Day 15: Tongue to John O'Groats

I made it. What an emotional journey.

The day was always gonna be a long one in my mind. But as I started cycling I had the Final Countdown song in my head.

The first half was very hilly and it was misty too. After about 30 miles I met Rachel, a moment I had been waiting for for a long long time. She gave me lots of food and then took my bags so I could complete the day without worrying about the weight, which was starting to hold me back.

I cycled into Thurso and met up with Rachel again in a small tea shop. I had a cup of tea and a cream bun.

Then I cycled the last 21 miles to John O'Groats. As I approached it started to rain and the landscape was very grey. I crossed the finished line at about half past four, and took lots of pictures and videos at the signpost.

We packed the bike into the car and I put on clean clothes for the first time in weeks!

We drove into Wick, about 20 miles down the road and found food and a small apartment to sleep in. I'm so tired, and looking forward to sleeping and not having to get up and cycle in the morning.

I'm so glad for it to all be over, but I am glad I have done it, it's been a wonderful experience. Thank you to everyone who has supported and sponsored me over the last two weeks, I couldn't have done it without you!!

Stay tuned for pictures and videos when I get home.

Mark

Day 14: Tain to Tonge

Today was split into two halves.

The B&B I stayed at last night was lovely. I had a very large, tasty breakfast.

Then it was time to leave and brave the weather. The headwind was so strong that at one point I was very nearly blown of my bike and under a passing bus. I was a bit shaken at that point. The rain and wind continued until I reached Lairg. I stopped for lunch; roast lamb.

After I left there and headed north, the traffic thinned, the road got narrower and I saw nothing for 30 miles. 10 cars passed me in this time. One was an ambulance and another a hurse.

Suddenly the sun came out and I noticed that I was in the middle of a bowl of clouds swirling around me, kind of like the eye of a storm. It was very surreal. I made it to Tongue about 6pm. Very hungry and tired.

1 day left!!!!

The story of why I am here.

The story of the girl who's spirit brought me on this journey.

Millie Louise Mules was born on the 31st March 2008 to parents Elaine and Paul. Millie was a very happy baby; she loved her sister Jessica and was always smiling at everybody. It soon become apparent that Millie could not hold her own head up; it was very floppy and she couldn't take her feeds at night time which was the first give away as she loved her food. Elaine went to the doctors with her and they just put it down to colds and chest infections. A couple of ambulances were phoned for Millie as she struggled to breathe and her parents ended up seeing 3 different doctors as they all put it down to the same thing and her being a lazy baby. They kept fighting for help and in the end an army doctor sent Millie to hospital where she was admitted with a serious chest infection. In this visit to hospital her parents got to speak to the consultant. When they relised she had no reflexes, they took a blood test that day and just over a week later it come back that Millie had Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 1. Millie spent the rest of her life in hospital, except a couple of days here and there. She had a very large care team and was seeing a lot of specilists as her heart was enlarged too. They gave Millie a life expectancy of 2 years, but Millie was very poorly. Her parents went to see a specialist at Southampton hospital about a breathing machine at night but decided against it as they didn't want to prolong her suffering. Millie went home one more time with all her medical equipment and her Mum trained in all her care including chest physio, but unfortunatly she contracted Pneumonia and was taken back to hospital. Her parents signed a DNR ( do not resicitate) form and they started her on morphine and made her comfortable. It was decided that Millie would be taken to Naomi House Children's Hospice. She was picked up by ambulance and transferred to the Hospice. As soon as the family arrived we are all made to feel at home and Millie's Mum could carry on doing all her care as she had and wanted to from day one, but they were always there if help was needed. Jessica was always kept busy and her parents finally got to take Millie swimming as they always wanted to. They got moulds of her hands and feet, hand prints, a lock of her hair and a memory box. Those 2 days we had there before she died gave us some fantastic memories. The staff were right there to the end and supported all the family through it. Millie was allowed to rest at the Hospice in the Butterfly Room. Millie stayed there for 8 days. It looked like a childs bedroom and her parents got to bring her own belongings in to make it her own room. The staff there helped organise the funeral and anything else that needed doing. Millie still had her own carer up until she left the house and was laid to rest.  They put up large butterflies outside the house to let people know there was a family mourning and a child was in the Butterfly Room. Her parents and sister got to stay upstairs and could see Millie whenever they wanted.

