& FOR HELPING HER TO RAISE £3,154
Well the day arrived and at 10.00am on Thursday 2nd September 2021, I started my solo bike ride from outside the Samaritans Branch, Carlisle. Phil Gray the Branch Director cycled with me for the first mile and several friends came along to wave me off.
On the first day I was cycling into Lockerbie town centre to meet Paul, when I discovered I had a puncture, thankfully the only one on the whole of my journey! Paul was my back up team and quickly repaired it while I had a quick bite to eat.
I cycled through some beautiful countryside, met some extraordinary people along the way, including an old friend, who I haven't seen in a very long time (too many years to mention) she came and cheered me on in Kingussie; Ali, a dog walker stopped and donated £5.00; a local cyclist kept me company for about 10 miles near Balloch advising me to pick my bike up as we went under a bridge to avoid the broken glass; on a very hot day a family in a car stopped and checked I had enough water (which I did) and took the details to donate, drivers beeped their support, cyclists shouted words of encouragement and I saw several red deer and red squirrels.
At 11.25am on Saturday 11th September 2021, I reached John O' Groats and had the obligatory photos at the landmark sign. It was a very emotional moment for Paul and I. At this time we were being watched by Mr & Mrs Bailey, who were stood nearby and, after speaking to us, donated £20.00. It had taken me 10 days to ride 495 miles and climb 24,490 feet, mainly following the Sustrans Cycle Routes, which took me through Gretna, Lockerbie, Glasgow, Pitlochry, Aviemore, Inverness, Lairg, Tongue, Thurso to John O' Groats. Never again!
During the first seven days I had good weather, at times possibly too hot, but the last three days were awful, with wind, rain and mist!
Thank you.