Cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats - for charity, for experience and hopefully for fun!

Pooley’s hidden depths

obsolent — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:56:33 +0000

Pooley is not just a stuffed toy / dog with a history. On our travels I used to ask him if he was alright, and a single press would elicit a single woof. He has, as grandaughter Elsie discovered yesterday by squeezing hime repeatedly, a repertoire of three songs: Old Macdonald, Frere Jacques, and London Bridge

Howard

29/07/2009

Radio ga-ga

obsolent — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:02:23 +0000

Just to say we will be on BBC Surrey again, on Monday next, August 3rd at about 09.10 a.m.

Sorry again to all of you who listened in the last time!

Howard

29/07/2009

Amazing, thunderstruck, THANK YOU ALL!

obsolent — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:56:06 +0000

Official Totals: 1369 miles, 128 birds, 29 teacakes, 109 pints/cans of beer/cider

We came home, late on Wednesday night, to bunting all round the kitchen, a ‘welcome home’ banner, food in the fridge, cake, and lots of cards. It was lovely, and we weren’t expecting anything else.

But then, surprise, surprise!

There we were on Sunday, in the back of Andrew’s car, chatting with Madeleine about gardening, expecting to meet a couple more friends for a drink at the Abinger Hatch. But instead of that, we found we were turning into the Abinger Hammer Village Hall, and before we could say ‘Hey!’ there were all these people waving flags and cheering, and singing ‘Daisy, Daisy…’.

There was plenty of food and drink, and a special cake, and more singing! A staggering feat of organisation!

It was great to see all of you who could make it, and from some of you who could not, the messages and photos on the blog.

Knowing so many of you were hooked on Anna’s brilliant blogging made all the difference. We keep coming across bits of the blog we haven’t seen, and comments we didn’t know about – sorry we haven’t replied to them all.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Flicky and Howard

21/07/09

Crazy Supporters Flash Mob Village Hall

acjjarvis — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:22:15 +0000

OS Grid Reference: TQ 096 472
Miles: None really
Birds: Nope
Tea-cakes: None, but lots of yummy cakes and other sundries.
Beers: A few

You may already know that it was agreed by some that a surprise celebration might be the thing to welcome the weary wanderers home. This couldn’t be attempted on the night of their homecoming as everyone was too busy watching A Fish Called Wander on BBC One, so it was decreed the event should take place in Abinger Hammer Village Hall on Sunday 19th July.

Viral emails were posted along with sneaky mentions on this site (later destroyed before Howard or Flicky spotted them) until hopefully the word got around to all interested parties.

Not everyone could make it, here are a few happy snaps of well-wishers not able to be there in person…

Karen, Harry, Evie, Ollie and Ian Woods send their love from Australia

Sarah & Steve Ward give H&W thumbs up!

Anna & Archie Crawford send their best wishes from sunny Scotland

Jenny Jarvis raises a toast to Howard...

... and Glyn Jarvis votes in favour of Flicky!

And here’s a photo of most of those who did manage to come along…

(Most of) the welcoming party with Howard & Flicky (centre stage)

Flying the flag

Oops, bit drunk...

Thanks to everyone for great company, delicious food and impressive organisational skills! Well met!

Over-and-out
Anna x

Day Sixty-four-and-a-half – John O’Groats to Wick

obsolent — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:29:53 +0000

What’s worse than getting completely soaked cycling 18 miles in the pouring rain? Cycling eighteen miles in the pouring rain, being cheered up with the promise of a hot shower, and then getting a cold one. That’s what happened to me. I sobbed. (The gents ‘ showers at Wick Caravan Park were fine).

Kind Mr. Miller, the campsite manager, drove Howard and about a hundredweight of wet clothes to the Wick Laundry – and returned to pick him up 40 minutes later. Meanwhile the sun came out and I cheered up again.

To commemorate our last night, we sought the best in Wick and ignored it. We went to Wetherspoons. A steak each and a bottle of Merlot for a total of £14.99, plus fantastic sticky toffee puds at £1.99. Worth celebrating!

Snailville's last pitch

Last thing, before snuggling down for the final time in our loyal tent, we set our mobiles to wake us up at 0500. Got to catch that 0620 train.

Flicky

17/7/09

Day Sixty-Four: Officially THE END

obsolent — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:09:45 +0000

OS Grid Reference: ND 356 510
Miles: 18
Birds: 0
Beers: 0 – it was a night for wine! (Should have been champagne – Flicky)

This day was all planned in advance – talk to the BBC sometime after nine, pack up slowly, get photographed under the official J o’G signpost, gentle ride down to Wick visiting anything interesting en route, perhaps take in Wick Museum, leisurely meal in a good restaurant.

But …

Flicky had said “I think it’s going to rain”, and I should have listened. Eager to get ahead I packed one pannier bag – then left it outside, open.

