Nearly a week

Hi everyone - For those who are following the blog it is interesting to note that my right hand is still suffering from being numb.  This is affecting the little finger and next as well as half of the palm.  The feeling of cold and hot is fine along with the fact that you can still feel a bit of sensation.  The reason for this numbness is something I suffered last time I did the ride.  If you lean too much on the handlebars you can trap the nerve in the wrist which causes the problem.  So if you are going to do the ride dont forget move your hands about so not causing the problem in the first place.  I am still collecting the money which I hope I should have by the end of the month then I can arrange to present it to the three charities.

If anyone would like to know more about the ride, the route or anything else please leave a comment or in fact you can email me on end2end12@gmail.com or if you still want to donate to the charities you can do so by going to www.charitygiving.co.uk and searching for Alan Clark, Mike Cocks or Alan Buxton.  Thanks Everyone.

A final thankyou to Celia, Stella Buxton and Nicky Cocks for their understanding and releasing their Husbands for the challenge.

Recovering

Now that the recovery is well underway I will be posting shortly some of the photographs that were taken by myself, Alan B and Mike C.  We are also available to do presentations about the trip to various groups if they are required.  In order to raise further funds we will hopefully be doing a presention called End2End12 an insight in words and pictures - in the not to distant future when we have put it together.  Thanks everyone for their help and support and if you have sponsored me then unfortunately now is the time to pass the pfunds to me for counting.  Thanks again - Alan C, Alan B and Mike C.

Final Comments

There are a number of people I have to thank and the most important must be Celia my wife who puts up with my hairbrain ideas of raising money for charity by cycling for the second time from John O'Groats to Lands End.  I must thank my son's, grandson's and daughter in law for supporting us all and especially my wife when I was not there. My own parents and family who think I am mad but still support me.  I must then thank my team especially Alan B who was a stalwart support driver and friend who put up with my moods and shouting at him through frustration but he did a first class job.  I must thank Mike C who managed to keep up with me in Scotland and did a first class job until his bike tyre exploded in the mountains - he did finish to the scottish border on a spare bike so well done mike even though he was suffering with achilles problems.  I must then thank the London Borough of Havering PTS for the loan of the minibus which we couldnt have done the ride without and all of those people who have sponsored us in doing the ride and raising the much needed funds for the charities we are supporting.

The whole ride took 8.5 days which is less than my previous 13 days in 2000 and was only 867.5 miles instead of the 907.8 miles last time.  People throughout the country that we have met during the ride have taken and interest in what we have been doing - we have had rain, snow, sleet, hailstones, sun and overcast periods of frost but whatever the weather and whatever the conditions this time I have never felt like packing in.  For those who have not managed to sponsor or donate to the charities you can still donation at www.charitygiving.co.uk and search for Alan Clark.

Thanks I will let you know what the outcome of the final amount raised.

Day Nine

Jamaica Inn to Lands End - Well after staying in a Travelodge at Saltash that was more like a ghost town than a service area we woke early and decided that we would give it a big push to finish today at Lands End.  The drive through to Jamaica Inn wasn't too bad although we had locked the bikes into the back without remembering where the key was so we had to stop.  Found and only sat at the traffic lights through two sequences - it would have looked good if we couldnt get the bike out.  Eventually got to start point for the day and guess what after a lovely sunny day yesterday only to find that the rain had started.  I decided that I would change my route fronm that planned and head straight down the A30 even though the rain and traffic made it quite hair-raising.  Alan as support really excelled today with cleaning the glasses every layby or at least thats what it felt like along with hot soup, egg sandwich, mars bars (snack size), kendal mint cake, coffee and mileage information which I hadn't previously wanted because it can be quite depressing knowing how far you have to go.  I pushed on and with the breaks and refreshments then the miles just went by quickly.  I decided to move off briefly from the A30 and the traffic so went off through past Redruth School and through Cambourne before rejoining the A30 at Haley roundabout.  With another stop I then moved on to Penzance with only 10 miles to go to reach Lands End.  The legs got stronger and the determination was greater even though the rain and breeze had not relented trying its hardest to prevent the celebration of arrival at Lands End.  The number of hills between Penzance and the end seemed to increase in severity and length until I reached a sign that said 6 miles. I cycled about a mile and the next sign said 6 miles.  Alan as driver said he would meet me at the end which I agreed to then oh no my chain came off and jammed in the cog - typical no support back up bike to finish.  Fortunately I was able to unblock the chain and set off again.  The last 5 miles flew by and I got through to Lands End by 1pm.  I signed in at the hotel reception and made my comment in the End to End book receiving from Danielle the receptionist the final stamp on the transit verification form.  I HAD DONE IT.
The obligatory photo at the signpost was done and paid for and we went to return to Rayleigh.

