Epilogue

Hello,

We're back! A selection of our photos from the trip can now be found at our Flickr page.

Thank you very much to everyone for their generous donations to the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Foundation and messages of support during the trip. Also, if you haven't donated yet and wish to do so it's not too late! Just go to http://www.justgiving.com/JimAndTimConquerTheUK

Finally, we'd like to say that we had a fantastic, if wet and sometimes painful, time conquering the UK. Cycling 80 miles a day on heavily laden bikes and sleeping in tiny tents for 2 weeks might have seemed like tough going at times but it was more than worth it.

We'll be sure to keep you posted regarding our next challenge, whatever it may be!

Jim and Tim.

Day 15: Thurso to John O'Groats

1074.6 miles in total cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats.

Jim and Tim will post more information etc when they return home!

A huge thanks to everyone who has sponsored them.  To date, online donations have totaled £1900.00 for the National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC) at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Bucks.

Day 14: Altnaharra to Thurso

60 miles today (1032 in total)

We awoke to find we were not alone in our tents; midges had got in leaving Tim with 20 love bites on his neck.  Jim, having encountered midges in the past had slept with his sleeping bag firmly tied over his head.  We packed up in record time and set off to escape.  We then enjoyed a beautiful 20 miles, cycling north to the sea.  We then headed east from the superbly named Tongue towards Thurso.  The remaining miles were some of the toughest we’ve encountered during the entire trip.  Despite our tired legs and minds we willed ourselves on inspired by the fantastic views and the knowledge that we were almost at our journeys end.  We set up camp in Thurso only to be harassed by a couple of teenage local girls who threatened to nick our kit! (sic)  They were almost as bad as the midges.  Jim assumed the role of camp guard while Tim set out to hunter gather a Chinese take away.  Only 20 miles to the finish tomorrow!

Words of the day: Goths (Jim), pummel (Tim)

Day 13: Beaully to Altnaharra

70 miles today (972 in total)

After a delicious breakfast at Beaully, we headed for Alness, briefly taking the notoriously busy A9 along the coast. As Tim was pummelled by a headwind, Jim coasted in his slipstream. Tim had coasted behind Jim on the other occasion we encountered headwind near Ardrossan. Despite ‘base camps’ optimistic weather forecast, it rained all day, again. After 50 miles we reached Lairg, and from there we continued north on the main A road, a single-track with passing places. After a further tough but scenic 20 miles into the heart of the Highlands we wild camped at a tiny clearing near Altnaharra which appeared to be the only place for miles around which was not marshy bog. Our camp was also home to thousands of midges, giving the air the consistency of soup. We covered ourselves as much as possible and hid in our tents from these tiny Scottish monsters. So many insects landed on the outside of our tents that we thought it was raining.

Words of the day: infest (Jim), Bratwurst (Tim)

Day 12: Fort William to Beaully

70 miles today (902 miles in total)

Last night, following a little internet assistance from 'base camp' we managed to find a bed for the night in a hostel aptly named, Chase the Wild Goose.  After a relaxing evening we were looking forward to a good nights sleep on a mattress.  However, we were sharing a dormitory with two of the world's loudest and most aggressive snorers, so the night was restless to say the least.  Today we cycled northeast along the Great Glen following the Caledonian Canal.  Very scenic, but no sign of Nessie.  We stopped for lunch at Fort Augustus where Tim enjoyed an entire leg of pork.  After Drumnadrochit we were confronted by the steepest climb of the entire journey, a 15% gradient in less that one mile.  Half way up, just as we thought life could not get any harder, the heavens opened and drenched us again.  So far, it has rained every day we have been in Scotland.  We are in danger of developing trench foot or even cycling barefoot as our cycling shoes are starting to disintegrate.  Camping again tonight.

Two observations:
1. Road surfaces vary hugely and have a significant impact on cycling.
2. Cycling can get boring; not much to do except turn the pedals all day.

Words of the day: biblical (Jim), fog-horn (Tim)

Bicycle names: The Colonel (Jim), Electric Land Lady (Tim)

Day 11: Oban to Fort William

46 miles today (832 miles so far)

In order to meet our lift home from John O'Groats, we realised today that we actually have 5 days to cycle the distance we thought would have to be covered in 4 days.  As such, we chose to cycle only the 46 miles from Oban to Fort William.  After a relaxed and scenic few hours on the bike we arrived at our destination to the news that there was no space at any of the inns.  We decamped to McDonald's to find a solution.  To be continued...

