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Experiences

Wayne's thoughts
Debbie's thoughts
Karin's thoughts
Peter's thoughts

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Wayne Thomas - Brussels 23 July 2006

I can't believe that the adventure that started on the 08 July 2006 and finished on the 19 July 2006 is over...

Where does one begin? I had never undertaken something this challenging before… I was scared as all hell, of myself, of me letting the team down, of letting Peter (my brother) down, basically of embarrassing myself. At the same time I was excited beyond measure. I was at least determined to make an adventure of it.

It was less than a year ago when Peter phoned me and said “you know, you are riding a bike and I am riding a bike, why not lets do something to raise money for research into the cause of my cancer”…. and so the idea was born. It was remarkably easy to get a group of people convinced and committed to this ride. I can only imagine that I missed my vocation in life and that I should be in sales…. the truth of the matter is that I am blessed to know and count as friends some great people. Peter's dream for this ride was:

  1. raise money for the research foundation
  2. increase awareness of the disease
  3. and most important to create an opportunity for adventure, friendship and fellowship

There where times leading up to the start where I had deep feelings of trepidation and fear, uncertainty and doubt where the order of the day. The only thing that I was certain of was that I would be there on kick off day the 10 July 2006. As d-day approached Peter's health deteriorated to the point where it would be impossible even for him to be in attendance let alone participate either as a rider or support. The amazing thing for me was that this, if anything, seemed to spur the team on making them even more determined to do something memorable. Leaving Peter's bedside on the Saturday morning (8 July 2006) to make the trip down to Land's End was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but in retrospect one the finest decisions I have made because through his insistence that the event should go ahead and that I should participate no matter what happened I was provided with one of the most memorable opportunities to experience friendship, fellowship and camaraderie. Simply put it was fantastic.

There were many personal tests for me during the 10 days of riding, both mental and physical, but with the help, support and inspiration of those around me I managed to get on my bike every day. The start of the ride from Land's End (10 July 2006), with Lauren and Dylan (Peter's children) joining the first kilometres and the end of the ride when as a group we arrived at John O'Groats 919 July 2006) will be, for me anyway, the most humbling and memorable of the 10 days. I would, in a heartbeat, take on a similar challenge again if I knew that the people that participated during this period where also going to be there. There were two disappointments for me during this adventure:

  1. that Peter was unable to be there
  2. that I was unable to pedal every mile

I will never forget, for as long as I live, the light that shone from Peter's face and his smile when I walked into his hospice room on Friday morning the 21 July 2006 to report to him that the team had completed the dream and had done so in style. I will never forget the gratitude I felt to the team for making this possible and the swelling of love and pride I have for my brother who inspired this effort. And the many blessings I have to be thankful for and appreciate every day. Most of all I was grateful that I was able to see him and tell him that his dream had become a reality.

I know that we delivered on all 3 elements of Peter's dream and with some style to boot. We did it for Peter and landed up doing it for ourselves, I am convinced we are all better for it and will remember this adventure for many years to come. We became great friends, and I look forward to when next we meet.

Leaving his bedside again, for the second time in 14 days with his condition worsening was a heart wrenching and painful decision but I know that he knows I had no option but to get back to my family to make sure that they were okay after a long absence. I also know that he knows I love him and I know too that he loves me…….

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Debbie Mockler-Hebert - Maine 28 July 2006

This document is written to describe a great adventure I experienced thanks to great people I met during this cycling journey. What started out with a vision between two brothers to create a trek from Lands End to John O'Groats to raise money and awareness for GIST Cancer Research Fund, a cancer that Wayne's brother Peter has.

Wayne approached John and me to take on this endeavor and cycle the U.K. in 10 days, approximately 1000 miles. Having done 2 bike centuries in the past (100 miles), I felt that it was too much of a physical challenge to cycle these miles for 10 consecutive days , so I quickly declined but encouraged John to go. I contemplated being part of the support team, but deep inside, I knew that I would rather cycle than ride a vehicle. I wanted to experience this challenge, but wasn't sure how to tackle it. How about riding part time? If I cannot cycle the whole trek, I could try my best and then hop on the "Bus" SAG wagon when need be. The question was posed to the team and they quickly agreed that this was fine.

So now, John and I have committed to this challenge and the training began. It's difficult to train during the winter months where the roads are too slippery for bikes and to cold to even want to bike.

At last, spring came earlier than usual and off we went, cycling most weekends that we could.

Finally the week before we left, it's started to sink in that I had committed to a major challenge. Fear, to say the least, popped in my head, but I tried to push it out as fast as it came to mind. What have I committed to? John kept reminding me that all we needed to do is to get on the bicycle and ride. How easy is that? Yeah, right! I don't have the physical strength that "men" do, and what if I just can't keep up with their pace? Oh boy….

We flew to London and had a nice welcome from Wayne who provided accommodations for Bob, John and I at his brother's flat. The next morning, we met Roxy, Jacky and Iain. The bikes were loaded and off we went to pick up Ewie and Chris at the airport. The journey began. We drove to Penzence near Land's End, met the rest of the team, had a nice BBQ dinner, shared close quarters to "really" get to know each other quickly and bond as a team.

