JOGLE - Journey's End
News from Gordon Latimer in a hotel in Cornwall.
We've done it!!! 958 miles after leaving the very north of the country the JOGLE team has completed its journey.
Today was the shortest leg, from Saltash to Lands End, but it was also the most difficult due to the torrential horizontal unceasing rain and spray on busy roads. Everyone is now dry in the hotel celebrating with champagne. All of the cyclists deserve extra brownie points today for keeping going.
At least there was no wind, except in the bus back to the hotel from HB and Pritesh.
Pritesh had another puncture, we've started calling him Jonah...
Late morning, Penny took a tumble and kissed the pavement. She followed all H&S rules and self administered steristrips and plastic stitches to a nasty gash. There's a long bloodstain on the A30! We chose that moment to stop for lunch.
After lunch, we kept going to the gates of Lands End, where we stopped to regroup and crossed the line together at 4:30 pm. Cue much celebration, champagne sprayed around like Mark Webber and the official photographs with the finger pointing sign. We signed the register and applied to join the end-to-end club. We only left to go back to the hotel when an eerie mist started to rise from the sea. That was our opportunity for a Cornish cream tea and then to Hayle to finishthe champagne, and we intend to get very drunk.
In summary, Henry Latimer and Sean Burningham did the whole trip. Henry Brisland, Jo Brisland and Pritesh did well over 90% of the trip. John Brisland did most of it while the other three of us did our share, but also drove, cooked, cleaned, washed bottles and supported the riders.
Tomorrow (Friday), we will leave the hotel by about 10 after a lie in, have a large breakfast then travel back to arrive at the ground for before 6 pm. Looking forward to the BBQ!
Thanks to all those that have supported us and sponsored us, we need to get the money collected from all the club's sponsors to get the refurbishment of the pavilion started.
The Henrys, Sean and Pritesh can't wait to get playing again!
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
Saltash - 40 miles from Lands End!
We have safely arrived in Saltash, our penultimate stop before reaching Lands End. More hills and more rainstorms over the past two days have made progress more difficult but we have arrived in one piece.
We have been through many counties and are at last in Cornwall. All the days seem to be merging into one, each Travelodge is almost exactly the same. Scotland seems a long time ago.
We have watered the hedgerows from North to South, using a toilet will be a novelty when we get home!
We have survived the lorry drivers on the A30 and Jo got a honk from one when she was having a wee beside the Pryors Taxi! Don’t worry DP we are going to wash it before we return it to you!
Pritesh has finally mastered the use of his gears, (the new padded shorts must be working!), Gordon’s gout has gone! A few more tubigrips needed to support Henry and Shaun’s’ knees to allow them to continue carrying the torch to the end!
We are considering taking out shares in Paracetamol and neurofen, antihistamines and bite cream!!
Just off for a meal to sustain us all for a final days cycling! Little Chef here we come!
See you at Land End!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have been through many counties and are at last in Cornwall. All the days seem to be merging into one, each Travelodge is almost exactly the same. Scotland seems a long time ago.
We have watered the hedgerows from North to South, using a toilet will be a novelty when we get home!
We have survived the lorry drivers on the A30 and Jo got a honk from one when she was having a wee beside the Pryors Taxi! Don’t worry DP we are going to wash it before we return it to you!
Pritesh has finally mastered the use of his gears, (the new padded shorts must be working!), Gordon’s gout has gone! A few more tubigrips needed to support Henry and Shaun’s’ knees to allow them to continue carrying the torch to the end!
We are considering taking out shares in Paracetamol and neurofen, antihistamines and bite cream!!
Just off for a meal to sustain us all for a final days cycling! Little Chef here we come!
See you at Land End!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
JOGLE update Friday 13th July
Monday 13th
Safely made it to Bristol with only two more puncture to Pritesh’s name! On Saturday and Sunday we were joined by relatives and celebrities! A world record holder and a Gladiators semi-finalist! On Saturday Penny’s cousin, Andy Wilkinson joined us for dinner. He is currently the world record holder for Lands End to John O’Groats on a recumbent bike. He did it in 41 hours (not that much faster than us then!)
