To all those lovely people who kindly donated at the Liverpool Registry Office...
Many sincere thanks to all from 56(Reserve) Squadron. Every penny you have pledged will go to help injured Service men and women rebuild their lives.
Thanks once again!
Friday 6 August 2010
Wednesday 30 June 2010
Tuesday 29 June 2010
Congratulations Team!!
The Firebirds have landed at John O'Groats! How long have I waited to blog that?!!
Overcast skies, a strong headwind and drizzle made things tough initially, but we were all somewhat determined to reach our goal! Nothing could dampen our spirits. Except for the Berriedale braes. Locally renowned for breaking cyclists, these long, steep and demonic hills crept up on us without warning. Did they break us? Not a chance. We Firebirds are made of sterner stuff!
85 miles after setting off from Tain, we arrived six-abreast with nothing having stood in our way. Except for a truck. We claimed right of way and rode into the arms of our support crew with hand-shakes and back-slaps aplenty.
Congratulations cyclists and a huge, huge thanks to our great support crew. Well done team!!
We will be keeping the website (www.justgiving.com/cycleRAF) live for a couple of weeks yet, so if you haven't donated, please do so...if you would be so kind!
For info, we will also have a gazebo set up next to the AWC marquee, with a couple of static bikes and some raffle prizes etc at the Air Show. If you're there, please pop in and say hello!
Fellow Firebirds, please get your completed sponsorship forms and monies to me soonest, so that I can start to add up some totals. Thanks.
Finally, to those who have donated, and those who are about to, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Overcast skies, a strong headwind and drizzle made things tough initially, but we were all somewhat determined to reach our goal! Nothing could dampen our spirits. Except for the Berriedale braes. Locally renowned for breaking cyclists, these long, steep and demonic hills crept up on us without warning. Did they break us? Not a chance. We Firebirds are made of sterner stuff!
85 miles after setting off from Tain, we arrived six-abreast with nothing having stood in our way. Except for a truck. We claimed right of way and rode into the arms of our support crew with hand-shakes and back-slaps aplenty.
Congratulations cyclists and a huge, huge thanks to our great support crew. Well done team!!
We will be keeping the website (www.justgiving.com/cycleRAF) live for a couple of weeks yet, so if you haven't donated, please do so...if you would be so kind!
For info, we will also have a gazebo set up next to the AWC marquee, with a couple of static bikes and some raffle prizes etc at the Air Show. If you're there, please pop in and say hello!
Fellow Firebirds, please get your completed sponsorship forms and monies to me soonest, so that I can start to add up some totals. Thanks.
Finally, to those who have donated, and those who are about to, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Monday 28 June 2010
Penultimate Day!
What a tough start to the day. Retreating 35 miles back to Huntly this morning was soul-destroying, but it was absolutely necessary in order that we didn't miss out a single metre of our epic journey. A solid headwind made the first 5.5 hrs to Inverness rather damn tough and saw our average speed drop to -7 mph!
Leigh's puncture-fixings skills would have been first-class, had it not been for his comedy rubber tyre-levers. Thankfully Dr Dougie had real ones to help him out.
Leigh continues to delight his fellow cyclists with yet another comedy fall off his bike after politely letting other riders take the road route, kerbing his wheels, which sent his bike one way and him the other into a lush bed of nettles.
Shoey also had his moment of hilarity, after clipping Kenny's rear tyre on a quiet country road. Dougie reported the cartoon-esque sight of Shoey dancing around his bike at 15 mph, feet making like Scooby Doo, whilst bouncing both his testicles the length of his crossbar and back.
A sign pointing to Aberdeen, located just outside Inverness Caledonian's football ground gave Shoey an opportunity to show off his local knowledge... 'Is that Aberdeen's ground then?'
Once we turned the corner at Inverness and passed over the Kessock Bridge, the wind became a help rather than a hindrance and helped us nudge up our average speed. We even put an extra 15 miles today to reduce the mileage tomorrow...for our LAST DAY!
Leigh's puncture-fixings skills would have been first-class, had it not been for his comedy rubber tyre-levers. Thankfully Dr Dougie had real ones to help him out.
Leigh continues to delight his fellow cyclists with yet another comedy fall off his bike after politely letting other riders take the road route, kerbing his wheels, which sent his bike one way and him the other into a lush bed of nettles.
Shoey also had his moment of hilarity, after clipping Kenny's rear tyre on a quiet country road. Dougie reported the cartoon-esque sight of Shoey dancing around his bike at 15 mph, feet making like Scooby Doo, whilst bouncing both his testicles the length of his crossbar and back.
