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PLEASE BID NOW FOR THIS ITEMAND HELP THE WATAMU COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

Adidas UK have kindly given us a rugby shirt from the Lions South Africa Tour, with the team autographs on the front.

Adults Lions South Africa 2009 Tour Rugby Shirt with the Team Autograhs on the front

This rare item is being ’silently’ auctioned to raise funds for The Watamu Community Hospital.  We have a current bid of £100.00 if you would like to bid for this item, please email caroline@medinapalms.com to register your bid.

The Watamu Community Hospital ………………………………………..

MESSAGE FROM NIGEL

I have just arrived back on the overnight train and realised how far it was ! Now that this adventure is over I particularly wanted to thank the lovely Lesley-Anne, my wonderful wife who has always supported me throughout those exhausting days and without whom none of this would have been possible.  Thank You xx

 My Dawes Kalahari bicycle computer reads:  Miles: 1070 (av. 82.3 per day, no rest days !)

and 98.58 hours in the saddle in total , although many days I was out for over 12 hours due to breakdowns….mechanical not mental !

 Tips for others: Use better wheels and stainless steel spokes and the best inner tubes you can find.

Average speed for the whole trip….. in wind, rain, with full panniers was 10.85 mph and I finished a day early in 13 days.  My highest top speed recorded yesterday was 45 mph in the wet, just before my front tyre had a puncture. I am glad the road was empty.

I travelled over 90 miles on several days and survived despite exploding tyres, punctures (4 in one day in Devon) and broken spokes (3 on the final day) and heavy goods vehicles trying to shorten my existence.

My Adidas kit was fantastic and kept out some horrendous rain and wind .It breathed superbly with its CLIMACOOL fabric in the sunshine of Cornwall too. Thank You to Ben at Adidas for all your support.

I am glad I have finished  and thank you to all who have donated to both The Watamu Community Hospital and The Born Free Foundation. They really appreciate all your generosity and hope to see you in Kenya soon…..it s a really  beautiful place !

DAY 13 -  Brora to John O’Groats

NIgel arrives at John O'Groats

In record time, a day earlier than expected, Nigel has reached his goal of John O’Groats, his early arrival due to the strong winds behind him and the promise of RAIN tomorrow !!

MESSAGE FROM NIGEL - as he is on the train home !!!!!!!

So today 74.36 miles, 5hrs 9 mins av. Speed 14.41 mph just made it to j.o.g 14.32pm 2 broken spokes on back and front puncture to keep me focused!

I hit my record of 45.75 mph and decided to break.  Just outside Helmsdale. It was pouring with rain and the roads were wet. As I turned the bend at the bottom of the hill I had a front puncture which I fixed in 20 mins. And then my rear spoke broke and buckled the wheel so badly that I had to release the  rear brake. The buckle was bad for 10 miles so I decided to stop and remove the gears and replace the spoke.

I limped into Wick and a cycle shop re aligned the wheel. 10 mins later another rear spoke on the same drive side broke….this time I cut it with my leatherman and limbed the last 10 miles with a bad buckle….I forgot it was the 13th day of my mission, when I arrived in j.o.g a bunch of hairy motor bikers surrounded the famous landmark pole and insisted they had paid, so it was theirs to control …..so I just took a quick snap and headed for the railway station where they forbid me to load my bike on board…..thank you scotrail. However my nice taxi driver , Hugh,  took pity and is packing my bike in cardboard whilst my other angel , Paula organises her courier to pick it up tomorrow .  Thats why I always recommend   Sleepy Hollow Smoked Salmon… its their courier who is helping me.

A BIG Thank you to those who helped me get here and back, including Caroline the brilliant person who blogs for me with biker buddy Jez of Noesis, ace graphics and web gurus… Thanks for helping me everyday !

Oh yes ,and I did it a day faster than planned, 13  days and now the sun is shining, at last as I sit in my railway carriage….it actually looks rather nice out there !

