I'd just like to start by saying a big thank you to those of you who have sponsored me. It's not too late to donate as my Just Giving page is still active until 21/12/2014.

Well, all but one of us made it to the end on our bikes. Only 23 miles from the finish in Sunderland one of the guys hit a steel bollard/post at quite a speed. He did continue for a couple more miles but when the adrenaline wore off the pain kicked in and he had to stop. We think he may have broken ribs.

The first day was great weather with stunning views through the lake district starting at the slipway in Whitehaven Harbour, via Whinlatter Pass, Keswick, Greystoke, finishing in Penrith.

Second day was the shortest distance but definitely the most difficult with climbs over the A686 (Hartside Summit, 1903 feet) which is long but by no means the hardest. Much more difficult was the climb out of Garrigill over the top, where some of the guys who came though later saw Boris Johnson on a grouse shoot, and down into Nenthead. In fact it seemed like we were going up all day.. The views would have been stunning around here but unfortunately for us it was bad fog with visibility down to around 20 metres. The day finished, thankfully, in Allenheads.

Third day started straight into climbing again for the first part with the worst coming on the road out of Stanhope with a 17% gradient. It did get a little easier but was still long and steep. At this point we joined the Waskerley Way (look out for Elmer Fudd) and it then became a much more leisurely and mostly downward run towards the east coast finishing on the beach at Roker, Sunderland.

My total raised up to now has just passed £900.00 online but I still have all the paper forms to come in so will definitely pass my target of £1000.00. As a group we were looking to raise £15,000.00 and are well on the way with the total just topping £12,000.00 and still more to come. 

Thanks,

John C