Girls on Cogs

Well the girls on cogs have been to Cyprus and a very different one from the last. Along with 3 other friends Caroline, Stav and Rich we headed to Paphos in Southern Cyprus. Rather than the early starts and the driving rain, we got up late, lazed on the balcony looking out over the sea and read books, whilst soaking up the gorgeous weather. Only getting dressed to go out for lunch or move to the pool. We managed a bit of sightseeing and of course a few nights out!

Although I suspect Hels and I are both missing the cycling still! Sadly I had to return the lovely borrowed road bike (big thanks to Jude), so its back to the heavy mountain bike and the only cycling either of us have done is to and from work! and it is now quite dark in the morning when I head out and the temptation to take the car is very strong!

Oh well, we have been plotting again and decided London to Paris next Easter is on the cards.

So we’ve been back 2 weeks and despite out tolerance for rain whilst on LEJOG we have not been tempted out on a Tuesday night. Both Hels and I have been cycling to work as usual but nothing else, but both agreed we are really missing the cycling.

Anyway the sun was shining last night and it felt great to be back on Jude’s bike (which I still haven’t returned!). I have been back on my very heavy hybrid to work everyday and its been hard work by comparison. So Stav, Hels and I headed out of Leicester via Beaumount Leys, Thurcaston, Rothley, Quorn,  Six Hills and Seagrave. Bit of a nightmare getting out of Leicester, which seems to be a fairly regular problem. We all seem to have a mental block how to get out of town? We were all at cross purposes where we were going so kept loosing each other.

Finally on the open road and I had a massive blood sugar crash despite my massive piece of cake before heading out the door. Had some Lucozade and headed off again. Weather was lovely and there were quite a few other cyclist out. Finally reached Six Hills and I had another blood sugar crash and felt terrible. Luckily I bought 2 bottles of lucozade. Headed to Seagrave for much needed pie and chips. That finally sorted out my nutritional needs and we had a really good blast home. I think even Stav thought we held are own!!!

Miles: 35 ish – Hels had the computer

Destination: Helmsdale – John O’Groats

Daily miles: 59

Total Miles: 1035!!!

Average speed: 10.4

Weather:  Horrendous…nice to have wet and wind to finish as well as start….

So, after a big bowl of porridge (following a few beers the previous night to celebrate almost reaching our final destination with a couple of other end-enders, and Emma having to wrestle the small bottle of whiskey we had purchased from me in the early hours….) we set off up the big hill.  We had been told the hill was 9 miles long, in fact it was only 4, followed by a little downhill, then a further 2 miles uphill.  Weather had started nice and sunny, but quickly deteriorated to the point we had to stop in a bus shelter as we couldn’t see where we were going.  We were cycling in literally rivers of water flowing down the side roads and creating waves!  I particularly enjoyed the speeding car that didn’t slow down through the lake at the bottom of the hill, completely covering me.  Emma helpfully said that ‘well, we couldn’t be any wetter!’  We had originally planned a route passing Dunnet Head as the most northerly point, however due to the very poor weather and the extra 15 miles this would add, we aborted this idea in favour of reaching JOG as quickly as possible.

We had to stop for coffee and a cake (and had lots of congratulations from the old people on the bus at the coffee shop). We had to ask the shop assistant to mop the floor after us for fear that a little old person might slip in the pool of water left around our seats.  It was slow progress up to Wick, battling against both wind and rain, and we decided to have a nice warm lunch here until the rain subsided a little…gutted to see two lads we had met in the Castle had already finished and were looking nice and dry on their way home…

It was only 17 miles from Wick, so we bought our pasta dinner and a bottle of wine.  We were approached by some young lads who had heard about us in the pubs (?!) and were about to embark on the end-end from John O’Groats – advised them bivvying was very brave in the current climate!! and so we set off for the final leg.  The weather had dried up a little and we bounced along to John O’Groats, heading to the lighthouse at Duncansby Head as the most NE point.  We took some photos here, holding our bikes like trophies above our heads, then headed to the sign-post at JOG. It was now after 5pm, so the official sign where you have to pay to have your photo taken, had been taken down (very mean we thought!) So, the final photo had to be taken outside the first and last gift shop! 

We made it!! and had a really good time (despite the weather), we didn’t fall out and still had stuff to talk about .

Many thanks to everyone who has supported us along the way, it really did keep us going.

Hels and Em xx