very sheltered life. She didn't know where we had come from today - even when we described it to her?! Then she asked where we were going and when we said John O'Groats she looked equally confused. I think one  of her parents might be a sheep!!

 

Updated on May 13th 2011 at 5:46 PM from the JustGiving API

Day 8

Woke up this morning and realised, could not remember a time when we didn't have to get up and start cycling 100 miles or so by 8am.

Have become completely institutionalized. We now live for the next rest break and get completely over excited if Dave has managed to add a variation to the snacks on offer out of the back of his van. You should have seen the reaction to little cups of jelly babies!

Today there was great excitement when we were allowed an extra half hour in bed. We were like a group of prisoners granted priviledges for good behaviour.

Cycled from Kilmarnock to Inverary in the rain and had to get a ferry over the Firth of Clyde. Whilst waiting we took the opportunity to go to a cafe. It was amazing to sit down at a table surrounded by people who weren't clad in Lycra and drink a real cappuccino as opposed to standing at the back of Dave's van with a paper cup of instant.

However, in the end, enjoyed it too much and felt like we completed a 12 mile time trial to catch the ferry. Despite being soaked through all day, this was one if the most scenic routes as we weaved through the mountains along the edge of Loch Fyne.

Have to go as really, really tired and have the usual body maintenance jobs to attend to. Frighteningly hilly day tomorrow. Everyone still in one piece and still on their bikes just!  

Sarah and Lauraxx

 

Updated on May 13th 2011 at 5:45 PM from the JustGiving API

Day 7

Into Scotland today.

Everyone is feeling it. Moved onto a new phase of medication taking. Neck and hands and bums and legs feeling so sore have started combining pain medication. Everyone's mindset has moved from wondering whether they are fit enough to complete the challenge to desperately trying to stay injury free long enough to get to John O'Groats.

Our bodies have literally become temples. Interestingly all the hi tech sports drinks we started with have been abandoned as they seem to be upsetting tummies!! Good old bananas and squash seem to be the order if the day. Have become obsessed with stretching. We stretch before breakfast, stretch before cycling, whilst cycling, during breaks from cycling, before dinner, before bed. Infact we don't do anything without stretching first.Creams and potions are rubbed into various parts of our bodies at least as often as we stretch. Lanacane anti chafe cream has been our saviour.

We had a new injection of pharmaceuticals last night when hubbies visited so have been applying today with renewed vigor.

Have become obsessive about fluid intake as well as carbs as have had a couple of hard lessons on hills usually just before lunch when either or both have not been consumed in large enough quantities.

Interestingly, Simon the sex shop owner seems to be very talented at organizing massages for anyone who needs one. Doesn't matter where we are!! Danny's knee is much better. Only walked once today and Rachel is still on her bike but, to be fair, rarely sits down.

More hills tomorrow.

Sarah and Laura xx

 

Updated on May 13th 2011 at 5:45 PM from the JustGiving API

Day 6

Preston to Carlisle over Shap Fell.

It felt really hard today, particularly as we had to put our still soaking wet shoes back on this morning, and of course it rained on us as we made our 12 mile ascent of Shap fell. However we must, at last, be getting a bit fitter as we did a 14.6 (which is the best we have ever done) mile average over the 90 miles even though we were going only 4.5miles per hour at some points of Shap. Hurrah!

Legs are stronger but the list of aches and pains grows all the time. Shoulders and bums are excruciating at times despite sudacrem and illegal amounts of ibuprofen!

At least we are still on our bikes. Poor Danny who has been walking all the hills since Chepstow had to walk up Shap Fell today! But his knee is improving. Fingers crossed! Rachel has been riding with a towel on her saddle from day two because she was so saddle sore she had to go to hospital to have the wound dressed. It was getting better until the rain in the last 2 days meant she was back to square one and visiting Carlisle infirmary tonight!

Cycling is appallingly unglamorous. From the less than hospitable toilet arrangements at the very time you need the most privacy to the fact that you don't see yourself from 7 am in morning until 7 pm at night and in between times you have sweated 4 liters of water, been windblown and rain splattered for 10 hours and been hit in the face by thousands of flies half of which have stuck to the copious amounts of suncream and lipsalve you have applied without a mirror. Top that all off with a cycling helmet and Lycra clad bottom and thighs. Can you imagine how awful one could look. We couldn't until we saw it for ourselves!

It's not all doom and gloom. Simon and Jonathan and kids and Sarah's mum and Dad and Laura's friends Annnie and Winton drove over and we all went out for a meal which was lovely and Jane and Jeanette our seasoned challengers celebrated getting over half way by polishing off a bottle of champagne between them. They intend to drink a bottle each night until we finish!!

Very Civilised! Scotland tomorrow.

