Month: May 2016

Off to the Scillies

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Drizzle on the way to catch the ferry in Penzance

Early start this morning from Penzance youth hostel. .(no we don’t think we are either but we weren’t the oldest there by a long way )

Luckily the early start to catch the ferry to the Scilly Isles precluded the good value YHA breakfast including a full English (more of that later), heavy rain eased off to drizzle and mist as we set off.

We were somewhat surprised that the  Scillonian ferry was smaller than we imagined, no cars just passengers and our bikes loaded into a container and lifted aboard by crane. We were told that the Scillonian has to be very shallow draught and has no stabilisers due to the shallow waters when arriving in the Scillies, also that because of this it is notorious for the corkscrew motion it acquires in heavy seas (you can see where this is going)

So we set off on the three hour trip and soon there were lots of pale looking people with their little white bags all over the ship. Gayle was particularly impressed by a lady in the loos with serious sounding neurological symptoms, unable to feel her legs – but the pragmatic crew member announced that it was clearly just sea sickness and was clearly correct as she walked off unaided onto the Scillies.

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Green passengers on the ferry

Suffice it to say that Martins bacon sandwich was somewhat wasted , Gayle looked smug having sensibly taken a tablet, but on arriving in the Scillies the sun came out, we cycled to the idylic Garrison campsite and then around the island (St Marys), visiting an iron age village and neolithic tomb- stunningly beatiful positions

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Garrison campsite, St Marys

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Scillonian returning to Penzance in better weather

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Off to Penzance

We left home today about 2.15 . We had a last cup of tea with James. Viv , bless her , came to see us off and then we pedalled off. Pen was at the station to say goodbye and then the train came and we were gone. It is a long journey from Chesterfield to Penzance and the train was packed until Bristol. Almost everyone gets off at Birmingham but then so many other people get on that it is full again. Beautiful stretch along the sea after Exeter. Rainy and misty as we crossed the Tamar at Plymouth.

At Liskeard a drunk lad refused to show his ticket leading to a loud standoff between him and the guard. The crew announced to all the passengers that the train was held up because this gentleman was refusing to show his ticket or get off, to which a helpful lad shouted: ”I’d sort him for you but I’m on bail … ” Eventually he got off and we were on our way again.

Pouring in Penzance so we got ourselves sorted under cover for a short but wet ride up the hill in the dark and got to the YHA just before the doors closed. No room in the bike shed so the dromedaries are out in the rain but we are in the dry after a cup of tea (green much to Martin’s disgust as I brought the wrong teabags)

Up early for the Scillonian in the morning.

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Final preparations

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Last minute

We leave tomorrow,  the usual last minute deciding what we can manage without,  weight is the enemy on every uphill section so we tend to be pretty ruthless

We are both doing some last minute work related things to be sure we can leave everything finished

Gayle working on some of her voluntary work,  Martin is off to resuscitation update,  hopefully never to be used

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Packing

packWe are sitting going through our route plans and changing some of the days we had planned depending on where there are campsites – although we may wild camp some days in Scotland .

It feels rather bizarre that we can look on google streetview and see what it will be like before we even leave home, although on Shetland Google cannot give you the full effect of the wind

We have booked some campsites and people have been very welcoming

There are piles of STUFF on the carpet and six rather small panniers that it all needs to go into, endless decisions about how many warm clothes to take and whether we take one spoon or two- cycle camping makes you very aware of how much things weigh and whether really you could manage without

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Facebook

We have made a Facebook page for our trip on Gayle’s Facebook profile,  yesterday she recommended this on Facebook and within minutes we were receiving supportive messages and justgiving had some very generous donations,

although we have tended to avoid social media because of the work we both did it is hugely effective at contacting people and we are so touched by people’s generosity and the supportive comments,  and we haven’t cycled a mile yet.

Thank you to all those friends and colleagues that have been so generous,  including one anonymous donor with a very substantial amount,  a mystery but thank you

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Getting close

On Wednesday  a photographer came to take some photos for a short piece in the Derbyshire times- really helpful
As we were out with our new banner we took some pictures as well
We are hoping for a piece in the local S40 magazine as well, the editor Paul has been very helpful

Celebrity (???) shot for the media

Celebrity (???) shot for the media

We have been sorting out work and other things to free up time for our trip so have been pretty busy, the cycling preparation has suffered but we had a trip out with the Spire club yesterday going to Buxton. 55 miles felt fairly tiring even without luggage but then the Peak District is pretty hilly. Anyway we had a great day with good company (and the first ice cream of the year)

We have started letting people know about the trip and we have already have had some donations , people have been very generous and we are really touched. We weren’t sure how many people were aware of the work of MSF but so many people have told us how in awe they are of the bravery of the MSF staff working in war zones- not just doctors but also nurses, other health professionals and also engineers and logisticians.
Gayle walked down Chatsworth Road today asking shops if they would take a flyer to put up, we rather expected that only a few people would but in fact virtually everyone did, particularly because Ashgate Hospice is so well known for the work that they do in Chesterfield

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