The Best Guide for the NN12 Area

Towcester LeJog Team Push Onto Edinburgh

 Final rest before push into Edinburgh

Todays ride is dedicated to Tony's Mother, Josephine McMurray, who suffers from Alzheimer's

 
Fundraising total has now exceeded £17,900
 
Up and at 'em was the mantra for day 8 in the saddle. We knew it would be a long one and it was looking pretty lumpy from the profile so there was an air of anticipation mixed with some nerves at the breakfast table (at least Bryan said it was nerves, smelt a bit bad though !).
 
It took an age to get out of Newcastle, all of it up hill it felt but we did have the highlight of crossing the Tyne Bridge - nice routing again Bill. What didn't take so long to get going though was the puncture count - our record so far with five in total throughout the day. The usual culprets to the fore: Tony and Rossi with two each and Bryan with the other.
Once we got out into the countryside things really took a turn for the better.

The scenery was just breathtaking all day. Hadrian's Wall was an early highlight, Kielder for lunch and some Swedish hikers lookers tent buddies for the night! Also, later in the day there was a group halucination that caused several member to nearly fall off their bikes. We were cycling along having a nice chat when all went quiet, brakes were applied and wheels wobbled - the cause of this abrupt change of behviour was a lady suddenly appearing out of the hedge and walking up the side of the road. The bit that caught the group's attention however, was the fact that she was wearing very little (no really..... very little).
 
After lunch it started raining for the first time. Whilst waiting for some of the group to catch up, Bill spotted a nice bus shelter to hide in. He casually cycled up to the front of it with the aim to ride straight in. What the long grass hid though was a concrete step. His bike refused at the first (3 faults) and also unshipped it's rider (even more faults). Bill was left with very muddy kit and a bruised elbow and confirmation that 'Bill the Spill' is still on form !
 
Just as we all stopped at the sign welcoming us into Scotland (where I received first midge bite - the little blighters didn't hang about!) we were joined by two of Stuart's friends. Unfortunately Bob and Jamie struggled to keep up with us finely honed athletes and they were repeatedly "whipped" up the hills by Bill and Bryan (at least that's what Bill told me to write). They each also made one major gaff each:
 
Jamie's suggestion for a short cut took us up the North face of the Eiger but without crampons, ropes or ice axes. The only positive out of it was that the author was at last able to show his climbing prowess by taking King of the Mountains (well king of one big hill on one day at least). The down side for such a fine display was that of going back down again to find Tony who was repairing one of his punctures.
Bob's faux pas was to suggest staying on the minor road that parallelled the A7. Oh boy - lumps and bumps all the way altough it did mean that the support crew met Fiona. She generously gave us a donation and also allowed them to fill up the water continers and offered her 'facilities' to the team. Thanks Fiona, it was the perfect assistance at that time.
 
When we finally did make it on to the main road, the pelloton was working brilliantly. All together, taking the wind to help other riders until...... We passed a county sign - photo time. Stuart and Rossi stopped to take a picture so the had to catch up. They worked hard together and did a 'fly by' at speed when they caught us up.Bryan was heard to mutter "Now it's serious" and an impromptu race started. Luckily a combination of tired legs and being severely whooped by Bob brought it to a halt after only a few miles.

By then it was time to get to the hotel. Cycling in a beautiful sunset through a
magnificent city, just hoping Rossi's slow puncture would hold out long enough.
 
The ladies had worked their magic again at the hotel and we were also met by Lee & Vanessa et al again in addition to Christine, Megan and Sarah (Rossi even got a hug from the girls!). Special mention goes to Liz Mackay for the leg massages at the hotel.
 
All in all a record breaking day for us in several ways:
 

• 132 miles in one day
• 9h 50' in the saddle,
• 5 punctures
• And a 9pm arrival at the hotel.

Can't wait for tomorrow - sun, hills and almost 50 miles less cycling!
Hopefully back on line tomorrow, signal permitting.
 
[penned by LEJOG team member Trevor Ray]

www.lejogend2end.co.uk

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