As we cycled from day to day, the spirit of the team was amazing; there was an energy that just pulled us through the hills and valleys that we faced. And yes, I have cycled hills (and walked them too) like I've never seen before. The quads, the back, the shoulder and neck were stiffening as the days went on, and the saddle sores were real. The shamy cream (a.k.a. butt cream) was a popular item, along with sunscreen SPF 40.

On these long and trying hills, my mind would focus on peddling 1 foot at a time, trying to relax the rest of the body and breath deep and slowly (Thanks to Roxy for pointing this out). This seemed to work. On the downhill, I would try to catch up with the core team. Tagging along with them was great and drafting closely behind was to my benefit. They would pull me along, I could relax and enjoy the view of the country side, and of course, the view of these licra shorts and muscular legs!!! It was an incentive to keep up with them!!

The evenings were short and sweet. We'd finish the stage, drink a few pints, shower, eat and prepare for the next day's journey. The team knew how to entertain each other well. We even learned the important words in Africans, how to dance the two steps, and listened to great jokes. Laughter was our evening medicine, along with Roxy and Jackie's physical therapy and natural medicine. We had the privilege to sample Chris' magic cycling medicine one evening.

This adventure is greater than words I can write to describe the experience. I'll cherish the memories and I will hold them close to my heart. Thanks to Wayne and his brother Peter for making this vision a reality. And Wayne, THANK YOU for the one email you sent me which convinced me to participate in this challenge!!

The cyclist team:

Ewie (Tokolosh) - You were the one that brought laughter, sang songs and provided great jokes to the team. Your will to ride the bike wherever the leader brought you was amazing. Your legs were like pistols that never stopped, no matter how big the hills were. The "windshield wiper" joke will become vivid in my mind, especially when I'll great people, because our custom is to kiss them on the left cheek and then on the right…

Chris - (Boer Seun) - You took control when chaos was presenting itself. You were the one to tell the team to MOVE IT… (roer jou gat!). I still hear an echo that says "Go, Go, Go… or Come, Come, Come!! You thought me how to draft closely, give feedback when the pace is too fast, how to fix a chain that comes off while riding (I didn't even know this was possible), etc. I've been inspired to cycle more and take on the challenge of the hills.

Wayne - (Terminator) - A man with sensibility. I received my daily morning and evening hugs and anytime I needed one. He made me feel proud to be part of this challenge by calling me a "champion"! I had the pleasure to have great conversions in the SAG vehicle and in the evenings. I can only imagine the challenge and emotion you went through riding this course for your brother.

John (Captain America) - My husband, I'll always hear his voice on the big downhill "Be careful honey"! He always watches over me to stay safe (and to keep me in line too at times!!) And yes, he likes to modify his dish when ordering in restaurants. That made quite an impression on the team especially at the Indian restaurant!!! It amazed me that you willingly ate the cold rubbery eggs when it was presented to you as a joke at John O'Groats and that dish was NOT what you ordered at all…

Iain (Iron Scott) - Love your accent! A quiet person and inspiring! You always let me know that I was doing a fantastic job cycling. It gave me confidence. I enjoyed walking these huge hills with you, the pace was right!!! I won't forget our detour to the bike shop, where you had to replace the brand new cleats on your shoes that were only 2 days old. The shop personnel was shocked to see cleats so warn out after 2 days of cycling. I guess that's what walking long hills will do to your cleats!!!

Bob (Bob Cadence Murray) - A quiet, smooth cyclist. You were very focused on cycling from end to end. Not even the knee injury and pain could have stopped you. What determination!! You provided help, food supplements to ensure that our bodies were replenished. When I drafted with the team, you would always make sure that I was still tagging along and didn't fall behind. It provided security…

Peter (Frodo) - You were the leader of the pack! You took the lead to navigate through the cities and roundabouts (There are so many of them!!) Your ruggedness and male testosterones added character of the team. Wearing the same shirt for days gave us the opportunity to modify your nickname from Frodo to "Vrot ou" (rotten boy in Africans!). Cycling along with you was great as you provided information about nature, plants and history that I would not have known otherwise. Your laugh will be remembered.

The support Team:

Roxy (Foxy Roxy) - You are amusing and in control! Your independence was valuable to the team as you took care of us during the journey and especially at night when our bodies were aching!!! I did not envy Iain, with his back pain and the shave. I received a sample of what therapy you and Jacky provided, and I must say, realigning my back took my breath away!!!!! You made me laugh with your facial expressions, you are witty and quick with words!!! You go girl! You have been very helpful throughout the ride. I'll miss you. You rock!!!

Jacky (Sweet Jax) - A quiet and shy gal until you got to know us better. You came along to the rescue when I was cycling alone. You provided the music when I was struggling on these long hills, and it pumped me up!!!! This started a trend. When the hills were long, you would drive by us, hanging out of the Van door (a bit scary), and took video of our struggles uphill, yet the blaring music provided the energy to continue on. Great gal! I'll miss you too.

