The end is nigh..................

08:30 wake up to bright warm sunshine, people in T shirts, breakfast bacon sizzling in the pan. Jump out of bed to a hot en-suite shower mmmmmm then buzzzz the alarm went off! The shower wasn't a shower but the rain once again falling on the roof as it had done all night. Reality set in it's 06:30 again but this should at least be the last day riding. We get ourselves together and set off to where we stopped yesterday where after a bit of an emotional farewell to Jane & Marion we cycled off into the wilderness one last time. The ride was of two halves really. First we rode up over forest trails via Altnabareac to Loch Mor saw our first close up of a stag as it bounded across the track in front of us followed swiftly by a doe and fawn. Plenty bird of prey now out and about and the whole scene like something from the South American plateaus, with distant hills, big sky and no rain still, not northern Scotland in October, amazing. the second half was a contrast as we emerged from the forests out onto an unclassified road and very flat land. We could see for miles and used that to our advantage as we dodged rain storms by racing on or more often than not waiting for it to go by us. There are no off road trails from here to our journeys end in to JO'G so the last 15+ plus miles were pretty mundane with long straight stretches and drawn out inclines. After meeting the girls at the top of one of these endless hills we went over the brow and there was the northern coast of Scotland and what a sight; white tops on the water, the Orchneys in the distance, boats, white houses dotted all around the coast as far you could see all illuminated by sunshine and white cloud. No photograph could ever do this scene justice, shall I start painting? Then the final leg along the coast to JO'G. What a let down JO'G really is. Apart from being windy and cold it was quite unwelcoming with drab buildings and drab people. So after a couple of pickies and a warming bowl of soup we stowed our bikes one last time and headed out in search of a warm hotel and celebratory meal. We'd done it!! 49.8 miles (1183) The End.

Not long now..............we hope!

09/10/11 - Day 24  (22 riding) - 07:30 another lie in , I could get used to this, with thanks to Bernie Ecklestone and the F1 circus arriving in Japan we stayed to watch the race and with brekkie at 08:00 it was nearly a real Sunday morning. After the lazy start we made for our start point and set off for Black Bridge from where we turned up over Inchbae Forest along Glen Mor, remote or what. Preoccupied with the weather today started off cold and wet as usual but as we cycled off the "Weather God" smiled on us and it cleared up by 11ish to mid grey and although the wind was still very strong and gusting in the main was a help not a hindrance. As a result, with a drying trail we made good time across this beautiful wilderness. We even out ran the rain at one point making it to a bier at Desnich Lodge (appeared to be a refuge come search & rescue station) and had a sarnie while watching the rain fly by on the other side of the Glen. We had a great ride with the wind at our backs down a narrow valley to NCR1 with side winds to Lairg, via Shin Falls, then a shower early beer and grub. Good day. 39.06 miles (1089) 10/10/11 - Day 25 (23 Riding) - 06:30 yawn - what's that noise oh yes I remember rain on the roof of the motor home now that's unusual. Pull the duvet over my head. Two minutes later I need a wee. John and Marion still in bed, go to the bathroom and return. John still in bed and ends up with breakfast in bed as well! Then we're off to find the track at Crask. Unload the bikes in the wind but the rain is now stopping. While looking over the trail and wondering if the cows milling around the gate are coos or bulls the farmer wondered up with his 4 collies and informed us that it was impassable for 4 miles then we could ride a bit! He was nearly right it was more like 5+ miles of hiking, dragging our bikes through sodden moorland during which time we encountered two lots of very imposing heeland coos blocking our path. Were we worried? Oh yes but we passed without incident. Then having hauled our bikes up and out of the Glen "wow" what view, no rain, sun shining between clouds, rainbow and 2 lochs, one called Loch Choire. John sung it a song then we descended a really technical downhill run to the loch followed by a ride in wet peat along the loch side to Loch Choire House. the scenery was still spectacular as we took a track for the 10 miles to Kinbrace. This was the most remote we had been and as we tried to out run the wind and rain which we could see behind us up the valley I lost my back pack rain cover to the wind. I'm not sure if I felt like Mary Poppins or Pooh on a blustery day, but I dismounted and gave chase arresting it in the Heather having hurdled a stream. Feeling good about myself I replaced the cover and made off once more. I caught up with John and recounted the episode and he asked if I'd put it back on as it wasn't there now! I went back but couldn't find it so set of at pace trying to keep ahead of the rain. Now not feeling so good about myself. At 15:30 we met up with the girls at Kinbrace dumped the back pack then rode the 7 miles to Forsinard where we finished for the day. We loaded the bikes and set off to Melvich and the campsite in the pub car park, the Hallendale Arms. Ian the landlord from Essex made us welcome served a great pint and then we went off for a pasta party before bed. Just one more day to go - we hope. 21:30 it's still raining. 44.5 miles (1134)

Look out for the Monster...............

