Thursday 29 March 2012

A dry run, or if its Monday it must be Salisbury



The term stress test was the term that was key.  What it meant to us was that we were going travel 240 miles over 'challenging' country to test out the support vehicle, the strength of Tom as the rider, the telecoms, the foods, the timings, how the foods may work and much more besides.

We started from Brize Norton, and regular readers of this blog will know that Brize is also the place where  the UK's soldiers fly into and out of also the place where the dead from Afghanistan are repatriated.  link to repatriation Blog

08:30 in the morning of Monday saw us collected Tom, obviously,  but also supporters as well as the sports specialists.  Its has been one of the many joys that has come out of their challenge, how certain people have 'stepped up' and offered their services without condition.















Two such have been Adam Dobson, specialist Sports Injury Physiotherapist. Also Carl Whitehead, personal trainer specialising in extreme endurance events and sports.

The Repatriation Memorial Garden still carry the flowers from the previous week's events, this when the bodies of six service men were returned, see the previous post regarding this.

Tom was suitably clad for the cold and, surprisingly, was quite  happy to allow me to take his photo with some unusual head gear.

The first day was a calm day, some hills but not too tough, that was to come. We soon learnt of the value of having the stops in the right place, the lunch of brown pasta and tomatoes was ideal for the rider and a taste of what is to come.  Each day will mean large amounts of calories will need to be taken in by the riders, importantly these need to be in a form that is slow release and concentrated, enter the pasta meal, the porridge (oats) breakfast, the banana.  In addition the high energy sports drinks also containing the irons and salts lost by such extreme effort.   What Tom did find was how the correct foods helped him to cover the ground well.

The first night stop was at Salisbury, and then up at 5:00 am to eat lots of porridge, banana and get on the road after more high energy drinks by dawn and after the sun was up. Cycling on busy roads at that time of the day can be dangerous so Hi Vis clothes the order of the day.  The second day was tough, the road to Chard is one that seems you either going up a hill or about to. And those hills were tough but Tom did his 84 miles that day and came through it well.

The final day was more of the same but more so, more hills, more heat, (we are enjoying very un-sesonal and warm weather in the UK just now) - to finish on Plymouth Hoe looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. This when Tom had an interview with Radio Plymouth on the iPhone  and the following morning at 07:00 with BBC Radio Devon.

To hear the podcast click here




A very good trip, some very useful lessons learnt for the biggie that starts in a little more than a fortnights time.



Saturday 24 March 2012

A Dry Run....

Tomorrow at 08:30 Tom will start a lengthy three day ride. This will be from the Britania Gardens at Brize Norton, the place where the photographs of the Soldiers repatriation is seen here and below.

The aim of the trip (184 miles) is to test the systems we have, the routes marking via the net, the communications, the challenges of riding a higher milage than the US ride will be for a three day period.  

Instead of an RV Tom will have a caravan to sleep in and has had the advice of his sports consultant in terms of foods to eat during the trip.

This  post has the route of the first day.



If you want to join us contact us via our Facebook page. Facebook link


Friday 23 March 2012

The RV aka Camper Van

When we area in the US we are to use as a  support vehicle a camper van, being American this is not a small vehicle but rather 30 feet of RV that will allow us to make stops as needed and will be a great resource to the venture.

Amongst its many uses will be a as traveling advertisement for what we are doing, yes a good idea but how do you do that. Well a creative mind is needed here, the writer of this Blog does not offer himself for this job but fortunately Tom knows someone who has a sister who has such a mind.

So here is the RV/Camper Van in all its potentail glory.

And our thanks go to Judith Dabney.











Wednesday 21 March 2012

Six men come home




Yesterday at the main RAF base in the UK for the movement of troops by the RAF 6 men came home.  They were the six young men killed by a devastating roadside bomb in Afghanistan a few days ago.




Tuesday 20 March 2012

Video Blog....Why the charity

A truly great day in Oxfordshire today, the sun blasts down on a green and pleasant land, Tom is getting fitter by the day.   The preparations are proceeding well for the venture; riding across the US from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean.

However you look at it this is a major and challenging project.  Many people are coming forward to help and many are in need of help, its sometimes easy to forget what the charity and the ride is all about so Tom what are your thoughts.....









Sunday 18 March 2012

The Sit Rep



As we get closer to the off date things are now really starting to happen, but what are these things, well let's get Tom to tell us....





....things are looking good and a lot is happening,  one thing that people want to do is help, and help in all sorts of ways -  more of this next time  I write - but what we need now is cash to to help the project along, and now we have the means of donating on line -  its all so easy, the link to Just Giving is here...

To donate with tax efficiency on line click here


You will  see Tom in another role, as chief model for the merchandise we will be selling, now we are taking orders for the  top professional cycle shirts -  made to order and and made well, amazingly only £20.00 each no matter who many you want, so if you run a team of cyclists no problem!

On-line ordering follows but if you want one sooner just email our merchandising manager Terry Wells on terryw@sea2sea.org

Friday 9 March 2012

The days get longer the time gets shorter





Spring is just about with us, this said with the 'half full' optimist's view of the world, one thing is for sure the days are getting longer and the daffodils are coming into flower.

One thing is for sure, and that is the start date for the Sea2Sea Challenge is getting much closer, in fact 49 days close.

We are now into March and the plans are coming together well.  People both from the UK and the  across the US are focussed  and want to achieve the aims of the charity, to both raise funds for the casualties of the wars fought since 9/11 and also to raise awareness of the problems that the vets may have when, for them,  the fighting is over.

The very good news for the charity is that we have the RV bought and poised ready for the B I G trip across the US.  In fact we now have a stunning picture of the RV in all its glory, it awaits the various transfers from our sponsors of the charities that we are committed to help.  But for those wanting to see the vehicle here she is.



Returning to the differences in US/UK language, this is called a Camper Van here in the UK, in the US this type of vehicle is known as an RV, or Recreational Vehicle.   This will be our home for the weeks of travel across the States, with this Blogger also acting as chief cook and bottle washer as well as driver, blogger and, oh yes photographer.

Have a nice day y'all


Friday 2 March 2012

Root, Route, Rout












They do say that we, The Americans and the British are a common people separated by their language, well perhaps so.

The last Blog had the map of the US emblazoned along with the route clearly shown, but then no words are spoken with image  - how different when the Brits talk with the Americans, even more so when an American, who has lived a good while in the UK calls the States and talks about The Route.

Here's the thing, the Americans pronounce the word like an untidy military withdrawal, a rout, we pronounce it as that bit of the plant that is underground - a root.

So now you have the picture, Tom and American living and having lived in the UK for some time talks to the US and has a problem with how to say the word route, or is that rout or even root?



But for those that didn't get to see it last time here is the route, root, rout, in fact here is the detailed first day one of the same.