A couple of photos of us at John O’Groats at about 8:40pm when we arrived. It was the hardest day of the journey with a horrendous headwind and for the last 4 hours drenching rain. I was definitely

on my last legs. Thankfully the boys helped pull me along when I started to have my doubts. We quickly adjourned to the only pub in town (looked like something out of the 1960’s) as it was the only place to eat. Had a couple of pints and a pizza in our wet clothes then headed for the B&B. We were warmly welcomed by the owners and opened a bottle of champagne sent to us from FFS. We slept well that night! John

Lloyd and Alex looking far more full of life than me.

Congratulations to the Eye Cyclers! Exhausted but triumphant they reached John O’Groats late on Wednesday 14 July.

Ben Nevis

Day 12. I can’t believe we only have two days to go. The last day is a long one, but today we cruised out of Glencoe, along the lochs through Fort William and down to Loch Ness, stopping for a leisurly coffee on the way. The odd thing was that it was a good 60 miles, but we still arrived here early, at about 3, without much effort. The going was flattish, and we were dry, so maybe that’s it. Anyway, we’re ok here at the Lann dearg studios, a long shower and a bit of a rest. Pub for supper soon. Let’s hope for a fine day tomorrow!

Loch Ness (if you look really carefully......)

Day 10

We left Lanark in the rain, and it got harder as the day drew on. Nice flat route, but jees was it wet. We stopped off at a Halfords to but high vis waterproofs, which have worked out a boon. Arrived in beautiful Stirling at 10 past 2! Dried ourselves then popped out for bit of grub in town. We like Stirling.

Day 11

Left a little early in the hope of catching the world cup final in Glencoe (no such luck)
Today was a big 82 miles traversing the country from east to west, and heading north to boot. Very windy but great fun and we were rewarded by the amazing run down off Rannoch moor into Glencoe. One of the best rides of my life. Absolutely amazingly brilliant. Very big. Lots of nature.
Tomorrow Loch Ness, yikes!

Glencoe on Day 11

The Eyecycle team now in the distant North

The Three Amigos on Rannoch Moor

And the movie of Glencoe (I think) may yet follow……

Fight for Sight did us proud on Day 9

Quick update on Day 9; Long day today bit surprisingly flat! We crossed into Scotland this morning with showery weather. The rain got harder but we covered the 80 odd miles in good time to reach a nice hotel in lanark for a change of clothes and a beer. Cycling in the rain is a losing battle. There’s no keeping dry, so it’s best to press on on, grin and bear it. Anyway, showers forecast tomorrow so trench-foot here we come.

Summer in Stirling

P.S. Notes on missed days…

Day 6; Clun to Chester. 75 miles, a nice ride, rolling countryside and south westerly winds. All very ok.

Day 7; Farmhouse in Chester to the Parkers Arms in Newton nr Bowland in lancs. Very boring ride, lots of built up areas, but ended up beautiful. Clithero is lovely, the nice man in the shop gave us our drinks for free, ended up with a huge climb ove hills to newton but AJ the landlord looked after us brilliantly. Sorry to leave it in the morning, for the most ridiculous climb up over the Yorkshire dales with the lake district to our left ( I think). Great views from the top. Then on to Carlisle, got even hillier but we got there in the end! More mountains tomorrow, now to sleep and rest those muscles!

Ok, it’s Monday evening. Day 5 of 14, and here’s two things I know; I hate UHT milk, and O2 are rubbish. Of all us boys have had such crap coverage. Once again I’m stuck and unable to contact anyone. Rubbish. Ah well. Also why do they have UHT milk in b&b’s? It’s horrid! Nice lovely b&b here in Clun has a little flask with real milk in it. I think my overriding memory of the taste of this trip will be UHT milk tea. Yeugh!
Anyway, here I am with a few mins and typing away on my iPhone. I’ll send to Susie to post as soon as o2 comes into range.
Sooo. Where were we? Ah yes, day one aaaaargh. Day two ten thousand aaaarghs. But at least it didn’t pour. Actually day one was funny really. Driving rain so we couldn’t use iPhones and the maps all dogged into a great mess as it grew darker and we got more lost facing huge steep hills at every turn.

Day 2 wasn’t funny. It was just relentlessly punishing. Severe steep hills and dips non stop for 13 hours.
P.S. By the way, did I say that I have never been to a bed and breakfast before? The boys seemed to think that was a bit odd but I didn’t really know what one was or how it works or anything. Anyway, it turns out they’re nothing to be worried about, some are quite nice really.

Back to day 2; this was a dark day. But anyway, we did it . We arrived in Exeter some time after 9. More than a little tired. The high point of the day for me was topping 70 kph on my bike (I think that’s something like 43 miles an hour?). Now this isn’t something I would recommend and I know lots of people go faster, but I did it on the whizz down from Dartmoor.Dartmoor is a horrible climb up. On top it’s windswept and barren, but I quite liked it. The hills down off it were superb, if a little winding with loose gravel etc. So my chart topping speed was a bit scary. But I did it anyway, I don’t think I’ll be trying the land speed record again though.
The problem with the moor was that it was 3.45 when we first saw it. A huge mass rising above us. And in true CTC style, our route, instead of starting a steady climb, plunged us down onto a ravine before a near vertical climb. We needed to get up and over on quick time because we really needed to make the b&b in time. Luckily the rust bike (!) nearby fed and watered us that evening.

Day 3 started off with my big puncture. We stopped just outside Exeter to look at the map and I hit a patch of broken glass. Pop went the tube and tyre, both had to be thrown away and now I have no replacements. Must get to a bike shop. But day 3 was a good day. A short day. The day we took on the somerset flats. We like day 3 and wish all days were like this.

Day 4, on the other hand was a bit longer. Positives were that we had two guests on the ride; Jeremy Bowen and David Burgin. And we met Simon the photographer, and crossed the Clifton bridge and the Severn bridge. Negatives were that we nearly killed Jeremy and that it was a long old ride. David and Jeremy were troopers, and big thanks to them.

Day 5, hmmm. Ah yes. All of johns mates. Mike, Alison, Paul, Serge, Steve. And a very jolly bunch we were too.

Here’s a little reminder about the online auction for two 18ct gold Bicycle necklaces by Alex. Go take a look!

9am on day 5.   We’ve been joined by a load of johns mates and are ready for a steady pootle from Ross on Wye to Clun.  A lovely easy day today.

Day two was worse than day 1. Enough said.

Day three was great, a 55 mile jaunt over the somerset flats, heaven.

Yesterday, day 4 was quite long, but nice because Jeremy joined us, and David Burgin met us in Bristol, to cross the Severn bridge.  Very dramatic indeed.  Jeremy had two crashes and we eventually arrived in Ross covered in blood and bandages.   He survived though.

I’ll write more this evening, hope to get more time.
Laters
Alex

Day 4 took the team from Street in Somerset to Welsh Bicknor in Herefordshire and they were joined along the way by a few friends including Jeremy Bowen, David Burgin and Fight for Sight supporter Simon Lamont.

Jeremy, Alex, Lloyd, John and Simon take a well earned break

Jeremy Bowen and David Burgin join the team on the 4th Leg