New Exercise Bike for Winchester Cardiac Rehab Unit

Hi everyone, here is the new exercise bike which was bought using all of the generous donations.

Thanks to everyone for supporting us before, during and after the ride.

The bike is very popular at the rehab unit and it was great to see how enthusiastic everyone is at being able to add to the facilities there.

They've arrived - the pictures we've all been waiting to see....

After donning their lycra for the final time & downing a tasty breakfast, Johnny & Mark set out in the Cornish sunshine to complete the last leg of this mammoth cycling challenge.

They had expected the going today to, perhaps, be more demanding than it actually was, because they know how hilly the 'toe' of England can be. However, their carefully chosen route, shadowing the A30, allowed them to make steady progress to the south coast.

At Marazion, which overlooks Mount's Bay, they stopped for coffee & cake (well, it has become a tradition now, hasn't it?!) before counting down the last few miles & finally reaching Land's End shortly after 2pm.

And, as you can see from their happy smiles, they are extremely pleased to have completed every one of the 1710 kilometres, which is about 1062 miles in old money - 'impressive' doesn't begin to describe it, Mark & Johnny - you are both absolutely awesome, & so say all of us - well done & congratulations!!

Johnny arriving at Perranporth yesterday.

The penultimate day.

Well it's really getting down to the wire now (or should I say, the rugged rocks at the end of England?!)

Today saw our super-fit bike boys wend their way out of the deep valley that is Boscastle's home (what a climb that was!) - & was also where they managed to photograph a White-Tailed Sea Eagle (you can see the photographic evidence (left) so it's time to cough up, Simon!). From here they made their way towards Delabole, St. Endellion & Rock, using all the B roads they could lay their tyres on :)

They then took the ferry across from Rock to Padstow (top), & were delighted that cyclists were invited to board first (especially as so many of the awaiting foot passengers had annoyingly employed the European style of queue-jumping!)

Lunch in Padstow was not quite the treat they had anticipated as the whole place was absolutely thronging with grockles, so they made as hasty an exit as possible to return to pounding the tarmac.

The net result of all this effort was to bring them to the Perranporth road, & this is where I finally laid eyes on them as I have travelled down today to bring Johnny home after the big finish tomorrow (I think I startled, perhaps, even irritated them because I beeped as I went by - oops!). Then I pulled into a lay-by ahead so I could photograph them cycling by, but they were simply too quick for me - faster than a speeding bullet - (perhaps bikes don't have to observe the speed limits like us law-abiding car drivers?!!)

Anyway, they are safe & well in tonight's lovely hotel where they can enjoy a last well-deserved rest before the final push to Land's End tomorrow.

Westward Ho! to Boscastle.

Tonight our valorous boys with vivacity, velocity & verve are in the final county they will encounter, Cornwall, having only 2 legs left to cycle (they are on their last legs, you might say!!)

Today Mark & Johnny followed the A39 & B3263 roads & covered another 40 miles across some long hills but, even so, it was a pleasant ride avoiding the showers & enjoying the sunshine. Today's journey also marks another major milestone in that they have cycled more than 1000 miles since they first arrived at Inverness Airport - congratulations, you dynamic duo :0)

They are staying in the Boscastle Youth Hostel (top) overnight which goes by the rather grand title of the 'Palace Stables' (d'you think H M the Queen ever visits?); it sounds as if the facilities should be pretty good as it was only fairly recently re-built after the terrible floods in 2004, & it is in a wonderful situation close to the harbour of this bustling fishing village (upper middle).

Dinner will be found in The Wellington Hotel (lower middle), 'The Welly' as it is affectionately known, which dates back to the 16th century, is one of North Cornwall's oldest Coaching Inns & is supposed to be haunted by several ghosts - I have a feeling that the only spectre they will see will be the Boscastle Busker, John Maughan (bottom), who is performing there this evening - let's hope so anyway!!

Somerset to North Devon.

Our stupendous cyclists have again made good progress today, first heading south from Exford to Withypool, then south west to South Molten. Here they stopped at the (reputedly) world-famous Corn Dolly Cafe (top) for tea & crumpets, but they also picked up some advice about which route to take; unlike some of the previous 'pointers' they've been given, this proved to be very welcome local knowledge which helped them avoid a 3 in 1 hill &, instead, put them on less frequented B roads to Barnstaple.

This is not to say that it hasn't been hilly, but the real joy of the ladies' recommendation was to follow the Tarka Trail (middle) which follows a disused railway line. It was a beautiful, smooth &, above all, flat route which took them from Barnstaple, through Fremington & Instow, to Bideford. From here they left the trail in order to make their way to their overnight destination at Westward Ho!

Tonight they are staying in another youth hostel (bottom) which has lovely views of the sea but is, otherwise, a bit on the tatty side (much like themselves after so long on the road, I should imagine!!). After riding through rain & pedalling through puddles much of the day I'm sure they will be grateful to use the showers, so thank heavens there is hot water tonight - hurrah!

And just to illustrate how far they've come, Johnny says that they started on page 94 of Mark's map book, & they are now on page 6 - keep turning the wheels (& the pages), boys, you're nearly there :0)

From Cheddar to Exford.

Today our dandy highwaymen set out southwards on the A38 to Bridgewater, then westwards on the A39 to the Mediaeval town of Dunster. Dunster is mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) & is famed for its fabulous castle (middle) & the Old Yarn Market in the main street, which was once the focus for the local wool & cloth trade (see photo top) .

From here they headed away from the coast on the A396 to Wheddon Cross, in the heart of Exmoor National Park, then west again on the B3224 to Exford where they are making their overnight stop.

The youth hostel in Exford is a fine Victorian house on the banks of the River Exe. It looks marvellous in the photo (bottom), but is not quite the ticket today as the boiler is on the blink & they have no hot water! - poor boys, & after all that puffing & perspiring up more horrible hills, not to mention the soaking they've had today (I almost feel guilty that I'm off to enjoy a nice hot bath in a minute!!)