Karin (Poppie) - Karin, what can I say! You were most entertaining, full of energy, and I think you should have biked with us to release that energy!!!! You provided our daily route with great seriousness. Thanks for the great lunches, picnic spots, pictures, etc. You also brought the femininity side to the team, hence the name Poppie!!! The gifts you gave us will provide endless stories for our friends and family.

Mandy - Our logistics planner - A sweetheart, kind and hardworking woman! You were always cheering us as we arrived to our daily destination. The accommodations were always welcoming, especially where the B & B where the lady of the house washed our clothes!!!! Nice touch!!! I enjoyed many conversations with you, you are a genuine woman…

Dave - You provided stories about the area that you were familiar with. You pointed out the things that the community was famous for, such as the Cornish pasties. Unfortunately, I didn't get to eat one until I was in Stirling and I'm sure it wasn't as good as the ones from Southern England. Thanks for rerouting parts of the cycling stages to avoid additional hills.

And for Jin, Andy and Kevin, the part time riders, it was a pleasure to have met you and ride with the team. Jin you're the all time winner with the most flat tires. I hope you'll find the root cause and maybe we'll see you on the next cycling endeavor.

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Karin Scott - 25 July 2006

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that driving a route, albeit extremely slowly at times, is far removed from the experience a cyclist has. For a start, I could see over the hedges.

So, I'm writing this retrospective journal purely from my own point of view as part of the support team for the GIST end 2 end charity cycle ride.

I also felt the need to put my experiences down on 'paper' for cathartic reasons. I wonder if anyone else is feeling this profound sense of loss now we have all parted to go back to normality (whatever that is) and our 'real' lives?

I was approached about a month before 'kick off' by Jenny Hughes; wife of our dear friend and support driver Dave. She told me about her friend Peter lying in a hospice dying of a rare intestinal cancer and outlined what she thought my duties would be. At the time the plan was for the three of us to undertake this journey but, due to work commitments, Jen had to drop out.

I have to admit to having second thoughts when I heard my friend couldn't make it: "why was I giving up 2 weeks of my time for a man I'd never met and a charity I'd never heard of?" It would mean missing my daughter's last day of term, having to arrange two week's childcare and lifts for her (I'm a single mum) and no income for two weeks as I'm self-employed.

As I type I thank the Lord I didn't back out. I am also grateful for the connection between Peter and Jenny which facilitated my way in to this amazing group of people and enabled me to share their highs and lows; their challenges and experiences.

My personality is extremely all or nothing and it was with frustration that I realised I wouldn't be able to meet the guys at Land's End both for the pre-bonding over that weekend (aka throwing as much beer down our necks as possible - all those who know me will attest to that!), but mostly to experience the camaraderie borne of starting and finishing a challenge as one.

I needn't have worried.

I can't speak for the way the guys must have felt the morning of Monday 10th July 2006 as they set out from Land's End. I imagine a little nervous, excited and with a hope they would have the physical and emotional strength required to achieve their goal.

As I write I am constantly reminded of their faces and personalities:

The Cyclists

Chris 'Boer Seun' Visagie - A wonderful family man with great physical and emotional strength. A positive, but quiet and gentle leader and motivator. He always had a smile for me and an order of some kind. I clearly remember a hot, sticky afternoon in the middle of nowhere and as he and the team cycled past me at a rate of knots he shouted, "Ice cream - 10 minutes!" Luckily, I found ice cream within the allotted 10 minutes. Chris always managed a wave for me even at the end of a gruelling day. This trip had an added poignancy for Chris as his son Louis also has cancer.

Pete 'Frodo' Campbell - Another confident leader. He motivated us with a different style although when it came to his inner compass I can only say "don't mix ambition and ability Pete" ;-0 He helped restore my confidence in myself when I doubted I could help get the team to John O' Groats. A kind and genuine man with a great sense of humour and not afraid to laugh at himself. He really went the whole nine yards for us all and smiled all the way through even when he was in a great deal of pain with his swollen knee.

Ewie 'Tokolosh' Rust - Ah, what can I say? A strong, 'get your head down and just get on with it' kind of guy. I only ever heard a complaint once from this guy and that was to get the team back on track and behaving as a team again. He smiled at my camera at the top of every hill and mountain (and there were hundreds). Very much the team joker who pulled us all up by our bootlaces when we faltered. We all thank him for his acrobatics 6 miles from the finish. It will keep us smiling for years.

Wayne Thomas - A bear of a man with a marshmallow centre. Kindness itself. I know that Wayne was, at times, frustrated with himself and his performance. He shouldn't have been. He gave his all and I'm sure he made his brother very proud of him as we all were. I apologise to him for all the photos I took of him whilst in pain as he crested a hill or mountain (see website!). Wayne was the spiritual leader of this whole expedition and a reminder to us all when we grew tired why we needed to push on.

