Day 13 or, if you are superstitious, Day 12b
or maybe even Day 14*
The Pedal for Parkinson's Double End-to-End Cycle Challenge
Helmsdale to Dunnet Head
80 miles
Posted by the Secret Secretary
Only the Brave !
Dunnet Head: a cheerful tombstone (!) welcomes travellers daring to venture this far north.
*Day 13, 12b or 14?
If you include last Friday's (24th June) rest day in Stirling, it was (yesterday) 14 days since the Pedal for Parkinson's Team embarked on its Double End-to-End Cycle Challenge, making Tuesday 28th June Day 13 of cycling or, for the superstitious amongst us, Day 12b. However you count it, yesterday saw the Team complete the first of its geographic targets: having left Lizard Point in Cornwall, the most southerly point of mainland Britain, the riders were now at Dunnet Head, the most northerly point of the mainland. From Helmsdale, where the Team started this final ride of the first leg of its Odyssey yesterday morning (and according to the Roadbook) this meant a 64 mile ride. 64 miles plus a few bonus miles to take in John O'Groats, presumably because it's there.
Land's End to John O'Groats is of course a classic long distance ride for British cyclists at least. Les, Neil, Dave and Nigel have already ridden the course, again to raise money for Parkinson's but the route is new for Mark and Chris. For this reason, the Team did a prologue stage from Land's End to Lizard Point at the beginning of this year's Tour so that yesterday, by making the detour to John O'Groats, everyone could say that he has ridden LeJog!
Look John O'Groat's up on the Internet and you might come across Clement Panhard on the Web**, as its name suggests: a website dedicated to the Clement Panhard, "a veteran car beyond its time". The website tells us that: "in July 1901 John Stirling of Stirling's Motor Carriages drove a Clement Panhard from John O'Groats to Land's End in 59 hours and 15 minutes to prove the motor car's resilience. [...] Today the route between the two ends of Britain covers 850 miles and would take approximately 16 hours, back in 1901 it took a little longer." Travel in the other direction on bike and it takes a little longer still but the mission is almost the same - to prove the rider's resilience, particularly in the case of the Pedal for Parkinson's Challenge Team and the 4 riders who have Parkinson's: Team Leader Dave, master mountaineer Mark, veteran LeJogger Neil and... Les, who have been joined on this year's adventure by friends Nigel and Chris on their bikes and, in the support vehicles, (at various times) Jean, Viv, Liz and Geoff (and later) Stuart and Ann.
If you include last Friday's (24th June) rest day in Stirling, it was (yesterday) 14 days since the Pedal for Parkinson's Team embarked on its Double End-to-End Cycle Challenge, making Tuesday 28th June Day 13 of cycling or, for the superstitious amongst us, Day 12b. However you count it, yesterday saw the Team complete the first of its geographic targets: having left Lizard Point in Cornwall, the most southerly point of mainland Britain, the riders were now at Dunnet Head, the most northerly point of the mainland. From Helmsdale, where the Team started this final ride of the first leg of its Odyssey yesterday morning (and according to the Roadbook) this meant a 64 mile ride. 64 miles plus a few bonus miles to take in John O'Groats, presumably because it's there.
Land's End to John O'Groats is of course a classic long distance ride for British cyclists at least. Les, Neil, Dave and Nigel have already ridden the course, again to raise money for Parkinson's but the route is new for Mark and Chris. For this reason, the Team did a prologue stage from Land's End to Lizard Point at the beginning of this year's Tour so that yesterday, by making the detour to John O'Groats, everyone could say that he has ridden LeJog!
Look John O'Groat's up on the Internet and you might come across Clement Panhard on the Web**, as its name suggests: a website dedicated to the Clement Panhard, "a veteran car beyond its time". The website tells us that: "in July 1901 John Stirling of Stirling's Motor Carriages drove a Clement Panhard from John O'Groats to Land's End in 59 hours and 15 minutes to prove the motor car's resilience. [...] Today the route between the two ends of Britain covers 850 miles and would take approximately 16 hours, back in 1901 it took a little longer." Travel in the other direction on bike and it takes a little longer still but the mission is almost the same - to prove the rider's resilience, particularly in the case of the Pedal for Parkinson's Challenge Team and the 4 riders who have Parkinson's: Team Leader Dave, master mountaineer Mark, veteran LeJogger Neil and... Les, who have been joined on this year's adventure by friends Nigel and Chris on their bikes and, in the support vehicles, (at various times) Jean, Viv, Liz and Geoff (and later) Stuart and Ann.
The Parkinson's is of course manageable to a degree through careful medication. Yesterday Les, maybe because of the Midnight Sun, was late with his first morning dose of anti-wobble pills and consequently had to wait behind at the hostel in Helmsdale for his legs to switch on before taking to the road on his bike. As Les has been proving himself to be the closet speed merchant in the Team, this was an opportunity for everyone else to get a head start at a more civilised pace. Les would catch them up, for sure...
Speedy Gonzales takes over the story: "Yesterday was a good day, clear blue skies and mild. With the detour to John O'Groats there were 80 miles to ride, all the way on the spectacular A9. Despite the fine weather at the start of the day, it had clouded over by the time we approached John O'Groats; the overcast weather only added to the village's usual dreich*** demeanour. It got very cold as we flaffed around for the commemorative team photos - part of the ritual of the LeJog experience. Then later, as we approached Dunnet Head the clouds parted to let the sunshine break through and it warmed up appreciably making a sunny backdrop for more team photos near the lighthouse before we then made our way to our digs in Thurso. Stage one of our mission accomplished."
Speedy Gonzales takes over the story: "Yesterday was a good day, clear blue skies and mild. With the detour to John O'Groats there were 80 miles to ride, all the way on the spectacular A9. Despite the fine weather at the start of the day, it had clouded over by the time we approached John O'Groats; the overcast weather only added to the village's usual dreich*** demeanour. It got very cold as we flaffed around for the commemorative team photos - part of the ritual of the LeJog experience. Then later, as we approached Dunnet Head the clouds parted to let the sunshine break through and it warmed up appreciably making a sunny backdrop for more team photos near the lighthouse before we then made our way to our digs in Thurso. Stage one of our mission accomplished."
(Above) Driving from John O'Groats to Lands End in
a Clement Panhard: a demonstration of resilience!**
Yesterday in grey, cloudy weather,
John O'Groats no doubt looked as dreich as it did in 1901.
So, having achieved the first target of this Double End-to-End ride, the Pedal for Parkinson's Challenge Team can now say "Been there, done that, got the tee-shirt." Only, if they did get the proverbial tee-shirt modesty dictates that they don't flaunt it. Take a look at the Team Photo, taken supposedly for posterity at Dunnet Head and now on ostentatious display on the Pedal for Parkinson's Challenge Website (contain yourself, it's just a click away - follow the link immediately below). Fathers with daughters, be afraid, be very afraid! Oh Lord! Talk about posing.a Clement Panhard: a demonstration of resilience!**
Yesterday in grey, cloudy weather,
John O'Groats no doubt looked as dreich as it did in 1901.
Click here to see the Pedal for Parkinson's Challenge Team photo at Dunnet Head (there is probably a law against this):
**Clement Panhard on the Web
No comments:
Post a Comment