Rory Keegan's solo sponsored bike ride from Lands End to John o'Groats - on behalf of Falcon Camps, holidays for children and young people facing disadvantage.
Land's End was eerily still and fog-bound this morning. A siren hooted through the mist.
To save time, please take it as a given that all that followed today was corrugated in the extreme.
Coffee stop in Penzance in the friendly and super-cool Exchange Gallery, where another kind lady forced a donation on me.
Gradually the mist lifted and a sapphire sky emerged as I puffed through and near villages, distinctive to my eye and ear for their splendidly evocative names: Blowinghouse, Praze-an-Beeble, Joppa, Relubbers, Numphra, Treen, Polgigga...
A long whoosh down to Perranporth, basking in afternoon sunshine. Fascinating to observe the holiday outfits chosen by many. Though no trendster oneself, one can't help the occasional: 'What were you thinking?'
No temptation to surf here in Newquay. Me in a wetsuit? What was he thinking?
And, should you wish to listen, here's today's podcast. Yesterday's should play immediately afterwards. Can't master the tech to get them the correct way around!
The bike's ready, the paniers packed - over-packed, naturally. And I'm more or less ready for the train to Penzance.
Mild pang of regret as I bid farewell to my neighbours (above). Their cygnet is growing apace: more or less doubled in size in a fortnight. He/she will be an argumentative teenager by the time I get back.
So, here we go. I've talked up the ride since the end of 2009.
Now it's time to put foot to pedal and hit those 1080 miles.
Thanks to all Summer Cycling Saga's supporters for getting me this far. You have been terrific.
You heard the hoolering and ululating? That would been us as the total-so-far whooshed through the £3000 barrier.
What can we say? Thank you. Shock and awe - in the nicest possible manner.
Hurrah!
Meanwhile another splendid break for Summer Cycling Saga - we're featured on the front page of the prestigious, internationally acclaimed website OK in the UK.
And how generous of the webmaster to consider us a UK 'attraction'. Possible in the style of Stonehenge: ancient and in ruins?
And - as if you weren't aware - all of this is for Falcon Camps, brilliant hols for children and teenagers facing disadvantage.
A pose on a fairtrade coffee machine marks the total at the beginning of the last full week before zero hour.
Could we perhaps reach £3000 before the start of the Summer Cycling Saga?
Oh, random clothing news: in a moment of deluded self-boosting I purchased a yellow T-shirt at the weekend. One's very own maillot jaune to be worn at strategic moments en route.
Wild whoops as we break through the two-and-a-half-thousand ceiling!
Only - yikes! - 10 days to the start of the ride. Massively encouraged by the wave of kindness and good will that is taking the total for Falcon Camps skywards!
Many thanks to all our fabulous sponsors!
By the way, I'm also posting regular updates about the ride on the popular social networking site Facebook. Check me out there where I use my 'proper' name of Roderick Keegan. If you wish to, of course!
