Day 1 of the Berlin Challenge is now done and dusted and I know that a lot of people have requested that I write a blog about my experiences of cycling abroad and raising money for such a fantastic cause. As I sit here now the total money raised sits at £1672.62, from 71 donators.  I really can’t thank you all enough if you are reading.

So how is the cycling? Well my first thing to tell you all is that you really shouldn’t decide to do a big event after a weekend on the beers in 30+ degree heat. I’m dehydrated, covered in heat rash and ridiculously tired. But that said cycling in Germany is undoubtedly one of the best experiences I’ve had cycling. Nice wide avenues, preferential treatment for cyclists and less bikes than Amsterdam, it sounds like a cyclists dream…and it is, if you’re into the flat straights that the city has to offer. For me with it being so flat has helped and has made it the perfect experience so far for a rookie tourer who’s carrying 30kg of bike and gear.

The day itself has been nice, with 28 degree heat and some fantastic bike paths practically the whole length of the journey. It’s also my first time properly using the garmin for touring and while it’s been great in certain situations, it’s been a nightmare in others. Today alone I found myself on sandy “unpaved” paths, attempting to access a motorway (to be stopped by a police man) and in the middle of a bug infested forest on a non bike path. I’ll show you the evidence as soon as I can.

So what would be my advice for anyone touring? Plan your route properly. We’re lucky in the uk that the majority of pathways and routes are kept clean and up to date. It’s not always the same abroad. Bring bug spray. I’ve been bitten to shreds. Get a camelback. It’s allowing me to carry an additional 2ltrs of water and keep on the road longer. Bring spare zip ties. They’re so amazingly useful. Bring some luggage straps. My tent would be left behind had I not.

Tomorrow looks set to be hot again, and with a more hilly 145km to cover I’d best be getting to bed.

 

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported us for the Community Matters at Asda in Burgh Heath.

Lynn Brandon accepted the cheque for £200 at the store on 24^th October which was presented to her on behalf of Asda by Caroline and Rosie.

We are spending the day in the store on Sunday 16^th December raising money by packing bags. If you would like to help then contact us by email or by calling 07732 262011

After a few years of idle loafing in the wilderness, I thought it was high time I concocted another daft adventure to shake off the cobwebs and hopefully raise a bit more money for the Trust. Being no good at running, swimming or sailing, I decided to stick with the cycling and opted for the route linking the most south-easterly point in the UK (St Margaret’s Bay) to the most north-westerly (Cape Wrath).

All the good intentions of training and planning went by the wayside very early on so I set off on the 21^st May not entirely convinced that either myself or the bike would get very far. Luck shone down on me from the off though and I was blessed with hot sunshine for the first 8 days (incredibly). The slight downside of this was that I acquired a dubious 2-tone tan effect as the left hand side of me got burned to a crisp while the right side stayed pale and pasty.

I bumbled my way northwards, staying in some very dodgy guesthouses and hostels along the way, one of which I later discovered has been branded ‘the worst in the UK’! As I crossed over the border into Scotland, the effects of too many deep-fried haggis burgers began to show and I was forced to pit-stop in Stirling to have my badly buckled rear wheel realigned. That evening my luck finally ran out and, having nowhere to stay at 10pm, I lay myself down at the side of Loch Tummel for an evening of al fresco sleeping. I needn’t have worried about sleeping. I spent the entire night dancing the Highland Fling to escape the marauding midges and managed about 20 minutes of shut-eye. A lesson learned the hard way.

Despite the slight setback, I pushed on to Inverness the next day and the following evening spent a glorious few hours speeding through the stunning mountain scenery of Sutherland to reach Durness at 11pm! The final leg involved jumping on a tiny ferry with my bike to be taken over to Cape Wrath itself before clattering my way up a bone-jarring 11-mile track to the lighthouse. Spokes were pinging left, right and centre but the bike just about held out and we reached our final destination at midday on 31^st May.

After a few hours taking it all in and refuelling with tea and cake, it began to dawn on me…. ‘How on earth do I get home from here….?’.

 

Day 1 – St Margaret’s Bay to Westerham – 72 miles (72).

Day 2 – Westerham to Buckingham – 91 miles (163).

Day 3 – Buckingham to Derby – 91 miles (254).

Day 4 – Derby to Ashton-under-Lyne – 69 miles (323).

Day 5 – Ashton-under-Lyne to Carperby – 98 miles (421).

Day 6 – Carperby to Brampton – 68 miles (489).

Day 7 – Brampton to Caldercruix – 106 miles (595).

Day 8 – Caldercruix to Tummel Bridge – 86 miles (681).

Day 9 – Tummel Bridge to Inverness – 102 miles (783)

Day 10 – Inverness to Durness – 107 miles (890)

Day 11 – Durness to Cape Wrath Lighthouse – 13 miles (903 miles total).