So we did it ... & the boys want more!! (cleve's closing post)

Just been out for a 30 min run & was thinking "there's nothing like cycling"! & must do my closing LEJOG post, it's 2 weeks since we finished the ride & like the lads have said on thier posts is so true .... i'm missing the bike & the miles!

The ride itself was a challenge, fun & at times painful. In fact as you've probably read on the daily blogs I had an almighty crash after 10miles, i won't bore you with the details but it hurt & I really didn't expect to be able to ride the next day, it was actually less painful riding than walking, in fact the part of the thigh which hit the curb is still a numb & my right ankle still hurts!

The negatives : I was very saddle sore at times, in fact it felt as though my saddle had razor blades sticking out, attempting to recall the pain brings tears to my eyes. The A30 through Cornwall was awful, yes there was a small cycle lane but with cars going past us at c.85mph it didn't feel right. The "detour" up Glenshee was difficult but a great achievement (once we hit the peak).

The positives: far too many to mention. Each days mileage achievement, the company, the support car, the B&B's and lovely people we met along the way, climbing hills & going down the other side, the pretty flat Devon to Cheshire, the weather (i can't believe there was no rain - although it got cold in the north of scotland), only 1 puncture each, crossing the scotland border, riding into John O'Groats.........

The recovery following the ride was quite remarkable, saying that unlike Matt I haven't been back on the bike yet but I did go to the gym for a session 3 days after returning.

I do miss the focus that the training provided and i'm now looking for events I can take part in, hoping to do a few sportives over the coming months & will run more as the winter kicks in........... do i fancy the 'cycle to africa' the lads have mentioned? Oh ... i'm not sure although i'd definatley do a leg or 2 as support to them...... watch this space.

I'll continue to promote the charity & will hope to continue to raise funds for sometime to come ...... finally just want to say thanks to everyone, the lads, Howard, the owners of the B&B's, the people we met, the donaters (of which there are many) and most of all our families for the support.

Cleve

Here we go again!!!!

When we got to John O'Groats I didn't feel the sense of elation that I thought I was going to. I think that the physical and mental exhaustion had just taken over and all I wanted to do was go home to Alison and my children, to sleep in my own bed and spend a day where I didn't have to get on the bike!

When we got home, the accomplishment slowly started to sink in. I kept looking at the web site and staring at the map of the route, shaking my head in disbelief. I read the blogs that we had written and believe it or not, started to feel sad at the thought that it was all over. We had been planning the trip for over a year and it was difficult to comprehend that we had nothing to train for and nothing to focus on. The training regime had become part of mine and my families life. The majority of weekends over the last year had involved Matt and I getting together to go on a ride and our family planning their weekends around us.

Yes, the ride itself had been tough, yes tempers (mostly mine) had frayed and yes we just couldn't wait until we arrived at the finishing line, but looking back now, all of that seemed irrelevant. It had been one long adventure and I wanted more. I could never have realised the impact that the ride would have on me and had failed to notice that I was living the adventure when it was happening. It was only with hindsight that I had started to realise just what had been and gone.

I texted Matt...."We need to do something else.....its doing my head in........lets do something else!"

He was already onto it. "I'm thinking about it too. Just give me some time and I will let you know any ideas".

A couple of days passed and on Wednesday I got a text..."I have an idea. You are gonna love it. I will ring you later!"

Whatever his idea was, I was going to do it. I had caught the bug and even if he suggested that we tried to go around the world in 80 days, I would have said yes!!

His idea though couldn't have been more perfect. When the sentence (which I know that when I am training again will be excruciating to hear!) reeled from his lips, I found myself nodding in agreement and almost jumping around with excitement.............

"We are going to cycle to Africa!!"

This is going to be a huge project and one which will take meticulous planning and preperation, not only logistically, but also our fitness. Africa is over 1600 miles away and the proposal is that we do this in 2010 to give us a chance to get REALLY fit and make sure that the trip is planned with military precision. Its one thing to organise a trip around the UK but its a whole new ball game trying to do it in several different countries and in several different languages!!

So there you have it. If you had told me two years ago that at this point in my life I would have already cycled from Lands End to John O'Groats and was now planning to cycle to another continent, I would have laughed so hard that my sides would have split.

Plans and updates will be shown on the site........but watch this space........we are going to do it again, sure as eggs are eggs, but this time its going to be bigger.

I now understand why Sir Ranulph Fiennes does what he does. Its addictive, and once you have experienced the feeling it gives you, you just want more.

Jon

African Adventure Kit list (Item 1)
Giant padded saddle with fluffy cushions and gel technology, designed by Charmin Ultra......CHECK!!