Liverpool Womens Hospital

I (Kev) had an emotional return to the Liverpool Women's Hospital this morning, for a photo shoot for The Liverpool Echo with some of the Nursers. It was lovely to meet up with Chris Webster again the MacMillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, who deserves a medal for the amazing work that she does. She was fantastic with Carla.
Carla always talked about Chris.

Wax or Shave, you decide

Lee called before. The London boy has gone under the blade, he's shaved his legs in preparation for the big ride. We will look like a pro team now, with shaved legs, matching kit, top bikes and a fancy support car. Pity Lee still has his stabilizers attached!

Feet First

(Steve) Had an appointment with the chiropodist at 5.40, wanting my poor feet to stand up to the millions, yes millions of pedal revs in the next two weeks. Sheila Morris did a wonderful job and now I'm not so concerned about my toes giving me so much pain.
Chatted to Sheila about what lay ahead and what the charity is all about. Couldn't believe it when I came to pay up and she told me to donate her fee to the charity.
Thanks a lot Sheila, fantastic generosity.
A plug is the least I can do and highly recommended - Sheila Morris Chiropodist/Podiatrist, Aughton Surgery.

Loverly Lady

I (Kev) went into Ormskirk this morning to go to the Bank and as I locked the car a lovely lady on crutches came over to me and asked if she could sponsor our ride.The kind lady had seen the charity on the car and said that she had heard me on the radio.
She wanted to put some money into my bucket. I explained that I didn't have a bucket for her donation, so I gave her a Blog card and told her about our Blog and about the link to our Just Giving site. With help from her Daughter, she said she would be happy to sponsor us through Just Giving. I told her about Carla and she then shook me by the hand and said "you are doing an amazing thing"
I asked the lovely Lady for her name, unfortunately I didn't write it down, so typical me, memory like sieve I forgot it! If that nice lady reads this, I am very sorry for forgetting your name.
Bless you.

Queen's Park School Involvement

The St Helens Star arrived today to take some snaps of the children, Kev and I with the car. They should be publishing an article within the next week or so about the ride. The pic with this post is Mr Curran's attempt and not the Star's photographer's work.
The children were really excited meeting Kev and having their pics taken with the support vehicle. There's an own clothes day on Friday to support the charity and also a raffle being organised by the 'Friends of Queen's Park'. Kev and I have decided to open up a competition to all pupils who can have a go at guessing the exact miles we will cycle. The closest or exact guesses will be placed in a hat and will win a prize.
This time next week we will be in Penzance preparing our bikes and ourselves for the challenge ahead.
The plan for this week is minimum miles on the bike and lots of carbohydrates, with several early nights.
Can't wait to get started, especially after accompanying Steve D yesterday on his day 5.

End to Enders, end to homer and wanna be end to enders

Met the club, but decided to head South and try to meet up with Steve Diesel from the cycling club(who was on his day 5 end to end challenge). Kev got quite irate when I (Steve) couldn't quite get the Sat Nav to navigate out of Ormskirk on the route I'd plotted. After several attempts, I turned it off and relied on Steve Nav. I thought Kev was not happy with me at the start, but his anger built and peaked just after we had crossed the Runcorn Widnes bridge (I thought it was quite funny) as the traffic and main road was very busy and extremely unpleasant. He sounded like Mutley from Wacky Races, cursing me under his breath. His mood totally transformed when I got him to Frodsham and then on beautiful lanes through Delamere Forest. Took a refuel stop at Tarporley, very posh place and a nice cafe.
Headed back onto the A49 towards Whitchurch to meet Steve, who had called a few times. Got several miles up the road, then decided to pull over and wait for him.
Then at the brow of a long climb he appeared, but he had company (two lads from the club). Alongside him were Colin and Pantani (ex famous Italian cyclist) on a tandem. t was no ordinary tandem. It had the Skull and Crossbones flag flying from the back (The real Marco Pantani Christened himself el Pirate) and a white balloon flying high, attached by string. Upon closer inspection, they had insulation tape making allsorts of holders and cages. Sun cream, after sun, tools, tyre glue etc..... We set off with them and had a wonderful ride, which included a stop at a garden centre in Cheshire for fancy deserts and coffee. On to Stockton Heath, Warrington, (where we passed the stadium whilst a game was on), Ashton, Haydock, Billinge and home. Miles clocked today 89. something (not exactly sure, as I turned the Garmin off early on). Picked Steve D's brain and got great advice. Best of it was, "You will have all day to make it to the next B and B, so chill out and take all day if you want". Feel great after a Protein shake, shower and pasta. Scorching day today and so important to drink. Think I used 6 water bottles on the ride. Got 50 miles in yesterday too. Tapering training this week and eating lots of carbohydrates in preparation for the start in 8 days!

This Is It........

This time next week will be our last day in our own beds before embarking on a madcap adventure from Lands End to John O Groats. I'm (Lee) already knackered thinking about it. Tried to get out today for what I hoped would be a decent prep ride but god it was hot, not helped by Ava keeping me up all night with a temperature of 39.6. She's OK now. Anyway did my usual trip to Richmond Park and went round and round until my limited sleep deprived strength gave out and I headed home. Only 55 miles. Actually got out yesterday morning too for a quick 25 miles before breakfast. Hope it's not so hot next week. Hope you boys got out and honed those riding skills to the maximum...remember you promised you'd wait for me.......happy days