Words of the day: side-wind (Jim), cliffhanger (Tim)

Day 10: Brodick to Oban

79 miles today (786 miles so far)

As Jim snoozed, Tim was punished for his industriousness when it began to rain heavily as he was taking down his tent.  Once the shower had subsided, his inner tent was fairly well saturated with water.  Jim had his share of misfortune when half-way down a steep decent the rack holding all his kit fell off his bike.  Despite a hasty re-build we were forced to catch a later ferry than planned, arriving back on the mainland at 1pm, having ridden only 15 miles.  We limped over a long hill to Tarbut where the day was rescued by a sweet waffle.  This delicious dessert energised us, and in the next four hours we covered nearly 60 miles over some of the biggest hills we have seen since Cornwall, and through the most breathtaking scenary so far.  We eventually reached Oban, and enjoyed a hot chocolate, despite Jim smashing the steps of the cafe with his bike pedal.

Words of the day: basshunter (Jim), DMX (Tim)

Day 9: Dumfries to Brodick

85 miles today (707 miles so far)

It was particularly difficult to get going this morning, and to say goodbye to our comfy beds. Nonetheless, we managed to get away and get breakfast in before 8am, as we had a tight schedule to make it 80 miles away to Ardrossan to catch the last ferry of the day to the Isle of Arran.  Despite torrential rain all day and hilly terrain in the forest of Galloway we managed to get the miles done, and make it to Ardrossan in time for the ferry.  Whilst eating our fish supper on Arran, we experienced rain, sun and a double rainbow all the way.

Words of the day: efficient (Jim), jurassic (Tim)

Day 8: Pooley Bridge to Dumfries

61 miles today (622 miles so far)

Today we cycled first to Carlisle along an old Roman road; no messing around with corners, one big straight line. Once we passed through Carlisle, we continued north, and at Gretna crossed the border into Scotland. After much photo taking next to the sign, and a pub lunch, we cycled onto Dumfries, where we enjoyed our first night not sleeping under canvas at a bed and breakfast. 

Words of the day: Sherlock (Jim), tropical (Tim)

Day 7: Clitheroe to Pooley Bridge

78 miles today (561 miles so far)

The day began with drama, Tim discovered he had left his wallet in the pub the night before, obviously distracted by the 80’s power ballads.  After leaving his details and postage, we left Clitheroe and headed North of the Lake District.  The terrain began more demanding as we passed Kendal and worked our way to Windermere.  Late afternoon, having buoyed our spirits with an iced bun at the lakeside, we began our ascent of the notorious Kirkstone Pass.  After a long climb in a stunning setting, we reached the top and enjoyed a cheeky half with a fellow cyclist en route from Kitzbuhl, Austria, and an ex-marine, who claimed to have climbed Everest.  An incredible downhill later, we set up camp at the north end of Ullswater. Upon unrolling his tent, Tim found his wallet safely inside.

Words of the day: 16.5% (Jim), Bellsprout (Tim)

Day 6: Wrenbury to Clitheroe

72 miles today (483 so far)

Today we ran the urban gauntlet between Liverpool, Manchester, Warrington, Wigan, Bolton, Preston, St Helens, Blackpool and Blackburn and escaped intact.  It rained persistently all afternoon so we now have a lot of wet kit.  Nonetheless we eventually made it out of the sprawling metropolis into the countryside around Clitheroe.  We are now sat in a village pub drinking a deserved pint and listening to Spandau ballet. Gold!

Words of the day: metropolis (Jim), lobster (Tim)

Day 5: Worcester to Nantwich

71 miles today (411 miles so far)

Day 5 started well with a monstrous full English breakfast in Stourport-on-Severn which made the first few hills feel a little bit steeper.  We continued strongly until the busy roads of Telford where we defied death on the dual carriageways and roundabouts. Once we cleared these obstacles we finally reached our destination of Wrenbury where we pitched camp and had a delicious dinner in this pub.

Words of the day: near-miss (Jim), bludgeon (Tim)

Owning up . . .

