LeBlog: June 2011

Tuesday, 28 June 2011

Approaching the finish line.......and done!

Monday, 27 June 2011

Lejog Completed!

The carbonauts arrived at John O'Groats at 6pm tonight, right on schedule!

We were so happy and proud of ourselves and each other. It was great to see friends and family at the finishing line and we shared a plastic cup of champagne to mark the occasion.

Thanks for the fantastic support everyone has given the team.

More to follow tomorrow as I am off to sleep now - back home in Inverness :-)

John
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Leaving Bonar Bridge

Setting off from Bonar, first stop Brora. Last day!
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Sunday, 26 June 2011

Just Giving

Please remember it's easy to donate to the cause at:

http://www.justgiving.com/carbonauts

One more day to go! Many thanks for all the generous donations received so far :-)

John
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Bonar Bridge

Carbonauts done for the day. Arrived at Bonar Bridge and settled into accomodation. Good ride this afternoon over the Struie. Amazing views (see a couple of pics ago)

Mileage for today: 92
Average speed: 13.9
Saddle time: 6hrs 30mins
Cumulative mileage: 850

Time for a last supper with the other carbonauts!

John
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Carbonauts closing in on Bonar Bridge..

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Day 9 already

Just 2 more days to go and we're about to set off with today's final destination being Bonar Bridge.

We should be in Beauly between 2.30 and 3.00 this afternoon and then Tesco at Dingwall between 4.00 and 5.00 if you want to come say hello!

We will provide more accurate updates as the day unfolds!

John
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Saturday, 25 June 2011

Day 8 end - Spean Bridge

Long and tough day today but we made it once again!

Glen Coe was stunning, Loch Lomond beautiful and we had a nice run into Spean Bridge via Fort William. Can't believe there are signs for Inverness now and it's under 60 miles!

Mileage Today: 97.3
Average Speed: 14.3mph
Saddle time: 6hrs 44mins
Cumulative miles: 758

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Ballachulish/Glencoe

A wee tea-break and £3 kindly donated by the lady in the snack bar kiosk
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Welcome to the Highlands

Stunning view from up here!
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Lunch in Tyndrum

Arrived in Tyndrum for lunch. 40-something miles from Fort William. Might get done in good time tonight.......
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Rannoch Moor

Just leaving Ardlui at the top of Loch Lomond and heading towards Rannoch Moor.
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Disturbing Article!

This, I am happy leave here in Bonhill!

We're off to Spean Bridge via Glen Coe today.

Oh, and it's drizzly small rain forecast all day :-)
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Friday, 24 June 2011

Thanks again guys for all the great messages of support:

Dear Bob ,
Keep on riding and i trust your finger is getting better... should be able to hold a large DRAM on your return, keep practicing! You have got half way now you just have to go up hill!!!
Good Luck From Nigel

Dear bob and the crew,
You have done really well and you can’t give up now and all you have to do is think how well you have done and keep those legs going! We are all proud of you bunch and bob you just have to hang in there. bob you are doing really well with that finger and just make sure it doesn’t fall of! when all of you get home you can go for a long sleep in comfy bed instead of a bike!
good luck and have fun
From Megan

Dear Bob and the Crew,
Hope you are all bearing up ok. You’ve done a great job so far! Hope your weather has been better than here otherwise your bikes would be needing arm bands!! Bob, as for the broken finger ...... I’m sure you’ll still manage to hold your glass of wine!
Take great care and good luck for the rest of the journey north.
Jewels

Good Luck from the bishop family xxxooo o=hugs

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Well boys

You are really doing brilliantly. Sorry to hear about the puncture but considering the miles you have all done, you all have been very lucky. Will try and find out when you are likely tol be in the Black Isle area and would like to come and cheer you all on. It must have been great seeing the Scotland sign and cycling over the border.

Take care
Margaret

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Hi guys,

Just a quick email to say it is fantistic to read about your progress and well done on getting this far!

Looking forward to hearing all about your trip when you get back.

Take care,
Paul

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Hey Lads,

Just to say your doing a cracking job!! Saddle starting to feel like a razor blade yet?? haha

Keep your spirits up.

Kenny G

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Doing well guys, hope the stamina's holding out okay? Pub meals and cask ale not taking their toll too much hopefully..?!

Have to admit - pretty impressed with your progress!

Cheers
Allan

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Buns of steel lads .........

I am not worthy

Keep Peddling,
Lynne

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Aaaaaah cycling heaven,your over half way now,enjoy every mile of whats left cos you`ll be back at work shortly just talking about it.

Hears to a life changing experience,

come on.

Fraser

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Hi Boys

You are definitely making good progress, well done so far. Sounds like you are enjoying the food and drink!! along the way! I do keep checking on your progress at home.

Cheers
Margaret

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well done guys, Half way there, Remember to keep some energy in reserve for E Beridale,

Cheers
Willie

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Wont be long till your in your homeland..................errr John!