On Sunday John’s nephew Tom came along for the ride. Having come up against the likes of Predator and Oblivion in last years series of Gladiators he joined us for 20 miles at Shrewsbury. Within the first 100 yards he battled a large roundabout, claiming it was the most terrifying thing he’s ever done. Our boys raced ahead no problem, they are clearly made of stronger stuff! Sun shone all day, caught the end of test match on the radio in a car park and we BBQ’d in the evening in the Travelodge car park! Rock n Roll!! One too many Burgers for Briz, he fell through one of the Latimer’s camping chairs, much to everyone else’s amusement.
Today we came back into England, in the rain, via the Severn Bridge after venturing slightly into Wales for a few hours. Gordon’s gout conveniently erupted on a day which consisted of hills and rain. One would assume he saw the weather forecast before indulging in numerous glasses of white wine the night before! Shaun went through a very deep puddle which resulted in a phone call to his dad requesting some new trainers be sent his way! His mum joined us in the evening with his auntie for a Travelodge finest! 730 miles completed to date, only 3 days and approx 230 miles until we can rest with a pint or two! On to Devon tomorrow… Still not a full nights sleep has been had by the boys, the nose strips, purchased on day 1 haven’t quite cleared up Pritesh’s snoring problem …maybe a beer and a burger will help tonight??
Big thanks to the people who have met us on the road and for all the sponsors!
Safely made it to Bristol with only two more puncture to Pritesh’s name! On Saturday and Sunday we were joined by relatives and celebrities! A world record holder and a Gladiators semi-finalist! On Saturday Penny’s cousin, Andy Wilkinson joined us for dinner. He is currently the world record holder for Lands End to John O’Groats on a recumbent bike. He did it in 41 hours (not that much faster than us then!)
On Sunday John’s nephew Tom came along for the ride. Having come up against the likes of Predator and Oblivion in last years series of Gladiators he joined us for 20 miles at Shrewsbury. Within the first 100 yards he battled a large roundabout, claiming it was the most terrifying thing he’s ever done. Our boys raced ahead no problem, they are clearly made of stronger stuff! Sun shone all day, caught the end of test match on the radio in a car park and we BBQ’d in the evening in the Travelodge car park! Rock n Roll!! One too many Burgers for Briz, he fell through one of the Latimer’s camping chairs, much to everyone else’s amusement.
Today we came back into England, in the rain, via the Severn Bridge after venturing slightly into Wales for a few hours. Gordon’s gout conveniently erupted on a day which consisted of hills and rain. One would assume he saw the weather forecast before indulging in numerous glasses of white wine the night before! Shaun went through a very deep puddle which resulted in a phone call to his dad requesting some new trainers be sent his way! His mum joined us in the evening with his auntie for a Travelodge finest! 730 miles completed to date, only 3 days and approx 230 miles until we can rest with a pint or two! On to Devon tomorrow… Still not a full nights sleep has been had by the boys, the nose strips, purchased on day 1 haven’t quite cleared up Pritesh’s snoring problem …maybe a beer and a burger will help tonight??
Big thanks to the people who have met us on the road and for all the sponsors!
Saturday, 11 July 2009
JOGLE update Saturday 11th July
A relatively short day today, 70 miles from Kendal to Haydock. Leaving the hills of the lake district behind and arriving in the flatish areas further south. The road systems in Preston and Wigan almost defeated us but we struggled through only cycling 4 miles longer than we should have done. No incidents to report today, all cyclists still going strong (ish). Henry Lat and Shaun still on course to cycle every mile.
JOGLE update Friday 10th July
Friday Update from Alison
Have arrived in Kendal this evening after conquering Shap Fell this afternoon.
Both Henry's and Shaun completed the full day - approx. 80 miles. OAP John managed 67, Pritesh and Jo 50, with Gordon, Penny and Alison doing the bare minimum and driving th support vehicles. Sun shone all day although really cold on the summit. We picked up our first puncture today - Pritesh - and Henry B's managed to stay on for two days running now, although Jo and Gordan hit the tarmac today.
