Rotary Club of Epworth and

All arrive at Epworth Leisure Centre - 6 Rotarians from Epworth & Isle of Axholme - 1 Rotarian from Hull and 9 other cyclists, along with 2 lady rotarians as the back up team. Cycles are loaded onto van and Sandall Travel mini-bus ready for the off. Wives and friends wave as they set off (eventually, after packing bikes up with cardboard).

So we're off.

7:20 bikes loaded and down the road. One of us had the foresight to buy a paper for the journey. But really SimonW. The Mail! Weather dry, so far and not a hill in sight. I think I like it that way. We ended up being 16 riders, almost a minibus full.

9:50 first tea and wee break over. The sandwich shop at Scotch Corner is recommended. However Sarah found that the fried eggs were a little explosive. Back on the road and I suspect that some of our cyclists have some special sleeping compound secreted away. They seem to be able to fall asleep at the drop of a hat. Perhaps its an energy saving measure. SimonW is renting a blackberry battery from Iain on an hourly rate. It appears that his didn't charge last night and the whole of the banking world may collapse. Remember it is Friday 13th.

10:30 The sun's come out. That's better. Still black over Bill's mothers though. Going past Penrith over the M6. About an hour to go to the seaside. We have already had "are we nearly there yet". Guessing songs on the radio. Simon C really knows his stuff. Miss spent youth ?

11:00 Just past Keswick. Looking at the newbie faces there are signs of nerves. Why did they build these hills so high. For the first time I am quite nervous, well to be honest am looking for a toilet ( urgently). This is going to be hard. We were warned. The first lake is on our right. DP tells me after consultation that its Bassenthwaite lake. Its blue. Nearly at the start now. Time for carbs says Simon C. Simon W ate his lunch before 9. Bet he's hungry.
Too late to bale out now. We are blaming RichardV for the gin in the Pimms. RichardV is blaming me for the stupid idea. Whatever, here we go.!



18:30 outside the pub
Sun shining washed and polished. Cream applied. That's better. Simon's estimate of 28 miles turned into 38. Hills it felt like the sound of music and Paul "bloody" Seaman went hell for leather up every one. Great day. Lost one rider for about an hour. One casualty Craig fell off and Simon W was most entertaining sideways over the edge of one steep descent. The support crew spent the day shopping and going round Keswick several times as they couldn't find the exit. Simon W is jet propelled. This at least kept the midges at bay. All tired. Let's see what day 2 brings. One item of interest is Bills dress sense. Rotary polo shirt, jeans and slip on dress shoes. He did it though!
And Until tomorrow.
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22 miles uphill tomorrow lets await the report.

DAY 2

8.33   Started with sun and cloud. SimonW says I can snore. Pot calling kettle I say. Its like Lincolnshire- no shop in village. Trish was walking the mascot dog Betsy at 5 30. Village didn't know what hit it. This mornings debate was initiated by AndyG and RichardV. Coach road or not. At the minute it looks like SimonW is the only wimp. He says he don't care. Love his fortitude. PaulS has just asked if anyone was stiff this morning. (I say that's a bit personal.) Last night Sue and Sarah shared a bed.
So full English inside and raring to go (ish). This morning we haven't seen the leader Simon C, we hear that he is doing his hair.

So coach road here we come.

12.30
Firstly with humble apologies SimonW may have been prudent. But we did it. I hope the picture adequately reflects what we did. There were only two minor casualties. Dave P and me. His was a good fall, mine insignificant (he is ok). Andrew almost lost his chain and was delayed. We thought he was playing hide and seek with Neil who also disappeared for a while. Sharon Mcilnea was the only female to do the real ride so the first time we saw the others was at Greystoke eating scones and drinking tea. SimonW was having a puff. Tarzan is not in so we need to move on to Penrith where we will stock up on Mars bars. SimonC admits he didn't look at the map when he planned the route. Only 10 more to go today. More later.


3.30ish

The clothes have just turned up thank goodness for Trish, Beryl and Betsy. Its 3.30 and Simon C says (you have heard that one before) that the next accommodation is not too far. The rain stopped at about 11 and the wind picked up. But it's from the west which is good. An uneventful afternoon what isn't good is that when there is a perfectly flat road the c2c finds a hill. Dinner here at Eden Hall. And I think we will all sleep well tonight. In 3's tonight. There may be a chorus! Tomorrow is supposed to be long and hard. Oh well another day.
Later
Well you should have seen the fight for the room followed by the fight for the shower. Room 1 SimonW, AndyG and RichardV. Richard has the double and Andy and Simon have bunks. A in the bottom and S on top. 3 snorers together. The other room isn't much better in terms of snoring but at least there are 3 beds. I got the double :-). One shower and there is a rota and a rule. No No2 unless by prior appointment. Boys in the back of a van. Like a movie don't stop us you may get a surprise. Dinner at 7.30. And I bet sleep by 10.
Later Still
The van ride to the restaurant was something else. Trish Shumacher was on form throwing the boys around. Walshy said the smells in the front were from a poor defenseless dog, but we know better. The smells from the back were pure fear. We are looking for a reliable taxi to take us back, we want to get to those waiting for us at home. Failing that the will is with Richard Fullwood, personal injuies a speciality. Waiting for food, I could eat a scabby duck looking forward to day three.