Best of luck for the rest. Sorry I wont be there on Sunday to cheer you on/chuck stuff at you all.

Rik

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Hi all,

Good to see the male bonding trip is going ok and that you are managing to occupy the nights comparing budgie smugglers and listening to power ballads. Very well done on the progress so far, surprised the older ones are still running (you know who you are). Guess all that training paid off, being able to eat and drink that much and still cycle, impressive.

MoO site running well in your absence, no need to come back - there's another cost saving suggestion!

All the best - keep up the good work.

Craig

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Team

Well done, with Shap in the bag all down hill now.

Ian

Has your bike been off the rack ?

Martin

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Well done guys. 487 miles is awesome!

However what's happened to the dinner piccis?

Keep Peddling,
Lynne nae mates

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Half way and still 4 of you cycling - I knew you would all prove me wrong! One comment received today is that there are lots of photos but as yet not a single one of any of you actually riding a bike horizontally or otherwise!!

Anna

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Hello carbonauts,

It's Helen again, saying congratulations for getting to Kendal, you seem to be almost as fast as our journey from Cornwall in the car. There's only the little matter of Shap to come... (unless you have a cunning plan to avoid it).

Cumbrian joke of the day:

Two sheep go into a pub, the barman says 'take a hike, you're baahed'.

love,
Helen

Evening Meal in Balloch (not near Smithton)

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Day 7 end - Bonhill

We're done for the day - we made it through Glasgow in 1 piece and up through Dumbartonshire to our accomodation.

The roads leading into Glasgow were a bit of a mess and made for some really tough cycling today. The cycle path along the Clyde was good in stretches and downright dodgy in others!

Mileage today: 86
Average speed: 11.6
Saddle time: 7hrs 22min
Cumulative mileage: 661

Tomorrow, up Loch Lomond and on to Spean Bridge for the night.

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David & Goliath (Clydebank)

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First Puncture!

For john, 3 miles south of Happenden.
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South Lanarkshire

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Glasgow-bound

The team will set off from Moffat and head towards the bright lights of Glasgow today - possibly stopping there for lunch

We hope to pick up cycle routes through Glasgow before heading West to Loch Lomond
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Thursday, 23 June 2011

Thank You

We are really encouraged by the support we have been receiving, it is really nice to know that so many people are taking an interest in what we are doing.....
Please keep the e-mails coming as this is our only source of enjoyment during these long lonely nights!!!!
Ooops, I forgot the pubs are the other source of enjoyment but we do enjoy the mails.

Thanks again
The Carbonauts

PS: still looking for donations so if you have not already done it then you know you should, the entertainment we are providing would normally cost a fortune.

PPS: Quote of the day
John - I have not had this much fun since I had sunstroke in Portugal

Sunset in Moffat

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Day 6

Well, we have made Moffat and had a good day with Shap behind us early on, heavens opened as a welcome to Scotland.
We have (I think) gelled as a team and are learning day by day about our individual riding styles.
Me personally (for those who may be interested) have enjoyed this so far but has been far harder than I could have imagined. Dislocated finger, 2 badly bruised thumbs and cuts all over, 1 sun burnt thigh, 2 sun burnt calfs, sore feet and walking like Douglas Bader.
Special mention for Ian who has been outstanding and without him this trip would have been a lot harder - he is doing an amazing job for us.

Bob

Day 6 end - Moffat

Got to accomodation. Very welcoming, nice folk.

Tough run today beginning with Shap, through Penrith, Carlisle, Gretna, Lockerbie and Moffat. Some days just never seem to end - but this one finally has!

Mileage today: 88
Average speed: 13.5
Time in saddle 6hrs 30min
Cumulative mileage: 575

Tomorrow: Loch Lomond
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Lockerbie

And 16 miles from accomodation for the night! Very wet last 20 odd miles from Carlisle. Drying up a bit now and actually warm in the sun.

We have some pics of the team in action and, by popular demand, will try to post them tonight!

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Dumfries & Galloway

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Scotland (gretna)

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Carlisle

The team are north of Carlisle eating lunch (courtesy of Greggs)

A workie fella approached us and asked what we were doing, we told him and he donated £10 to the cause. Nice gesture :)

Next we're off to Scotland and stopping first in Lockerbie.
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Penrith

Arrived in Penrith. Quick break in morrisons cafe, onwards to carlisle.
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Shap Conquered

Carbonauts taking a wee break!
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Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Day 5 end - Kendal

Team arrived in Kendal tonight. All tired but we made it! Can't believe we're halfway through!

Mileage today: 104.8
Average speed: 13.8mph
Time in saddle: 7hrs 35mins
Cimulative mileage: 487

We broke 100 miles for the first time as a team today!

Tomorrow: Shap awaits

John
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Kendal (at last!)