Now familiar with the realites of the requirements of the cycle, we have come to the conclusion that cycling Land's End to John O'Groats and climbing the 3 peaks is beyond us.  So we have decided not to climb the peaks, though we hope to do so in the near future.  Therefore we have altered our route and will not be heading into Wales and are heading north through the Midlands hoping to be crossing the border into Scotland on Day 8.

Day 4: Chippenham to Worcester

85 miles today (340 miles so far)

Bad start - Jim had a puncture. Luckily we found a bike shop nearby and a cheap and delicious cooked breakfast too. At 10am the rain arrived and we cycled through the heaviest downpour ever. No shelter, so we just pushed on along flooded roads.

Today we also had a north-easterly headwind slowing us down. Funny, you hardly notice wind in a car. Got lost for a while and crossed a motorway slip road by mistake. Good campsite and hot showers.

Words of the day: downpour (Jim), squish! (Tim)

Day 3: Tiverton to Chippenham

81 miles today (255 miles so far)

Today we cycled past Worthy Farm, home of Glastonbury Festival and many happy memories. Later, ten cyclists whizzed past us on expensive bikes with flashy lycra. We laughed when five miles further on , we overtook them as they gathered around three minibuses there to support them from Land's End to John O'Groats and transport their equipment. We were reminded of the tortoise and the hare, and we are proud to be the tortoise.

Good afternoon, cycled 30 miles in 3 hours. Haribo Starmix kept Jim going.

Words of the day: haribo (Jim), buttery (Tim)

Day 2: Callington to Tiverton

74 miles today (174 miles so far)

It's surprising how comfortable our tents became after cycling for over nine and a half hours through the hills of Cornwall. Day 2 began a little later than planned. An epic two and a half mile downhill brought us to the glorious county of Devon, which offered us rolling hills and unchecked livestock; we herded rogue sheep outside Okehampton. Our belated departure, and extremely good dinner at Tiverton, meant the final five mile stretch to the campsite was ridden in darkness along poorly constructed country roads. But, we eventually made it to our campsite at 10.15pm, and enjoyed a hot shower.

Words of the day: undulating (Jim), Gulliver (Tim)

Day 1: Land's End to Callington

100 miles today.

Our trip got off to an inauspicious start. At Land's End the heavens opened; the deluge continued until lunchtime (a giant Sunday roast) but this was the least of our worries- it turns out Cornwall is ALL hills. All in all a rough first day; it can only get better.

Words of the day: corrugated (Jim), torrid (Tim)

Day 0: Reading to Penzance (by train)

Off to Cornwall today. The picture above was taken at Tim's house, before heading to Reading station.

The adventure starts tomorrow, and our itinerary is supposed to be something like:

• Day 1: Land’s End – Launceston (100.6miles)
• Day 2: Launceston – Glastonbury (100.7miles)
• Day 3: Glastonbury – Hereford (99.2miles)
• Day 4: Hereford – Betsw-y-Coed (111miles)
• Day 5: Betsw-y-coed – Snowdon (climb Snowdon)
• Day 6: Snowdon – Wigan (102.7miles)
• Day 7: Wigan – Eskdale (87.4miles)
• Day 8: Scafell Pike
• Day 9: Boot – Dumfries (94.6 miles)
• Day 10: Dumfries – Lochranza (94.6 miles)
• Day 11: Lochranza – Glencoe (90.8 miles)
• Day 12: Glencoe – Ben Nevis (40.1 miles)
• Day 13: Ben Nevis - Lenie – (49.6miles)
• Day 14: Lenie – Rhian (north of Lairg) (87miles)
• Day 15: Rhian – John O’Groats (92.9miles)

The Hour Approaches...

Welcome Friend!

Thanks to overwhelming demand we have decided to set up a blog to document our adventure and keep you dear donators informed of our misfortunes as and when they happen. The plan is to relay these battlefield reports to you via the fabulous Sophie Armshaw, who has kindly agreed to translate our tired ramblings into a readable form on a semi-regular basis.

So here it begins, I am sat surrounded by various essential survival items panic bought in the last two days wondering how in hell it's all going to fit in the panniers. The trains and hostels are booked, the route loosely set and scribbled in an exercise book; we are ready as we ever will be. At 10:33 tomorrow morning we board a train to Penzance. After that the next time anyone sees us we will be walking like cowboys.

Adios,
Tim

P.S. If you haven't already, PLEASE DONATE AT:
www.justgiving.com/JimAndTimConquerTheUK