Bob 'Cadence' Murray - A quiet, gentle man with a winning smile. He put his head down and cycled without complaint not caring which position he took in the train. I'm sure Bob won't mind me saying he was the oldest member of the team, but at times that was hard to reconcile as he crested Shap miles before everyone else - despite favouring an injured knee.

John 'Captain America' Hebert - John really made me laugh at times with his one-liners. He has yet to remember what a 'fry up' is. His love of tomatoes will long be remembered. I know John got a great deal from this trip especially from a cultural viewpoint. His pride in his family and concern for his wife, Debbie, when she was tired or injured was touching to see.

Debbie 'Miss America' Mockler-Hebert - A wonderful, tactile, bundle of fun. A truly inspirational woman who is a credit to our sex. The only girl on the team and boy did she keep the lads going especially when leading from the front. Their speed average went up amazingly at those times! Always up for anything and her two-stepping in the evenings made us all laugh so hard. Her hugs kept me boosted. She is kind, sweet, sensitive and extremely 'mooi'!

Iain 'Iron Scot' McMillan - I really like this guy. Intelligent, witty, gentle, quick-witted and decisive. He seemed to sense when I was doubting myself and for that I'm grateful. I know he also felt times of frustration due to injury and physical constraints. His back gave him jip from the off and to cycle that distance with a bad back is truly courageous.

Also, acknowledgement and thanks to the part-time riders: Jin Asada, Kevin Metchear and special thanks to Andy Gregory for leading the guys into Stockport and helping us get through Manchester.

The Support Team (aka the real workers ;-0 )

Roxy Davies - A gutsy, strong, confident girl who doesn't suffer fools. Without her skills the team would have been in a great deal more pain every day. Her broken arm prevented her from joining the cyclists (and we later found out she has also had a broken back). She is witty and sharp although her sense of direction is a bit dodgy and she made me smile and worry on several occasions when I lost her. Hey, she is from South Africa and our roads are more than confusing. A girl of few wasted words (unlike me), but what she does say has impact and should be taken on board. She was a boon to the team and I liked and respected her very much. I would be proud to 'work' with her again.

Jaxs 'Mooi' Barendse - The sweetest, happiest girl with a soft, kind heart. I have it on good authority from all the team that she has left an indelible mark on all our hearts. Her dancing is fantastic and I'm still grinning with the memories of her and Ewie tripping the light fantastic at the hotels in the evenings. I never had to communicate an instruction or my intentions with the support vehicles. She instinctively knew what was required. Both girls were capable and confident drivers on our foreign roads. Jaxs is gutsy and intelligent and was an asset both to Roxy and the team.

Dave Hughes - This guy planned the route. He tried his best to ensure the guys had the easiest and flattest way through difficult mountain passes. It was not always possible (Shap and Berriedale come to mind!). I know he was sorely missed by us all when work commitments dragged him away before the finish. A dry, quick sense of humour delivered with a little smile and a wink to let you know when your leg was being pulled (which was often). Unflappable, calm and when I panicked I wouldn't get the team smoothly through Manchester without his guidance he helped restore my faith in myself.

Mandy Blanks - Another excellent organiser. She really looked after all of us. It is down to her we always had a hot shower and a meal on the table to 'come home to'. She planned thoughtful touches such as the infamous whiskey tasting finale at John O' Groats (what a night!) and a champagne finish. Patient and willing; she was happy to answer and come through on all our demands (and there were some weird ones). Uncomplaining and thoughtful. A big thanks from us all Mandy.

And me - Karin 'Poppie' Scott - I should really leave that up to you guys. From my point of view I know I can be a handful at times - 'high maintenance' I think you call it. I am also determined and fiercely proud of you all. It was a privilege to be part of your journey.

My biggest regret of the trip is that I didn't keep a journal whilst sitting in those laybys waiting for the team to catch up. It is difficult to remember what event happened when and where as the days seemed to roll into one. I apologise, therefore, if I get the chronology muddled or events mixed up. Feel free to set me straight. By the same token if my facts get distorted, correct me. It is the Scott family motto to never let the truth stand in the way of a good story, but I will endeavour not to let embellishment distort the true events!

We were blessed with great weather. Indeed, the Scots we met said they'd never seen anything like it. From Day 2 the weather was amazing and the only other really bad weather we experienced was thick mist coming into John O' Groats. It also got really chilly and windy that day. England experienced its hottest day on record during the heat wave. Luckily we had crossed the Border by then. The support vehicles didn't let us down and there were no breakdowns or accidents (except Pete's - more on that later). The group of people undertaking this adventure were excellent company and great value. We had good to great accommodation and decent food.

Day 2 was where I joined the team. My initiation day. I was given an automatic van to drive. It was wonderful on all those hills, but after about 10 miles I stopped in a layby and realised I couldn't find reverse. With difficulty and care I managed to manoeuvre out of the layby and, deep joy, saw Roxy and Jaxs parked in a huge picnic spot area. I drove in, making sure I had enough room to get out without reversing and asked them if they knew where the elusive gear was. With great mirth they showed me. I knew then they realised I was actually blonde and I was rightly fined. I'm just surprised I got away with only paying £1.00 for that one.

