August 26, 2014, by David Greenaway
The VC’s Life Cycle 4 Blog: Day 11 – Cumnock to Cairndow
We passed 1,000 miles today. I have done it three times before, but it was still a big thrill, especially because the Support Team had laid out a 1,000 mile finishing line across the road (using some of our protein powder!).
Today we were riding in honour of Eloise Mills, and Steve W was our nominated rider. Steve’s comments were: ‘Eloise is a lovely, bright and fun loving 10 year old who, after having her tumour successfully removed, is now able to live a full and happy life. This was in no small part due to the skill, care and expertise at the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre. It is my privilege to be riding in her honour. By so doing I am helping raise funds to increase the chances of other children to be like Eloise, and fully recover’.
Cumnock was cool and overcast when we left. Everyone was out by 07:45. Inevitably I was last out, with Nick and Esteban who had waited. Riding conditions were lovely: cool, overcast and blowy.
Nick used his local knowledge to give us an unscheduled tour of Cumnock before we hit the main road. Once through we headed for Kilmarnock on the A75. It was a faster ride than I expected, given the weariness in my legs and we completed the first 15 miles in an hour. We made a first stop at Jack’s Grill and Coffee Shop in Stewarton, where all of the other riders were present. What a great café. I had the breakfast I should have had at the hotel.
From there we headed to Bridge of Weir, through hilly but very attractive countryside, and with more climbing than I anticipated. My sister Frances had invited us to lunch at her home. Nineteen of us barrelled in to be offered a feast of baked potatoes, expertly barbecued tandoori chicken, paella which Nieves pronounced excellent (and she is from Valencia, and knows a good paella), and various other goodies. It was the lunch of this Life Cycle.
As well as Frances, my brother Albert, Terry my brother-in-law, my nephew TJ who is a singer / songwriter (and not to be confused with CJ – this one can sing), his girlfriend Alex, and other friends were there. It was an outstanding lunch and break, topped off by Frances taking an ice-bucket challenge, which has so far raised £400 for our cause.
Fortified we headed for Gourock, through the lovely dairy country of West Ayrshire. Before we knew it we were on the ferry to Dunoon, a short but delightful trip. The views were stupendous, down to Arran in the south and Ben Lomand and beyond to the north.
The final 28 miles was all on the A815 which runs up the side of the Holy Loch, then skirts Loch Eck, before ending up on Loch Fyne. It is a landscape which lifts the spirits. We took a final break at the Whistle something Inn which sits opposite Ben More. They had a nice fire running (I know it is August, but this is Scotland) which we parked ourselves by for half an hour. Even Doug had a little snooze.
Almost inevitably there was a final climb and sharp descent to our destination in Cairndow. Everyone was in by 18:20. We had cycled 82 miles and climbed another 6,000 feet.
Riders and bikes are feeling the consequences of 1,000 miles, in different places. Susan has pulled a thigh muscle which was being worked on ahead of today; two of Nick’s spokes pinged (fortunately when he was not travelling very fast); and I notice the pink chicken now has a plaster on his shoulder, he must have injured his when I did mine in the fall in Kent.
What is often not fully appreciated is the mental pressure on Riders and the Support Team. That is partly about sustained concentration required to stay safe for long hours on the road, day after day. But it also comes from constantly chasing the clock when you are off the bike. Today is a good example. We got in around 18:10, and I was sorted and in my room at The Stagecoach Inn by 18:30. Dinner was at 19:30. In that hour I had to do the obvious: shower, change etc; then there is kit washing (and partial drying); thinking about today’s blog; wondering if there might be time to reorganise an increasingly chaotic case; recharging all devices; remembering I must fit in a call home and so on.
After dinner I am back to my room to write as much of the blog as I can before crashing. The alarm is set for 05:30: up, finish the blog, get breakfast, ram stuff back into bags, get on the road, make sure nothing is forgotten (and I have left one cable, a charger and glasses so far) and off we go again. That is not an untypical day, that is every day. And I cannot think of any more shortcuts! My clothes are already washed with me, I only shave every few days, I have learned how to lob clothes over shower doors and into the closest bath / washbasin. As Tesco has it ‘every little counts’. And we are always picking up little tips from each other. Evidently Andy and David W shared a whirlpool bath last night (I assume to save time) but I am not going there.
Now on to team matters.
There was another challenge today: The Kilmarnock Sprint, a competition for teams of three on a designated Cumnock to Kilmarnock course (the A75). After the data was verified by Paul, I was pleased to learn I was again part of the winning team with Nick and Esteban.
Shock of the Day: CJ announced he was splitting off from the Jaggerettes. He gave two reasons: (a) ‘they are too much trouble’; (b) I do not want to share my royalties seven ways. I think his expectations on the latter have been raised by last night’s Life Cycle auction, when a first issue of the inaugural album (featuring such classics as ‘Moves Like Jagger’, ‘Hit the Road Jaggs’ and ‘Road to Nowhere’) went for whopping a £100 (he did not buy it himself, and his Mum was not there).
Team of the Day: has to be the Bilhams and friends for such a fabulous welcome and lunch at Bridge of Weir.
Quotes of the Day:
First Svenja to me and Nick, on the ferry: ‘Why did you guys leave Scotland, it is so lovely, and it never rains’. Svenja, you have been in Scotland two days. You need a few more data points before you make statements like this.
Second Marion, over dinner: ‘Well it hardly seems like this morning since we crossed the border’. Yes Marion, that’s because we crossed the border yesterday.
