Hello,

I'm sure some of you poor IORRians will remember being harrassed and cajoled and mithered to death by me for last years Blackpool to London bike ride.

Well,thanks to your generosity we managed to give £3500 to Help For Heroes:pretty good going in anyone's book,no?

This year I'm moving up a division or two by cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats during this September:that's 1000 miles in twelve days...ouch!

So why am I committing to this madness?
To try and support two great causes...one local to me which is the North West Air Ambulance,

[www.justgiving.com]

and one national cause,which is Help For Heroes

[www.justgiving.com]

I know that you'll probably think "...well surely Help For Heroes has enough money and support by now?",but I can promise you that there is so much work for them to do that you would find it hard to believe.

Our men and women in the armed services are still getting horrific and life-changing injuries in both Iraq and Afghanistan still:in fact my local pub's Landlady learned recently that her brother had suffered desperate injuries thanks to a landmine.It is still happening.

I know that money is tight and that we all get pestered for sponsorship all the sodding time,BUT if you can spare the cost of a pint or two then it really will make difference.

I will be covering ALL the costs of this lunacy myself so you know that all YOUR money goes directly towards the cause.Plus UK taxpayers can select the Gift Aid option meaning that the charity gets an extra 28%!

If you would consider donating to Help For Heroes then please follow this link...

SimonN's H4H LEJOG

Maybe for a couple of IORRians in the North-West this charity would appeal...

North West Air Ambulance

For what it's worth,both causes rely entirely on public donations.

As an incentive I will lob in £500 if we get to the £1500 for either cause!

Thanks so much for reading so far!

Cheers,

Si.

ps loving that we have the old-school forum back!

best wishes mate, keep us informed with your progress...
maybe Twitter updates, en route?

Hi Adrian,

Big thanks for your help,mate-much appreciated.

Twitter,you say?
I suspect that rumble of cursing and swearing will be coming from me as I attempt to haul my ass over the hilly nonsense of Dartmoor,hah-hah!

I must admit that I am alternately scared and exhilarated at the prospect of this ride:I've never done this many days back-to-back so I know it won't be a cakewalk.

Steel wheels?
Nah,too heavy for me!

Cheers,

Si.

it'll be one hell of an achievement - something i've always fancied attempting myself (one day, perhaps...) Twitter updates, via the web or your mobile phone, are the best way to keep a travelogue and keep your family,friends and sponsors up to date with your progress.
...you da man.

Best of luck to you, Simon.

Keep us in touch.

Hello,

Just a friendly bump,and a very BIG thank-you to IORR's Beast for digging deep-cheers to you,young Lady!

It really is a motivator,especially when it's cats-and-dogs outside,hah-hah!

Please,please,please consider helping out either of these two great causes,folks.

All best wishes,

Si.

ps I forgot to thank Odean73 for his generosity too:I didn't recognise you from your 'real' name-BIG thanks to you too!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009-07-28 20:06 by SimonN.

Hello,

How about that?

Another BIG thank-you to Green Lady for her wonderful donation too...wow!



Ron tells Keith that it's 1000 miles...

Bless you,

Si.

bump for Si

Bump! Come on, people - help out this guy who always gives us the concert pix and reviews before anyone else out there! We are having *THE* most *shite* "summer" weather here, so he has probably been soaking wet and cold already on his charity bike ride more times than he cares to remember. So go on - click on his link above and give him a fiver. Just DO IT!!!

Bump for Si - comme on guys, help if you can.

John O'Groats? That's a place?

Hello,

A minor update with just over two weeks to go.
Fundraising is the part of all this that I feel uncomfortable with:asking ordinary Joes and Josephines to part with their hard-earned is always awkward.Anyway,so far the H4H total stands at £825 and the Air Ambulance at £475.Plenty of mileage left to run there.

I've just seen the profile of the first few days and I'm not ashamed to say that I soiled myself when I saw the amount of climbing involved.Bad gradients in places too.
Take a look at:

Day 1 route map click on the 'Elevation' tab beneath to see the full horror show!

Day 2 is worse if anything...

Day 2 RIP

Well,I've still got two weeks to get on it:there I was feeling relatively happy with climbing 2000' over 60 miles-in The Boss's words,
"Son,don't you understand?"