I loved Dave's laid-back approach to 'point' vehicle. He would drive miles ahead and sit having cream teas 'til we caught up. I'm not complaining as he treated me to one when I caught him quicker than expected.

Then there was the day I got food poisoning (although the guys would say it was alcohol poisoning). Dodgy crab salad at the restaurant on Dartmoor. Remember guys? The one where we were served by Attila The Hun's wife? She had us terrified to order desert. Back to the food poisoning. I picked up a couple of the lads in my vehicle and was suddenly wracked by awful stomach cramps. I remember thinking, "oh no, I hope I don't 'drop a toffee' (as my daughter calls it) in front of these two. Two hours of trying to make polite conversation later and sweating profusely we arrived at our hotel. I rammed on the handbrake, dived out of the van and ran for the bathroom. In my haste I dropped my mobile into the loo and it hasn't worked properly since. Anyway, I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise to Jenny whom I was sharing a room with that night and to thank Ewie for the immodium, Pete C for the use of his mobile and the girls for trying to dry mine out - I promise I washed it first! Honest.

It was also that day that poor Debbie backed into stinging nettles. Coming from The States she didn't recognise the plant until too late. After I'd recovered from my own 'bio-break' I decided I'd show her that the old saying 'to grasp the nettle' really works. They say if you brush past they sting you, but if you grasp them firmly you come away unhurt. I grasped a handful and had a very sore hand for days. I then proceeded to quickly find a dock leaf to show her!

Driving down a fairly steep hill I came into a small, remote village and couldn't believe there was a cop standing at the bottom with a mobile speed camera. Luckily I was in Sunday Driver mode so I wasn't speeding. However, I knew the guys would love the downhill and I'd learnt that cyclists can also be done for speeding. I frantically tried phoning Pete C as I knew he was close behind at the front somewhere. No answer. I tried Jaxs as I knew the girls weren't aware of our speed laws. Too late. She laughed and said she'd just past him. We await the fines.

On the subject of traffic violations - there were many. The SA girls didn't know about the bus lane restrictions and we await those fines too. Then there was the dodgy manoeuvring, u-turns in busy high streets, banking kerbs, kerb crawling and holding up miles of frustrated traffic. The magnetic 'BEWARE CYCLIST' signs on the vans seemed to allow us to become a law unto ourselves. It was great fun and I am keeping them to put on my car.

I smile to myself when I recall stopping with Jenny at a garden centre and dressing a stone gnome in a Standard Life cycling vest. Jen took a photo of me kissing it and we named him Ewie (sorry Ewie!). Hence Jen can't stop thinking of that gnome when she thinks of Ewie. The photos didn't make it to the website. I can't think why!

Who can forget Hazel? The kind lady who gave Chris and Ewie a cup of tea at the top of a very steep hill. She began with a ticking off for stopping to rest on her front wall and then proceeded to supply refreshments and a tour of her garden. She also listed all the accident black-spots and hills we would encounter. Thanks Hazel.

We'll all recall the Italian meal in Hawick. Waited on by Lurch and the rest of his family. He couldn't cope with more than one order at a time and kept tutting when we asked too much of him - e.g. "can we order drinks please?". All us girls were presented with a single dried flower, beautifully gift wrapped. A huge, purple Scottish thistle from the cyclists as a thank you. We were also presented with some teeny weeny fluffy g-strings which not even the skinniest amongst us could get past our knees. Thanks boys!

I know Pete C has a great memory of free-wheeling down the hill into Hawick amongst 9 super bikes. I was behind him and it looked awesome. They were on their way to Knockhill north of Edinburgh to a rally. They waited with me at the petrol station to ride with the guys. (See website).

On the subject of Pete C (you didn't think you'd get away with it did you?). He caused great mirth when he insisted on moving a perfectly well parked van and reversing it into a church lamppost in full view of the team and a packed pub garden. There were shouts of encouragement from the locals as he proceeded to stall and crunch gears. At least he got the lamppost working again! This was the same evening of the Italian meal and the B&B where some of the team got some very stinky cycling kit washed for free by the kind proprietor. Debbie, John, Bob and Chris all smelled wonderful the next day. Wayne, Iain, Ewie and Pete didn't!

On the penultimate day (one of the loveliest in my opinion) I stopped for two hitchhikers. University students from Slovenia (?) with a cardboard sign saying north and since there was only one real road north (the A9) and we were on it I felt it rude not to stop. I warned them it would be a slow and perhaps tedious drive north. They had their photo taken with Chris and Ewie and spent a couple of hours in the van listening to my Afrikans cd (thanks Jax). When I dropped them they said it had been the most special part of their trip. I reflected that if they could feel the camaraderie after only 2 hours then we really had created something special.

On arriving at our hotel in John O' Groats I was surprised when a waiter approached me with a letter. I couldn't imagine who knew I'd be there. It was from Ashley (Archie). He had compiled a cd of appropriate music for the evening e.g. I want to ride my bicyle, highway to hell etc. There was also a very generous donation enclosed and a touching letter which I read out to the team. I was very moved by Wayne and Iain's speeches too. There was present giving and champagne. It was really lekker.

