Day 16 – Friday – June 18th

Made it!!

We had finally made it to within miles of the finishing line this morning, when we woke bright & breezy in St Austell Station. Yet another 6.50 start to the morning for no apparent reason.

Breakfast was provided at the normal time of 7.30, however shortly after, Bob announced that the start time was going to move back from 9am to 10am. This was mainly a ploy to allow Bob to get out on his bike, to get a few more miles on the speedometer, so that he can make the magic 1,000 miles.

As were staying overnight again tonight before departing, we didn’t need to pack up entirely, so it was a case of getting ready for the final 55 miles………

Today’s final legs riders were the original 14 plus Owen Pates & Dave Etheridge who had driven (or been driven) all the way down to join us for the last leg.

We left the station after the normal calls of ‘need my glove, where’s my bike’, and lots of curious children watching who had come for the Cornish version of Junior Citizen, and headed straight up a rather large hill out of St Austell.

It should be noted at this point that Danny last night had been fined for various wrong doings, and been presented with a new riding outfit for the final day. As was appropriate this consisted of a pair of very small pink cycling shorts, topped of with a very slimming light blue top with a suitable motif on the front. Pictures will be available very shortly………

Fair to say that progress in the morning was slow, mainly doe to the number of hills, up, short down, then up again, etc. No major casualties at this point and amazingly no punctures! Most would agree that the first 20 miles this morning were nothing but painful & slow.

20 odd miles in we came to the start of some fairly major roadworks on the A30, near Cambourne, so while Kev and the drivers checked the route ahead. The sight of numerous lycra clad sweating cyclists probably did nothing enhance the reputation of the venue, but we appreciated it…… Finally, we left to follow the slight detour alongside the roadworks although at this point our first serious collision occurred. Leaving the main road through a set of road cones, the group of six that was going through navigated them safely, all except Simon who was on the end. The resounding thud as Simon rode straight into a very large 4 ft cone, could be heard all around, and the slight ouch as he then bounced into the arnco barrier. Luckily after picking himself up and straightening out the bike, he was ok and so was the bike, although we are sure there might be a little bruise or two later….

The 2nd stage through to the lunch stop was a better ride, and we all managed to pick up a little bit of speed, however it was another 18-20 miles before we got to lunch at Marizion beach (a mile prior to Penzance). The last of our ‘Princess’s’ lunch’s was laid out, and we had quite a few visitors who had come down to see us in the final miles (or to check we were actually cycling).

We aimed to finish at 3pm at Lands end, and it was soon realised that that might stretch by a few minutes, as the final riders left about 2.15 for the final 13 miles. Danny had by this time decided that he was not going to be seen in his pink cycling shorts at Lands End, so he changed into something slightly more normal

A few last climbs lay before us out of Penzance, with a fairly steep one just a mile after lunch (why are they always after lunch????), and we were soon coasting (eventually) towards Sennen cove, a mile short of lands End. Bob wanted a final head count – understandable as losing a person wouldn’t have enhanced his career!, and after a quick pre celebratory drink in the car park (apple juice – what else) we all set off en masse for the finishing line.

Fair to say, that moments later as we rounded the last few bends and we could see the finish before us, as well as a group of people who we hoped were there for us (always embarrassing if they aren’t!) we were all greatly relived to have finally made it and we all rolled together towards the line. Bobs dream of all crossing simultaneously was slightly difficult (you try getting 15 bikes across the width of a single road – doesn’t work), but about 3.21 we all crossed the line at Lands End.

After a fantastic welcome by friends, our support team who have all been fantastic, and various onlookers who just thought it was polite to clap, we finally moved from blocking the entrance to lands end, and wheeled our way round through the visitors to the famous signpost on the other side. After having been told off for getting Cava on the signpost (Bobs fault), various photo’s ensued, and please take a look at the flickr gallery via the website www.heroes4heroes.co.uk to see our record of the past two weeks.

341 hours after leaving John O’ Groat’s, numerous tyres and inner tubes later (in Toby’s case whole bikes), lost bags, pouring rain, burning sun and everything else that the two weeks had thrown at us, finally saw us arriving at our destination, with over £22,000 already given via just giving, and the balance of our sponsorship, and other final totals still to come in.

We will post a further blog later, but as you can imagine we are all now back at St Austell enjoying Julian’s Bar B Que (Although we think he ought to tell his wife next time he takes it- especially when she wanted it), and a few drinks to round it off..

Please take time to have a look at the website, and the links to twitter, facebook & flickr – just click on www.heroes4heroes.co.uk , and follow the links from the front page! (Top left)

Now to the food and drink………………..