Day 9.

Fantastic. No illness, no punctures, no injuries.

Day 9 - journey's end

Day 8 - Dartmoor

Today has not just been the hardest of the trip but of any day cycling I have ever endured. Reasonable weather as far as Exeter but we were always expecting rain in the afternoon.
The rain started with a vengeance as we started to climb towards Dartmoor. Low cloud, torrential rain and strong headwinds made the ride into a nightmare. I have seen hell and it is Dartmoor on a rainy September afternoon.
The only reprieve was the East Dart Hotel in Postbridge where we enjoyed multiple cups of tea and two games of pool ( Chris winning both). 

On a day when it was everyman for himself against the elements, massive kudos to Rex, the least experienced of the riders, for completing the ride with fewer rest stops and great determination. 

Day 7 pictures

Pete and Brendan in the hotel car park before the start of the day. 

First tea stop at the Blue Bell just out side of Gloucester. 

Enjoying the view but not the sheep. 

Day 7

A great day in the saddle. Joined by Rex's good friends Mark & Suzanne for 70miles of mixed cycling conditions and to enjoy great view from the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
On the whole our days have been thankfully uneventful. The route is a mixture of beautiful quiet country roads interspersed with unpleasant spells on busy A routes. Luckily, thanks to the extraordinary number of road works we are often the fastest vehicles on the road - which seems to be strangely irritating to some drivers who object both to over and undertaking manoeuvres by trying to block our way.
The country is littered with little lengths of cycle lane that seem to be vastly disjointed and of disturbingly different quality. One can be enjoying a lovely, wide and smooth lane that will either simply stop, often at a climb where it is most needed, or turn into a gravel track that is designed to puncture road tyres.
After the hotel in Derby last night that was offering 2 meals for the price of one, the riders have become accustomed to double portions and intend to continue this for the next two days. We all certainly had more energy today - helped along by Bok and Chris finding regular stops for sugary tea.

Day 6 completed

We are now 2/3 of the way to Land's End.
A day of quiet country lanes, busy A roads, urban traffic lights, lost ways and missing tea.

Day five. Carlisle to Chorley.

Shap Fell! Need we say more. Pete got there first like a man on mission. Since the last time it appears to have lost a launch at the top and gained one further down. The support crew were on a mission of their own to find a cup of tea (and black coffee for our QC) for the cyclists. The day started with rain but soon dried out to leave sunny intervals all day and a cross wind. Rex continued his travails with the red lights of each town almost as if he was searching for them. He was then brought to order and 'press ganged' into cycling in a chain. We arrived at the hotel rather later than we originally expected and in keeping with previous trip we are staying at a motorway services. Pete really knows how to book 'em.

Pete: We did however have the best meal of the trip to celebrate Bok and Ali's 45th wedding anniversary: what an amazing couple. We highly recommend the Farmers Arms, Wood Lane, Heskin, Chorley; a pub in the grand old and sadly dwindling tradition, great food and very friendly landlord.

Day 5 complete

Fantastic luck with the weather again. Just 10 minutes rain at the start.

We all conquered Shap Fell - a hard, long climb into the wind. The reward was a gently downhill ride with tea breaks for the rest of the day. Of course we are held up terribly again once we get into urban riding. Road works in Penrith and Kendall and the traffic lights in Lancaster and Penrith play havoc with the length of our day. As far as Rex is concerned you can take the man out of the navy but not the navy out of the man: he just has to stop whenever there is the possibility of a red light. 😄

Past the half way stage now.

JOGLE - half way there

Day 5 : all the chaps up Shap

Day 5 : civilised tea break before climbing Shap

Synopsis Scotland

Day one John O'Groats to Bonar Bridge

After a near disaster when a spindle was lost we eventually set off towards Betty Hill. For the uninitiated (us included) the north of Scotland coast includes many climbs and descents this takes a lot out of your legs. We stopped at the Marie Curie field of hope to take photos of a nuclear power station in the background. There is some irony in there somewhere. From Betty Hill we turned south climbing 3o miles to 1200 ft with the majority of the climb in the last three miles. Pete got his climbing legs back as the rest tagged along. Rex was so relaxed he had time to take in the scenery including a waterfall. So much for insufficient training.

Day 2 Bonar Bridge to Fort William

What a day! Great weather spectacular scenery and midges. No one saw Nessie as we passed Loch Ness but we had a good look. We continued along the great glen until we dropped down into Fort William.

