Ok just finished ice packing the swollen knees and back to yesterday…..  We stop to take cover in the rain, change clothes and refuel again.  Three of us in the van at the front and Jaj lying across the bags through the side door with Patrick looking on in disgust

Time comes to move onand Jaj slips on the van step smashing his shins on the edge of the van causing two puncture wounds.   Seth the all American paramedic superhero jumps into action with bandages pressure points and stuff.  Andy and I make sure we don’t disturb the proceedings and stay in the van (Andy did pop out to get a picture) too gory for here though.   Paddy says its a flesh wound and leaving it open to the rain will sort it out soon enough ” Come on lets get going”  whilst Seth talks about a hospital visit.   Jaj braves it out after dressings applied, but only after the Irish and American combination strikes again as Seth steps in the only piece of Dog***t within four miles and then proceeds to spread it all over Paddys bags in the van.   After another fall out across the nations I suggest to Paddy that its best to look on the funny side of it and he’ll look back and laugh later on.   This had the effect of Paddy getting on his bike and racing away like a demon possessed not to be seen for another hour.

We stop for lunch in Chorley picking up with John (thanks for sorting out the van - would be lost without it - lost with it too - in joke) 

Next stop just outside Morecambe to see andy’s Aunties who are waving Union Jacks with hot gingerbread & tea.   After a really warm welcome we head off to Ingleton 4 miles along a fantastic cycle path and then a really tough end to the day through some glorious countryside to reach the Pines B & B at 8pm.   Dinner at a local pub where orders stop at 8.45 means another rapid change, out to meet up with Patrick’s son Patrick junior and June Paddys wife.   Another good night and off to bed.

Stats 105.5 miles 7 hours 47 minutes in the saddle average speed 13.6mph 7426 calories and only 3529ft of vertical climb - all appeared to be at the end of the day.  Jaj after completing a difficult Day

   and Kays (Jaj’s wife) classic comment was “You should have shaved your legs like you were told to, you’ve got more chance on infection now!”

Andy on a final climb

So now to today….. another early start out of Ingleton to Kirkby Lonsdale and then on to Kendal.   Pretty tough start through the hills.    Eddie (Jaj’s Dad) our Support Driver and giving us great help along the way put us under a bit of stress as the pre arranged 10 mile stop had doubled to 20 due to a map issue and change of route along the way.

Seth and Patrick are flying and reach the Shap ascent with Jaj behing and Andy & myself bringing up the rear.   Shap is another 1400 ft climb over a 14 mile journey, tough cold and my knees are starting to really hurt.   Dave Smith - thanks for your support and yes you were right it would eventually hurt - fortunately its a bit further on than forecast and I hope I can keep going.  

Paddy and Seth are now long lost friends and forging ahead - for how long?  Seth is beginning to inch ahead of Paddy - I can see more trouble brewing!

Lunch in Carlisle which happened to be 60 miles out of a shorter than planned 82 milejourney again didn’t seem to make a lot of sense given that we had lunch at 3pm and we thought half of 82 is 41 not 60!   Its all relative I suppose depending on how you are feeling.   Good banter ensues, and off we go through Carlisle and unexpectedly a call from a good colleague Tim Ellis arrives on the scene to offer support with Lucozade and his son Ben.   Great to see him and thanks again to all messages of support.   Final run in to Langholm takes us over the Scottish border where there’s a bit of team bonding before we undoubtedly will fall out again tomorrow.    Arrive in hotel - desparate to dunk my swollen knees in a hot bath to get a room with a shower that subsequently has no water - great!   Complain and get my room changed - drag all my bags out down a flight of stairs to miss the last three steps and fall on my knees!   Poleaxed for 5 minutes to be found flat on the floor lying on my bags by Eddie.   Ice packs and hot water I’m hoping with sort me out for tomorrow.  

One for a bit of amusement - how do you manage to back up to a wall in a big van and get it this close without touching the wall?  Dunno but Eddie did it

Final stats for today 83 miles 7 hours 8 minutes in the saddle Average Speed 11.6mph 5869 calories and 5044 ft of total ascent.    On to the final 4 days!