Our 82 miles today takes us to 1,002 in total. Tomorrow we have 90 miles plus to Spean Bridge. The forecast is good, and tired as we are, we have some wonderful views ahead.
Finally, total funds raised are now past £578,000. Thank you for your marvellous support.
Professor Sir David Greenaway
Congratulations on the 1000 miles, over two thirds there now!
Perhaps Svenja had a sub-text (read between the lines! :-)).
Fantastic to hear how well it’s all going, how can I get my hands on a copy of that album!? Best of luck for the rest of the journey.
Sounds like the weather Gods are smiling on you after the rain we have had in Nottingham today – I hope that continues. Well done everyone for passing 1,000 miles , what a milestone! I’m glad you had such a wonderful lunch break – not in the least surprised to hear that Frances, Terry and TJ put on special pit stop for you all. Well done again and I hope Susan’s injury isn’t too painful. Take care, as ever. Susan X
It was great to see you all yesterday and quite astonishing to see how quickly the exquisite food Frances prepared was demolished. One of the team summed it up perfectly when she said “we have descended upon you like a plague of locusts” Anyway Sir David, you conveniently forgot to mention that, prior to her completing “the ice bucket challenge” our lovely Sister Frances nominated me to take the challenge, which I accepted and in turn nominated Sir David. Your challenge has to be completed by midnight on August 31st, which conveniently just happens to be the day you return to University Park for the family day. TJ, his friend Ally and I are all traveling back from Scotland to attend the event and will be bringing a copious number of buckets with us, surely no-one would begrudge making an extra LC4 donation to have the pleasure of dousing the VC with a bucket of iced water, and having known Him for 55 years, I am certain that the gallant Knight will accept the challenge with relish!!!!
1000 miles for all riders and the pink chicken! I am suitably humbled. I was writing a welcome speech for incoming new students at UNNC today and there is a PowerPoint slide image of all the riders up front and proud in the presentation. Will Hutton was arguing in the Observer recently for a ‘peloton’ style of leadership; clearly the University of Nottingham’s management team are well ahead on this.
Go well all of you,
Julie
Pleased the weather in Scotland was rather more forgiving than in the Midlands for Bank Holiday Monday – it rained incessantly all day!
I’m running out of words of praise to voice my admiration and awe for how well you are all doing.. so encomia! Did you do a duet of ‘500 miles’ on reaching the 1000 mile mark?!
Thought for today: The pain you feel today will be the strength you feel tomorrow.
Helen
Wow, what an achievement. Well done, all. I shudder at the thought of David having to do the Ice Bucket Challenge on 31st August on top of all this and am tempted to volunteer myself in his stead! Quickly changing the subject… Do you know 1000 Miles by Vanessa Carlton? Its not a celebratory song but is poignant and seems somehow fitting in light of the context of the challenge as (in my reading) it is about loss and trying to keep going. I will be humming that all day now…
David, it is amazing to think you how far you have travelled. It is great to catch up through your blog and I am really enjoying the photos! Love to all,
Tricia
It was a privilege to share a tiny part of your incredible journey yesterday. What you are all achieving and the spirit in which you are carrying it out, is truly inspiring – heroes one and all! I wish everyone the very best for the remainder of the journey and I might even see you at the finish line. Fx
Well done with hitting the 1000 miles. We’re still with you all but minus all the aches, pains and tiredness. All you need do now is keep pedalling and you’ll soon be home.
Sorry, forgot to say that Nieves made my day, a compliment from a Valencian is high praise indeed. Fx
I’ve been reading the blog whilst I’ve been away on my hols but without access to comment. Back at my desk today, I’ve had chance to look at the clips on YouTube, get a feel for the journey… What a journey! and get all choked-up. What a mixture of pleasure and pain and true grit. What an amazing achievement to date. Keep pedalling.
‘What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us’.
Henry David Thoreau
Glad that you’ve hit the 1000 mile Mark and all are well,only a few more days to go. Ride safe and try to avoid the mozzies. I trust that DG continues to glide by estaban on the climbs.
We were so pleased to hear tonight that Susan completed today despite injury. We cant believe how personal this challenge feels to our family. Good luck to everyone for tomorrow.
Well, the moment has come. I’ve watched the videos, read the blog and just need to say I feel a little overwhelmed by you all, your journey, your families and supporters but most of all your drive, determination, capacity for cream teas and sudocrem that you all display.
When this was discussed last September I never envisaged it would be so – despite following the previous life cycles and being party to the “out takes” All I can say is I feel immensely proud to have had the opportunity to spend some time with you all in the south and get to meet those I didn’t know too. Everyone was so generous with their time even after pedalling 90 miles during the day.
I hope the last few hundred miles are kind and that you continue to be part of the winning team in the challenges!! See you in Nottingham :0)
Much love pam.
Wow! The 1,000 mile mark done : Again for some of you and the first time for the newbies – Well done to the whole team.
Regarding Svenja’s rather rose – tinted view of Scotltish weather , she should probably know that the first time Nick took me on holiday to Scotland it was to the Isle of Arran …….And it rained for 14 consecutive days!
So glad for Lifecycle 4 that You have had such favourabke cycling weather north of the border.
Love Julie
Well done so far all of you. We have been on holiday with some very ropey internet but are back now so can follow your progress properly. Good luck for the rest of the journey.
Well done everyone, keep up the good work.
We have really enjoyed reading your blogs.Cappucinno’s will be waiting!!!! x
Congratulations on passing the 1000 mile mark! Enjoy the ride through the hills…should be a real treat.
Andy
Is there any more I need to know about the whirlpool?
Not far now, well done everyone xx