I will never be able to drive past 'Stonehedge' on the A303 without thinking of John and Debbie. Or forget images of the guys in Ewie's 'See You Jimmy' hat at Loch Ericht; Wayne being bundled into the back of a hot police van or the faces of the other tourists as we arrived in style at Edinburgh Castle; John's Last Supper at John O' Groats - I felt so sorry for him as he was so hungry he tucked in without looking at it. (Photos of said meal on Chris and Ewie's cameras). Iain teaching the guys how to swear with a Scottish accent; I have a new affection for Sainsbury's and Somerfield supermarkets as I spent a few hours at both over the ten days buying bananas and cheap short-coded sandwiches for lunch. I especially remember Roxy and Jax pretending I was their mum whilst on a grocery trip. Charming! Did you enjoy your Beano Rox?

There was also Ewie's obsession with having his photo taken with sports cars; coy carp sucking my fingers; the stunning views from the Forth Road Bridge; huge, shaggy Highland cows, traditional 'long arm' dancing and Jax and I waving at every biker and lorry driver that passed us! Simply put, we had fun.

I needed to write this account. I needed to find closure on this life-changing experience. The analytical side of me needed to discover what had happened to us all on this journey.

What did I get out of this experience? A heap of amazing friends (that I haven't stopped mailing/texting or talking to since), the realisation that there are more things in life than chasing a wage packet; buying a bigger house or more prestigious car. The realisation that my own petty problems are simply that - petty. Now my thoughts are with Peter's young family. I don't know Peter, but I now know his friends. He inspired this awesome 'journey' and was the reason we all kept going. Thank you Peter.


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Peter Campbell - London 1 August 2006

I have written a diary of the trip based on my memory, two weeks on. Some of this stuff is repeated in the official log, but I have used this exercise to remind myself of what a great time I had. I have learnt a whole stack of things, including:


1. To set goals
2. To push your natural limits - you will be surprised at how much more your body and mind can give
3. To accept a challenge - who knows where this will lead, and who you will meet.
4. Tons of stuff about cycling, including bike set up, the importance of cadence, riding in a pace line, etc.


I had an absolutely brilliant time and want to thank you all for your friendship, support and encouragement during the ride. This was a very special event and something I would love to repeat.

I was invited to join this adventure by Peter way back in 2005. At first I was not sure how seriously to treat this suggestions, given Peter's condition. I soon realised my mistake and was caught up in a sort of training scheme and receiving many mails about an event we now know as GIST_e2e 2006.

Initial efforts included riding my Mountain Bike - a Marin (The Silver Dream Machine) in and around North London and caught up with Peter for a couple of rides in Woking. Eventually decided that I needed to get serious and purchased a decent Road Bike - a Trek (The Lava Lady) towards the end of March and pushed up the mileage to about 100 miles a week.

This included a week in Cornwall of climbing some decent hills, which gave me a small taste of things to come.

Land's End - Saturday 08 July 2006

Arrived with Dave after a long drive down from London, met up with the team and tucked into a brilliant braai. Very nervous of the days to come asthe hills on the way down looked big and scary. Slept very well in the Tipi, narrowly avoiding the wet patch, woken at 5 by the wind that threatened to blow our accommodation across England.

Land's End - Sunday 09 July 2006

The campers (Ewie, Wayne and Peter) met up with Chris for a pre - breakfast breakfast, while the rest of the team slept in luxury.

We met up with Mel who had just completed the ride from John O'Groats. Young fit guy who described the ride as a breeze, from all accounts it seems though the ride had been a long pub crawl.

The US and SA members of the team built their bikes and the vans were organised and packed.

The team decided to go for a test ride to check out the bikes and the lie of the land. Dave suggested a short ride to some little bay. It was pretty short, but also had the distinction of being at the bottom of the steepest hill on the whole adventure. Upon regrouping at the Lands End Hotel, the team then took off to St Ive's a scenic trip about 25 miles along the coast. This shakedown produced its first puncture (Bob), before we started and a loose handlebar (Debbie)

Met up with Riette, Dylan and Lauren as well as Mandy at the Land's End Hotel. Had a lovely meal and some celebrated Italy winning the World Cup

Land's End - Tavistock - Sunday 10 July 2006

I woke up in the morning feeling incredibly nervous about the ride and my capabilities. The team joined by Lauren and Dylan set off from the Beacon at Land's End. Our journey had begun.

We rode in overcast and misty conditions for most of the day which I enjoyed as it was cool and it meant that I was not able to see the size of some of the hills we climbed. There were some big ones.

We spent a couple of pleasant hours in St Austell while John tried to get his bike de-squeaked. The ride was pretty uneventful with the weather remaining variable throughout the day. Travelled through some beautiful countryside, stopping occasionally to admire the view while refuelling or taking a 'bio'.