07/10/11 - Day 22 (20 riding) - 06:30 peep out from under the covers to find some cloud but, wait for it, some clear bits as well! No rain! Lets go before it changes it's mind. We set off for Neptune's Staircase which was just around the corner, the start of the Caledonian Canal and our ride along it and the Great Glen. On the way we saw local people standing in the street with their children looking up and pointing at this phenomenon - blue sky & the sun! From Neptune's Staircase (why is that for a nation of bungalow dwellers they call everything going up or down outside a staircase) and after some easy cycling along the canal we were on to the Great Glen Way, Loch Lochy then on to Loch Ness when we had a chance meeting with Marion and Jane at Invermorriston, these were not the monsters we were expecting to see. John changed his brake pads, Jane and Marion took photos of heeland coos then hoping for more of the same good weather and easy riding we set off for Drumnadrochit. The rain started first then the hills started, first a mammoth climb then another and eventually after another 20 miles of what seemed an afternoon of cycling uphill and tough tracks we enjoyed a downhill ride into Drumnadrochit. Once there we decided to have a night in a hotel with sky tv to watch the England Euro Championship qualifier then up in the morning to watch our brave lads face Le Frogs in the 1/4 final of the Rugby World Cup. Got a hotel but no sky so had to go to a bar for that. What a mistake not only were our overpaid pampered heroes up to their usual standard of mediocrity but the bar was something from the outback with v loud music and a couple of screaming locals. We left at 1/2 time. Went for a meal at the only place open for food, well it was 9pm! 54.69 miles (1015 red letter day really over 1000 miles off road most of which had been done in pouring rain) 08/10/11 - Day 23 ( 21 riding) - 8am no alarm, a lay in. Woke up to the news that England's medallion man, had been sent off for petulance in the second half, no change there then even with hair! And of course we let the game go but we have qualified, oh that makes it alright then. Had a quick breakfast then settled down to watch the rugby. Come on England. Mistake we should have stayed in bed like most of our team! Shame as all it did was really serve to delay us getting away until 11.30 and now the rain had started yet again. We left Drum (that's what we locals call it) and started to climb again, this was a v long, hard, steep slog in the rain but no wind, oh no that waited until we reached the summit and rode across a valley and down to Beauly, now quite cold. When in Muir of Ord we stopped for a sandwich in the rain and then went on via the forest trail to Garve. We met the girls who informed us there was no campsite, no B&B, no hotel the only thing there was was rain. Nothing for it we loaded the bikes on board and drove to the middle of nowhere and a hotel with vacancies. The hotel was a sleeping giant but was warm and friendly, with it's very own Manuel the waiter, entertainment and radiators to dry our wet cycle clothes. 34.81 miles ( 1035)

We're still riding!

