Day 5: Helenburgh to Lockerbie (152k and many many hours)

Today was hard. 

Cycle paths out of Helensburgh and along the water took us to Glasgow and a welcome pit stop. Then the miles south through beautiful farm land  rolled on... and on... and on...

A much needed and tasty lunch stop in Strathaven allowed us to fuel up for the second half and the kind cafe people donated to Nick's charity. Then it was head down, tarmac focused for the next 4 hours. There were bus wees; strapping inventions; pain killers; creaming up in a layby; tears; smiles, and lots of digging deep.

Some found it harder than others. In GH's words: they're in the 'hurt locker'. But thank you to everyone today who pulled each other though. We couldn't have finished today without true grit and teamwork. And we were never not going to finish because this is for Nick and it's his birthday today. We love you Nick. 

A few words from GH...

"Today was a tough day but it was fitting that it was also Mr Windsor's birthday. Each and everyone of us had to dig deep just to get through today. Thinking about Nick today when he would have been 46 was enough for each of us to find a bit more inner strength. I swapped messages with Nick's sister and was glad to know the Windsor family spent the day together toasting the great man himself - which we all did when we had finished this eve with his favourite drink….sparkling!"

                                

And key pics / vids from today:

Endless stretching, poignant lunch stops and beautiful cycle paths

 

Boys back together and tasty coffee stop

 

Glasgow in the sunshine

 

Tom digging deep. Dan inventing modern medicine! It works!

And... AOB! :) 

And thank you to the wonderful Anna Kitching for this ace illustration of leaving John O'Groats 5 days ago!

Happy Birthday Nick! We hope we're making you proud.