Completed 460 miles and all glad to be back in England.
Awaiting delivery of Domino's Pizza and Chinese takeaway.
A.xx
Have arrived in Kendal this evening after conquering Shap Fell this afternoon.
Both Henry's and Shaun completed the full day - approx. 80 miles. OAP John managed 67, Pritesh and Jo 50, with Gordon, Penny and Alison doing the bare minimum and driving th support vehicles. Sun shone all day although really cold on the summit. We picked up our first puncture today - Pritesh - and Henry B's managed to stay on for two days running now, although Jo and Gordan hit the tarmac today.
Completed 460 miles and all glad to be back in England.
Awaiting delivery of Domino's Pizza and Chinese takeaway.
A.xx
Thursday, 9 July 2009
JOGLE update Thursday 9th July
JOGLE update Thursday 9th July
Internet at last! Looks like the internet cable doesn’t stretch as far as North Scotland. We’ve arrived back in Dumfries for the second time, this time by bike. Have completed 430 mile to date (the oldies have shared the distance between bike and van), most of it in sunshine, some of it in drizzle and an hour or so in a thunderstorm! Shaun and Henry L have completed every mile! Everyone else has completed nearly every mile! Everyones legs are aching and Henry B has sustained more scrapes and scratches from falling off a second time! Nothing serious but we are considering in investing in some stabilisers!
The morning after the thunderstorm Henry L and Shaun hit the road at 7:30am to squeeze in an extra 25 miles whilst everyone else pushed the van which had run out of battery!
Spent Tuesday night in 2 farm cottages in Inverary enjoying the evening sunshine having a BBQ in the courtyard. We crossed the Firth of Clyde by Ferry to avoid Glasgow and cycled through Largs to discover there is in fact life in Scotland! We came across a lady from Newbury who gave us £5 and we’ve had lots of people beeping their horns showing support.
Pritesh has finally invested in some padded cycle shorts after he discovered his seat wasn’t quite as comfortable as he first thought. He’s also almost figured out the concept of gears! Alison bought some more bite cream (over 100 bites). The two Henry’s got in the slip stream of a tractor, managing to average about 26mph!
We arrive back in England tomorrow and reach the half way mark! All down hill from here.…..
More to follow soon. Off for some well deserved beers
Internet at last! Looks like the internet cable doesn’t stretch as far as North Scotland. We’ve arrived back in Dumfries for the second time, this time by bike. Have completed 430 mile to date (the oldies have shared the distance between bike and van), most of it in sunshine, some of it in drizzle and an hour or so in a thunderstorm! Shaun and Henry L have completed every mile! Everyone else has completed nearly every mile! Everyones legs are aching and Henry B has sustained more scrapes and scratches from falling off a second time! Nothing serious but we are considering in investing in some stabilisers!
The morning after the thunderstorm Henry L and Shaun hit the road at 7:30am to squeeze in an extra 25 miles whilst everyone else pushed the van which had run out of battery!
Spent Tuesday night in 2 farm cottages in Inverary enjoying the evening sunshine having a BBQ in the courtyard. We crossed the Firth of Clyde by Ferry to avoid Glasgow and cycled through Largs to discover there is in fact life in Scotland! We came across a lady from Newbury who gave us £5 and we’ve had lots of people beeping their horns showing support.
Pritesh has finally invested in some padded cycle shorts after he discovered his seat wasn’t quite as comfortable as he first thought. He’s also almost figured out the concept of gears! Alison bought some more bite cream (over 100 bites). The two Henry’s got in the slip stream of a tractor, managing to average about 26mph!
We arrive back in England tomorrow and reach the half way mark! All down hill from here.…..
More to follow soon. Off for some well deserved beers
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
JOGLE Cycle Ride Update 6th July
As dictated from the banks of Loch Ness by Alison...