29/09/11 - Day 15 (14 riding) - 06:30 wake up, no "good morning shithead" just a strange dialect saying something like "I don't do mornings........pet" ignoring that we shower, shave and sh......ove off by 08:00 back to Blencaver north of Appleby, where we finished off yesterday morning. The journey took forever. Mike drove the last part, "wide berth Mike!" but did a great bit of reversing to let a local take his flock to Market! We arrived at 11:30 had a quick cuppa then hop on the bikes and off. Wrong - another puncture. Mended the puncture then the lock to the outside store broke so mended that then noticed Mike may not do mornings but he does break beds - we'd done enough mending for one morning so decided to mend it later. Eventually got away at 12:30! cycled over the biggest and most beautiful fell in Cumbria, Skirwith Fell, it took us ages to climb up and then cross it. Navigation wasn't always easy and it was just as well the weather was good otherwise we would still be up there now! Anyway the weather was good, so was the ride and at 16:00 we finally left the Moor and found an old rail track on which we rode into Brampton where Mike picked us up at about 18:30 and took us to the campsite he had found for the night. Unfortunately he took us via Newcastle, or so it seemed, as this is the way he knows. We soon learn that every journey is routed via Newcastle! Great shower, if not a bit agricultural! Lovely meal though thanks Mke. 37.52 miles (746) 30/09/11 - Day 16 (15 riding) - 06:30 get up. Make Mike a cup of tea in bed! Bless he really doesn't do mornings does he Debbie! Boot he did make us sarnies before driving us back to our start point, this time not via Newcastle, and then waved us goodbye, quite touching really, as we set off on what was to be a long day in the saddle. It started well with a regulation up and down hill cruise until Langholme when we struck out over Esk. It was v remote but with great scenery, it was hard going but we were doing well until we hit the "something" Forrest, it was like a grown up Tully's Farm Maze made out of pines. After several mis-turns we ended up off our track at a Tibetan Centre, weird and not the sort of thing you'd expect to find in the middle of nowhere, but at least they told us where we were even though they were obviously lost and had missed the turning for Lhassa themselves! Back on our way we made Tushie Law and cut up over Crossie Rig through another wood and down to Tibbie Sheils, our destination for the night. Looking down from the hillside for our trustee support, Mike yes that's you, we could see the motor home in the field behind the pub on the spit of land between the two Lochs, a great sight after a long day. We cycled on down to the car park to be met by a cheery Mike. He looked a bit sheepish but thought this may be due to the fact he had already tried the local ale when he said "oh shite I thought you'd be a while yet. Oh well I'll have to tell you now the vans bogged" do you mean it's stuck in the field Mike? "yes but it's ok I have a 4 x 4 coming to toe it oot like" much messing about and a good deal of Micky taking later the motor home was recovered to the car park, where it stayed all night. We then mended the bed he broke, had a shower in the back of a derelict lorry in the dark and finally went across to the pub for a well earned pint and a meal. The meal was great and passed off without further incident until the Police arrived to evict a troublesome drunk, no not Mike but a fisherman who the landlord refused to serve. Entertainment over and one final beer saw us in to our cots by midnightish - hic! 62 miles (808) 01/10/11 - Day 17 (16 riding) - 06:30 up with a Lark, well John and Peter are. Made Mike his now customary cup of tea in bed, made the sandwiches, made the breakfast, just who's looking after who! Went to the bathroom in the back of the lorry only to find someone had left the light on all night and the door open. I have never ever seen so many midgees in one place at one time, instead of white, well nearly white, the walls and floor looked black and the floor crunched as you walked on the carpet of insects, unbeleivable. Needless to say the ladies was the next port of call. With a half day planned we left camp at 8am, Mike was still in bed cuddling his teddy but we had arranged to meet later. No rain as we cycled the Loch and no wind so the reflections of the mountains on the water and the scenery were truly beautiful even though it was really a grey cloudy morning. We then turned away from the Loch up to Megget Water then north over Four Brigg a steep climb then really boggy on the top but a good ride via The Scar on the way to Brampton then over Kirk Law Hill to Skirling? Anway we met up and had lunch with Mike, now out of his jambo's fully dressed and ready to play. After lunch we continued on for an hour so arriving at Elsrickle at about 14:00. Mike picked us up, we showered stowed the bikes and headed for civilisation, thats if you consider Wishaw, a suburb of Glasgow, civilised! The reason for our diversion; Mike was leaving us today, boo, and as i had bought a car from a garage in said Wishaw Mike voluntered to drive it home for me. We made our way to the garage and it started raining, good timing we thought. 