I then rang the BBC at 9 as arranged in a phone conversation on Friday. “Oh” said Gurinda, the voice of the BBC “I’d forgotten we said Tuesday”, but she promised to cram us in somewhere before 10 – she would call us. Meanwhile it started to rain, and rain – the noise of it hitting the tent was so loud any phone conversation would have been very tricky. However it slacked off somewhat, and we waited on tenterhooks until 10, when I rang again to find Gerinda had rung twice but just got Voicemail. After ringing off politely and apologetically, promising to get organised back home, I am afraid to say

I lost it - if there had been enough room to jump up and down on the phone I would of! Sorry, all those of you who tuned in to BBC Surrey to hear us.

Predictably the rain had got into the open bag. More fireworks! I rescued it and mopped up, cursing. Eventually we were totally packed, ready for the official photograph.

But when we got to the world famous real signpost, there was a rather grumpy looking chap guarding it and ready to demand cash. Seeing 4 lads from Newcastle dithering like us, we all went down to the quay and snapped each other in front of the unofficial but rather more northern, and free, signpost there. The Newcastle bunch were heading for Lands End – hoped to get there in two weeks.

We went and had breakfast at the Costa Cafe, hoping it would stop raining – but it didn’t.

Howard

17/7/09

Day Sixty-Three: Twiddling at J o’G

obsolent — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:43:24 +0000

OS Grid Reference: ND 383 733
Miles: 100 yards (we moved the tent away from a smoker)
Birds: 1 – A black Guillemot
Beers: 1.5 – should have been champagne (Flicky says)

We had planned to arrive at J o’G this morning (why? can’t remember now), but we had arrived already so it was a holiday, and time to discover the local sights and thrills.

Had to go to Duncansby Head, or the experts would say we didn’t go far enough. Our last new bird – a Black Guillemot.

Kevin Carr

Back down to J o’G, where accosted by a lad in threadbare trainers, Kevin Carr, hoping our support team (?!) could offer him a lift back home. He had just set the record for RUNNING OFF-ROAD from Land’s End to J o’G, in 45 days and 17 hours. We shook his hand, took his photo,wished him the best of luck, and congratulated ourselves for doing the trip the easy way.

Our treat for the day was a boat trip round Duncansby Head and Stacks, to see the post card views, and MILLIONS of sea birds. The big thing was the boat nosing up to within feet of the cliff – wonderful views of the birds, horrendous noise, but rather unpleasant fallout!

Supper at the Seaview Hotel, where I experienced my first Clootie Dumpling (it’s a bit like a Wet Nellie).

Howard

17/07/09

(But unofficially)

acjjarvis — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:47:49 +0000

Well Done Brilliant Parents! We’ll be dining off your exploits for years to come!

Love Anna xxxx

Day Sixty-Two: Dunnet – John O’Groats Caravan Park!!!

acjjarvis — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:45:59 +0000

OS Grid Reference: ND 383 733
Miles: 14
Birds: 1 – A very camera shy Rock Dove.
Beers: 2 cans - If they tied all their empty cans together & strung them out behind the bikes, would they stretch back to Land’s End?

Today’s been rather wet to say the least, so a visit to The Castle of Mey was very welcome, God Bless you Ma’am. Flicky & Howard really enjoyed their visit here, very down to earth and homely somehow. The Queen Mum actually went “down the shops” herself to buy her furniture and there are lots of quirky knick-knacks about the place, such as a little viking stuck on a mirror. There’s no heating upstairs and although she lovingly designed a bedroom especially for Princess Margaret, sadly she never stayed there, presumably preferring the warmer climes of the Caribbean!

Yes, Flicky & Howard have arrived at JO’G, but not officially. They need to save all the publicity stuff for later in the week when Radio Surrey should be ringing them for a live interview. Meanwhile, they’re racking their brains for the “best” & “worst” moments so as to be prepared for that inevitable question.

Sally & Anna x

Day Sixty-One: Dunnet Caravan Club

acjjarvis — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:39:52 +0000

OS Grid Reference: ND 219 704
Miles: 13
Birds: 5 – Red Throated Diver, Arctic Skua, Arctic Tern, Little Tern,
Little Grebe
Beers: 2 cans

Flicky & Howard have been as very far north as you can go on the mainland today – Dunnet Head. They sat on the shore for a long time watching Grey seals “bottling”, I think that’s what they said. Apparently they dive, then blow streams of bubbles to confuse the fish, which spectacularly leap out of the water before being chomped.

It’s been a bumper day for birds. They spotted the Red Throated Diver on a lochan & then cycled on to St.John’s Loch where there’s a memorial hide (not sure to whom) and a lot of man-made nesting platforms for the terns which are obviously very successful-see above.

Next stop – Mary Ann’s Cottage, a croft which belonged to three generations of the Calder family. Mary Ann was the last Calder to live & farm there. She had to leave age 93 and the croft has been kept, as she wished, a window into crofting life over the generations.

The Northern Sands Hotel served up a super supper & conversation was sparkling apart from the loud monologue at the next table on intracacies of Landrovers!

And so endeth Day Sixty One.

Sally & Anna x