We're back

Yo yo yo yooooooo! Hello! It feels like it's been a while since the last post! You will probably all be disappointed to hear that yesterday was a no goer! After arriving in fortwilliam at 4.30am we didn't wake up until late! We then set off and I had an absolute mare again with my pannier rack, we had cycled only 20miles out of fortwilliam and knew it was 80 to Glasgow (the nearest town with a bike shop) so we decided the best bet would be to cycle 20 miles back to fort William so that I could fix up my bike with a proper rack to prevent any future mares! We also thought it would be a sensible decision to get some rest and get an early night so that we could head off early today! If not the same thing would have happened again, we would have been cycling through the night which is and WAS very dangerous. Especially in the wind and rain!



ANYWAY, Were 56 miles in so just the other half to go now and the sites around the highlands have been amazing, truly amazing! We've only spent 4hrs in the saddle today so pace has been steady and the rest of the time has been eating and taking snaps!

We should arrive at Glasgow in good time tonight to get an early sleep!

The guys want me to remind you that we will still be completing the ride in 9days cycling, we just had a day a off to rest, due to me nearly killing my self with a rubbish pannier rack! No body was really in a good state to cycle the way we were! The 40 miles we clocked up probably helped to keep the muscles going!






P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY jessy wadey!


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Breakfast is served

Breakfast starter is served. Full English to come!

:)

The only bad thing on my mind is that we havnt left fortwilliam yet! Still 106 miles to do today till we get to Glasgow!

Very upset that fortwilliam doesn't sell vanilla slices in any of the 3 bakeries!


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Hard times

142 miles cycled yesterday from elmsdale to fortwilliam! At 12oclock we had 33 miles to go! But then it started again! The rain! Really bad! We had had a good pace of 15 mph until this point! And then it all changed, it took us 4hrs to get to fortwilliam so we arrived here at 4am shivering, mentally tired, and physically tired! 4.30am the tents were up a note was left on the reception for the campsite and we hit the sac!

One word! HORRIBLE! but I'm glad we pulled through ensuring only a 105mi cycle today! However we can't set off until 12 as we need to visit the laundry room and dry our things we also need to pay for this site and shower and breakfast!

So! U don't need to worry about our pace too much! The two reasons we were so slow was be because andy got a puncture and even worse my panniers rack collapsed my pannier shot inside the wheel ripped it's self to shreds and ripped out a few spokes with it! At that time we were doing roughly 35mph down hill! I was just lucky the back wheel locked up and I was able to handle the skid. If not it could have been worse!

So we spent a long time patching up my panniers with tape and temporarily securing my pannier rack! And then having the best 45 minite chat with the friendliest scotsman we have met so far (theres not many you know, as soon as you talk with a yorkshire accent they decide to be absolute clownshoes) the chat was very refreshing he was a kean cyclist and he knew the route we were doing v.well and advised us of a very nice scenic route that would add 2 miles but avoid hills and also take us along the coast (very nice). So every bike shop we tried on the way didn't sell pannier racks :( so I hope I will find a new one in Glasgow in the morning!

1 word from the lads this morning to sum up how they feel:
Jonny: alright
John: shower
Andy: thirsty!

See u on the next post!












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V slice 1

The first vanilla slice. Marketed as a vanilla and raspberry slice!

Got to go will update our score later!


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The rain changes our plans

Today is the day we've been looking forward to for a few months now! The first day of the cycle and the shortest distance!

The day started well, we woke up @ 5.30am in the football field we camped rough in, in Inverness last night - got the train from inverness to wick at 7am - arrived in wick at 11.45am - cycled 17.5 miles to John o'groats - had our snap taken (see previous post) went and ate the greasiest chip butty uve ever seen and then got on our way! The planned journey for day 1 was John o'groats to Tain!

We set off in glorious sunshine from John o'groats. Cycled 10 miles and then the rain started! But it wasn't any old rain this shit was torrential AND side ways! We didn't let it get us down! And we carried on clocking up the miles! All 3 of us dosed up on cocodamol. Me because my back was in pain (probably because I spent 8 hours on a train yesterday stood up) andy because his shoulder was aching (too long with out a gf) and jonny just because he felt left out (his words: "I'm planning ahead").