Day 3 Fort William to Renfrew

Two good weather days in a row in Scotland. This is unheard of. A 20 mile flat section around the base of Ben Nevis before Glencoe and then a 1200 foot climb to the Glencoe pass. Strava predicted 5000 ft of climbing but this turned into 6800 ft. The scenery was awe inspiring in view of the weather. We then dropped down to Loch Lomond and followed rather dull route comparatively into Dumbarton. We then crossed the Erskine bridge finishing at 5.30 ahead of schedule

Day 4 Renfrew to Carlisle

A mixed big as far as the weather was concerned. A little light rain, some
Sun but plenty of head wind. It took nearly two hours to get out of Glasgow particularly as Rex seems to be a red traffic Light magnet. Nice cup of tea at Crawford and quick ride into Gretna before crossing the border. Then down to Carlisle and our destination.

Day 4 : lunch

Eating lunch in the van ....

While Bokkie tries to work out where we are. 

Day 4 complete

Finally out of Scotland after a long day. Rather dreary urban cycling leaving Glasgow where we seemed to be held up by at least 100 red lights. After that it was serious head winds and rather boring A-road and cycle paths next to A-roads.

Getting to that stage of the ride when the evening drink conversation has become competitive saddle sore and muscle ache.

Day 4 : leaving Scotland behind

Day 3 complete

A tough day of climbing but fantastic views once up in Glencoe. Followed by the downhill but head wind run to Loch Lomond. Scottish weather and scenery at it's best.

The three riders are tired but triumphant after climbing 6,700 feet over the day.

Day 3 : Erskine Bridge

Day 3 : Glencoe

A beautiful morning for a 1000 ft climb of Glencoe.

Day 2 completed

A damp start but managed to avoid rain all day. Day started with a steep and long climb designed to separate the men from the boys - luckily we are all old(ish) men so we finished each section together. 

We are all disappointed not to see Nessie in her home Loch - although I think Bokkie got a glimpse. Sadly she hid before he could get a photograph. 

A good and relatively fast day all in all. Three very tired cyclists tonight hoping to recover for another early climb tomorrow. 

Day 2 - Relief rider?

Chris taking a turn in the saddle? No.

Day 2 : Loch Ness monsters

Day 2 : 25 miles in.

Day 1 in the bag

A great first day. The weather was kind and the views during the ride superb. On a national cycle route for most of the day which was in reality a single track, good surface road. Much like roads around Radwinter with the exception that the drivers here are very nice and polite: they stop at passing places well in advance to let us by.

We three riders have had a good opportunity to find our mountain legs and finished the day tired but content and early enough for a few drinks before a good dinner and an early night. 

Day 1 : 40 miles along

Day 1 : lunch @ Bettyhill

Day 1 : the journey begins

At Wick and 'ready to go'?

After driving for 14 hours we have arrived at Wick, found the hotel, checked in, found somewhere to eat and are now waiting for our food at 11.10pm at the Alexander Bain

Ready to set off for Scotland

Riders raise a whopping £830.00 for Home Start at Fund Raising Event

On Sunday 21^st August 2016 Helen and Brendan O'Brien hosted a fund raising event in Radwinter raising £830.00 of sponsorship towards a charity cycle ride down the length of Britain.

On Saturday 27^th August, 3 Radwinter men will set off from John O'Groats on a 909 mile cycle route to Land's End to raise money for Home Start Uttlesford. Covering an average of 101 miles a day they aim to finish in just 9 days on the road. The riders are:  Brendan O'Brien, 48;  married to Home-Start Trustee Helen O'Brien, Pete Fitch, 60; Home-Start Volunteer and Rex Howling, QC, 55: Home-Start Patron.  You can follow their progress online at jogle2016.blogspot.co.uk. If you would like to support the boys and make a donation to this very worthy cause you can do so at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/keepongoing

Brendan O'Brien said: "I see the hard work of all the volunteers employees and trustees every day but perhaps the real reason for doing this other than my wife's arm twisting is that it is really good to be doing something a for local charity where you can see the benefits of the funds you raise being delivered around you."

Home-Start Uttlesford is a local charity offering support and friendship to struggling families who live in the local area. Every Pound donated increases the number of families that can be supported. The charity's volunteers help families with young children deal with whatever life throws at them as they juggle the demands of a young family and the challenges of everyday life. The volunteers support parents as they manage issues such as post-natal depression, domestic abuse, relationship breakdown, loneliness or isolation, debt, chronic illness or disability, bereavement, the demands of multiple births or lone parenting. They improve their confidence and help them to build better lives for their children, with lasting effects. Families in Uttlesford are not immune to these issues and are as likely to find themselves in any of these situations as a family anywhere else in the country.

The Charity aims to give every child in Uttlesford the best start in life.

The riders hope that you will join with them as they attempt the cycle ride and at the same time raise £5,000.00.