Please donate by going to

Monday 16 August 2010

Over a 1000 miles and 82 hours in the saddle later we finally made the triumphal entry to Lands End to be greeted by more than expected. We were surprised to be welcomed by a crowd of 7 including Andy's parents who cunningly sneaked their way to Cornwall in a most Stephens of conspiracies amidst a spate of elaborate white lies. The customary photos were taken (to follow) before the pastie that had motivated us for nearly 2 weeks now was scoffed down. It had been a relatively easy morning's 37 mile cycle but we felt like we had earnt it! The ensuing celebrations at Helen & Nick's was something else. A celebratory feast of grand proportions was a more than fitting climax to our epic journey. Again massive thanks to them for all their kind hospitality. Also to Guy and Helen (next door neighbours) for putting us up for our final two nights.

As I write the celebrations are continuing in sun-drenched St. Mawes, so I will leave it there with a massive thanks to all who supported us and made generous donations and one final plea to anyone who has not yet made a donation. Our challenge is almost complete. With a few more donations we can reach our £2000 target.

Look out for lots of pictures as well Andy's legendary statcam!

To the beach!

Friday 13 August 2010

One final push!

Firstly sorry for the lack of contact over the last few days. Technology has failed us! With the finishing line in sight (almost literally) here's an update of our last few days.

August 9th Preston - Shrewsbury - 84 miles

Highlight(s) Driving through Wigan, Warrington and any other rugby league town beginning with 'W' does not tend to have highlights apart from the abundance of flat roads to cycle on. Kinda funny having our morning snack break at a bus stop on the side of a dual carriageway in an industrial estate, rather than the usual field or park bench in on a country road. Definite highlight had to be sleeping in a bed for the first time in over a week. Massive thanks again to Andy B who left us to our own devices today having been an excellent part of the team. Also, if you're ever in Shrewsbury, eat in The Armory pub. A pub with character that does excellent food and a spiffing shandy!


August 10th Shrewsbury - Chepstow - 86 miles

Highlight(s) Many highlights on this amazing day. Cooked breakfast, beautiful weather, flat-ish roads, Andy's 3rd puncture. The ride from Monmouth to Chepstow along the Wye valley in Wales has to be the outright winner. An amazingly picturesque cycle along mostly flat roads in beautiful evening sunshine.

Man of the Match - The welsh guys destined for John O'Groats who stopped to help us change Andy's tyre. Legends, and great Welsh accents to top it!


August 11th Chepstow - Taunton - 60 miles

Highlight(s) Crossing the Severn road bridge was amazing. Finding out that Bristol is a big bowl-shaped city is not so amazing, however, realsing that Somerset is in fact very flat is a bonus. No need for a shortened 60 miler, but we grabbed the opportunity to be men of leisure and went into town for a coffee in the afternoon sun!

August 12th Taunton - Tavistock - 67 miles

Highlight(s) Finally came the much predicted 'hillage' of Devon. Breaking my 'land-steed record' was a definite highlight - 66.4 kph! My back pannier falling of the back of the bike just as we approached the 'You are now entering Devon' sign not so much, although quite funny at the time! Highlight of the day has to be the 5 mile descent into Tavistock to stay in a very nice hotel! A dream end to a tough day.

August 13th Tavistock - Flushing - 62 miles

Highlight(s) Oh my goodness, the hills! The Devon hills were just training for Cornwall! But, with great climbs come great zooming descents and wait for it - The new 'land-steed record' now stands at 77.8 kph! A massive thank you to Andy's great Aunt and Uncle Helen and Nick who took us in for the night, met us with cold beer and fed us royally until we could eat no more! Great Cornish hospitality. Definite Man & Woman of the Match! Although close run thing with the guy we met today who did End to End last year in 7 days! Albeit totally supported, a legendary effort! Maybe next year eh..?

So...just 37 miles to Lands End. Aiming for a lunch-time finish to ensure we meet our 12 day target. I'll update in a few days with pics etc when the hangover wears off!

Over and out!

Sunday 8 August 2010

Goodbye to bonnie Scotland August 6th - 8th

August 6th Cairndow - Penpont (116 miles!)

Highlight of the day - Well, getting to the campsite to a delicious chilli con carne (not curry con-carne as previously conceieved in Betty Hill) doing 116 miles and getting to use our lights was a definite highlight in hindsight, although there were one or two low points, namely Andy demolishing a whole packet of percy pigs (our low-point guilty pleasures) to get him in a good frame of mind.

Man of the Match - Several contenders - Either the guy in Thornhill who sponsored us a quid or the guy we met at the end of 116 miles in Moniaive who was very inquisitive until we mentioned sponsorship. He put his hand in his pocket and then simply said, 'My wife looks after the money', by which time she had turned on her heels and gone! Tight Scots!
Winner has to be Andy B for his outstanding chilli with strawberries for dessert!

August 7th - Penpont - Pooley Bridge (nr Penrith) - 74 miles

Highlight(s) - Lovely to have the sun on our backs as we crossed the border. Excellent lunch spot in Gretna Green where we witnessed about 5 marriages coming and going by the time we had our half and hr lunch break! Campsite was interesting - comparible to 'Shameless' on a camping holiday which wasn't conducive to much sleep. Fantastic meal out in Italian restaurant in Penrith where we were surrounded by about 20 young girls falling out of their dresses as we sat in our best camping gear! However, the gents toilets was the winner of highlight of the day! You have to go there to find out why. All three of us agree that this was the BEST toilet we have EVER been to.

Man of the Match - The one guy at the table of 20 girls in the Italian or maybe the little guy on his bike in Gretna who was so genuinely interetsted in our challenge. What a bloke!


August 8th - Pooley Bridge - Preston - 80 miles

Highlights - Shap! (also Norn Irn for retail establishment) 1400 feet up and 1400 down. A rollercoaster of a ride. Best weather so far - we packed a dry tent for the first time! Bit of a low point though as I seem to have picked up a recurring knee injury that I thought I had managed to avoid so far. Really hope it doesn't hinder us. Watch this space...

Man of the Match - Random guy who was also JOGLEing, but by himself, with more luggage than both of us and keeping up a better pace than us over the day. Inspirational!

Message from the top!

Saturday 7 August 2010

Day 5 Loch Fyne - Penpont

AndyS and Simon are now official Centurions. They cycled over 100miles in a day - 116 to be precise, en route from our luck find of the back garden of the Stagecoach inn on the shore of Loch Fyne to the ccampsite in the small village of Penpont. Despite almost continuous rain the boys made good time and slept well on their last night on Scottish soil.
They allowed themselves an extra 30mins in bed this morning before setting out through Dumfries and Carlisle to a campssite in Pooley Bridge at the northern tip of Ullswater.

Thursday 5 August 2010

Day 4 Cribs


August 5th


80miles – Glencoe – Cairndow

Highlight(s) of the day – Puncture number 2; 10 minute break in the Scottish sunshine before taking a wrong turn and adding on an extra half an hour in the saddle; Cracking loch scenery again! And a free campsite out the back of a pub thanks to the perspicacity (in his own words) of Andy B!

MotM – Simon (Sat Nav) Brown for owning up to his momentary disorientation (non-sexual). Andy B, of course, for rescuing the day by making the most of his charm and guile in obtaining an excellent (free) pitch for the evening.

Days 1-3