8 June - Shrewsbury to Lymm - 57 miles
Cycled through North Shropshire and into Cheshire, passing through Northwich and Whitchurch. A good day with lots of rests, using some main roads including a 5-6 mile hill which seems to be used locally as a race track for motorcycle time trials! Arrived in Lymm to stay with Bruce's parents-in-law. The team are all very saddle-sore!
9 June - Lymm to Slaidburn - 58 miles
This was a long, slow, tough day finishing with a 7 mile really steep climb. They whizzed down a hill and thought they had arrived but then there was another 2 miles and another hill to go before arriving at 7pm
10 June - Slaidburn to Grasmere - 60 miles
Today was a frustrating day as the team were plagued by some technical problems. Although it was a hot and sunny day they were tired and had a late start - some problems with Bruce's gear levers. They tried a DIY job of adapting them to lengthen them to make them longer and therefore easier to use but this did not solve the problem and so they stopped at a cycle shop in Clitheroe and were helped by someone there, eventually replacing the gears with "twist grip" gear. Neil and David also went "shopping" for various kit (e.g. handlebar bag, cycling shorts etc) which made the expedition all the more worthwhile (boys and their toys)! Tuesday was a long day, but ...THIS IS HALFWAY!!
11 June - Grasmere to Gretna - 58 miles
Today was a much better day! The team were joined by some distinguished and welcome
guests, including Doug Scott and Chris Brown - both mountaineers who have climbed Everest (Doug having been the first Englishman to do so) and other friends of
David's, some from his running club, all who had paid for the privilege of Pedalling for
Parkinson's for the day and provided much needed moral and physical support. Thanks!
Please see photos of the day here: GRASMERE PHOTOS.
The cyclists left Grasmere and climbed up steep hills past Thirlmere reservoir. Later on the team passed through Heskett, Newmarket and had lunch at the top of a hill overlooking the Solway Firth before getting wet as they cycled into Carlisle using a Sustrans path by the river. They then headed north out of Carlisle towards Gretna with David's daughter Becky leading the way with a long slog uphill. They were welcomed to Scotland by a party of David's family and friends complete with banners saying welcome to Scotland and well-earned drinks. They finished for the night at the Hazeldene Hotel in Gretna Green.
12 June - Gretna to Lanark -
Today was a long slog uphill against the wind although the hills are more spread apart than in Yorkshire. A lot of the journey was on the road and whilst it was overcast and cold it remained dry. The team stopped for an early lunch at a pub in Lockerbie, where Neil was interrupted by 3 short sharp prods in his back. He turned round to find himself being prodded by a lady with her walking stick, who then said "You got Parkinsons?" before handing over �3-�4 change, inspiring two other women at neigbouring tables to do the same (the change not the stick)! The team are in good spirits, although David has a nasty puffy bruise on his shin. When I spoke to Neil at about 6.45pm they were cycling up a 7mile hill and arriving in Abington just south of Lanark. They had done about 50 miles. i could hear Neil puffing as he and Bruce sprinted up the hill after David at about 25 miles an hour and kept overtaking eachother! As I left them they had just stopped for a break leaving the A76 at Abington about to go down the Clyde Valley Tourist Route, and Neil said that Bruce was "on top of the world"!
13 June - Lanark to Loch Lomond - 68 miles
A long tough day this was largely spent crossing Glasgow off-road by way of a Sustrans path by the river (see Sustrans map), which was a little bit rough and seedy with a headwind all day. Neil spoke of the "elastic Scottish miles" which "seem to endlessly stretch out before you"! They passed out of Glasgow and through Dumbarton, arriving at Loch Lomond around 9 or 10 at night.
Stayed at Loch Lomond YHA near Arden, a beautiful country house (see picture) with views of the loch.
14 June - Loch Lomond to Glencoe
Today the team were joined by some more of David's friends from his running club. They started the day by exploring Balloch castle and grounds, appreciating the beautiful azaleas before heading north along Loch Lomond. They were prepared for a long day with lots of hills. The south of Loch Lomond is relatively flat but the north is more rugged and it is mountainous between Loch Lomond and Glencoe. Loch Lomond itself is very long (second largest loch in Scotland and largest body of fresh water in Britain). They left Loch Lomond around midday and started a tough climb up towards Rannoch Moor, rewarded by the chance to come within 2-3 metres of some deer with huge antlers and get some close-up photos. The other side of Rannoch moor it rained. There was a big drop down into the valley where they arrived in Glencoe, went to the pub for a meal and stayed in the Glencoe Scottish Youth Hostel.
15 June - Glencoe to Loch Ness
Today it rained more than any other day, although the team apparently did not get "properly wet"! They first cycled from Glencoe to Fort William, where they saw a sign for Nevis Radio as they entered the town. They called in at the radio station and David was interviewed, with Neil and Bruce being introduced. The aim of the interview was to raise funds and publicity for the Parkinson's Disease Society and research but also to reach out to people suffering from Parkinson's who may have given up and feel low. The team want these people to hear the message that keeping healthy, exercising regularly and staying positive is the way to beat the disease - if they can keep themselves well they can benefit when a cure is found. The interview was broadcast at least twice on the radio (heard by Tom the support driver) and the team are hoping to get on local radio further north as they continue their trip.
From Fort William the team cycled north to Spean Bridge, then stopped for lunch at the Spean Bridge Commando Memorial, before continuing up the east side of Loch Locky along the A82. They also cycled past Loch Oich and crossed the Caledonian Canal by way of a huge swing bridge before continuing up the west side of Loch Ness and finishing for the night just north of Invermoriston. They stayed at the Loch Ness Scottish Youth Hostel overlooking the Loch, drank Stella Artois and ate a takeaway of fish and chips in the dining room of the Youth Hostel!
WEEK 3 (16 June to the end!)