4 years later Naomi House are still in touch with the family and Jessica still goes to Sibling Days. The parents still get invited to Rememberance Days. She is now our little cherub, gone but never forgotten.

Please, please donate at www.virginmoneygiving.com/markverbinnen

Day 13: Loch Ness to Tain

Today started well for about 5 miles following the shores of Loch Ness.

Then DISASTER! Well, a little problem. Something flicked up from a passing car and went right into my eye. I had to immediately pull over, lie on the ground next to a busy road and pour water from my bottle into my eye. After 20 minutes I decided to carry on and find a medical centre for help. Instead I found a pharmacy and got some eye wash. It got whatever it was out, but it is still sore.

 

Then the weather closed in. Heavy rain and a strong head wind. I went through the port of Invergorden and saw some cruise liners and giant rigs. I arrived at my b&b in good time and went out to a posh restaurant for dinner.

2 days left!

One More Thing:

Although I am raising money for Naomi House, let's spare a thought for all sick children out there and especially to little 6 month old Ryan who had heart surgery today, and pray he will be able to go home soon with his family.

Day 12: Glencoe to Loch Ness

Before I start telling you about today I would like to make an apology.

Before I set off I told everyone that I was cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats alone and unaided. This has not turned out to be true and here is why: from every text and phone call I receive, to the people I stay in the hostels with; from Vinay who I met and cycled with in the south, Nibbs through Bristol; to the group I have been with for the last few days, I never felt like I was alone. I personally would like to thank all of them for the kindness they have shown me on this trip. They made it bearable.

Now to today!

Glencoe was a very nice hostel, completely surrounded by mountains and near a nice pub too. Although this morning there were flies everywhere. It was a short hop of about 20 miles to Fort William where I stopped at a cafe and had tea and sugary cakes. Following the Lochs from there it was flat, fast paced, busy roads to Fort Augustus. Out of nowhere I was buzzed by a Tornado aircraft which nearly took me off my bike. As he went over he dipped his wings to me, which made my day.

I had lunch at around 2pm with the knowledge that I had not far to go. Oh how I was right. Within an hour I had made it to my destination, before 4 O'Clock! As I'm writing this now I am still waiting for the Youth Hostel to open for check-in, sat on the shores of Loch Ness.

Sadly the group of cyclists I was with have now gone on and will finish a day before me. But 3 more days left, who knows who I might meet.

Day 11: Stirling to Glencoe

Going from the low yesterday, today was the best day so far.

I started by having a big fry up with a man from Belgium. I decided to leave the tent I was carrying behind to a man at the hostel for a little donation to Naomi House.

Leaving Stirling with half the weight I got a good speed on mostly flat roads. After an hour I had stopped for a cup of tea and sandwich which was given free by the lady as I was there for charity. Before long I had company with some of the riders I had dinner with yesterday. I stuck with them for most of the day. I picked up a good pace and in great time we were half way and stopped for lunch, which one on the cycling group brought for me. As we were all going to the same place tonight they offered to take my bags in their support car and I took up the offer.

Later we crossed into the highlands which I had driven through before but on a bike going slow you can look at the amazing views on show. I was so struck by what I was seeing the day flew past, and so did the miles. There was a very strong headwind at points but I powered through it.

I wandered for dinner with the other cyclists and tried both haggis and venison for the first time. They were alright.

Today was the best day so far. Great views and great company.

Day 10: Biggar to Stirling

Today was my shortest day in miles, but currently moral is at an all time low.

I'm in Scotland and even though I'm now two thirds of the way through I'm coming into the highlands, which mean long difficult climbs, and as I'm carting all my own kit it's a long struggle.

I am physically and mentally tired now and I am missing everyone at home.

The journey from Biggar to Stirling was not too bad. Mostly flat with great views, I even got stuck at one point behind some sheep in the road. About 20 away from Stirling I had to make a rapid climb as there was a mountain between me and my destination. After spending over an hour climbing, mostly walking I made it to the top.

Stirling is a nice looking city with lots of castles. In fact I'm sleeping in one tonight. My spirits were lifted when a group of cyclists I keep seeing invited me to dinner with them and gave me some energy supplies and boosted my confidence.

There is no giving up now as I have come this far. Onwards and upwards I guess.