The End

Well folks that’s it, John O’Groats to Lands End……….DONE! The final milage was 1036.  We had expected to more but considering that the shortest path to complete this challenge is about 800 miles, we didn’t do too badly on our zig zag route.

We took on the final leg and it was clear to see that the whole group were excited and buoyed with the anticipation of the finish.  We steamed off and the weather stayed good for us.

We stopped at a beautiful spot called St Micheals Mount

Once there, we all had a real treat, 50 Clotted Cream Teas between the group.  Amazing, say no more.

Just prior to the finish we stopped at Sennan Primary School, where the whole school, 50 pupils, greeted us with Cornish flags and surf dude hair!  Joking aside it was very nice and brought an element of realisation of the achievement we were about to complete.

We pushed on from the school and dominated the road two a breast up to Lands End.  Just before the very end we were told to get in an arrow formation, presumably to get more of us in the same finish photo’s.  Bicycle 1000 miles no problem, figure and display cycling, fail! It was pretty tragic but we got across the finish  line and were met by the admin team and some of the teams wives and mothers.

Once off our bikes we were presented a fluke of champagne and with banners unfurled we took our places for the group photo, flanked by the super admin party.  After the first few shots it all got a bit Grand Prix.  A pair of gunmen hosed us down with bubbly, excellent.

About a zillion photos later we did a quick shirt change for the 209 shot and we shared a dram.  It was a very fitting end to the whole affair.

We went back to a local camp site, the name escapes me, and all the English started running around mad to get ready for the kick off.  We followed to the pub at a more sedate pace.

We watched the match and enjoyed a BBQ for tea at the First and Last Inn in England.

We, naturally had a unquechable curiosity to sample the local ‘Juice’.  We hit jackpot when we clocked a tap on the bar which was shaped like the hooded head of a very grumpy cobra.  Cornish Rattler, holy mother of god this kit has bite!

We made best use of the time at the bar to tame the snake but the rattler took its fair share of casualties in the end.

They do say the snake is most dangerous when its only wounded, Tac was certainly wounded by the Rattler beast but he wasn’t out fully.  To test this theory he went AWOL on an attempt to get back to the pub!  This needed a crack team of ninja Rattler hunters, selected for the task were the already smashed elite riders and admin team.  Hilarious.

On his misadventure he came face to face with a bull, tried to scare it off, failed and kept running.  Met with an obstacle (wall) he attempted to conquer it using brut force but the stage one vegetation proved to be a formidable opponent.  Basically he ended up arse over tit in the nettles and brambles and was rescued by the local farmer who fished him out and sent him on his way, still to the pub and still pursued by the crack Rattler ninjas.  Shortly after this he was apprehended and returned to HQ (bed).  Honestly you couldn’t make it up.

The next morning the CO decided that a 0630 dip in the Atlantic was required, I didn’t agree but had no choice.  A short jog down hill, which after 1000 miles on a bike didn’t go down too well I can assure you.  Once at the bottom of the most ridiculously steep stairs the CO fell over and cracked his leg.  You reap what you sew!  Anyway, as we were getting our kit off Kev looked at me and asked “is this actually happening”? I agreeing with the sentiment immediately addressed the CO and said “this is the last sanity check that this is actually happening”? It was and to the water we went!

Mumma Mia we might as well have been dodging ice bergs.  It was turbo chilly and testes were morphed into ovaries!  We trudged back up the steps and a heart attack later the Rattler venom was almost purged from our bodies.  My legs were not best pleased about the run or the ferocity of the climb from the beach after such a prolonged period of the same movements and tomorrow morning will be painful no doubt.

We ate, broke camp and headed home ready to do it all again at the SOinC’s house tomorrow night!

B. McArthur (22june10)

So! Last leg coming. We can’t believe it. Tomorrow we will be embarking on the last leg of our journey. We reached Cambourine today and only have 26 miles left to push. It doesn’t seem like it was 20 days ago we were leaving John O’Groats. The whole of the UK lay before us and all of it’s problems. We have had so many memorable moments that I could not even begin to explain them. The main memory for me was the climb into Glencoe. That just placed everything into perspective, about how small and fragile we are yet we achieve so much. I will also remember those tomes when the road becomes cushioned and you realise you have a flat! Some of the team know that feeling more than most, ehh Stevie? We have taken everything the UK has thrown at us so far and still it could give us more tomorrow. The trip has been phenominal and is such an experience I cannot even begin to explain, tomorrow will be such an achievement for all, providing we have enough inner-tubes to last. Land’s End, here we come!

Location:Penview Crescent,Helston,United Kingdom