Aching muscles and a commissaries enquiry greeted day 38 with an investigation into why Henley had the same no of hours in the saddle yesterday a lower average speed yet had managed to complete 5kms longer getting to JOG .... was a taxi used ???
The mystery was solved when KH revealed that he had mistook his bikes Odo 6110kms for 6hrs11 mins and the extra 5km when he took a turn off suggested by me even though I could clearly show him I'd sent a text saying to stay on the main road - the fact that I sent it to his Australian phone might partly explain why he didn't get it and between us why we were lucky we found JOG at all!
With no inclination to celebrate our achievement after a late arrival at Wick the new day at least gave us a chance to reflect on our achievement -
2690 kms over 30 riding days and only 1 puncture !
Completed during one of Scotland's wettest summers ever !
Special recognition -
Most useless item carried - Kevs GPS used successfully only once and then only from the b&b to thr main road is now not working at all following the most recent downpour and Kevs non waterproof front bag !
Most scenic ride - A toss up between riding to Kearshader on the Outer Hebrides overlooking
Fjord like scenery + riding to Oban through the beautiful Scottish Highlands
Most annoying - experiencing the 268 varieties of shower taps that alternatively scalded then froze you!
Most Spectacular - Slieve League cliffs rising 2000ft direct from the sea
Steepest - 25% 3pm gradient coming out of Kettlewell where the steep road required pushing bikes while holding the front brake to avoid losing the bike
Greatest contribution to global warming - Kevin Henley and his 22 cubic tonnes of methane
gas released into the atmosphere !
Worst day - St.austell day 1 getting to b&b at 9.30pm in the dark, cold & wet
and cycling down a bridleway (mule track) to Mankinholes with KH in a comatose state
Most embarrassing - KH hassling the bike shop owner at Lochgilphead to reset his computer(even though I'd checked out how to on the net)when the poor guy hadn't even opened his shop door
Most dangerous - cycling around London forgetting we had brake operated pedals that activated the brake every time you centred the pedals!
and finally the
Most enjoyable - crossing the line at JOG!
8,000 Km's in 3 months cycling across UK and Europe ! In July the Tibetan hardened duo ride from Lands End on this "boys own" epic. After cycling UK's best Kev & Mike go on to Europe to cycle from Berchtesgaden (Bavaria) to Amboise in France meeting fellow Warby's Viv & Linton and Mike's sister Kim for an incredible Journey to Barcelona. The epic ends with a spectacular climb over the Alps and a cycle through Switzerland and along the fabulous Rhine!
You should both keep us entertained for years with all the stories when you get home. You could not possibly have dreamed them up, precious.
ReplyDeleteBobbert.
Truly a breathtaking ride of Biblical proportions - the only problem is that it sounds like KH does not appear to have any breath left to take.
ReplyDeleteDennis