Sarah and Lauraxx

 

Updated on May 13th 2011 at 5:44 PM from the JustGiving API

Day 5

Yesterday  we cycled from Chepstow to Shrewsbury. The weather was great. It was a long day as it was 100 miles but the countryside was beautiful so we really enjoyed it. By contrast By 9.30 am today we were all soaked through travelling along the A49 up to Preston with heavy traffic. Mentally stealing ourselves to last til lunch which wasn't until 63 miles in (about 2pm).

All starting to look like we've done a few miles now. Spend most of the day with oil smeared hands and faces with frizzy, sweaty hair poking through our particularly chic helmets. Have to check each other every time we stop to make sure we haven't got dried snot or flies stuck to our faces. By the end of the day we have bright red wind beaten cheeks with a particularly attractive white sweat residue all over our faces. Running out of fresh cycling kit and finding it hard to dry any washing so our Lycra is less than pristine. Coupled with our mud and oil splattered neoprene overshoes. We are a sight to behold! No wonder people hurl abuse at us as we cycle past !

Lots of Injuries. Laura has a repetitive strain injury to her wrist so has foam wrapped around one of her handlebars to try and cushion it. Danny, one of the younger cyclists has injured his knee and has walked up every hill since Chepstow which means he has to start before everyone else and doesn't finish until after we get back but he hasn't given up! Jackie has hurt her foot and is cycling with one cycling shoe and one morrisons carrier bag inside a trainer. She is almost beating us in the style stakes.

There are more and more towels being tied to saddles as the saddle soreness really sets in. We've managed to avoid that particular humiliation so far but have been unlimiting in the amounts of creams and potions we apply to that region. On that note we'll end for now.

Sarah and Laura xx

 

Updated on May 11th 2011 at 10:10 PM from the JustGiving API

Start to Day 4

Hi everyone, Have just finished day 4 from Chepstow to Shrewbury. 97 miles. It was lovely through the Wye Valley then through Monmouth and Hereford we had lunch in beautiful village by the river. The weather was great. It was a long day but the countryside was beautiful so we really enjoyed it. It took us from 8 am til 6.30pm tonight.

Someone arranged a physio at the hotel tonight and he ended up treating all 27 cyclists. Lots of aches and pains at the moment and a few injuries.

We thought it would be easy to just have ourselves to look after but by the time we have rubbed creams and potions into crevices we didn't know could hurt! Taken our body weight in pain killers prepared our sports preparations and physically eaten the amount we have to, there is not much time for anything else.

Now the gale force wind has died down we've had an opportunity to get to know fellow cyclists. There are some great people cycling for amazing causes. There is Mike and Simon who's daughter and brother were drowned in a ferry accident in Asia whilst trying to cycle around the world to raise money for a lung charity. Mike's story is particularly poignant as his son whom was attempting the same thing in a different part of Asia was killed 6 weeks later in a car accident. They, and friends have raised massive sponsorship and are cycling in honour of their dead loved one's. Lee is cycling to raise money for help the Heroes and for his friend that lost both legs in the Middle East. Lee also lost his wife in Sierra Leon 10 years ago. He has brought his 4 children up alone since then!

We also have a great guy cycling with us who revealed that he used to be in Interpol and now has a security business and a chain of 14 sex shops!!

Have to go and get some sleep. Didn't get much last night as we stayed in a contender for the worst hotel in Wales, complete with a 'Basil Fawlty'.

Up to Preston tomorrow and it's forecast rain!

Sarah and Laura xx 

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

As some of you may know, we are about to embark on the Land's End to John O'Groats cycle. We've talked about this challenge for ages.  So we decided it was time to put  our money where our mouth is, or in the words of Elvis Presley "A little less conversation, a little more action, please!"  To that end we are off on the 3rd of May to cycle around 1000 miles in eleven and a half days.  Just to emphasise, in case anybody is in any doubt, this means  cycling between 80-100 miles per day!

We realise this is a huge challenge for two 40 something housewives! So to ensure that we will complete the whole 1000 miles, despite the many agonies that, no doubt, await us, we have decided to raise as much money as possible for charity. We are funding the trip ourselves so all the money we raise will go to charity.

The charity we've chosen is Cancer Research UK .  As many of you will know Laura's father died of cancer and we both have friends who have battled this disease more recently. 

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research.  It's groundbreaking work in finding new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer has saved millions of lives.

 

It's aim is to ensure more people survive cancer.  It supports the work of more than 4,000 researchers, doctors and nurses throughout the UK, fighting cancer on all fronts. Every day, it's researchers make cutting-edge discoveries in it's labs, and it's doctors and nurses pioneer new treatments with patients in hospitals.

We've already started our training programme, in freezing temperatures, rain, wind and snow.  So please help us, and make this all worthwhile. Dig deep and donate now.