16:30 completed the purchase and then wished Mike a safe journey and waved cheerio to him and my new motor car as they dissapeared off into the rain, misty, windy early Glaswegian evening. Would we ever see either again? I hope so. Thanks Mike for looking after us and making the few days memorable, and of course thank you for taking the car back it was much appreciated. We then escaped the delights of Glasgee and headed east to Edinburgh for the night pending the return of Jane and Marion on the 09:30 EasyJet Flight from Gatters in the morning and an overdue  rest day - yehaa! 27.35 miles (835) 02/10/11 - Day 18 - no riding and no 06:30 up with a Lark!! A lye in until 08:00, luxury. Drove to the airport in plenty of time to meet the flight and just as well we did as it soon became apparent that we could not get the motor home near enough to collect the Mem Sahibs! After a discussion with security patrols and then the Police, who refused to go and collect Jane and Marion for us, most unreasonable we thought considering to us this could be an emergency if we can't get them off the airport! In the end they had to catch a bus to the long term car park, Jane and Marion not the Police, where we eagerly awaited their arrival. Still pouring with rain but with girls now safely on board we headed off to Peebles Hydro the chosen venue for our rest day. Great choice only one hiccup, we couldn't get in the rooms as house keeping were have a few problems. In the end we went to the rooms and "helped" which I must say they really appreciated! Great rest day capped off by ........... No not that ...... Spurs thrashing Arsenal 2 - 1, come on you Spurs. 0 miles (835) 03/10/11 - Day 19 (17 riding) - 8am wake up no rush for two reasons, well three actually. The first it's Terry Watsons birthday; so what? You may ask well it is his 65th so now it is official Dad you are an OAP or is it OAOG? (officially an old git) Happy Birthday Tel, you made it! The second reason we had paid for breakfast and the third reason I do not wish to discuss as my Mother may be reading this. So after a leisurely morning we drove back to our start point. No rain this morning but v windy, so was the was weather! Bikes off ready to go my brakes failed yet again and this time there was not a bike shop in sight or within 3 million miles, or so it seemed. So nowt for it at 12:30 we eventually got on the road and yet again i had to ride without a front brake. Never mind I thought smile things could be worse so I smiled and yep it worked things did get worse it started raining but not just any old rain but rain of monsoon proportions. We carried on undaunted to Cumbernauld arriving at the Towns only bike shop, wet, cold and pretty miserable only to find the bike shop geezer did not have a clue about hydraulic brakes. That just about made our day so we had no choice as there was no other shop but to contact the girls who picked us up north of Cumbernauld in Kilsyth, by which time we were frozen, wet and hungry. Once on board, it was now 17:30, we googled for help and found a bike shop showing in a place called Clachan of Campsie. Ever heard of it? No neither had we but a guy called Al said he wold stay open for us if we made our way there straight away, which we did and found the shop, Wheelcraft, lurking a couple of miles west of Lennoxtown. Al, or big Al as we now called him as he was about 17 feet tall could not have been more helpful. Not only did he stay open until 9:30pm to fix the bike but he let us plug in the electric for the van, fill up the van with waterr for showers, park in the car park over night, make copious pots of coffee and force Twixes on us for emergencies in the coming days. Thanks Big Al and the lads you did a great job. Oh one final thing and just to compound my woes I fell off again and tore off the scab from the last time - things can only get better! 