Day Eight

Bridgewater - Launceston.  Today we set off from Bridgewater fully rested and raring to head for Cornwall.  The sun was out with blue sky and a full sun - fortunately last night we went shopping in morrisons and bought a variety of things including some Baby & Toddler 50+ sun lotion for my legs and the nose, some cold sore cream for under the nose, some antiseptic cream for a long way under the nose and for Alan B some imodium, because he had thrown away the wine bottle cork, and cough linctus. I also bought some shampoo because we were running out of Alan B's. The ride through to Taunton (what a superb Town Hall for Somerset County Council), was very easy as was the trip through Wellington to Tiverton hitting the penultimate County of Devon. On to Crediton via Bickleigh which saw a number of hills to negotiate with a little village called Cadbury up on the top.  I eventually stopped in a layby overlooking Crediton so that Alan in the van couldd catch up. Headed down from the hills and towards Okehampton where the ten tors competition was taking place. Looking on the hills overlooking the valley it appeared just like a scene from Zulu with the warriors looking down on us. Okehampton onto the A30 and off to Lewdown saw me stop at Jethro's Club the Cornish Comedian which is just on the entrance to the village.  Through to Launceston on the A30 passing the welcom to Cornwall (Kernow) sign which meant I am on the final leg.  Continued towards Bodmin but at Jamaica Inn the legs were ready to rest. The extra miles today have reduced the number of milesfor tomorrow to 56 so heres hoping I can complete the ride tomorrow.  The hotel reception said there was an army guy stayed last night on his way to John O'Groats - we wish him well.  Staying in the Travelodge at Saltash - It is just a shame that the service area it is in has a Burger King and everything else is closed down.  Very derelict.  It was cheap. Today we received at Comment from Chris the guy I met who guided me through Severn Beach.  He has included his blog so I will make reference to it in a later blog.

Day Seven

Hereford to Bridgewater - Before the ride today we awoke bright and early because the Anneka Rice show were going to ring us. We had spoken to them on the way to John O'Groats last Saturday and as we had no mobile signal in the room we went and sat in the van in the car park waiting and waiting.  No call , we tried ringing but no answer during the whole show there was still no call.  I was particularly gutted that they hadn't the decency to let us know.  Thank you BBC Radio 2.  As we were up early then what was the point in hanging around - we set off with vigour and with Alan backing up so reliably I went off from the Travelodge and was faced with a long climb out of Herefordshire. With legs going well the trip to Monmouth was easy and I was disappointed not to find a Welcome to Wales sign but it was a lovely ride.  Along the Wye Valley to Tintern Abbey where we stopped for a break with an ice cream maybe not the thing for 08.30 but it was nice.  On from the Abbey saw a winding climb out of the valley to Chepstow - passed the racecourse and then down a long hill onto the Severn Bridge.  The surprise was that it was closed to traffic apart from bikes and motorbikes.  Sorry Alan - he had to find his own way round.  Along the A403 to Avonmouth where I met a group of cyclists who were kind enough to guide me round the Severn Beach and onto Bristol beyond. One of them, sorry I didnt get your name, had also done the End 2 End. Thanks to you all.  Under the Clifton suspension Bridge and then around Bristol onto the A38 to head for Bridgewater.  Met Alan in the first layby on the A38 where there was a snack van where I had the biggest egg sandwich you have ever seen even bigger than Godfreys Romford. Carried on along the A38 and arrived at the Travelodge by 3.00 another early finish.  Breeze was starting to pick up so getting tougher. Since relaxing in the Hotel it is nice to see the fire brigade and the fire alarm sounding. Interrupted the Fellowship of the ring.  Good night.

Day Six

Tarporley to Hereford -  Well, after we ended up getting a 12inch steak Subway last night, being the only place we could have got anything, it was up at a reasonable hour with Bran Flakes for Breakfast and sausage baps from the local coop store.  We then drove from the Hotel back to Tarporley for the start of the day with the 92 miles from Tarporley to Whitchurch. From there to Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Leominster and finally finishing 2.6 miles south of Hereford on the A49 ready for tomorrow.  The journey was uneventful and the weather forecast for the day was sunny and clear.  They didn't mention the downpour just as we were passing through  Shrewsbury getting absolutely soaked but after all what we all went through earlier in the trip whats a bit of rain.
The run today really went well with an average speed of 18mph which resulted in doing 92 miles in 5 hours the quickest trip yet finishing at the Hotel by 4.40. Traffic going through Craven Arms was appalling for vehicles but for a bike it meant that the support vehicle was beaten to Ludlow - beaten to Leominster and was only just in front of the bike for the Hotel in Hereford.  Felt great.  For everyone's note there may be a possibility that sometime between 06.00 and 08.00 I will be on the Anneka Rice Show on BBC Radio 2 - we were mentioned last Saturday but we are to be contacted this Saturday.  Problem we have is the signal for our phone is non existent in the rooms so we have to sit in the van from 0600.