We eventually arrived in Tavistock to be told that we still had about 8 miles to go to our destination. A little bit of grumbling, but worse was to come when we started to climb out of the town onto Dartmoor. Fortunately, due to mist, we were unable to see the size or gradient of the hill, but it was big. Dave by this point had gone ahead and was able to guide us into Brimpt's Farm. Where we were welcomed by Karin, Ashley (Archey), a Sauna, Jacuzzi and a couple of cold beers.

Tavistock - Yatton

Riding across Dartmoor in the morning was exquisite, long rolling hills with no traffic and beautiful hills. Leaving the moor was brilliant riding down long sweeping roads that are under cover. Some fairly hilly sections covered just before Exeter, but less so than on the first day. Past Exeter the pace picked up a bit as it became flatter.

Dave had continued to prove himself as a navigator of note, I unfortunately decided to ignore his route directions. I put this down to a sore knee and visions of climbing up Cheddar Gorge. Enough said, in that I got the team hopelessly lost, did an extra 10 miles and still had to climb a 'mother' of a hill out of Cheddar. Sorry guys

We arrived at the Bridge to meet Jin, the new addition to our family.

This was also the day where I had both my bike and my body seen to. My left knee had by this time become really sore. Roxie using all her skills and her elbows was able to work the knots and pain out of my ITB. Meanwhile Chris took to my bike, my inner leg measurements and my cleats. His advice, lower the seat by 10 mm, and adjust you cleat slightly inwards. This made a huge difference over the rest of the ride, so Roxie, Chris a big thank you, I wouldn't have finished without you. Serious advice for any other E2E rider, get yourself measured up and your bike properly fitted.

Yatton - Bromfield (near Ludlow)

This started off as a beautiful ride through the countryside heading towards Bristol. Met up with more cyclists that had done the E2E it seems as though there is quite a group of us out there. We finally arrived at the first bridge to cross after having got lost again, this time relying on Jin to guide us out of a hole.

Carried on to the old bridge across the Avon, quite an adventure being able to stop in the middle of a bridge that you would normally speed across in a car. There were a number of hills to climb before speeding down into the Wye Valley where we stopped at the ruins of Tintern Abbey for photos. At this point I realised I was not the only person with a navigation issue when Wayne asked for directions on a straight road with one way forward, one way backward.

Proceeded along the valley which is beautiful, relaxed cycling along the river among the trees.

One of the highlights of my day was seeing Ewie and Chris being berated by an old lady for sitting on her wall, this being the only house for miles around. Bob and I were passing and agreed that if anybody could, then this pair would be able to extract themselves from trouble. They did so with aplomb, getting a pot of tea into the bargain.

I was also surprised to see Wayne come screaming past me on the way into Hereford, having selected a slightly different route to the rest of the party. I was at a cross road with John when he passed at a fair rate of speed, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

The Clive in Bromfield, with it's fishpond and sheltered garden was a welcome sight after a long day

Ludlow to Stockport

This day started off with a fairly strong headwind. About ten miles into the road, my knee started giving me a lot of trouble so decided that I would spend the day in the support vehicles. A hard decision as I desperately wanted to ride every mile. In the end it turned out to be a sensible decision as the rest allowed my leg to recover. This as well as Roxie's Treatment and Chris' adjustment to my bike ensured that I would be able to ride the rest of the days.

It was fun being in the support van with Dave and boosted my caffeine intake for the trip. Support work is hard and this made me appreciate the efforts put in by the support team all the more. I enjoyed geeing the guys and gal up as they passed us on our many coffee stops.

We were joined by Two Standard Lifer's for this section of the race, Kevin and Andy provided a fresh set of legs and really set the pace. After a nice lunch I decided to join the riders for the last 6 miles into Stockport, felt a bit of a cheat, but loads of stretching during the day seemed to have done the trick.

We received a great welcome from Standard Life as well as some much needed refreshments. I had some more work done on the bike as the gear change was starting to stick, though by this time it could also have been that my hands were now only working at about 50 % of their normal strength.

Stockport to Ingleton

It is strange how your perspective changes after a couple of days on the bike. Seventy Miles seems like a small challenge after the last couple of big days we have ridden.

Andy has taken over navigation duties for the day and guides us out of Manchester. Ride is fairly uneventful, bar a couple of surreal moments

The first of which was when Ewie stopped two lovely ladies in their motorized mobility scooters under the pretext of dangerous driving. Marjory and Anne took this in their stride sending Ewie off with a 'flea in his ear'. Think that this made their day and gave them something to talk about.

Later in the day we met up with Steve in the middle of nowhere. Steve caught our attention due to his having a bicycle with a sidecar, a first for all of us. Turns out that he is on a training ride, the sidecar is for his 'Seeing dog' as Steve is partially sighted. His aim is to ride from somewhere in Norway to the Artic Circle (a distance of about 1000 miles).

Jin finally has to give up on riding as some gremlin on his bike is causing him to puncture tubes faster than they can be repaired.

Again traveled through some beautiful countryside in ideal cycling conditions. Finally arrived at the Marton Arms Hotel in a lovely setting just outside of Ingleton. The Hotel is brilliant with an interesting take on service.

