Dropping in to the Beatles' sights in lycra gear and taking a detour through the Lakes District in memory of a fellow cyclist's father, Alistair McLean describes the progress of his cycle challenge from Land's End to John O'Groats.
Day 5
Last night, we stayed at Walcot Farm in Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire. It was a world apart from urban Britain; cows, sheep and rolling Shropshire hills – quite stunning! Alas, thunder and lightening hit over night and we were greeted with yet another wet start.
Selection of kit to ride is all important for cyclists. That day we got it wrong! We were to travel 105 miles north through Oswestry up to Birkenhead, Liverpool and out to Parbold near Skelmersdale. Forty miles after a thoroughly wet start, we arrived at Oswestry completely soaked and very, very cold – it was perishing! Coffee and cake was not enough and it was the first serious group wobble. We knew we had to get going.
But, as with yesterday, by midday the weather picked up and the wobbles of the morning were replaced by sun on our backs, a fantastic tail wind and a 60 mile ride along the flat, slightly downhill route to Liverpool and the Mersey ferry. We zoomed along in a pelethon for the final 40 miles into Liverpool. Absolutely stonking!
“I can’t believe it, I’ve cycled to Liverpool!” That is what is running through my head as we ride in to town. Liverpool is more than 430 miles from the start, 230 miles from where I live and a journey that I’ve driven it many times, so it was quite a seminal moment when I arrived at the Mersey on my bike and crossed on the ferry.
Another landmark achieved, we make a quick dip into The Beatles’ Cavern Club in our lycra gear, Anfield and – for one Everton supporter – Goodison Park.
We have broken the back of our first ever 100 miler and we felt like the Fab Eight (rather than the Fab Four) as we rolled into Parbold for a pub bed and breakfast.
Day 6
This was always going to be a very special day. Leaving Parbold (near Preston) we travelled north through the Lake District, probably the most outstandingly beautiful national park in England.
What made it doubly significant for me was that this was the part in which my close friend Andrew – one of our group - had planned. He was born in the area and spent many years here with his family. It is in memory of his father that Andrew is doing this challenge and raising money for Myeloma UK. This thought spurs us on throughout the day.
There is such breathtaking beauty at every turn and it’s a chance to ponder and digest both individually and together.
This is such a tough challenge for us all, but it has given us the opportunity to re-evaluate our personal goals, to think through why we are doing this, how much we hope to raise for the charities that mean so much to us, how far we have come and the people back at home supporting us.
