Tuesday 13 May 2008

Final Stats

For those of you who like numbers, here are the total / average stats for the trip.


Total Miles 948.7 miles
Ave Speed 11.7 mph
Ave Miles / Day 67.8
Max Miles / Day 91.5 (Loch Ness to Helmsdale)
Min Miles / Day 41 (Hamilton to Loch Lomond)
Ave Cals Burnt / Day 2472 kcals
Punctures Lucy 7ish; Sian 1 (lucky girl!)

Monday 12 May 2008

Our best text...Ode to the ladies on the last day!

So its the last day and the end is near.
You've had strength, determination and shown no fear.
You've been up and down hills in rain, wind and sun;
With days that were hard and days that were fun.
You'll look back on this journey on land and in mind.
And realise your achievements and how you have shined.
You've been in pain and had a sore choochoo.
But you've both been fab and we are so proud of you!

Lucy Kelly ... a complete star who texted us everyday without fail (well except once when she delegated it to her hubby who forgot (oh Drew!)). Cheers Luce you are a star and the poem is just ace!

Thursday 8 May 2008

Day 14 - The Fianl Day of This Epic Journey by Two 'Epic' Gals!

Well what a wonderful 14 days we have all had following the cyclists Sian + Lucy! Here goes for their final day and what they got up too!

You will have seen them posing by the official post, at JOG, with a total of 948 miles recorded - WOW!

They have been in the van of the Holts and all of them have now landed at Fort Augustus for the night. Their jubilant phone call was made as they were just about to order grub so high on adrenalin and excitment the day has a 'quick' feel to it!

Leaving their B+B in Helmsdale at 8.55am, after a good breakfast, Lucy + Sian went up some big hills! The first of which felt very big on a big breakfast! Another hill took them up to Berrisdale. They were forced to stop on this one because a lorry was stuck half way up and causing a big obstruction! (well that was their excuse for having to stop!) Another hill - a very big hill (I'm told no where near as big as the Cornish or Mendip ones!) Anyway, up there in what seemed like the middle of nowhere they spotted a museum and had, yep you've guessed it, coffee and a cake!

Refuelled it was non stop to JOG and the excitment of finishing, the adrenalin of it being the final leg just made them go so, so fast! They averaged 13.9mph!!!!

Arriving at JOG just about 13.25 they were blessed with great scenes, great weather and had their picture taken at the famous post! (OK you know that 'cos you have seen it on the blog!) They met some other groups who had been doing same challenge and were just so excited about it all. They said the weather was once again glorious and the wind not so bad as yeaterday and no mishaps. (in fact the Holt's van could hardly keep up with them!)

So how are they? How do they feel? Well my view is that they feel great and the legs and bums are just fine, in fact I think they could probably go all the way back again! Both Sian + Lucy felt good and I think overwhelmed by the whole experience.

From us sitting here keeping up to date via the amazing 'technological world' it's a BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. YOU ARE BOTH AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL - WELL DONE.

Expect lots of you just wondering what's next for them both? Maybe you'll join them!!!!!

I'm told to call these provisional stats (the computer was not on their person, the stats are from memory!)

Miles: 50.9 - Calories burned: 1600 - Average speed: 13.9 - Ride Time: 3hrs 40mins

No doubt Lucy + Sian will sleep well tonight or maybe they will be buzzing and reliving their experience or planning their next challenge. Whatever we look forward to hearing from them very soon. Safe journey back. Thanks for reading you bloggers out there.

Well done Sian + Lucy xxxx

They think its all over...


It is now!

NEWS FLASH!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GIRLS - LUCY + SIAN - THEY ARE AT JOG!

Just received a text saying 'we are here - lol s + l'

Well done that's JOG in time for lunch! Great stuff!

More news later - but those who are s'pose to be working thought you might like to know!!!!

Wednesday 7 May 2008

Day 13 - Very excited two gals from Helmsdale phone in for the last time!!!

Wow haven't they done well! ONE more day will do it and really they don't want it to end!

After waking at 6.00am to see the most beautiful sun rise over Loch Ness (it was 'glass like' ) Siany + Lucy got up at 7am and were off on their day 13 at 8.30am. They began as we know from the Youth Hostel that actually was only about a third of the way up Loch Ness so Inverness was quite some way away!

Mind you perhaps the thought of this being the penultimate day and no weight of panniers, they flew up to Inverness, averaging 13.5 - 14 mph and got to Inverness just in time for coffee + cake at 10.15am.

Over the bridge and finding a great cycle path along the A9 they kept on making
progress! Up hill they said but at the speed of light they just kept going! Stopped for a snack at Alness and then headed for Tain where they had a lovely lunch served by the Holts in a layby!

Refuelled by some real food they headed further to Brora for hot chocolate and finally reached Helmsdale at 6.00pm, a massive 91.5 miles form their stop last night - WELL DONE GIRLS

They wanted you to know that it has been very windy all day and each of them has had to ride at the front to protect the other from the gusts! There is an amazing yellow gorse out that also smells nice. They have enjoyed no panniers and have had no mishaps! And of course the scenery is out of this world especially as the weather has been so good.

Critical stats: Miles: 91.5 - Calories burned: 3054 - Average speed: 13mph - Total ride time: 7 hours

WOW! I am sure that you are all in awe these two - yep we thought they were crazy, but what a way to cycle it eh! Amazing stuff!

Here's to tomorrow -only a mere 55miles left! Take care girls and have a drink on us all!

The end is nigh!