looks like we made it

Yes I have been singing Barry manilows famous lyric for the last few days and today it came true. Currently lying in bed in the west highland hotel in inverness having broken my duck and drink a few malt whiskys tonight. Goodness only knows what my head will be like in the morning. We rolled over the finish line this morning at around 10.30 to be welcomed in by friends and family. I went down to the sea to touch it and check it really wa there. Jane have me a saltire to wave in Chris hoy fashion and photos were taken ad infinitum. Quick sprint to get my sheet stamped so I'm official an end to ender and then on the bus with my compatriots for the journey to inverness. Very emotional on the coach as I listened to los marillos and fish whilst watching picures of the family on the iPod. I'm so blessed and am delighted that I've raised over 6k for those less fortunate than my own. Tonight we have had Chinese and celebrated. Early night for me again though as I'm dolphin watching tomorrow and then flying home to be with my beloved family.
I'll update the blog further when home but for now it's journeys end.
For now, stopped pedalling.
Martin

bonar bridge to thurso

I'll let you into a secret but please don't tell anyone. The b873 is officially britains most beautiful road. Heather clad hills skirting Ben klibreck and loch naver with male red deer stags running and buzzards soaring. A stuinning piece of road on which emotions raced today. Seagulls indicated the oncoming sea and my mind raced as to why and how I ended up doing this venture. I guess it started with inspiring grandparents, extended through the wider and near family and ultimately is for those poor kids that I want to help as much as I can. I'm so blessed to have Gill and the kids. I cannot thank them enough. I love them all dearly. I want to enjoy the 'victory, tomorrow but then return home as fast as I can to be the husband and dad I should be. I can't wait for 'so little pedalling,.
Martin

getting a little remote, invergary to bonar bridge

Short tonight as poor reception despite having to climb 72 steps in carbisdale castle youth hostel. 2090 calories today as we covered the 80miles along loch ness and then over the biggest hills since Dartmoor. Across purple coloured heathe clad moorland. Beautiful up here but quite remote now as we almost reach the end. Funniest story today was 2 hits being cautioned for running a red light. Real hamush macbeth territory now! Keep on pedalling. Martin

inverary to invergary calories

2415
97.2 miles
6hrs 19
Average 15.4mph

the highlight of the trip , inverary to invergary

Greatest day today. Fine weather was dry with cloud in the morning but the skies cleared and we had sun, sea and terrific views. Camera has been clicking all day, often on the wheel. Went past Ben cruachan, round loch awe with possible eagle sighting and unfortunately a roadkill red squirrel. Then over connell bridge with views of mull and on north to ballachulish and views of glencoe. Then onto fort William where I purchased a miniature of glengoyne whisky for the end of the trip. My first tipple in 21 months. Went off piste with ivor and Andrew after lunch on a lovely b road to spean bridge. Then 28mph for the last 13 miles to a hostel at invergary. The views are magnificent, wildlife terrific, legs are great and ass is covered in anti chafing gel! Some of the roads here leave your saddle in your bottom. Can't believe I've spent over 800miles on the same 145mm of leather!
Keep on pedalling!
Martin
Ps sharing a room tonight with 4 other men. Hopefully not comatosed in the morning!

singing in the rain, kilmarnock to inverary

Very wet and windy this morning. Waterproofs, tights and overshoes on for the first time on the trip. We have been so lucky with the weather to date that its almost made it easy! Miserable cycling for 90 minutes to largs along the coast. I got there first as my time trialling legs were still with me as I just wanted to get to the hotel and get warm. Problem was I went to the wrong ferry , oops! Realised my error so then went 2 up with Andrew for the next 40 minutes up the coast as the wind was in our faces and hit us like a sledgehammer! The feash smell of the sea soon gave way to rotten seashore smells. Thankfully the curlew, gannets, cormorants and oyster catchers helped lift me as we battled along. At Gouroch we had to wait 90 minutes for a ferry to dunnoon where I got very cold so I tucked into my first irn bru and a couple of Snickers. Cycling holidays are great as you can eat all sorts of rubbish completely guilt free and ladies the ratio of men to women is 13 to 1! 30 minute ferry ride where spirits were lifted by songs from the shows. My favourite things and oom pa pa being particular favourites. We then sang right through till lunch and well into the afternoon. The karaoke king is back!dried up after lunch as we cycled around loch eck and then THE loch fyne, no, not the one in reading! Stopped for fresh fish at the shop but it looked like a Tesco fish counter so we rolled on only to get drenched in the last 5 mile time trial to the hotel where I tweaked the hamstring again, will I ever learn? Inverary is fantastic. Cloud has lifted tonight and we are now in real Scotland! I love this place. Tomorrow will be a great day up to invergary. I cannot wait. 79 miles today with 2483. Calories burned. Thanks for all the supportive messages from 'sunny' Devon you lucky lot. They really are a great morale boost. Please keep the sponsorship coming too as I've had no donations this week and yet am so close to 6k. Please, please, please give all that you can.
Keep on pedalling. Martin
Ps hal wasn't keen on the weather but enjoyed it when we sang the wombles.