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Cumbria

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Lancaster

Arrived in Lancaster, still 22 miles to go until Kendal. The team are pretty tired after what has been a long and difficult day!
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Bad things happen in Lancashire...

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Leaving Chorley

Had a great lunch at Keith's Mum's house. Soup and sandwiches with a great cup of tea - thanks very much for your hospitality!

Onwards and Northwards to Lancaster and then Kendal
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Lancashire

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Leigh

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Where we found Bob

Had to bail him out!
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Great Budworth

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Mr Supplement

Supplementing his rear end!
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Heading to Kendal

Team preparing to head off to Kendal via Keith's mum's house!
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Tuesday, 21 June 2011

Emails

Thought I'd post a wee blog with some of the comments/emails of support we've had from people. We really appreciate you getting in touch - it gives us a laugh through the day :)

So Keith has a red raw rear end and Bob has a dislocated finger???? Some funny stuff going on with this man trip!

Doing well though chaps. Most impressed at the fact Grant and Bob have not been mistaken for two escapees from a nursing home yet.

Rikki

I would have expected you to be done by now ;-}. I love the term horizontal cycling but not the implication. Good Luck and Be Safe.

Ron Wild

Dear Bob, Grant, Keith, John,

I would like to send you my best regards from Germany! The challenge you took commands my full respect! Not only thinking about it, not only talking about it, but doing it, this is real Black Belt spirit!

I hope you still are fit (despite some horizontal cycling), and in a few days will enjoy the late sun on a wonderful bright Northern Highlands night.

Stay well and good luck!

Kind regards,
Wolfgang

I see that someone has decided to try a different approach to reaching the final destination - fingers look a little sore!! Is this the first horizontal event or are you only admitting to a few!
Good to see that there are still smiles although I guess you are all feeling a little sore.

Still enjoying the peace although it is a little strange - not used to all of you being away at the same time - no one to make my Cafe au lait and no hobnobs (finished the packet - thanks Grant)

Keep those weary limbs peddling - you are doing really well.

Anna

Hey carbonauts,

Good luck for day 4! So you are sticking to your original route then?

How is the weather and the bikes?

Kateryna

Well done so far guys.
This doesnt seem difficult at all - more like a holiday : )

Emma Maryon

Doing good lads! and theres me thinking i was doing great cycling from Inverness to work tonight!
Watch out for they SAS guys in Hereford,all the best lads
Stevie
Unit 11 Supervisor

Gents,

Checked in as promised, believe it or not I am envious of your saddle sores. I wish you all the best and a safe journey. Thanks again for all the info in MoO.

BJay Larson

Hi Carbonauts,

This is Helen, Grant's sister-in-law, just wishing you all the best for the rest of your ride, and being dumbstruck with admiration for what you are doing - I would be hard pressed to do 9 miles on a bike, let alone over 90 a day. But why are you going south to north, IT'S UPHILL as any fule kno.

Joke of the day:

Two jump leads went into a bar, and the barman said, 'You can stay, but just don't start anything'.
love,
Helen

How it going guys,
No photo's of the inside of a police cell (from Bob), no joke of the day (from grant), no picture of the nights supper (I know that's you Keith), i always said John was the quite one.... What's the blog coming to.....

Hope all is well and arses aren't too sore! You seem to be getting the mileage under your belts (which is good), remember not long to go It's all down hill from here!!!!!

Cheers

Brian

Doing well boys. Remember its a long way yet so set a nice easy speed say 23 m/hr and you can have longer in the pub.
Martin

Hi Sports men & Ian

3 Days in, Howz it going so far, Hope the muscles are not too weary and all going well, Keep on puffing!

Standard evening entertainment

Day 4 end - Middlewich

Finished for the day and the longest one so far! Time for a shower then a bite to eat.

Mileage: 99.76
Average speed: 14.5mph
Time in saddle: 6hrs 50mins
Cumulative miles: 382

A special hello to my wife, Katya, who I am missing very much. Love you babe, see you soon x

Kendal tomorrow and Keith's mum in Chorley setting lunch for us. Can't wait :-)

John
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Cheshire

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Market Drayton

Arrived in Market Drayton after a great run up the A53. Bob is holding together well. Carbonauts still running well!
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Wroxeter

Just finished lunch at Wroxeter. Sandwich had by all. We reckon our accomodation is a little over 40 miles away.
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Wounded soldier at Much Wenlock

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Horizontal cycling Day

Keith became the first horizontal cycling victim today. Shortly after restarting after a fluids break, Bob just stopped in front of Keith whose foot became stuck in his pedal. He just fell to the left at 0mph!

Bob's fall was altogether more dangerous. Cycling towards Ludlow, he heard a clicking from his gears. He looked down to see what was up and clipped the kerb, falling dramatically. He has skinned his legs and dislocated a finger....but he's carrying on!

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