Done and Dusted.

Hello everybody just to inform you all we completed our adventure within the alloted period of 7 days, this was far from easy but highly enjoyable. You would not realise how much you can learn about the people you are with when you are together for 24hrs a day for 7 days all the foibles and realy annoying things such as the windy nights, (you know what i mean lads lol). Still we became a small family as the week went by, all looking out for each other as only a family can do. Tony more or less became the voice of reason and everybody listened, he was also nick named "The Don" but you have to say it with an scycilian, newyork accent gangster...... ish lol.
The journey was long as we were travelling anything upto 149 miles which was our top day down to 125 which was our lowest, culminating in a total of 923 miles in 7 days, please dont forget the 7 days bit as not many people do it in that time with the route we took. We were also in the saddle for roughly 11 - 13 hrs a day, Dunny will testify to that with gusto, lol.
I cant speak for anybody else about there personal journey so they will have to do that themselves, for me though, i can safely say it is the biggest challenge i have ever faced (well except for being a parent) and came out on top and chuffed to bits with myself. The hills were huge long drags some that went on for literaly miles and miles but i feel fitter and stronger for it. I could probably say i feel mentally stronger too as although we were in a group we spent a lot of time in silence just concentrating on the task in hand and getting lost in your own thoughts or trying to forget about the pain we were going through. What a journey............................................
I suffered one puncture only and that was at the beginning within 50 miles from the start. We started off eating quite healthily then it suddenly dropped off to eating whatever we could get hold off just to stave off the hunger and to fill up with carbs and protein. Also drinking was a never ending pain in the arse as it added quite a bit of weight to the bike and you do eventually get fed up of carb drinks and water, but it is a valuable part of your diet when doing long distance cycling. Do not underestimate "Go Bars and Carb drinks" they are the life force behind you completing such a trip.
I lost around 5 pounds although some of my fellow work collegues say i look like i have lost more.
I did not come out of this totaly unscathed as i now have a troublesome knee as in, i cant peddle and it hurts to walk so i am now stuck untill i am healed, which is quite annoying as the Time Trial season has started and i am going to miss the first few races damm.
Right i am going to clock off for now i will be back hopefully with some idea of how much we have raised.

DONT FORGET THE LINK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR PICTURES.