Unfortunately both Andy and Jin will be leaving us after this days ride.

Ingleton to Hawick

Left Ingleton and slowly but surely started to make our way towards Hawick in Scotland. A bit apprehensive about what lies in store for us as the route seems to be long and also passes very close to the Lake District.

We make our way through Kendal and head off to Shap, apparently one of the highest points in the UK. A very big hill, though fortunately this is followed by a very long downhill followed by a flat section that seems to stretch for miles.

The team gets 'Gelled' up and sets up a pace line which eats into the miles

Pass through Carlisle where an attempt is made on my life by a mad motorist. Another lesson learnt, when in cities do not use cycle paths as they are deadly and badly maintained. Lightening fast reflexes save the day, just.

Iain is in fine voice as we cross the border in the Scotland.

Arrive at the outskirts of Hawick where we are picked up and bussed into Galashiels and our respective hotels.

I think that it would be fair to say that there were various standards of accommodation on offer. Some of the party had their clothes washed whereas others were not offered the same facilities. Iain who had stayed in one of the hotels many years prior was able to recollect exact stains in carpets and table clothes. I was so pleased with my room that I used a van to fix one of street lamps in the car park. This gained me a round of applause and instant respect from the locals.

At dinner, Ewie presented the girls with flowers and motivational dress.

Hawick to Edinburgh

Bussed to Hawick from Galashiels to start where we left off yesterday. The team is looking forward to a relaxing day as we only have to cover 50 miles. The hills from Hawick to Galashiels look big from the support vehicles, though they seem to have become a bit smaller when viewed from the bike.

Had a great days ride and especially enjoyed the treat layed on by Karin. Karin who had gone ahead for petrol had met up with a group of bikers. These guys agreed to give us an escort through Fountain hall (I think). Not aware of what was planned, I got to the meeting point as the bikers were leaving so road through town in the pack. A little bit of a buzz at 30 Mph on the bike, definitely put a smile on my face.

Arrived in Edinburgh and road down Princess Street to our Hotel. Edinburgh was heaving and the team had enough time to be able to see the sights. I crashed and burnt as soon as I got into the Hotel and had a few hours sleep while the team explored.

Edinburgh to Dalwhinnie

This day was always going to be hard. We start off with a photo call at the Standard Life Head offices and finally get on our way at about 9h30. Making our way through Edinburgh is a pain as traffic is heavy. I also lose the team at the Forth Bridge due to a lack of communication (sorry guys). Cycling across the Forth Bridge is brilliant, a new experience for me this bridge crossing on a bicycle. Not good for your stomach if you don't like heights, but the views are spectacular - highly recommended.

Make it to Dunfermline where I meet up with the support crew, the rest of the team catches up a bit later.

Head off as a group and soon realize that this is going to be a big day. We expend a lot of energy battling a head wind and it is finally Bob that pulls us back into line and makes sure that we set up a working pace line.

The countryside is very rugged and wild also less and less traffic makes for some excellent cycling. There are fewer towns to negotiate and our root map basically reads - follow the A9. We have some hills to climb, but generally the road hugs the lower contours of these though the head wind is very energy sapping.

Intervals between fuel stops become shorter as we take on more food and liquid, Dalwhinnie seems to be as far away as when we started the day. Last pit stop is called a few miles from our destination after which we get back on our bikes and conditions change for the better. The wind is still there, but now the road opens up into a downhill all the way into our destination.

I find the river behind the hotel and bath my legs in the weir, seriously good relief for tired, heavy legs. Covered 120 Miles which is a very big ride.

Dalwhinnie to Invergordon

Another shortish day and I feel my mood changing as we get closer to our final destination. No longer do I feel nervous about completing the rest of the ride, rather feel that I do not want this journey to come to an end.

Ride through some more stunning scenery and cross another Bridge at Inverness. Stop just beyond this to have lunch and do some running repairs on tired bodies.

Iain, Roxy and Jax entertains the rest of us by demonstrating some form of torture on Iain's back, which is meant to help him, but it looks pretty painful to me.

Eventually get to Invergordon where we meet up with Marcia (Bob's Wife).

Invergordon to John O' Groats

Our last day, we start off fairly early as we want to leave before the wind picks up. We are now following the coast and the scenery is stunning, pass through a number of small coastal villages. The road is undulating, raising to the cliff tops and then back down into coves / valleys.

There is one particularly memorable hill at Berriedale, I had been warned about this beauty by Mel in Land's End and it does not disappoint, in fact it is a bit of a double whammy. A long winding up hill about 7 Miles long, followed by a sharp downhill and then by very steep up hill. The only consolation is that this is the last one and I also manage to clock a verified 44 mph.

We are now starting to see more and more other E2E's using various forms of transport.

Ewie entertains the team with a spectacular spill about 20 miles from the end of our journey.

Finally the team regroups and cycles the last few miles into John O' Groats reflecting on our journey and the reason for having done this.

We are met at John O'Groats by the Support team and Marcia. Off to the pub for a couple of beers, followed by a brilliant night at the Hotel.