Thursday 1 December 2011
Success!
Presenting the Rose of Hope in Edinburgh!
After 500 miles I made it to Edinburgh! It was a long, tough trip and at times I felt I wouldn't make it, but with everyone's support and belief helped me through. It was a great feeling to finally make it into Edinburgh, a mix of elation and relief!
On Monday morning I met June from the CF trust and the research team at Edinburgh, they gave me a warm welcome!
Sunday 27 November 2011
Scotland!
A welcome sight!
The border crossing is at Carter Bar, 418 metres. It was a long hard climb up, not helped by a constant battle with the wind. The views at the to were fantastic!
Saturday 26 November 2011
Wind!
Entering Northumberland.
Today was very, very windy. I split my tyre first thing today which set me back over an hour. Luckily I wasn't too far from town, just a long walk up a steep hill!
Coming into Northumberland took me over some high hills and amazing views! Then after Hexham the wind really picked up and it started raining. It was a long slog over exposed wild moorland.
With gusts of over 70 miles an hour which would throw me across the road, this was extremely tiring. Luckily I made it through and am now sat in a warm pub full up!
So far I have cycled over 400 miles, only 80 miles left to Edinburgh! Thanks for everybody's support, it's helped get me through some of the tougher sections!
Friday
Entering County Durham.
Durham is very hilly, beautiful dales, but very hilly!
Yesterday was tough and long. Over 80 miles and I didn't arrive until almost 7 in the evening. A strong westerly wind didn't help either!
I stayed the night at a fantastic bunkhouse, with some amazing views. It even had a washing machine, so I got clean clothes! Not quite so clean now!
Friday 25 November 2011
North Yorkshire
Yorkshire 'rabbit', lunch in Northallerton.
An early start this morning to make the most of the fair weather. As I arrived in Northallerton the sky darkened, wind whipped up and rain started!
I thought it sensible to stop for lunch.
Thursday 24 November 2011
York
My day's reward!
I'm sat in the youth hostel in York with a well earned pint. Planning my route for tomorrow, I'll be heading up into county durham.
Waiting now to tuck into pizza for dinner.
Sun again!
Lunch in Thorne, S Yorkshire.
Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire again, almost Lincolnshire and now South Yorkshire. Great going today lovely and flat with a tail wind!
Full steam to York!
Sunshine and deer
Wednesday was glorious, sunny, warm and a tail wind! The morning started cold with a ride through Bradgate Park. It was an amazing sight, deer and stags roaming free surrounded by autumnal golds, brown and reds.
The afternoon was a lovely ride up through rolling nottinghamshire countryside and finally through Sherwood Forest to my b&b for the night. And thanks to the friendly cyclists I met who pointed me in the right direction!
Wednesday 23 November 2011
Tuesday - foggy
Lunch break.
90 miles through oxfordshire, northamptonshire, oxfordshire again and then leicestershire. Arrived at b and b exhausted!
Tuesday 22 November 2011
Day 1
Brilliant day yesterday! Met lots of people from CF trust and the researchers from Imperial College London and in Oxford. It helped motivate me through the day! It was a long day, the London roads didn't want to let me leave, and there were a couple of long climbs on the road to Oxford. Luckily the weather was lovely, until I left the team in oxford when the heavens opened!
I was so tired yesterday I went to bed about 8, after eating that was all I could do!
Sunday 20 November 2011
Wheels in Motion
All ready to roll; bike on train to London. Tomorrow morning I'm at Imperial College London to meet the Cystic Fibrosis Gene Consortium and then up to Oxford to the John Radcliffe Hospital!
Please sponsor me at www.virginmoneygiving.com/jamespeckham
Saturday 19 November 2011
Press Release
- The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is the UK’s only national charity dealing with all aspects of Cystic Fibrosis (CF). It funds research to treat and cure CF and aims to ensure appropriate clinical care and support for people with Cystic Fibrosis.
- Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is one of the UK’s most common life-threatening inherited diseases. Cystic Fibrosis is caused by a single defective gene. As a result, the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, become clogged with thick sticky mucus resulting in chronic infections and inflammation in the lungs and difficulty digesting food.
- Each week five babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis and two young people die – 90% from lung damage. Only half of those living with Cystic Fibrosis are likely to live past their late 30s, although improvements in treatments mean a baby born today is expected to live even longer.