We set off from the Cricket Club on Friday morning with Big Daddy waving us off, and drove to Dumfries in the pouring rain. After our last day without cycling, we then headed to John O'Groats on Saturday morning in glorious sunshine, meeting up with cyclists from Reading who had done the ride in the opposite direction. At least we're going downhill...
We left John O'Groats at 4 pm on Saturday evening to get to Thurso, just to get the muscles warmed up.
After a night in Thurso, Sunday was our first proper day of cycling. We cycled 90 miles to Bonar Bridge in the hot sun, stopping every 10 miles to allow the team to catch up and get back together. The Henrys and Sean had to be reigned in! Alison provided several very tasty meals for the horseflies in that part of Scotland.
However, in news that won't go down well with the captains, Henry B fell of his bike and hurt his knee, he "had to have a rest in the van". Surprisingly he was perfectly all right the next day.
On Monday, the team left Bonar Bridge together to aim for Loch Ness. The horseflies turned their attention to Jo on this leg, maybe they wanted a change in diet. Glorious sun again except for the last hour getting very wet.
Henry Latimer and Sean have set the fastest times so far - its not a race boys... The team have done really well on the first three days, they are on track and on route. No-one has got lost so far!
The team is looking forward to the welcome home barbeque - c/o The Caretaker...
More to follow!
We set off from the Cricket Club on Friday morning with Big Daddy waving us off, and drove to Dumfries in the pouring rain. After our last day without cycling, we then headed to John O'Groats on Saturday morning in glorious sunshine, meeting up with cyclists from Reading who had done the ride in the opposite direction. At least we're going downhill...
We left John O'Groats at 4 pm on Saturday evening to get to Thurso, just to get the muscles warmed up.
After a night in Thurso, Sunday was our first proper day of cycling. We cycled 90 miles to Bonar Bridge in the hot sun, stopping every 10 miles to allow the team to catch up and get back together. The Henrys and Sean had to be reigned in! Alison provided several very tasty meals for the horseflies in that part of Scotland.
However, in news that won't go down well with the captains, Henry B fell of his bike and hurt his knee, he "had to have a rest in the van". Surprisingly he was perfectly all right the next day.
On Monday, the team left Bonar Bridge together to aim for Loch Ness. The horseflies turned their attention to Jo on this leg, maybe they wanted a change in diet. Glorious sun again except for the last hour getting very wet.
Henry Latimer and Sean have set the fastest times so far - its not a race boys... The team have done really well on the first three days, they are on track and on route. No-one has got lost so far!
The team is looking forward to the welcome home barbeque - c/o The Caretaker...
More to follow!
Monday, 25 May 2009
JOGLE Cycle Ride coverage in the Didcot Herald
For those of you who have not seen this week's Didcot Herald, follow the link above for the excellent coverage of the cyclists preparing for the ride.
Herald article and a second one.
Herald article and a second one.
Pritesh has a new bike
And he's already in practice! Working up to the 80+ miles a day that all of the cyclists will need to get from the northeast to southwest of the country...
The Captain's Blog
Some very detailed insights into the captain's thoughts. Weekly installments of great philosophy or the rantings of a madman? You decide.
Fundraising updates
£2200 is already in the coffers through some generous donations from Gordon's contacts. More details of these and all other donations will be detailed in the refurbished pavilion. Letters are going out to key contacts in Didcot this week asking for assistance with the cause. In the meantime, all of Didcot's members have been asked to try to get assistance from all of their contacts.
Saturday, 9 May 2009
Raffle at the weekend
The first fundraising event and launch event for the JOGLE cycle ride went very well. During the Club day and BBQ, tickets for various first class games were raffled off, with prizes generously donated by Middlesex, Surrey and Northants CCC. £111 raised into the JOGLE account. Well done everyone.
Fourth Team
Today is an historic day in the Club's development, the first game played by the new fourth team. Away against Shipton II at Burford School may not have the glamour of the launch of the IPL last year, but it has immense significance. Didcot will now be offering 44 players every week a senior league game. This is in addition to the 14 game midweek Downs League season, the Sunday friendly series of fixtures, and all of the age group games. The club will be playing at least 112 senior games this season, plus all of the age group games.