DAY 12 - Fort Augustus to ………………..

Loch Ness at Sunrise

Nigel leaves Fort Augusts, the gateway to Loch Ness and heads north…………………more news later
MESSAGE FROM NIGEL
10am at Urguart Castle on Loch Ness…..cool and gre….that’s the weather not me ! off to look for Nessy on my way .

Cromarty Firth ,north of Dingwall at 46 miles and 1.45pm …yes its raining again….note the grey seals in the foreground

Just clocked fastest speed of 35.19 mph down to here, Bonar Bridge 3 pm 69.82 miles so far today

All sorted and in room.97.54 miles, 8 hrs and 3 mins average 12.09 miles per hour…

trying to work out my total miles to date. My computer broke on day 1 and this one was fitted in Launceton half way thro 2nd day which finished in Crediton. My computer reads 881 miles and 77.49 hrs in the saddle…so far….ouch !!!!!

Long day but made it as the RAF do a fly by in a tornado at cycle helmet height…thanks Barry for arranging this display…bang on time as always !!!

Another grey day at Adlui at the drovers inn above Loch Lomond …its 7.30 am and time for a full English….or is that Scottish ? Looking forward to the 1000 ft climb over Glen Shee….Not !!!!!!!! Best Nigel

It is official now, I am in the Highlands…but no fling for me …only the wee midges find me attractive….and they are in my helmet !!!!!

Gone past Glen Coe and now down the mountain …36 miles completed and now 1.15pm heading for Loch Levan.

Crossing Loch levan Bridge on the way to Fort William.

Memorial to the commandos who trained here 1939-45 outside Speen Bridge….

Finished today at Fort Augustus ,slightly ahead of schedule by completing this Glen Coe section 91.82 miles,7 hr 25 mins av.speed 12.48 mph…my fastest stage to date…ending in sunshine on Loch Ness. Tks to Andy from the West Midlands police who rode the section to Fort William with me…at high speed !

Best Nigel

Weather forecast for Scotland does not look good for outdoor sports today ! Have not heard from Nigel yet, but he should have left Gretna this morning heading for Cumnock.

The sun is now shinning and Nigel has just past his first Scottish Castle.

Nigel outside Drumlanrig Castle...in the sunshine!

Fully refreshed after his stop off at Kirby Lonsdale, Nigel now on his way to Gretna Green. He has just done a PB of 34 mph on a 16% decent !

So, 9hrs later - it rained for 5 of the 9 hrs, and the Solway Firth had a gale blowing as Nigel was cycleing now where into a 99 mph wind.

Nigel cycled over Hadrian Wall earlier in the day…not sure why Hadrian bothered coming all this way and building a wall !

Bit of a nightmare with a broken rear spoke on the drive side, but Nigels training in cheltenham with Brian the Mechanic helped when he aquired the help of Trevor, an Agricultural Engineer in Appleby who helped fix the spoke.

Nigel with Agricultural Engineer Trevor in Appleby

Nigel Reaches Kirby Stephen , after a few scary moments !!

DAY 7  WARRINGTON TO KIRBY LONSDALE

After a night in Warrington which included a much needed massage by the Manchester United masseur Gary Armer, so its Ronaldo, Rooney and Rowley !!

Nigel stopped at this Bus Station in Lancashire to snap this ’slogan’ …only to be told by an official ” Clear off you can’t take photos here” ….

Nigel reaches Lancashire

I can confirm that Nigel did not jump onto a Bus going north !  He is back on his bike.   75.76 miles and 7.34 hrs in the saddle to Kirby Lonsdale, Nigel was impressed with the fantastic scenery and so quiet, just the sound of the wind……..reminded him of Africa.

Today Wednesday 12th August - Nigel is leaving Newport in Shropshire and heading for Warrington, Cheshire.

Nigel arrived in Warrington having cycled 56 miles in 5 hrs - quick stop off at Warrington Wolves Rugby League.

Nigel outside Wolves Football Club