So anyway 57.3 miles in (74 counting this mornings cycle) we are drenched shivering and just cycled up the worlds largest hill (felt that way) we start to drop down the other side of the hill with big smiles on our faces as we freewheel@30mph and then we see civilisation for the first time in a while! We see a pub open we look at each other and we realise that we still have 30 miles to go so our planned campsite in tain will be shut! we see 4star hostel looking at us and decide let's get dry, let's have a shower, and let's have a mattress!

So here we are helmsdale hostel........Right time for lights out!

P.s.Check me out blogging next to a bin!






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The TOP

Here we are at the start line! Bang on schedule only a 100miles to the first campsite in Tain after the 17 pointless ones we've just done!


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Almmost here

Start as we mean to go on! So after an 8 he train ride I've just met lads in Inverness! The lads have found a great campsite in a football field so we will be pitching up in about an hour n then getting up at 6 for the train to wick! Right. Back to the pint!

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Location:Ness Walk,Inverness,United Kingdom

X country trains are gash

4hrs later train gets busier! Currently cramped up under my bike in the bike store! Xcountry trains are G A S H

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Location:Stephen's Dr,Inverkeithing,United Kingdom

Don't look too bad up north

From what I can see it don't look too bad up north!


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Location:Inverkeithing,United Kingdom

Nice one! The train is rammed! There is somebody in my seat and asleep! So now I'm standing in the storage carriage with 10 other people in the same boat! The picture above best illustrates my view! At least I'm with the bike!

I seriously hope this baby don't start crying! I'm gonna be like this for 4hrs before i change train!

Andy n johnny are just chilling sat next to each other on a different train! :(


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John waits for his train!

So it's all about to start in approximately 30 mins! And I must say this is the most nervous I have felt! It's not about the ride it's about getting the train! The ticket lady says there is no room to book my bike on! This could all go wrong at the first hurdle!

The 5 minute cycle to the station is also the first cycle I have ever done with the panniers fully loaded! They seem a bit wobbly. Let's hope they can hack it!

I'm already feeling tired after a B I G night last night at my good friend Simons wedding! A night of real ale is probably not the best way to prep for a ride like this! Still a good time was had!




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Location:York,United Kingdom

IN SEARCH OF THE BEST VANILLA SLICE

So, as if the journey ahead isn't going to be challenging enough, we've added another challenge to the trip.

We are searching for the best Vanilla Slice the UK has to offer. We will be judging each vanilla slice we try in each town on 5 key points:
1. Taste
2. Stability (no one likes it when a slice collapses and ends up in a mushy mess)
3. Stickyness (obviously it's a sticky dessert, but I don't like it when they stick to the bag)
4. Aesthetics (it's got to look as good as it tastes)
5. Ability to hit the spot (a good vanilla slice always hits the spot)

Were hoping that a vanilla slice-a-day will give us some of the sugars our body needs!

the route

View Larger Map

Above is the route we are taking.

Just Giving

While Jonny has been busy setting up the blog for the EPIC trip. I have been busy creating our Just Giving page. The chosen charity is Neurosurgical Research in memory of Debbie Green (Johns Sister). This allows you to donate to our chosen charity the easy way. Saves us knocking on doors and rattling our buckets asking you for money another time. It's quick and easy and is debited straight from your card direct to our chairty.

Check it out: www.justgiving.com/top-2-bottom

Andy is also raising money for charity but just for a different one. I'm sure he will be blogging soon to tell you all more about it.

The Start Line

John O'Groats
The most North Easterly point of Scotland

1000 miles to go!
Oh! and only a weeks training to go!

Oh dear boys! Only a week to get ready! I feel the training may have been a bit on the sparse side!!

What am I talking about 'bring it on!'

Remember!
Friends, friends of friends, family, colleagues, acquaintance's & other fellow followers there is a good cause for this ridiculous epic mission so please visit: www.justgiving.com/top-2-bottom

Packing for the show!

00:38 and im in the studio just starting to pack things up ready for a big drive down to London in the morning! I hate packing as I'm always scared I will forget something!

But getting some extra help in from the organised jessy is making things easier :)

Check out simple wrapped in bubble!

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