Day 4

Sat in a wooden camping pod. Still on track Both me and Kellie feel the 50 mile a day dragging full camping equipment is fine. Both enjoying the hard work. Talked to Matt at work today thanks for running things in my absence but a dream is a dream and so few people get a chance like you have given me. Big cheer and to Julie for humoring my obsession. Will do proper blog when finished as having to use phone is hard work.

Raining again, but heading south.

Monday morning,just a brief note will do a full report when home,last night we chickened out.b&b a lovely little place www.altnaharra.net very welcoming,usually offering evening meals but in chaos when we arrived doing running maintenance due to the awful weather they had over the winter.so across to the hotel for a bar meal couple of Guinness the shower and bed.slept like a log.but woke up this morning legs as stiff as hell, breakfast's here so I'm off, next stop should be down near Dingwall. Bye for now.

Day 1

Well, speaking for Michael, he and Kellie set off into the most awful weather this morning, my heart really went out for them as perhaps I should have been there too. Brave was not in it as neither of them uttered one word of complaint for the strong wind and rain. It was a good job his Aunt cooked us a lovely scrambled egg n bacon breakfast, the Lord only knows what they had for tea.
I had my sandwiches on the move, pork-pie and half a cucumber all washed down with warm water.
Got back for 9.30 though. Now to see if I can upload a video diary from this morning for you. David.

sewing done

Arrived at Helmsdale after kellie drove most of the way, going through Edinburgh city centre.
fish supper at la mirage,very nice ,walk dinner of walking round Helmsdale back to arra's for a we dram. Sewn kellie's cycling trousers.we are now ready for tomorrow.

panic setting in

Thank you to all who have sent birthday wishes.

Time is running out and the closer the d day gets the more I'am finding I have to do

kellie's shirts will be ready for the photo shoot Wednesday but only just, fingers crossed. Then tosh comes along and is trying to organise some energy supplements and more advertising, bring it on. Why not?

Fishing trailer still needs a coat of paint.

Cycles still need packing.

To top it all I've put 5 lb back on and my shirts were tight enough as it was but you only celebrate your 50th once. May have to get sewing machine out later and add a little breathing space to at least one shirt and then off out for another meal later.

I can see Thursday night been a late finish, I could sleep all the way up to Helmesdale I suppose. I usually sleep as a passenger anyway.

icing sugar cyclist

trailer just about finished Saturday.rush round shops,butties and snacks made,loaded in van then,had a good birthday drink up at acorn inn burncross,friends and family turned up,not really a party as such,butties and snacks.and plenty drink,
gemma made a marvelous cake in the form of an icing sugar cyclist,brilliant,

this morning of fishing with hangover.managed 3rd thanks to a rather lucky 10lb carp,which took 30 minutes to land as i was fishing with very light tackle.
Nigel decided to take a dip in the pond he had lost part of his fishing pole in the water,and he still didn't retrieve it.

busy week ahead or at least busy 4 days as that's all i have left.

its coming ready or not

well down to the last week,
Saturday,finish building trailer to transport everything home from lands end.party to night
Sunday,fishing match at Aston ponds,(who planned that the day after my birthday party.
Monday,last day of my forty's,and the last day to make sure all will be OK at work,rest of week going to be in and out of office.
Tuesday,birthday big 50,half century,possible a meal in the evening,
Wednesday,star photo shoot with. www.worldofsuperheros.com
Thursday, last minute check of all equipment and pack bikes in to van,
Friday,start the long journey to the beginning.john o'groats here we come.Friday night meal booked in helmesdale.
Saturday,THE START.

beginning to panic.so much to do and running out of time.

thank you to dawn in the pub last night.she hasn't seen me since i fell of bike in tram tracks November 09.she promptly removed sponsor Form from wall and went round pub collecting.quarter hour later £75 better of.perhaps should have had her as official fundraiser.brilliant.

along with all those who have pledged money,donated money and generally helped i would like to thank
http://www.worldofsuperheros.com/
man metals recycling
tingle ashmore and associate accountants
prime engineering
Ian woodcock signwrighter
rhino sports
wrts ltd(got to mention our family business)
DAVID DEAN.Dave Dickinson(two lads running us up to john o'groats)

my wife JULIE who provided the rolls Royce of recumbents and has allowed me to go for my goal
Mathew,dad and derrick for holding the fort while I'm away

