Derek Fett's pictures

Here are some of the pictures that Derek took that I thought were excellent:

Top - Derek and I at John O Groats at 9.20pm Saturday night

2nd - Ed near the pub in Shap (less of a smile more a grimace!)

3rd - Ronnie again near the pub in Shap

4th - Graeme battling a strong headwind north of Inverness

5th - Stuart in the same wind oop north

The team - a few pics

Technology is a great thing so I thought I would add a couple of pictures to prove we were there!

Derek and I at the start in Lands End at 7am on Thursday morning.

Ronnie and Ed about to tackle the hills around Tiverton on the leg that took us up to Taunton.

Graeme and Stuart near Tore roundabout having completed one of the most dangerous sections of road near Inverness. The dual carriageway is a race track and we were all grateful to get through it unscathed.

As they arrived at the roundabout a car was sliding off the road on the other carriageway into a sign - it was not fun...

Home and dry....

I’ve just lost the entire day’s blog and will have to start again so here goes…

Ronnie and Ed started in Tain and cycled to Berriedale. Man it was a tough session because the hills oop north seem to get bigger and bigger. When you plan an event like this you look at a road map, pick the route, sort out the teams and bob’s your uncle. Maps are sadly flat and I was thinking that it would be great to have a pop up map that showed all the hills!

Anyway our intrepid warriors set off, quickly to be engulfed in a thick fog. The fog was so thick and visibility was very poor making it impossible to see how far to the top of the hills. It’s nice to see your enemy rather be surprised by yet another incline!

I want to make a special mention of Ronnie. I was very impressed at the way he approached the trip. He trained hard and a week before the challenge he damaged his knee playing football. I should have said that Ronnie didn’t have a road bike before we decided to do this mad venture and cycling was recreational rather than tortuous (as it has become!). So to take on the challenge to complete circa 200k every day for 3 days was impressive. Ronnie didn’t complain about his knee and did all that was asked of him. I thought the effort that he put in was something special.

Ed, on the Dawes tank, and Ronnie formed an amazing team that worked well together (despite being hundreds of metres apart from time to time!). Ed had to face the monster hills on a bike that weighed more than most brands of tractor!

On Shap Derek and Ed managed to set of a speed gun while climbing the hill. It read 13mph – Derek F wryly asked if that was their combined speed!!!

I think that they were both pleased to hand over to myself and Derek at Berriedale as the hills and nagging wind had taken the last of their energy. Fantastic effort.

We were left with the honour of taking the team home. We only had 70k left and we were home and dry. Derek and I seemed to have had the best of the weather and last night was fortunate to have a clear sky with the moon in the east watching us plough on. The first 2k went straight up and we were both grateful to see the top of the hills. Maybe it was because we were near the end or exhaustion kicking in but we both struggles through sections of the evening. The wind seemed to be directly in our face but all our prayers were answered when we turned west in Wick and the wind blew us onwards. The decent into Wick is amazing. It was dark but we were motoring along at about 40k getting honked at by other LEJOGers on there way home.

We turned to John O Groats and were met by Derek F brandishing sustenance in the form of Mars Bars – just what we needed.

Everyone hooked up with a few miles to go and we glided into John O Groats at 9.20pm together spread out across the road – it was a fab feeling. Our target had been 72 hours with an optimistic hope that we would arrive before 10pm on Saturday night. So to do better was fab.

We took a few pictures, loaded the cars and that was it job done.

We had booked into the Holburn Hotel in Thurso – they were very accommodating and we enjoyed a celebratory meal together with a couple of beers. Everyone was re-telling the stories of the week and we had a great time.

I have many people to thank. Our support team of Derek F, Bruce and Norman was excellent and could not have done more than they did. I should single out Derek F who seemed to be allocated to our team. He kept the entire group safe in some horrendous weather, kept our spirits raised in the difficult times and managed to deal with some tired and grumpy bikers. Any trip like this needs a good support team and we had the best.

My fellow riders were all amazing. The schedule was tough and the commitment shown was fantastic.

My biking partner Derek deserves a big thank you. He lifted me when I was tired, we shared the load by taking turns at the front, we had a great laugh and he listened to my incessant chat! Thanks for everything.