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The WAFs (wives and friends) at home
We had a great dinner party, Julie did the pre dinner snacks (with a bottle of Pink Fizz), Vanessa did the starter (Smoked Salmon with Vodka) (with a bottle of pink fizz), Bronwen did the main course (chicken in filou pastry with vegetables) and another pink fizz (courtesy of the Walsh household from Pagendam Pratt of York (unbeknown to Mr Walsh)). Carol did the pudding (bread & butter with jersey cream) along with Gail who produced a light italian pudding with chocolate. By this time the pink fizz had run out and we were on real white wine. Leanne provided the cheese board with various cheeses from M & S. Bronwen opened yet another bottle of real white wine.
During the evening lots of frivolity - including mass texting to the boys in the lake district. Leanne telling Andrew we were discussing everyone's S-x lives. Lots of frantic texting back (apart from SimonW, who doesn't know how, so he rang in person).
We must do this more often!!

DAY 3
"HAPPY FATHER'S DAY"
8.25

    Raring to go!!!!!
Up early. The faces look like the start of "Saving Private Ryan" ready to go over the top. Breakfast or is it Last Supper is in 15 mins. I expect the condemned will have a hearty breakfast. Oh well it'll be fun. The first climb is called Hartside, we hope ours stay inside. To our major investors remember past performance is no indication of future value. I have sore thumbs from all the typing.

Conversation now into macro-economics and globalisation. I think we need to move. More later
11.33
We came the hard way
At 1903ft. First big climb over. Told that's the easy one. One down 2 to go.
2.30ish

Hi, Carol Walsh here - the boys have no telephone signal at all (tried 3, Vodaphone, TMobile, Orange). Simon just rang on the payphone. They have all arrived safely at their destination for the evening. Had a gruelling day by all accounts. Up and over hill and dale. Now in County Durham. Off to Sunderland tomorrow and hopefully will get a phone signal and the blog will continue (although I am at work tomorrow, I'll see what I can do at lunchtime).

Catch Up on Day 2
No telephone signal. Not even for the emergency services. Gosh today was tough. Trish struggled up the hills in the van and we pedalled them. Its 5.30 pm and we are in the land of the prince bishops. County Durham. Home for me. At least all of the people in the hotel bar are Sunderland supporters, strange that we are all in the same place at the same time. We are all exhausted totally. We went from sea level to 2000 ft at least 3 times and sometimes the hills were as steep as 1 in 6. Apologies for those who see Simons video. Some people expressed their exhaustion a little forcefully, perhaps he can add bleeps. We have accumulated a variety of bruises amongst us but so far the best is surely Andrew's thigh, but then we haven't questioned the girls.
So dinner at 7 and we will not need rocking tonight. We are at over 100 miles now and after the first mile or two its all downhill to the sea. I think we need to nobble Paul. His pace is unbelievable, the guy is the fittest man I have ever seen. I think I'll add more after dinner but just enough time for a small snooze. Zzzzzzzz
Just before I close my eyes I just realised how dependant we have become on the mobile telephone. No chance here to say goodnight to those we love . Its strange; I can contact from all over the world but only 100 miles from Epworth and I can't say goodnight. Zzzz
We had a cow between us for tea that's 7 t bone steaks. And now Simon and I are in bed and the folk group downstairs directly beneath us are still going. Is it permissible for us to tell them to be quiet. No is the answer, so I guess not. Good libation. When I close my eyes I will sleep if Simon's gastric eruptions allow.
DAY 3
06.10
Looking forward to getting back now . Dry and bright outside and only 45 miles to go. The support this week, Trish and Beryl, has been invaluable, we can't thank them enough.

Bill has quietly done the whole thing without fuss or need for specialist equipment. Well done.
Robin and Peter have added a little sanity to the whole thing and we have been pleased to make them welcome.
Sarah and Sue have been on a mission and quietly kept up. Jim is a star, he and Dave Parslow have been the only ones to push Paul. Dave has offered safe advice to everyone who has needed it. Craig says that you will be able to find his bike on ebay tomorrow, but I think he enjoyed it really. Neil had one minor chain disaster but was the only one of us to use his phone on the bike and a mp3 player. We hope to see more of him at Rotary.

Sharon has spent all week at the front with the fast lads, a very fit lady. Paul has shown what can be done if you are really fit and has really enabled so many of us to have the fitness needed to do this trip. Thanks mate. Then we get to the Epworth bike boys and our new rule. No more suggestions after non alcoholic Pimms.

Andy, Richard, Simon, Simon. Dave and Iain have enjoyed the whole thing and have begun looking for a new challenge. We must extend a huge thank you to Simon Cliff. Everything has run like clockwork. This will of course be retracted if the bus fails to turn up.

We have one missing rider this week and we all offer our condolences to Martin who withdrew the day before the race after the death of his father, we have thought about him often.

The scenery has been magnificent. The hills a challenge and the fellowship fantastic. I will sign off at the end.


We are in the midst of train spotters. Simon, Simon and Andy have come out. Have you ever seen a type 2 double header? Richard has glazed over, DP is looking for something to hide in and Sharon looks mystified. Simon says that he has lead a normal life since therapy. We have a working title for Richard. "There's only one more hill". We have an hour before Trish comes for us. Their landlord was a little fierce. Time to doze.

We did it. We had fun today. Paul is a tad competitive so we sneaked off (me Simon W Richard V and Andy G) ahead of the rest of the crew. We knew he would chase. In the end Paul gained about 20 minutes on us over 45 miles. But as he arrived we all greeted him with "good effort". His own catchphrase.   After the first mile or so today has been a breeze, in Cumbria the route planners seem to look for hills. On the east it looks like the best downhill to the sea was chosen. Brill day. Met my old mate Ian in Newcastle and Andy's sister in law and her daughter met us at the pub. Emily is ever so cute. We all dipped our wheels in unison and piled onto the bus. Most are sleeping I may join them shortly. So for this year over and out.

Ps. I think the total raised by the 6 of us is between £3500 and £4000
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WELL DONE LADS & LASSES - see you all soon