This all ties in with the Development Plan and the redevelopment of the pavilion, and is exactly why the JOGLE cyclists are going!!
Onwards to a bright new future for the Club.
This all ties in with the Development Plan and the redevelopment of the pavilion, and is exactly why the JOGLE cyclists are going!!
Onwards to a bright new future for the Club.
Friday, 1 May 2009
John O'Groats to Lands End
Some links to the End to End Club and where the riders are going to and from:
http://www.endtoenders.co.uk/
http://www.users.waitrose.com/~ianclare/links.htm
http://www.landsend-landmark.co.uk/
http://www.jogroats.co.uk/
http://www.endtoenders.co.uk/
http://www.users.waitrose.com/~ianclare/links.htm
http://www.landsend-landmark.co.uk/
http://www.jogroats.co.uk/
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Open Letter to sponsors and funding agencies
Dear Sirs
Didcot Cricket Club are undergoing a period of expansion and are raising funds to improve facilities at our ground. These are heavily used by seniors and juniors at the Club, the vast majority of whom come from Didcot and the surrounding villages. We are very much a club for the local community: we run junior sides at 5 age groups from U-9 to U-17 and aim to provide a good standard of competitive and recreational cricket with development programmes for our juniors.
I am contacting you on behalf of Didcot Cricket Club to ask if you may be able to support our initiative to refurbish our pavilion. Please see the enclosed brief for further information as to what we are aiming to do.
As part of this fundraising, a group of 9 cyclists, representing DCC at both junior and senior level, will shortly be embarking on a sponsored cycle ride from John O’Groats to Lands End. The route covers some 920 miles, and averaging about 80 miles per day, they will endeavour to complete the challenge in 12 days.
Your support, through sponsorship, will go to the Club Pavilion Refurbishment Fund, to enable us to improve and update the club facilities to benefit both junior and senior players, as well as visitors to the club.
We are therefore asking if you would be able to support this endeavour. We appreciate that current economic conditions are not ideal for any fundraising effort, but we would appreciate any donation that could be given, whether financial or a donation in kind to assist with the refurbishment or the cycle ride itself.
Any donation you are able to give will of course be fully acknowledged during the ride and refurbishment project.
If you would like any further information on this project, then please do not hesitate to contact Jonathan Hall at the above address.
On behalf of everyone at DCC, the cyclists and the Support Team, thank you for your support. It is very much appreciated.
Didcot Cricket Club are undergoing a period of expansion and are raising funds to improve facilities at our ground. These are heavily used by seniors and juniors at the Club, the vast majority of whom come from Didcot and the surrounding villages. We are very much a club for the local community: we run junior sides at 5 age groups from U-9 to U-17 and aim to provide a good standard of competitive and recreational cricket with development programmes for our juniors.
I am contacting you on behalf of Didcot Cricket Club to ask if you may be able to support our initiative to refurbish our pavilion. Please see the enclosed brief for further information as to what we are aiming to do.
As part of this fundraising, a group of 9 cyclists, representing DCC at both junior and senior level, will shortly be embarking on a sponsored cycle ride from John O’Groats to Lands End. The route covers some 920 miles, and averaging about 80 miles per day, they will endeavour to complete the challenge in 12 days.
Your support, through sponsorship, will go to the Club Pavilion Refurbishment Fund, to enable us to improve and update the club facilities to benefit both junior and senior players, as well as visitors to the club.
We are therefore asking if you would be able to support this endeavour. We appreciate that current economic conditions are not ideal for any fundraising effort, but we would appreciate any donation that could be given, whether financial or a donation in kind to assist with the refurbishment or the cycle ride itself.
Any donation you are able to give will of course be fully acknowledged during the ride and refurbishment project.
If you would like any further information on this project, then please do not hesitate to contact Jonathan Hall at the above address.
On behalf of everyone at DCC, the cyclists and the Support Team, thank you for your support. It is very much appreciated.
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