I would also like to thank all of the people that generously sponsored me. I’ve raised nearly £900 to date which is great and I hope to continue fundraising for TCT.

The trip has had it’s high and low points as you would expect. I’ve reinforced friendships and met some great people who I look forward to meeting again. The challenge was not all about the bike – it was about getting people around, sorting out hotels, eating at weird times and sleep deprivation. It has had an impact on us all. I’ve enjoyed the entire trip including blogging from the back of the car – I hope that the blog has given a little insight into the journey….

To finish the story of the ‘Georges’ pants – they disappeared. Somebody quietly slipped in and took them from the boot – nobody has fessed up! (Although it might have been anybody! – a wee in joke!)

Until next time……

Lost

Team Turtle, aka Ed and Ronnie started the day as they seem to have started most others – Lost. I believe that ABC has offered them a contract for series 6 and Ed is to become the new Sawyer on the show…from lawyer to sawyer…

Fortunately the only plane crash has been Derek F’s choice of music!

After 50 minutes of seeing the sites in Perth they eventually emerged at Huntingtower. Derek and I caught them, checked they knew where they were going and left with a cheery wave. I’m not sure what the gesture back meant but we took it a reciprocal cheery wave…

We set off from Pitlochry at the back of 8am. We’re still a bit gobsmacked that we’ve got as far and so quick. The country might just have shrunk with the amount of rain we’ve had!

I learned an interesting new fact today – Shirley told Derek that he smelled of de-hydration last night. Now I’m not sure what that smells like but I don’t think that Linx will be adding it to the range!

Disaster struck with our first puncture. Half way up Drumochter Derek got the first mechanical breakdown of the trip. The stone was tiny but it did enough to damage the tube.

We succumbed to the temptations of an egg roll (or 2) at the coffee shop in Dalwhinnie – Derek F met up and as ever was ‘the man’ and without prompting had a quick look at the bikes and sorted out a few minor grumbles in the rain.

We’d completed the majority of the hard work and were able to spin our way down to Aviemore in just over an hour. We had a minor disagreement with a learner driver who seemed to practice an emergency stop 5 yards in front of Derek – a bit of skilled bike handling and a brief feedback we were on our way. Good to give feedback – it’s the modern way isn’t it!

So I introduced the boys to the joys of the Mountain Cafe in Aviemore.

Anyway today’s mystery is who owns the festering pants. A pair of George’s finest range of pants has been left in the boot of Derek’s car. Given the state of the things I would imagine that whose ever they are is keeping quiet. If it becomes a police matter they won’t be short of DNA!!

As I blog Stuart and Graeme have arrived in Tain for the handover back to the Lost Boys. There’s only one way to John O Groats from Tain so who knows where they’ll end up! The wind is against us for the final legs…..

Oh what a night....

Early September 2008…..

The night started well with an excellent dinner at the pub in Shap. Everyone knows Shap cos it’s on the M6 and at the top of Engerland. What most people don’t realise is that is has a massive hill that forms a barrier to all end to end cyclists. Ronnie and Ed took the challenge and heroically got us over Shap. It’s a nightmare of a climb so great credit to them for the effort.

Derek and I wanted something to eat so grabbed some food in the pub and made it out to see the victorious duo pass the pub.

We picked up the batten again at Carlisle – the route was described as undulating by Derek over our power food in the pub (Lasagne and chips). We had 86k to do and got on the road as darkness fell. It was a foul night last night – incessant rain that clawed through your clothes and left you feeling abjectly miserable. We reached Langholm and the old IBS was kicking in big style so we found a pub and I slipped off to pay a visit.

When I returned, Derek was chatting to this lady (older) standing by the bikes. She had obviously had one or two sherbets and seemed interested in the challenge we were on. She has a grand-daughter that is going to be hugely famous apparently.

The pub people appeared out and on finding out what were doing disappeared only to re-emerge out of the pub with 2 tins of lucozade – people have been great!

