SPONSORED BIKE RIDE
Following all the mishaps with transport arrangements Julie & I opted to buy our own minibus which myself and two work colleagues Dave & John collected from Lincoln on the Tuesday before the bike ride. We arrived back in Wigan at around 4.30pm and it was raining heavy but Dave & John insisted on setting to work on the bus removing seats and getting it ready for Thursday. This involved them lying under the bus in the rain as we didn’t have a garage. The exhaust was also blowing but we decided that I would take it to a garage the following day for repair. The seats proved very difficult to get out and it was about 7 - 8 o’clock when they finished. I asked them how much I owed them and they would not charge me they said it was there contribution to the bike ride.
The following morning a rang a number of exhaust companies but was having no luck no one could fit a new exhaust the same day. I rang John and he said not to worry he would get Dave to bring him to my house and he would weld it that afternoon. They arrived just after 1.30 and set to work I also asked them if they would remove another seat. Again it had gone 7 o’clock before they finished and they then insisted on loading the bus for me and also fitted the rear cycle carrier. By the time everything was done it was about 8.30pm and they still would not accept any payment from me.
I managed to get to bed by 10.00pm and set the clock for 1.30am we were due to leave at 3.30m. Needless to say I didn’t manage to get to sleep and got up again at 11.00pm.
David and Danielle (my grandchildren) arrived at 3.00am and we loaded the remaining items and set off for Great Yarmouth, picking Terry, Mark and then Peter up on the way. We left Leigh at 4.40am and after making two stops we arrived at Seafield Caravan Park, Great Yarmouth by 10.00am.
Having slept most of the day we went round to the club at night. The site owners Paula and her husband Jim had arranged a collection in the club and were also having a collection on Friday night. Friday day was spent running around for some bits & pieces that we needed. Later that evening we went back to the club were we had arranged to meet up with some friends. The artist for the night came to us and asked would one of us like to get on the stage and talk about our event. There was only one volunteer and that was Peter. (he’s not mike shy) and I must admit he gave a good speech.
Saturday 25th July 2009 FIRST DAY
We were due to leave at 8.00am but because of photographs etc. Paula the owner of Seafield Caravan Park presented us with £247 collected from the club. With other money we had collected we had a total of £301.
We had decided that I would be the leader and Peter would stay at the back, Peter and I had walkie Talkies fitted with microphones and ear pieces and Julie also had a walkie talkie in the bus. Peter would shout me if I was getting to far ahead. We set off on our route and we had been travelling about ten minutes when a car pulled up ahead of us and a lady ran to us and put a pound in the collection box that I had strapped to the carrier on the back of my bike.
Things went very well through the day no punctures and we arrived at Hunters Hall Camp site by 5.00pm.
As we were sat having our meal a photographer came to us asking could he take some photo’s for Hunters Hall web site, of course we agreed.
Later that night a fire was lit in the centre of the field and campers gathered round to watch a guy juggling fire followed by someone playing a guitar and people were singing along. At the Hall itself there was a wedding going on and at the end of the night they had a firework display.
Sunday 26th July SECOND DAY
We left Hunters Hall at 8.30am. Once again no major problems. Terry said his backside was sore and so was mine. Danielle wasn’t feeling well so she rode in the support vehicle for about 4/5 miles then she said she was feeling much better and re-joined us. We arrived at Pilgrims Way Camp site by 5.00pm to find that the pitch we had been allocated was not big enough. We informed the site owners Jacqui and Peter. They spoke to another couple in a small tent who very willingly took there tent down and moved to a smaller pitch. Then we found that our electric hook up wasn’t long enough and once again Peter came to our aid and loaned us a lead. Everyone on the site was very helpful.
