Saturday
02.47am -
Stint 3 (17.1 miles 705ft) -
https://app.strava.com/activities/329816919
After 148 odd miles, Dan finally stopped for a rest, Matt was snoozing, and Cath & Steph were catching a little well deserved sleep, all was very quiet.
Myself and Ian headed out. It had rained pretty much none stop since the backend of my second stint, but plenty of warm clothing left, we headed out into the unknown, in Wroxeter, Shropshire.
Still a headwind, the first 6 miles or so were nice and flat. Ian, the only one without a road bike, tucked in behind me and I helped him draught through at a decent pace.
Went through Shrewsbury which seemed a lovely place to visit again, and then got a few hills, but nothing as bad as before.
Got through to the next RP point realising nothing is waterproof, but ready to go straight again.
04.16am -
Stint 4 (14.4 miles 709ft) -
https://app.strava.com/activities/329816890
Swapping Ian for Matt, we headed out, still raining, still a headwind from Baschurch, Shropshire, northwards towards the Welsh border.
Taking in turns to lead, we made decent progress, the rain lifting somewhat, and the sun reappearing. We passed through Whittington which had a lovely ruins of a castle, would have liked to have gone exploring here, but had to make do with a photo, with Mr Teapot himself.
Saw a huge number of rabbits all over the place, up to no good I don't doubt.
As the stint came closer to finishing, there were a few little hills that really took it out of my legs, but pushed through knowing warmth and a change of clothes, and perhaps even some sleep, was waiting.
3 hours sleep later I awoke, and got into my last relatively dry clothes ready for another stint.
09.38am -
Stint 5 (15.9 miles 856ft) -
https://app.strava.com/activities/329816884
The rain had subsided, but I kept the cycling hat on under my helmet just in case. While I was sleeping we had been joined by another friend, Philip who took part in Ironman competitions. Alongside us was Dan, Mr Pro.
Getting on the bike, just north of Widnes, Cheshire, and having just woken up, and cycling with a triathlete, and an Ironman, I was a little worried I was out of my depth!
I stayed behind them tucking in and letting them chat as they effortlessly pedalled and dragged me along. They were just cruising while I was hitting every uphill head on with a toothy grimace.
To their credit they slowed the pace to suit me with no issues, and Philips local knowledge came in as we avoided a gravel road along the route.
Headed past St Helens Rugby league ground, down a quite hazardous downhill section Philip warned us about, and safely back to the next RP.
13.07pm -
Stint 6 (15.2 miles 420ft) -
https://app.strava.com/activities/329816840
As Matt, Philip and Dan arrived at the final RP, we all got out ready for the final push. A lot of cyclists had joined us for the ride into Blackpool, including one guy with a ZZ Top style beard, that everyone seem to just call Beard. Seems logical.
On the previous stint, Philip had re routed around a closed off area due to a car crash, making his participation very lucky indeed once again.
Friends and family of Lisa (and perhaps Ian?) were there to see us off, and to meet us in Blackpool, and so after a time, we headed out from The Wheatsheaf, in Woodplumpton, Lancashire.
(Picture completely misses the masses who were there, d'oh)
A final picture en route of the riders and support drivers.
With the 6 main riders, and a good 7 or 8 new riders, the Millennium Bago, support van and a host of cars, we set off into the headwind, and the rain. But we didn't care.
Actually Matt did - he wanted a hot drink. And not to be cold. And wet.
The rest of us were ok though!
As we closed in, the Tower was shrouded in mist from halfway up, and I navigated round the back to loop around. Ian took the lead, the 5 of us behind, and the others behind us. A bus decided to try and run us off the road with all the space for himself anyway, I an promptly told him where he should stick his bus, and we came round the corner for the final straight, the group that had been at the Wheatsheaf, along with my wife were there clapping and cheering, and I think for a few in particular, it was a very emotional moment, especially as the sun finally came out again!
A lot of planning had took place, a lot of negotiating with companies for help, and for Ian I think a personal moment of achievement. Stephen, who organised most of it all, and Lisa who did an awful lot in support were there with Ian in terms of the emotional finish.
I'm also pretty sure the mech van drivers (especially Mark who had done 90% of the driving) who had been a cheery, and expertly driven support all the way, along with Cath and Steph who could drive the 'Bago backwards down the narrowest paths (and did!) were all feeling the relief and sense that we'd done it!
(Photobombed group shot)
After breakfast provided by Hotel Eleven, my wife and I went to our hotel and I slept for a few hours before eating a banquet (literally) at Mandarin's restaurant.
A quick pootle along the sea front
And then scared by the number of giant inflatable penises being carried by hens we made our way back to sleep.
On our way back I spotted an unusual hen party consisting of a dozen women dressed as Super Mario characters, eating pizza in a fast food place called...Mario's.
My only regret for the whole trip was not taking a picture of it.
Sunday
It was a long journey back in the Millennium Bago, but I was just glad I wasn't cycling!
For the record, nobody had a visit from the P Fairy, and nobody had a mechanical issue beyond the first mile!
My overall numbers - 121.6 miles cycled (including 2 miles missed on the Garmin), 6,306ft climbed, sore legs in 28.5 hours so missed the target time by quite a bit, but that included some long changeovers.
if anyone would like to check out the charity page, where you can read a little about Ian and his wife's reasons for putting this together please check out this link -
https://www.justgiving.com/towertotowercycleforalexander/
)
felt like this
Roll on winter...lol.