30.19 miles (865) 04/10/11 - Day 20 (18 riding) - woke up to the revving of diesel engines looked out and saw a bus reversing into a turn around point just behind us. This then went on every 1/4 of hour - big Al didn't mention that in his brochure! Having used the outside amenities during the night Jane then noticed the CCTV cameras and Marion wanted to check out U Tube, just in case her backside had made in to the top 10! We then started using the 20p a go loo around the corner which we abandoned last night when Marion got in a potentially embarrassing situation with the door stuck open and Jane having to stand guard. Just when we thought all was well it started raining again! Undaunted we don our wet gear once more and ride off up a long steep hill to nowhere, well Fintry actually but it seemed like no where as it was miserable with no one on route. We were aiming for a forest called Flanders Moss which led to Queen Elizabeths Forest Park on cycle route 7. Great place to ride well signed trails but we still managed to miss a turn. Then while finding our way back on track we rounded a corner on a downhill section and saw a man leaning over his bike. We Stopped and immediately noticed he had come off and split his head open v badly. He was Raymond Dakin. We called 999 and kept Raymond company and within 15 minutes a Mountain Search & Rescue team appeared on the scene swiftly followed by an Ambulance. This was at Cobleland near a place called Gartmore miles from anywhere, do you think the emergency services would be as quick in Haywards Heath? Hope you're ok Ray. We left as soon as the cavalry arrived and made our way to Aberfoyle where we bumped in to Jane & Marion, not literally, who had been shopping and had bought us a surprise - hats not just any hat but tartan furry ear warmer things, well "it's gonna snow" they said. We carried on and had a lovely ride via Lochs' Drunkie (yes that is really it's name - hic) and Achray. Achray was a mistake though as we didn't follow the route to the letter I'm afraid but nonetheless it was v pretty. Then Strathrye Forest to Lochearnhead. Had a cuppa and a piece of cake then the final bit through Glen Ogle to Kilin and the girls at a campsite opposite the pub - bliss. 65.53 miles (931) 05/10/11 - Day 21 (19 riding) - 06:20 cramp. 06:30 alarm. Guess what it's raining once more. Get our self sorted out then after a water fill up and gas change, for the motor home not us, 08:30 we were on our way to rendezvous with Donny Mc Cloud, a mate of John's who he met while boarding. We caught up with Donny in a car park in Crianlarich and yes it was still raining. Donny an experienced off road cyclist/downhiller was to ride with us for a couple of days so at 09:30 all three of set off in search of the West Highland Way in the rain. Donny showed us how to ride a lot of the technical stuff we encountered in the first two or three of miles. After that it was still challenging but a bit less techie and although still pouring down was a great ride to Glencoe and the start of the Highlands. With the rain relentless now, the wind became stronger and gusting making us veer of the trail and when head on brought us to a near stand still. Soaked, tired and now f'f'f'freezing we arrived at the Bridge of Ochy  saw a Hotel and called in for soup and a roll. This was so good we decided to call it a day and while we waited for the girls as luck would have it Donny's Mum & Dad were travelling the area in their motor home so he made the call and was picked up by them and went home as the forecast for tomorrow is as bad as today. Not fun. Found a great site at Corran on the shore of Loch Linnhe a little off our route but with laundry and drying room just the ticket after a day like that. 14.54 miles (945)  06/10/11 - Day 21 (21 riding) - the alarm came soon enough as we all agreed that it was a sleepless night due to the rain and wind buffeting the motor home. However the morning weather looked brighter with marbled sky of rain cloud and sunshine all at the same time. Packed up and drove back to the Devils Staircase on the West Highland Way (WHW) during which time the weather changed completely and in driving wind and pouring rain we set off up the mountain out of the Glen. The higher we got the colder it became and the rain now turned to hail and sleet while snow was settling on the higher peaks. We hiked over the summit, as by now riding was impossible, then on to the Old Military Road, very impressive name for a dirt track which in the most part was a river but which was rideable and great fun even though it was still raining and windy. Then in torrential rain we got a bit lost on the downhill run into Kinlochleven which cost us at least an hour in time but more importantly momentum and body heat. Cold and saturated we met the girls at Kinlochleven and after discussion plus some local advice decided not to risk the next section which would prove potentially dangerous as it was approximately 25 miles over the Black Mts around Ben Nevis in the afternoon pouring with rain, hail or snow and blowing a gale. Drove instead to Fort William to thaw out, dry out our gear ready for the tomorrows ride along the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness to Drumnadrochit. 15.5 miles (960)

