Day 1
All was well when Stephen and Dad met Marco and myself for lunch at a point roughly halfway to Moffat, apart from Stephen thought something funny was going on with his rear wheel - as though a spoke or two was making strange noises... They left, heading for Lockerbie, and Marco and I headed to Moffat for our lunch (here at HQ, not wanting to risk the (S)campervan's amenities!) No sooner had we arrived inside the 30mph limit at Moffat, than the mobile went... Stephen was sitting by the side of the road about 20miles back, with the rear gear assembly in pieces! Rescue Rangers wheeled round and were back with him inside half an hour, when we threw his bike in the back of the van, and promptly headed straight back up to Glasgow, en route to where the prep work had been done. It turned out that the piece that had broken initially was an upgrade, and it had caused the mounting it attaches to to partially shear away. (I'm not entirely sure what exactly the story was with this, but the experts seemed to know!). This attachment that was partially snapped fitted between the gear tensioner that hangs down at the back, and the frame of the bike. The fitters didn't have this part, because the bikes are imported from Rumania or somesuch, and aren't a standard fitting... so the supplier of the bike back here in Moffat was duly called, and yes, he had the part they needed. Fair enough we thought, we'll leave the bike and send Marco back the following day with the replacement part (this being 1600hrs already). It was only when we got back to Moffat that we then discovered that since Stephen's bike was a 2-year old model, the part he needed had changed, so the ones that the supplier here had were totally useless! Much "hmming" and "ummmming" later, the supplier's own bike was borrowed as a replacement until such time as the part was sourced! Stephen then set off to Lockerbie from Moffat on this new bike, whilst Marco and I went to pick up my own bike, which was a better replacement than the supplier. (Yes, you are allowed to get confused here as to exactly how many bikes are needed and who's who and doing what..!). Meanwhile, Kevin had plodded onwards, and made Longtown by approx 2000hrs. By this time Stephen was joking, half seriously, that he wondered if this cycle ride just wasn't to be, and somebody somewhere was trying to tell him something (O ye of little faith!!!). a) his father had just taken ill, b) he'd fallen off his bike going round a corner too fast a couple of weeks ago whilst training and damaged his bike, c) the incident with the rear gear assembly, d) he'd misplaced his wallet when we rescued him after lunch, and thought he'd left it at one of the previous stops (later found it sitting right beside him in the back of the Scampervan) and then e) that puncture on Tony's bike!! An extremely eventful first day!!
Day 2
Not any real info on yesterday, as I only accompanied them on Day 1, but in his brief phonecall last night (he was talking on the mobile (reason to follow!!) and didn't want to 'milk their sponsorship too much' hence short call) we gathered it hadn't been pleasant. Very strong and extremely gusty crosswinds had literally been trying to blow them off their bikes, never mind the road, and as a result, they only managed 53 miles. To add insult to injury, Dad was cycling over a bridge when, PLOP!, his own personal mobile phone (yes, the one with the broken screen he'd taken from the Highlander when they'd decided it wasn't in a decent state - old skinflint!!) fell out of his pocket and bounced into the torrent below, never to be seen again!! Serves him right! So they finally called it a day when they arrived at Sedbergh, N Yorkshire, only to find that there was nowhere for them to stay! Being the bank holiday weekend, everywhere was choc-a-block, and they were about to go on a hunt to try and find somewhere nearby. Marco had also decided that he was going to 'treat them' to dinner out (we all think he didn't relish the idea of having to cook something in the back of the van for 3, and after the exciting day trying to keep it going in a straight line down the road!
Day 3
They are currently on schedule, and had a pleasant days ride. They are staying overnight onboard Paul Sharkey's canal boat (he's joining them from there down to Portsmouth along with Marco). The plan for tomorrow is that Marco and Paul are driving straight to Portsmouth, where they will leave the van in a suitably secure car park, where they abandon and head back up north. This means that Stephen and Dad are on their own all day tomorrow, and until they reach Portsmouth, where Patrick Grimley will take over the role of driver/cook/dishwasher. In other words they can't afford to drop behind time, and apparently Stephen's managing to find the worst in my bike, as he seems to be able to do in any, by having bits drop off, and yet another puncture (because he nipped the sidewall when putting the new tyre in!)... so hopefully he'll not hold up the flow too much!
Day 4
Another good day's cycling weather, with sun, apart from a 10 minute monsoon/hailstorm near Wolverhampton. Paul and Marco drove the Scampervan down to Portsmouth today, and left it in P&O's long stay car park for free after some sweet talking. They're now on their way back up home, so tonight Stephen and Dad are staying in a B&B and having a 'late breakfast' at 0830... The current plan is that they won't push for Portsmouth - a suitable staging post 20 miles out or thereabouts and then B&B for a 2nd night is preferred to an all day cycle.
Apparently during their stay 'somewhere near Sedbergh' - that night when they couldn't find a campsite/B&B - they chanced upon a layby... with its own public amenities! So they parked up there for the night, facilities close at hand, with Stephen (being the shortest and fattest) on the kitchen floor and Marco and Dad in the bed! They felt close to nature with the whistling wind, and there was a sufficient 'through flow' of air (from all the closed doors and windows...) to prevent excessive heat or odours!!
Day 5 & 6
Kevin was just out of the shower this evening when he phoned from HMS Collingwood a navy base in Fareham, Hampshire. The chaplain there is a Scot and a friend of Stephen's. They were just going for a curry. They have only 8 miles to go to the ferry today!. They had done just over a 100 miles in the saddle on Tuesday. I think certain parts of their anatomy know that! They will cross this evening having met up with their next driver, Patrick, and hopefully they will have located the (S)campervan. Meanwhile a bag of dirty washing mysteriously appeared on our doorstep overnight - couriered by Paul the returning driver! Plus ca change!
Day 7
Thurs 2 June 2200 hrs P&O Ferry Terminal Portsmouth. Swanned over to Portsmouth via Gosport ferry - cycling 12 miles - obviously not as the crow flies! The curry had been interesting!!! They had met up with the next driver, Patrick from Devon, just retired from 30 years in the Military Police - should be very useful! Especially when the customs officers want to know about the hundreds of vacuum sealed packages stored over under and between the floorboards of the van. 'Yes officer these are army rations to feed two men cycling from Glasgow to Santiago for fun - they are Scots afterall on a tight budget for the essentials of life!'
They retrieved the Scampervan from the P&O long stay car park, then scampered off to Tesco to stock up for the next leg, bought the papers and spent a good part of the afternoon there, in the car park, reading the papers and brewing up! Obviously Patrick was being shown the ropes - cooking by gas in a campervan in a Tescos car park in 3 easy stages. I can just hear Kevin!
Last night as they waited for the ferry to dock I set them a task. To prepare the French onlookers for this procession I dictated, over the phone, the French translation of the poster in the Scampervan window. I decided my texting skills were not up to a French text message! Judging by the consternation this decision invoked - Patrick appeared to come into his own! He was instructed to find a piece of paper and pencil and take the following dictation! Obviously this skill is not common on the bridge of the Highlander but the delegation of duties is! Patrick is obviously proving his worth! Roll on France!