Monday 27th July THIRD DAY
At 7.00pm on the previous night it had started to rain, I woke up at 4.00am and the rain had eased off by 7.30am it was pouring down, we waited till 10.30am. It was decided to cancel to-days ride. We had to take the tent down in the rain and we were all soaked to the skin. Our next camp site was situated in Newark so I entered the address London Road. We had travelled nearly 50 miles before I realised I had put the wrong London Road in the sat nav (I think this was due to not paying attention to what I was doing. That’s my excuse anyway). We finally arrived at Smeatons Lakes at 3.30pm The weather was bad and I was on a short fuse, things were not going well. Up to now both Danielle and Mark had both had a good telling off over something and nothing. By 9.30pm the rain had stopped and the sky was looking clear, hopefully the weather would be fine for Tuesday.
Tuesday 28th July FOURTH DAY
Not a bad morning weather was looking good, today and tomorrow we would be travelling along the Trent & Mersey canal. Everything was fine until the towpath changed to nothing but grass and as any cyclist will know cycling on grass is about twice as hard as travelling on hard surfaces. It wasn’t long before my thighs, backside and knees were feeling it and the other riders felt the same. Peter managed to get a puncture. The first and last one throughout the ride.
We made more stops than we had done on previous days. There were many boats on the canal and everyone wished us luck on our journey. At the end of the days ride we met up with Julie who would then take us to the camp site. Here is were disaster struck again. I couldn’t find the address of the camp site in my file all that I could remember was it was called New Hall Farm. We rang enquiries for the phone number and Julie rang them saying that we had a reservation for the night and could we have the post code, when I entered the post code it was miles away from were we where. So Julie rang them again to confirm the post code and yes I had entered the right one. How the heck had I managed to book a camp site so far away was beyond me I called myself all the names under the sun. We set off and arrived at New Hall Farm to find that this wasn’t a camp site it was a Restaurant. We had no alternative but to find another camp site on checking out how far our final campsite was from were we where it was only about 30 miles I thought if we could stay there we could get up early and travel back to our original day five starting point. Fortunately the camp site owner said if we could get there before 9.00pm we could pitch our tent, we managed to get there by 8.30pm all tired and exhausted but we still had to pitch the tent and I think everyone was on a short fuse.
Wednesday 29th July FITH DAY
We were all up early and fortunately today would not involve taking down or setting up the tent. We set off in the bus but the weather wasn’t looking good. By the time we got to our starting point it was raining hard and no sign of it clearing up. Today we had no choice we had to cycle in the rain we couldn’t afford to loose anymore bike miles, so off we went. The canal tow path was full of puddles and after lifting our legs up a number of times as we went through them we thought sod it were already wet and we started having a laugh shouting weee as we went through them. I think at this stage we were cracking up. Then we came to the dreaded grass towpath again. We had gone a number of miles when my peddles started to come loose problem was tools were in bus. The rest of the team carried on whilst I waited for Julie. We had agreed to meet up further down the canal. The rest of the day went well except for the rain and we arrived back at the camp site by about 6.30pm. Ready for Shower, Meal and bed.
Thursday 30th July 6th & FINAL DAY
Well here we are last day. We could start off a little later today as we were only due at the club by 7.30pm. We travelled through Warrington, Newton Le Willows, Garswood and Pemberton to Marsh Green. When we got to Windy Arbour some friends were waiting to congratulate us we continued on our journey and arrived at the club for 7.35pm. The crowd waiting outside of the club was fantastic.
After being greeted upon our arrival and having many photos taken we entered the club. I was amazed at how many people had turned up. We had a fantastic night and we were presented with certificates, medals and trophies.
At the end of the night everyone said it had been a brilliant night.
I will be arranging a presentation in about 3 - 4 weeks time were the money raised will be presented to The British Heart Foundation.
I would like to thank EVERYONE who supported this event.
Special thanks to Kelly & John for a superb buffet and a very special thanks to Dave Jones and John Mac who came to the rescue when we had transport problems.
I will update this page when the total raised has been announced.
Meanwhile I will start to plan my next bike ride.
Thanks Again EVERYONE.
