Day 7 Blackburn 2 Alsager

Late start today, needed a bit more rest after the ordeal of the day before. Colin informs me he's sure his saddled physically violated him yesterday! He showed a great amount of willpower, we were very broken men when we arrived yesterday. Colin's mum was very welcoming and a cracking breakfast to start us off today. Left about 10.00 having only 66 miles today. We decided for the first time not to do the planned route and use main roads, due to the smaller country roads being harder to find if I need rescue. Hail stones to start us off, nice, it is May isn't it? The A666 was terrifying! No wonder it's called the 666 . We did get to see few nice places Worsley was fab, Tudor houses, a canal, and a very nice McLaren garage, £215,000 for the yellow one! There was a massive thunder and lightening storm, we luckily seemed to have just missed as we pulled in and watched it behind us. The knee still a big issue, big day tomorrow. A wonderful welcome from Ei and Ray, with poster and balloons on arrival. Thanks again for all your support x

 

Day 6 Carlisle 2 Blackburn, belated

A war of attrition........
Every foot felt like a mile, every minute an hour and every hill a mountain.
Ok, so you know a few miles in left knee too painful to continue, so one legged, literally unclipped left leg out of pedal and used just right leg for a while, we limped our way to Penrith Hospital. They were very helpful, the doctor said I really need an ultrasound to see what's going on but thinks I've either strained or torn some fibres in the ligament across the knee. They also confirmed the joint wasn't damaged, which I guessed was good news. I looked at the doctor, who looked back and said " there's no point in me telling you to stop and rest and ice it is there?" and promptly added the strongest painkillers I could have would be codeine and wrote out the script. Having collected that from a nearby Sainsburys and a knee support we plodded on. I think if I am able to complete the ride, this day will have been the hardest thing I will have ever done or likely to do. As we hit, what I think was Shap and the top of the lakes the weather was hideous. I'm sure the views were fab but 35mph head winds (again) the cloud and rain so low, you couldn't see more than a few hundred feet. The cycling across Shap were reading 4.5mph it took us an infinity to do just a mile! We stopped at Orton for hot drink and food. I was now in a very dark place, my own purgatory. We got to Settle, God knows how shear will power I think and Colin's mum came and collected our bags to help lighten the load, We eventually arrived at her house something past 22.00, truly exhausted over 14 hours after we started, having done 106 miles. Thanks to the support of friends and family we made it. My mum must have played a big part in that or I never would have made it. x . Only one photo :)

I'm sorry for the Grammar and spelling please let me know when you see them so I can go back and update . Thanks

Day 6

Arrived at Colin's mum's at 22.09. Not sure what tomorrow will bring

Day 6 supplement

2 miles and knee so painful I've had to stop. Have already taken shed loads of painkillers. Have managed to pedal one legged to Penrith A&E, waiting to be seen . Not looking good

Day 5 Irvine 2 Carlisle

Day of 2 halves.
Very wet start leaving my sister's, with the grim prospect that it was set for the day. One of Colin's favourite sayings of the trip is "when I'm in charge of the weather, it will only rain between 3-5 in the morning!" We got about 200 yards down the main road when 2 lorries tsunami'd us............ I politely asked Colin if he could submit his application for the weather job verbally now please! About 9 miles into the ride we were already soaked and it felt like we'd been cycling 90 miles already. No pictures on route as we couldn't really see anything. The wind was biting and the rain lacerating our faces, which now felt heavily ex foliated. We ground out 36 miles and then just had to stop to warm up and my left knee now felt like it was being jabbed with a hot knife every pedal stroke! Out with the painkillers. I was.effectively now pedalling one legged not really being able to put any effort through the left knee at all.
After a few miles of restart, it would appear Colin's application had been accepted and we got some broken sunshine at last along with a slight change of direction in the wind, now being a bit more in our favour. The roads were quite B roads which was great but clearly B up here stands for broken as they were rough.  Just when you thought things were going your way, a bend, a steep climb and before I knew what I was saying I shouted out loud "OH COCK" confirming I'm more James May than Richard Hammond. At the top I needed to stop. The knee was really quite a problem now. I had some duck tape with me taped around the saddle stem of the bike in case we needed it. I hadn't thought I'd have to be taping my knee up with it! Also adjusted saddle height and more painkillers. Then, 20 more painful miles later Gretna, shortly followed by the last house in Scotland and a sight for sore...knees.....Welcome to England. A few miles later of course more rain but by now we were only a mile from the Premier Inn, Carlisle. Tomorrow is another 100 miles, it was 102 today. Knee on ice, painkillers on board. Let's see how we go in the morning. Colin's mum kindly making enquiries at Blackburn hospital and think I may need to pop in when we arrive there late tomorrow. Fingers crossed I don't need to.

Pre day 5

WET AND GRIM......

Day 4 Crianlarich 2 Irvine

The first day so far, we're both lying in bed as the 7 o'clock alarm goes...more hysterical laughter, as we re-live yesterday's ride and discuss our aching bodies, my spine still not fully rebuilt. The weather check, oh dear minus 1 to start the day! My feet curling up at the prospect.

The day starts with blue sky if not a little chilly. Luckily the stiff legs are given a little break as we get a 3 mile downhill, which for a change, we don't have to pedal down! we soon clock 10 miles or so and the beginning of Loch Lomand. The roads busy , sky now grey but still beautiful. We stop at Luss for a "Take The High Road" break, if your old enough to remember the TV series. As we leave the Loch a hint of sadness that the roads are now even busier and the stunning highlands were now behind us. This wasn't helped by the I Spy Road Kill count today consisting of a Venetian blinds, a Henry Hoover and a broken claw hammer! oh dear civilisation! The rain was now quite heavy and as we approached the outskirts of Dumbarton, the smell of deep fried Mars bars filled the air and at the next set of lights Colin pulled along side and said "What a grey miserable hole" well ok he might of use a few less words, one beginning with S and ending in T! Then over the Erskine Bridge which wasn't too bad really. We then ended up on a lovely smooth cycle track down an old railway line with just over 20 miles to go. After 10 miles or so for the first time we got a little lost but managed to pick up the cycle route 7 to Irvine. Boy, was that a hilly last few miles to get back on route. At last arrived at my sisters, to a warm welcome and spoilt with a mobile massage booked, bliss. Please keep the text and comments coming as they are great to receive and a real boost to us both. 82.9 miles today ( although this is the first time I have uploaded my Garmin computer info which appears to be a bit different from Colin's iPhone data, I only made it 82.miles?) Left knee really sore, ice pack on. Only 100 miles tomorrow, forecast heavy rain..... in the words of limp bizkit......keep on rollin'