I do now.

ATTENTION any London-based Magazine fans...have a look,have a punt HERE.

It's win/win.

Cheers,

Si

Good luck Simon.

Keep on pedalling.><

Hello,

[twitter.com] for all your LEJOG photo requirements. Not quite half-way through and whatever bit of me that doesn't hurt is shredded. Keep the good-will flowing...please!

Cheers,

Si.

'Taigh Iain Groat' - John 'Groat's' Place, (House) (Iain being Scottish most common Gaelic for John)

This John set up a business charging a groat ('grote?') for his ferry to one of the nearer Orkney Islands. I think he may have been Dutch - hence charging a Groat/Grote - not sure. Hence became locally known as John Groat.

That's what put the place on the map. A small Orkney ferry still runs from there - but the main one is from Thurso.

Actually, Simon, Britain's most northerely point is at Dunnet Head, about 15 miles west of J.O.G. - if you fancy going the whole hog!
Goodish campsite at J.o.G. - you must take a small stroll to see Duncansby Stacks when there. You'll need the relaxation!

A great cup of cofee (for the road) awaits you at the Woollen Mill touristy shop thing at JOG.

If donating can one specify preferred charity?

Hi FSW,

You certainly know the area-thanks for the info..

My LEJOG bike ride is an effort to try and support two great causes...one local to me which is the North West Air Ambulance,

North West Air Ambulance

and one national cause,which is Help For Heroes

Help For Heroes

If you can support these a little,that would be fantastic!

All the best,

Si.

Hello,

And a very BIG thank-you to Gazza for digging-deep...excellent work!

Cheers,

Si.

I'm following you on Twitter, mate - well done, so far!

Good job SimonN

__________________________

OK SimonN.

I'm going to pledge £10 if you take a stroll (or cycle part way) to Duncansby stacks.
Post Photo on this thread.

I'm going to pledge another £20 if you take dip in the North sea after you arrival. Your aching limbs will need a good refreshing cleanse. (North sea at its warmest in September/October)
Photo please!

I'm going to pledge another £30 if you cycle the extra short distance to Dunnet Head.You will then be one of the few (possibly the only?) person/people to have cycled the full 'length' of mainland Britain.

(Photo). Dunnet Bay is one long sandy bay if you prefer a swim there!

(Great views to Orkney from Dunet Head)


ps Beware the Braes of Berriedale! Tee Hee Hee.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009-09-06 14:56 by Four Stone Walls.

bump for Simon

looks like Simon's in Scotland!



[twitpic.com]

Hello,

Well,I did it!

We even went up to Dunnet Head which is the most Northerly mainland UK point...that bit was extreme,hah-hah!

I cannot tell you how pleased I am that I went for the LEJOG-this is by far the hardest physical test that I've ever had but also the most fun.

Big,big thanks to all the people on here who sponsored me and wished me well:it counts for a lot.

I gonna sit down now on a comfy chair!

Cheers,

Si.

ps you can still sponsor me if you want to...the addresses are above!

huge congratulations, Simon.

Very well done - great achievement. Have a beer, mate.

Hi Adrian,

You know,I think you might be on to something there,hah-hah!

Thanks for your support.

Cheers,

Si.

Well done, Simon. Hope the blisters on yer arse go away soon.

treat yourself to a gig, mate - you must be getting withdrawal symptoms!

Well done, Simon! (And I hope FourStoneWalls is going to cough up the extra £30 for Dunnet Head - you deserve it).

Quote
Green Lady
Well done, Simon! (And I hope FourStoneWalls is going to cough up the extra £30 for Dunnet Head - you deserve it).

Hi Green Lady,

I'm sure that FSW will do the Good Thing,even though I missed out on the 'in-the-sea' shot.

There are plenty others here [www.facebook.com]

Cheers,

Si.

Hello,

Sorry to resurrect this again,but it's just so that Four Stone Walls can see the evidence,hah-hah!

Dunnet Head,which was a nightmare to climb to with a light breeze ruffling one's hair...



The Finishing Post,complete with cheesey pose...



Right,that's the last you'll hear about it,and thanks again to all IORRians who gave and wished-well...it counted for a lot.

Same time next year?

Cheers,

Si.