hit the straps, carlisle to kilmarnock

After yesterdays shenanigans and a good nights sleep it was my day to prove a point to myself and others. I'm not here for a social but to ride and raise funds for ROS. The day was set fair and with a strong south easterly today would be fast. A7 to longtown and then the border at gretna. Rode with 'my group'to annan and dumfries. Scenery of southern uplands was fab with hills, forests rivers and valleys. Never thought I would return to Scotland by bike! After a warm lunch at Sanquhar I hit my straps at new cumnock with 25 miles to go. Those miles flew by in a flash as I completed them solo in an hour. I did enjoy the 'time trial ' and it did me a lot of good getting to the hotel first. I felt free like the clown and the wolfman for those that know restless natives.after washing it was off to the bar for some social lemon and limes. 95 miles covered in less than 5 and a half hours was fantastic going. Only 2317 calories today but every one felt great. Can't believe there's only 5 days to go as its flown by. I'm massively enjoying the riding and our fair isle. Our small group of fellow MAMILS is great but I am looking forward to seeing Gill and the kids and dogs as I miss them all.
Tomorrow will be wet. VERY wet.
Keep on pedalling.
Martin
Ps if you get a chance check out Kevin Sells blog on Blogger for today. It's anatomical description is superb! Thanks for all the love and please keep giving for ROS.
Pps thankyou Carrie for your mail today. It put a smile on my face when I needed it. You and all my supporters are fab. Thankyou all.

from off piste to piste off. Preston to carlisle

Fabulous days riding today covering 102miles with a top speed of 52.4 (legal).with the wind at our backs we sped through Lancaster and Kendal sampling the local cake. Great ascent of shap fell at 1400'and then down to penrith on the A6. Too busy for a few of us so agreed with organisers to go off piste taking in the fabulous mungrisdale in the lake district. Amazing views to skiddaw, helvellyn and blencathra. Sped into carlisle where we we're given a dressing down for disrupting the group dynamic by going off piste despite it being agreed. All in the name of quieter, safer and more scenic roads. I'll take the dressing down any day of the week but needless to say we weren't overly happy. Let's hope for better stuff tomorrow. 2263 calories yesterday and 3035 today. Keep on pedalling......HARD! Martin

hell of the north

First 2 hours was great as we zipped along flat Shropshire and Cheshire roads in fine weather. Then the fun started as the ride turned into a commute through warrington, wigan, chorley' Preston et Al. Passed haydock park which was very busy as a meet was on. St trinians girls entertained us in wigan as did scarecrow fest in church something or the other. Looking forward now to the lakes as nearly half way there. Bum, legs and foot all holding up. Hal says hello to all. Keep on pedalling. Martin

good things come to those who wait

Today started well, dipped off and then ended on a real high. The wye valley was great as we zipped along at 18mph again. Monmouth to Hereford through the land that time forgot was a bit of a chore though as roads were rough and scenery bland. Aching bums and shoulders for all. Did manage top speed to date though of 48.6 mph. After lunch we entered Shropshire which was fabulous. Endless dairy farms in scenery not too disimilar to the quantocks. A spot of a red kite was a real thrill. Fast descent through the hope valley and on to shrewsbury. 95 miles today with 2677 calories burned. Not looking forward to the long commute tomorrow through the north west. Keep on pedalling, Martin

staring out over the bridge

Fabulous day today that I reckon topped the wonders of Dartmoor, but then I was in my home county. Zipped along from tiverton to taunton at a steady 18mph with the 9 in the ,faster, peleton.then took them on a detour past Kingston and up the 15 prevent to the pines café for coffee and crusha. Fast descent to bridgwate and the long stop for bike mainstenance at another bike shop befor zipping across the levels to wedmore and cheddar. I could get used to this pro cycling lark! Except I was almost taken out by a lorry as I tried to ride continental style on the right! Climbed shipham Gill on the mendips for lunch in the village before through to Churchill, congresbury, tatton and clevedon. Then a lane following the M5 north from where I spotted a peregrine. Onto the drinks stop, ovee the Avon bridge, throug avonmouth at 21mph and then onto the PLD Severn bridge. Great weather and fine views. Crossed to chepstow to me some of the Bristol family who had kindly brought fresh clothes!drank and showed dad the bike stable. Horses in there are worth over 6k you know! Wasted on us mamils!
Great day. We now leave the south west and go due north. Was it only 2 days ago I was at lands end?
88 miles and 3425 calories for you sweepstake junkies. Keep on pedalling!
Martin
Ps Tom's snoring to radio 4. LOUDLY!

at home in my playground

Oh what a perfect day! Fine and dry though the easterly wind kept blowing. Obligatory phote as we left Cornwall and entered Devon. Met Ben at the drinks stop in tavy and he towed is up to rundlestone with more photos route. I then led a group of 9 at a brisk pace over the moors to lunch north of mortonhampstead. Brisk descent to Exeter at 45mph and then diversion to bike shop to have a team members chainset hit with a big hammer! Fast run at 18mph into tiverton for an early finish. Only 66 miles today but 6000ft of climbing. Best western in tiverton tonight before riding onto chepstow tomorrow. A little stiff but legs and foot ok to date. 3063 calories today and a good tea tonight to compensate! Keep on pedalling. Martin