A sign pointing to Aberdeen, located just outside Inverness Caledonian's football ground gave Shoey an opportunity to show off his local knowledge... 'Is that Aberdeen's ground then?'
Once we turned the corner at Inverness and passed over the Kessock Bridge, the wind became a help rather than a hindrance and helped us nudge up our average speed. We even put an extra 15 miles today to reduce the mileage tomorrow...for our LAST DAY!
Andy and Ghost Rider slap on that sun lotion Oh and you too Tom, and stop having punctures.
Kenny don`t fall off again, Leigh no more stupid stunts. Dougie remember they are not Iron Men like you, have some mercy. Shoey keep your hands on the handle bars or else. Have a tremendous last day. Warmest Regards and of course a few Hugs and Kisses Mother Mew xx
Kenny don`t fall off again, Leigh no more stupid stunts. Dougie remember they are not Iron Men like you, have some mercy. Shoey keep your hands on the handle bars or else. Have a tremendous last day. Warmest Regards and of course a few Hugs and Kisses Mother Mew xx
The Penultimate blues
Day 11 starts with a 45 min journey to our drop off point. Spirits are as drained as our legs as we begrudgingly step out of the vans into a 15kt gusting cross wind. It's slow going but were making progress until Jonty the token Ginge stops as his chain comes off at the 36 mile point and then declares a pan as he has a puncture. In a huff he dails for the nearest Sgt and states that "there seems to be air escaping from my tyre"
Sunday 27 June 2010
Day 10 Down...Two to Go!
The overnight stay at RM Condor was interesting! It certainly gave us an insight into the difficulties that the MoD face with falling accommodation standards (and the limitations of PAYD)!
The resident Marines, however, welcomed us to their home-made bar and we all watched a bit of footy with beer (for those not smacked up on Brufen!).
An early start saw Mrs M dropping off her son Dougie following his Full-English and comfortable overnight stay at home, but saw breakfast pass us less fortunate cyclists by (thanks PAYD!)...until the good old support guys could catch up with bacon butties from a Greasy Joes...yummy!
Sweeping coastlines, shimmering sea, sun beating down...the early morning ride from Arbroath was reminiscent of an idyllic Italian honeymoon (without the fun bits).
Andy, having ribbed Dougie all week for being Scottish, let a tiger out of the bag in Stonehaven (home of the deep-fried Mars Bar) when he was overheard muttering that he couldn't believe he had to pay 20p to have a No. 2 in his mum's home town... Credibility back down to zero!!
Half way through, we received a well-wishing phone call from the Boss, which was a really nice touch and gave us added incentive not to screw up!
We finished today's 88 miles with a 30 mph downhill dash, which saw us crack 5 miles in 10 mins, to catch the second half of the England v Germany game...I wish we hadn't bothered (just like the England team!).
A pleasant overnighter at Kinloss will be followed by an early morning drive 35 miles back to where we've just been to start again tomorrow for the penultimate day of about 80 miles.
I'm looking forward to the end now, our bodies are just about holding out (like the Support Crew's bellies).
Only 190 miles to go...
The resident Marines, however, welcomed us to their home-made bar and we all watched a bit of footy with beer (for those not smacked up on Brufen!).
An early start saw Mrs M dropping off her son Dougie following his Full-English and comfortable overnight stay at home, but saw breakfast pass us less fortunate cyclists by (thanks PAYD!)...until the good old support guys could catch up with bacon butties from a Greasy Joes...yummy!
Sweeping coastlines, shimmering sea, sun beating down...the early morning ride from Arbroath was reminiscent of an idyllic Italian honeymoon (without the fun bits).
Andy, having ribbed Dougie all week for being Scottish, let a tiger out of the bag in Stonehaven (home of the deep-fried Mars Bar) when he was overheard muttering that he couldn't believe he had to pay 20p to have a No. 2 in his mum's home town... Credibility back down to zero!!
Half way through, we received a well-wishing phone call from the Boss, which was a really nice touch and gave us added incentive not to screw up!
We finished today's 88 miles with a 30 mph downhill dash, which saw us crack 5 miles in 10 mins, to catch the second half of the England v Germany game...I wish we hadn't bothered (just like the England team!).
A pleasant overnighter at Kinloss will be followed by an early morning drive 35 miles back to where we've just been to start again tomorrow for the penultimate day of about 80 miles.
I'm looking forward to the end now, our bodies are just about holding out (like the Support Crew's bellies).
Only 190 miles to go...
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