40miles /64km in aid of cystic fibrosis

Such a great day. Team Yomping Yeoman - we made it to the finish line. Great to meet up with old faces and its at times like these I become quite scared that life has zoomed by. Where has the last 20 years gone? 

The event was faultless, filled with wonderful volunteers and for the first time ever, Dave and Chris (support) very kindly met us at the check points and laid out chairs, food, water and smiling faces (and a knock on the door!!). Clearly i am getting uber soft these days - so it must be time to head out to the trail with a bivvi bag for a few days. 

Yesterday was also filled with admiration for the three youngsters that walked as part of the team (and also the other very young children who were part of other teams). These guys and gals dispelled the notion that all of the young population/youth of today are just sitting at home playing on the playstation. Yesterday, hand in hand with parents and famillies, these guys proved that 40 miles is possible, achieveable and just needed the encouragment and support of their family and friends. Really super - well done guys and gals (and parents). 

Message

*(Today I recieved a message on my blog from a Guy Davies - and I am hoping that you will leave your contact details so that I can get in touch. *)

Often I am asked 'what do I think about when I am on trail?' Or 

'what will i think about when I spend many weeks on my own at the South Pole?' And its often something about nothing if anything at all for periods of time.   

Nonetheless one example of something that I will think about are things that I see, read or hear: such as: 

'It looks like you've reached the end..'

 along with many other questions, that I hold and take with me on journeys to ponder... Should I wish to think of something. 

Thoughts consider what is 'the end?', could there ever be an end? Is 'the end' a mind set, belief or humans trying to draw a line for their own gain? For some it means death or final stop.... finishing or completing.... but even then, is that really the end? How can that be so? 

For example, i completed LeJog ... But its only part way through the big journey and training and something that will guide my thinking and understanding (and probably actions). On the surface, it looks like I have cycled and hiked from one end of the country to the other. That is true.... but there is just so much more than that I have actually learnt along the way : the state of the roads, how my body reacts, fuel consumption, peoples views, how hungry our cows are, peoples stories and how kind the folk beit shephards, hikers, retired folk, shop owners, trail angels, bird watchers (to name but a few) are across the lands, and I mean pure genuine kindness that is speared by the moment rather than goal or money orientated. 

Its certainly a journey ... And one that I am so thankful for. 

Home....

Although I arrived home earlier today (not last night!) it is only when I attend the live performance that I truely know that I am back home. 

Lovely performance so far 😀

Its all over 😀😟😀

Woohooo!! Made it ....96 miles (with a few extra miles detour) today with more hills than I could count. I have to say, i started today with no energy in the legs ... This should have happened on day 2 or 3 ..... 

I spent the first two hours in the lowest gear 1:1 even for the flat (and lets not talk about the hills!!); I had to fight for each mile. Today was always going to be a big day both in terms of hills and mileage and I was gutted that delayed 'empty legs' happened today. 

But no matter, onward and upward as they say .... And by 11am the legs were back working and having to work extremely hard across the hills. 

Stunning weather though ... Perfect balance of sun and cloud. 

I do have a wee leg to complete to officially finish LeJog .... And will do over the next couple of weeks. But for now this training exercise is over. Never in my day would I consider hiking/biking landsend to johnogroats as 'training' 

Tomorrow (if the trains let my bike on this time) will be back to the normal routies of life ... 

Its all going by far too quickly!!

Just 2 more days and its over! By 7.30pm on Tuesday, I will be back and sitting in The Royal Festival hall enjoying a bit of Beethoven. I have to say, I am desparately missing music after my ipod refused to work after a downpour on day 1... This is something that I need to sort out before I head out to do the solo - music features so much in my life (especially as i dont have a tv), so i really notice it when the music stops playing. 

Today was great (and yesterday) just cruzing along the lanes and roads (ok with the rolling hills in-between) with the sun out - it really does make a difference and I definately need to do more cycling... (Especially if i can sort out the bivvi situation! 

84miles .... And I could have gone on 😀😀

This morning I set out thinking or rather hoping that I would make it to my accomodation.... 84 miles away. After my 70ish miles a couple of days ago and not making the intended 100miles .... I have to say I was a little nervous.

But I made it, and I even had many more miles left in my legs. Perhaps it was because I had a couple of easy days post the 70 miler ... Maybe it was flatter or maybe I have broken my cycling legs in.... Perhaps even I have also broken my saddle in too as that was so much better today 😀😀 

Whatever it is, today was a great day and I am looking forward to pushing it further (although tomorrow will be an easy day) and I hope to get over the 100 mark very soon... Although i really need to sort out my bivvi situation as that will give me the ultimate freedom... all in the name of training. 

Easy day..., again

Oh my, i think even a non waterproof bivvi is better than heading into accomodation at the end of the day.... And I think that I am starting to go soft!! 

 Today was relaxed, short and well I feel uber lazy. 55miles, a stop for breakfast (or full scottish 😀), another stop for coffee and I was in my accomodation by 3pm!! So lazy and tomorrow it stops! 

Today i had a few car cruzers... One who was on the duel carrage way who tried to gain information about my sign. Its kinda scary riding along, trying to have aconversation and making sure that I keep on the road. As it is still early dayswith  my bike ... Multi tasking is not something that I should be doing at this stage 😀

Another incident was whilst I stopped for coffee... When I came out ... Someone had left a £1.00 coin on my bike... So lovely 😀😀

But Glasgow .... I arrived 😀😀