Once we got moving again we were faced with a massive climb up to Hawick – Derek fortified by lucozade flew up the hills – I gritted my teeth and hung on to the back of him as best I could. The climb lasted an age but we were cheered half way by the appearance of Derek F. Derek F was a hero. The rain and mist was playing havoc with vision but with Derek behind us we felt safe.

A car passed Derek and then sat beside him, all on a blind bend. He asked if was a charity bike ride – when answered positively a £10 note was thrust through the window – amazing.

By now the rain was not only incessant it was torrential.

Shirley, Derek’s wife, kindly picked us up in Serkirk and we handed over to Stuart and Graeme who must be the children of some rain king because every time they get on the bikes it has absolutely bucketed – they arrived at the Forth Road Bridge after a horrible cycle at around 3.30am. Another fantastic achievement.

Nothing of the misery of the rain, hills and traffic can take away from the enjoyment of the challenge or the fact I keep remembering why I’m doing this and hoping that some folk who are in a far worse place than us will benefit in a time of need…..

The big one....

We're up in Lancaster and still going strong. Graeme and Stuart on the bike and moving well with a view to handing over to Ed and Ronnie in Garstang at 3.30pm ish if they are on time....

The next challenge is the big one. The climb up Shap on the old A6 is a monster and sadly for them ( and happily for the rest of us) it's them on the stump.

We've been lucky with the weather today - a nagging NW in our faces but fortunately it wasn't that strong.

Derek and I covered about 98k today slipping off the 100k per shot! Nothing very exciting about our cycle today - just rolling through valleys, hills, canals and some nice wee villages.

Looking forward to a night in my own bed - when I say a night I mean about 5 hours hopefully.....

The biking clown

Morning is breaking…

Day 2 begins with Ronnie and Ed about 15 miles from Shrewsbury where Derek and I take over once more….

What a day we had yesterday. We’re still on target to arrive in John O Groats by 10 pm Saturday which has been quite an achievement. Ronnie and Ed did a sterling leg to take the team through the hills around Tiverton and on into Taunton.

Last night we all completed our first night sections. Riding at night has been a new challenge but we all have good lights and have been kindly given high visibility jackets by R & A Group Scotland Ltd, an electrical and data company. The high viz jackets can be seen for miles!

Derek and I did the Taunton to some place over the Severn Bridge leg, another 100k stint. We had a good laugh in a BP garage when we convinced the girls that we were doing the entire trip by ourselves. When she asked where we were going and we replied John O Groats she turned to her colleague and said ‘wow that’s the top of England!’ and where have you come from she said ‘wow that’s the bottom of England!’ When we left the shop they were pouring over maps….

As retribution for our fib, Derek left his glasses. Unbelievable the girls turned up half an hour later with them – people are great.

I’m the cycling clown. As we arrived in Bristol I unclipped my right pedal and leaned, inexplicably, to the left! Donkey!

Tiredness is having an impact now and it’s been interesting seeing how sleep deprivation has affected us all……

Derek F and Bruce have done some fantastic support work. Bruce took us through Bristol at 11pm in a way we would never have found unsupported. Derek F has been the rock of the team – always there, supporting, advising and listening. We owe both of them a great debt for their time and effort.

Derek B’s car is going home much improved – most moving parts have been replaced and I think Derek F has even signed he service book. He got the oddest looks in the Audi garage – apparently Audi owners don’t buy parts!

Ed suffered the first vandalism when someone kicked his bike when they were parked up. He’s straightened the bent bits and it’s all working well. Some people are not so great!

Today we go through Shrewsbury, Warrington, Lancaster, Carlilse and then into the home land hopefully at around 7 or 8 pm today.

There has been much talk of wind, very little outside of the car. IBS seems to be spreading around the team as the quality of food, weird eating times and service stations catches up. Job lot (poor use of language) of Actimel and Imodium required….

Murdo, my brother, often talked of a battle of Cheddar Gorge a few years ago. One man, one bike and a lot of hills! Now I know what he’s talking about having faced the demon last night. 9 miles of climb that went on and on. Don’t know who won…

Derek’s just said we’ll look in the mirror at lunchtime and say we’re awesome – we’re going to have a blast up to Warrington…

Ok until later….