Blazing Saddles

We cycled Lands End to John O'Groats, a total of 961 miles, in 11 days raising £2175. With no support car it was carry what we needed and stayed mainly at Youth hostels, friends and B+B's. Though we were going to do it anyway we decided to raise money for Sands in memory of my daughter Rachael Emily Hinitt who passed away aged 20 days in October last year. Mike (Big Dave) has a son who for a time was in a special care unit and fully supported the charity.

It was the most amazing experience and its safe to say the most physically demanding thing either of us ever have done. The pinnacle was the 107 miles across Rannoch Moor in the Highlands of Scotland. The wind was so strong it stopped us freewheeling downhill and it was so hot our ears blistered. Then barely an hour later at the foot of Ben Nevis it did what we expected and rained solidly. In 11 days we finished about 4 dry.

Unfortunately it was two days too much for me and with aching tendons, an achilles that was slightly torn for 5 days and a very bad case of needing the toilet every half hour I had to stop to prevent dehydration and serious illness. Big Dave however completed the trip with me in support in a hire car.

Big Dave's first words when he finished were 'Easy'.....I think he might have been telling a fib there!

Read the full account of Chris and Big Dave's trip at their Just Giving page