EASTON ROYAL

Ben and Darren cycle from John O’Groats to Paris via London

John O'Groats to London

Ben and Darren set off from Bentley House on their great expedition

to raise money for 'Children with Leukemia'.

London to Paris just was not far enough for Ben and Darren, who have decided to cycle from John O'Groats to Paris instead, ably supported by Bill Nimmo Scott as "the Roadie".   Many thanks to all who have generously supported them in this venture.

If you would like to donate online please follow this link:-

Ben and Darren's fund raising page

All is going well for the team.   They have kept to their planned schedule and have only encountered rain on one afternoon.

Bill met Ben and Darren off the train at Inverness on Tuesday 24^th and they all went up to Wick where they spent the night parked outside the Harbour Master’s office.   The HM very kindly allowed them to use the showers and toilets normally reserved for the yachties.

Day 1, 25th August 2010 Ben and Darren were taken to John O’Groats

on Wednesday morning to commence cycling and covered 109 miles to Tain where they were greeted by a welcoming party, including a bagpiper, organised by Kathleen Clarke of Greenbanks, Easton Royal, who is a native of that part of the world.   The St Duthus Hotel accommodated the vehicles in their car park and allowed the team to have showers in the hotel.   Margaret McKay generously provided the team with a selection of Scottish cheeses and oatcakes to add to their larder.

Day 2, Thursday 26th the cyclists covered 77 miles to Newtonmore where they were welcomed by Barbara Fraser of the Newtonmore Grill.

Once again the trio were able to use showers and Barbara treated them to supper which was much appreciated.

Day 3, Friday 27th, was less arduous – only 67 miles allowing Ben and Darren time to visit Blair Atholl

and Pitlochry where they saw the famous Fish Ladder before arriving at the RNLI Divisional HQ in Perth for the next overnight stop.  (It’s handy to have a son in law who is the RNLI Divisional Inspector for Scotland!)

Day 4, Saturday 28^th  saw the intrepid cycling duo heading for Newtown St Boswells near Melrose in the Scottish Borders with a planned overnight stop at the Buccleuch Arms Hotel

whose landlady (wouldn’t you know it, has a sister, Frances Stevenson, living in Easton Royal at The Old Stores!)  Today’s 86 miles involved a trip through the centre of Edinburgh because bicycles are not allowed on the Edinburgh Ring Road.   So I wonder how many tourists saw the two red t-shirted cyclists speeding along Princes’ Street.

After a night at the Buccleuch Arms, Newtown St Boswells, where they were very kindly treated to dinner, the dynamic duo set off on

Day 5, Sunday 29^th for the longest leg of the trip.

The 112 miles from Newtown St Boswells to Little Smeaton near Northallerton, made for a hard, tiring day but they made it before 6pm despite getting caught in the rain.  On the way they crossed the border from Scotland into England

so hopefully the worst of the hills are behind them.   Sarah, Bill’s daughter, provided the bathroom facilities and a Roast Beef Dinner so it was worth the effort.   She also fed them breakfast before they set off.

Day 6, Monday 30^th only 83 miles.  What a way to spend your August Bank Holiday Monday!    They reached their destination, Barney’s Truck Stop, near Barnetby-le-Wold in good time having had a few ‘ups and downs’ on the way and not the hilly type.   They rode through the centre of York (are they trying to see how many city centres they can visit?) and while enjoying a refreshment stop in a lay-by near a farm they attracted the attention of the elderly farmer who happened to be passing.   This gentleman aged 84, who walks with aid of two sticks, read the lettering on the side of the caravan, walked back to his farmhouse and returned with a very generous donation.  Thank you Sir, whoever you are.   That was an ‘up’ and just south of the Humber Bridge, there was a ‘down’ - the team suffered its first puncture.   The damage was such that Ben had to put in a new inner tube but the problem was soon put right and they reached Barney’s Truck Stop at around 3pm.   Unfortunately owing to the Bank Holiday, the Truck Stop was not open for business so tonight Bill is having to cook and it’s Fray Bentos Pies on the menu!   Luckily the Truck Stop proprietor was around and not only made a generous donation but promised them a shower in the morning.   I wonder if they will get a trucker’s fry-up as well to set them up for the next leg, to Barnwell near Peterborough, which is long but reasonably flat.

Day 7, Tuesday 31^st , They  left Barney’s Truck stop this morning having been treated to a shower and with a generous £50 donation from the Truck Stop owner in the tin. They have now reached Barnwell

near Peterborough where Bill’s sister Tess is looking after them.

One cannot pass through Lincoln without a record..

.

Not sure if the cycling is getting to him or if it is because today is his wedding anniversary but Ben had a ‘silly’ moment.   They called in to an Argos to pick up a camera Cheryl had ordered for Darren. They had left the shop and were a couple of hundred yards down the road when Ben thought he had left his cycling helmet behind.

It took a few minutes before he realised it was on his head! 

The Final Push

Day 8 – Not so many miles today but Ben and Darren had to navigate their way round Bedford and Luton before arriving at Harpenden Rugby Club for the night. 

Many thanks to the club who entrusted the team with the keys to the entire club house including the bar!   No worries though because ‘Uncle’ Bill was on hand to make sure the lads did not exceed their daily beer ration.  

During the trip Bill has begun reading the Stieg Larsson trilogy and he has now finished the first book ‘ The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’.

Talking of books, Bill reckons he could write one entitled ‘Lay Bys of Scotland and England’ – admittedly not a very catchy title but one that has been very well researched on this trip.   Two or three times a day he has had to find a safe spot to stop and meet the boys to ‘refuel’ them.   Good places are where roads have been straightened and the old road has been left to provide a parking area.   The other area of accumulated knowledge is supermarkets with large car parks and good toilets.   If you have ever been caravanning you will know why this last item is so important!  

Day 9 – The end of the first part of the adventure was in sight.  Although they only had just over 50 miles ahead of them, Ben and Darren left early to make their way down to Harrow and then straight on through the centre of London before arriving at Bexley soon after midday.  En route they allowed themselves time for a cheesy tourist photo opportunity with the Houses of Parliament as a backdrop.  

The support team (Bill and Bosun) took the scenic route round the M25 via Thurrock services and the Dartford crossing and they all met up again at the Bexley Holiday Inn.  

After the lads had checked that the hotel was expecting them, Bill congratulated them on completing the first part of their challenge and gave them a bottle of Champagne to enjoy during the afternoon while waiting for their fellow cyclists for the London to Paris leg to arrive.   His responsibilities discharged, he said goodbye to the dynamic duo and then headed home to Wiltshire.