27/09/11 - Happy Birthday Sandy (my sister 63 today - old ain't she!!) Day 14 (13 riding) - 06:30 awake and guess what no rain! 08:00 unbelievably good brekkie, the grub at this place rivals Paul's! 08:30 John collected the bikes from the snooker room 08:32 found John humping my rear tyre, it was flat! Decided to go back to the bike shop to mend outside as they have a stirrup pump. That worked and I changed the rear pads on my brakes at the same time. However they we binding a bit but decided to ride out anyway as they should free up as we go. Wrong very wrong after an hour they had virtually seized up again so stopped in a field put the old pads back in but no good so rode on with no brakes to Ribblehead over the Pennine way again via Dodd's Fell and Tan End to Hawes and another bike shop. Just my luck bike shop had gone bust but a bit of luck the Market was on and Dr Bike was at the Market. Raced over to the stalls only to find Dr Bike had done a bunk 5 minutes earlier in search of custom in Lanark! Called him on his mobile and he said he would be back by 9pm. I said thank you but would be a bit late so had a quick bite to eat in the churchyard then having refrained from burying my bike we rode on out of Hawes up a really steep long climb to Cutter End then along a ridge and a plateau by Lunds Fell via High Dyke and Hell Gill then finished off with a long downhill section under Mallerstrang Edge. Half way down; there is a God, my brakes came back to life! Must have been grit or dirt in the callipers - painful. Got to Kirkby Stephen found bike shop number 3047, or so it seems, at Station Garage very helpful chap reinstalled my new pads - all's well that ends well. Then off in to the village, found a Guest House had a cup of tea and a piece of fruit cake with Wensleydale cheese - strange habits t'up here - and all by 5:30pm Curry and a beer lights out 10 zzzzzz. 38.69 miles (684) 28/09/11 - Day 15 (14 riding) - Rest day, wishful thinking, after a hearty breakfast courtesy of Carol at the Jolly Farmers Guest House we set off. No punctures, no brake problems, gears working, sun shining this has to be the perfect day to ride the Moors. The only draw back we only have a short ride to Appleby in the Moorland then catch a train back to Hebden Bridge - VIA LEEDS!! - to reunite with our motor home and wait for Mike. Got to Appleby at 10 am the next train 12:37 so decided to ride on to make tomorrow an easier day. What a bad decision. It only looked a 2 minute ride along a bridleway but it took nearly an hour. Boggy, stinging nettles, brambles and horse hoof holes ( why oh why do they let horses use brdleways, especially in autumn! With mud up to our axles we emerged out onto a lane. John not happy rode off tearing up the trail and disappeared in to the distance never to be seen again - well for 15 minutes actually when I caught up with him searching for the bakers sign posted a mile or two back. Comfort food, 3 sausage rolls, 2 scotch pies, 6 fairy cakes, 2 scones and an enormous slab of fruit cake ordered and paid for - £7.00, shouldn't we have this bakers in Horsham? If you're ever near Appleby it's definatley worth a visit, yum yum. We rode back to the railway station and while waiting for the train the Staton Master offered us a coffee and lent us a watering can and use of a tap to clean up our bikes, and ourselves! I wonder if you would get that at East Croydon? With gleaming steeds we boarded the 12:37 (on time) to Leeds and promptly passed a lot of the Moors we had ridden the preceding two days, beautiful, but it did set me wondering why didn't we choose an easier way seeing the Country? But it is for a good cause! Arrived at Hebden Bridge then had a mad dash to get back to the motor home, change, shower then chase back to Hebden Bridge with our washing as the launderette's last wash was at 5pm. We did make it though so we were at least smelling nice for Mike when he arrived safe and sound via Preston, Manchester University and all points north east at 23:30! Although John only found out the next day as he was asleep by 23:00! 24.01 miles (708)