It’s been quite an adventure.  Beginning with an idea just before Easter, six cyclists and four support team members made the journey from Land’s End to John o’Groats this month. A week on, we’re all still in recovery.  Scott’s Facebook status reads, ‘Since the Cycle Challenge: every night I have had dreams about cycling and maps; my body is finally telling me how annoyed it is at cycling 966 miles in 17 days; my appetite is still saying “feed me 6000 calories.”’

We can hardly begin to communicate how blessed we’ve been by God, each other, and the people we’ve met.  Thanks so much for following us online.  We’ve loved it.

There are conversations flying around about London to Rome; a film, a book.  You’ll have to wait and see.  If you’d like to keep in touch, drop an email to helenruthcrawford@gmail.com to join the Following The Cyclists mailing list.

We’re still counting up the sponsor money.  When we’re ready we’ll post the total here.  But until then, sit back, relax, and enjoy the last few films…

Desai: 6

Ross: 3

Barnsey: 3

Lail: 1

Scott: 0

Dan: 0

We made it!!!!!!! Months of prep and planning, training and team-forming, and it was all accomplished today! The team cycled into John o’Groats after a testing morning on the road. It was raining and windy, and although a comparatively short ride, it was a hard stretch.

Simon managed to get a puncture on the last day, bringing his total up to 3. The team had stopped at Wick, and, whilst stationary, Simon and Dan began to hear a hissing sound; ‘Definitely the sound of a tyre going down’. The valve of the inner tube has split. Fortunately, Paul, who we’d met at the campsite the previous night (see below) was travelling with them and had a spare.

They sang for the last 20 miles. If you’re an LST lecturer, your name was in there somewhere!

We’d been warned that John o’Groats was slightly anti-climatic and not as picturesque as other places along the coast. Nor was it as developed as Land’s End, so, when the team arrived, there was a little bit of confusion as to where to go and whether there was a marked finish line (there wasn’t). But when they reached that white sign, they flung down the bikes in change of celebratory hugs and champagne.

There had been threats of throwing Desai into the sea, but on heading down to the ‘beach’ the team discovered there was no sand; only rocks and a lot of seaweed. Saved by the seaweed.

After photos, champagne and sea, the team got dried and changed, purchased a few postcards, and set off for Dumfries where we would be spending the night with Clive and Faith Sinclair, Heather’s parents. We gave Paul O a lift back to Wick station.

En route to Dumfries we made our first return journey of the trip. Stopping in Conon Bridge, we returned a pillow I had accidentally picked up from their home. It was great in a 17-day run of meeting new people to make a return journey. Mike was pleased to see us, wished us well, let us use the toilet and let Jacqueline use the microwave to heat some popcorn. Yep. He also informed us that Simon’s nap on his bike (see below) had made it into his next sermon!

So the challenge had been completed, but the hospitality didn’t end there. We arrived in Dumfries at 11:45pm for the best ‘midnight feast’ I’ve ever been too. Faith had prepared fish pie for us, expecting us much earlier, but it was ready and we were hungry, and though our appetites were perhaps not what they might have been a few hours earlier, we tucked in. We slept well that night!

The story is nearly over, but there are still a few more things to say. Stay tuned over the next few weeks for more write-up, photos and film.

Another fall and another puncture.  This time the culprits were Simon and Ross.  Simon nodded off on his bike and woke with a start, pulling on his front breaks and throwing on to the road.  Ross got his second puncture close to Brora where we were stopping for lunch.

Today’s ride took us along the east coast. Rain had been forecast but we had bright sunshine.  Brora was amazing - beautiful and calm.  There was a nasty climb just north of Helmsdale, but other than that the ride went well.  

We’re camping again tonight.  Hammond has constructed an additional shelter with a ground sheet, some poles and the edge of the van.  Jaqueline has written a song about it.

We’ve met another Land’s End-John o’Groats cyclist here, a guy called Paul, who has cyclist this far alone.  He started with a friend (whose idea it was) who pulled out in Truro! Go Paul!

So we’re drawing to the end.  It’s been amazing…  

37 miles to go!!!