Kellie for coming with me for moral support( and to
prevent her getting a job yet)

and who ever turns up at the finish line

THANK YOU

8 working days to go,13th looms yipee

well were has the last two and half years gone?seams a distant memory coming up with the idea of jogle.
Ive trained in sun, snow,rain and wind,up hill, down dale,three wheels two wheels,with trailer without trailer.and still i keep changing my mind.
with less than two weeks left iv just realised that there is only eight working days,one birthday(10th may).one fishing day if fit. and a party.so can safely say i don't have time left to alter anymore plans,they are now set in stone so to speak.
on a daily basis i regularly check facebook and blogs of other people doing end to end rides and at the moment there are two people out there Donne's jogle,and Vicky's jolly jogle that i watch and it only seams like yesterday that they were months away from their start and yet Donne's only two days from finishing and Vicky is well over halfway both cycling solo.I'm beginning to feel disappointed that their blogs will come to an end when they complete.I have come to enjoy logging on to them,pity i will never meet either especially Vicky who i think has done amazing and she has done it purely to raise money for other people.were as I'm doing it for my self with other people benefiting as I'm been sponsored,(if that makes sense good)
will people miss my blog?does anyone really read it?i know a couple do and i have 5 followers(thank you by the way)but with near on a thousand hits how many people actually return for another read or is it just five people visiting 200 times each.Donne's Friends think he should swim the channel next,Vicky will no doubt find something equally challenging,what will i do with my new found fitness suggestions on a post card please.

follow the link,fargate write up

http://sheffieldcyclist.co.uk/end-to-end-for-st-luke-mike-kellie-hopley/

st george;s day.and the rains

yesterday was st George's day.i was on the ctc stand in fargate.i think its safe to say there is a noticeable lack of a publicity officer within the ctc.although with material provided the people involved did an excellent job well done team,may i also say thank you for allowing me to show of the trike and collect for st Luke's just under£60 collected not bad to say it was a bucket placed on trike and not waived under every passing persons nose.thank you again.,
cailin did a short interview to post on his web page,once the rain had stopped,an entertaining half hour watching everyone get soaked in a flash flood complete with hail stones
Caroline arrived with her trike,such a good advocate for disabled fending for her self and not just accepting that she could never be independent.good for you Caroline,lucky for her she left before the rain,unlike our Kellie who set of home just before the heavens opened.and to quote "that's her adverse weather training complete"

3 weeks to jogle

today st Georges day,off to far gate,cyclist touring club have a stand with it being the start of environment week,taking the trike loaded as though i was off on my jogle(weight 60 kg).on the hope it attracts a few donations and brings attention to the stall,because were ever i seem to park it, it just attracts people.
decided last night Kellie will definitely be joining me on jogle,she is going to use my touring bike and over the last couple of weeks she has proved young legs don't need as much training to get in to shape.and the fact that she must be half my weight.have to make her carry more equipment as a handicap, that's what they do with race horses to make them evenly matched
this weekend is brownie point weekend.have to set green house up get tomatoes and peppers going,reinstate watering system etc.other wise Julie says I'm not jogle ing

not realy a superhero but for sponsorship ill pretend

fetched my shirts this afternoon,really happy with the quality and service provided by RHINO SPORTS,ECKINGTON,SHEFFIELD.ill do my best to promote an excellent product. putting my shirt on for the first time was like MR INCREDIBLE when he thinks his hero suit has been shrunk,lucky my belly didn't fall out the bottom,I'm no superhero but when somebody offers a generous sponsorship, i will pretend, Julie says do i have to rush in to every phone box i pass to get changed.lol. ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU TO http://www.worldofsuperheros.com/ FOR PROVIDING THE SHIRTS now i look like i mean business. went on my usual training route with my daughter Kellie, by the time we arrived home she was getting tired,but all in all she did OK.24 mile covered with a climb up through wirlowdale road then up to fox house before returning with the big decent down totley and then home for tea,well super more like it.