Bev's Travels

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

For those who have been here for a while they may remember my oldest daughter doing a marathon row (with 3 others) round the UK a couple of years ago. They were the first women ever to do it.

Well she's adventuring again but this time doing something that hundreds of people do. She's cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats (that's end to end of the UK) She's not taking the shortest route though because she is coming via where hubby and I live and hubby is going to do the second part of her marathon with her. (At least she can get off the bike at night. She was stuck on the boat!)

Today she arrived about an hours drive south of us. She wanted us to meet up. Well our roof started leaking so hubby said we couldn't go cos it has to be fixed before he leaves with Bev on Tuesday. Once I knew the DIY shops would be closed for the day I told him I was going anyway. Their challenge is cycling. My challenge is driving for an hour! (It's going to be 3 hours on Thursday) Anyway I met up with her and it was nice, She appreciated it and I have her dirty washing home with me and everything she doesn't need to carry tomorrow so it should make her ride a bit easier. She's covered over 500 miles so far, needed antibiotics for an infected insect bite and has not finished the course because they gave her stomach cramps and diarrhoea. She still rode 80 miles today.

The drive was interesting. It seems that when I drive for more than 30 mins my right foot goes numb and today my right hand felt as though it was being 'rained on'. Sort of spread out pins and needles and then I find letting go of the wheel is difficult which is prolly one better than not being able to hold it! After an hour both lower legs had pins and needles too.

There and back safely though.

Take care - Scottie 

[Bucky]

Scottie, thanks for the update about Bev's cycling challenge. 

That could be very difficult to cycle and have stomach cramps & diarrhea too.  Ugh!

Sorry about your roof leak, but glad you were able to meet up with Bev today.  I'm sure she was glad to see you.   

Give her my best wishes as she continues on with this cycling challenge.  It will be nice that her Dad will be joining her - it will give her company. 

I wish you didn't live so far away, I'd like to meet Bev in person.  She's amazing!!

If you can at all, try and break up your trip on Thursday, as driving long distances don't seem to agree with your legs & hands.   

And the adventure continues . . . . . 

Bucky

[lynnmarie219]

Thanks for the update on Bev! I agree she is an amazing woman and an inspiration to many! You must be very proud!

Sending all my good thoughts to her on the second leg of her journey and hoping she and your hubby have good weather and some special time together...it will be a nice thing for them to do together. And wishing you safe travels as well....be careful and take lots of driving breaks if needed!

[iraisin]

That is really cool. I'm proud of her with you. What a great kid.

[Katybarstool]

Scottie

Bev certainly is an adventurer! Good for your hubby too.

I've been thinking about Bev this past few days with the sailing in the Olympics. Does she know any of those athletes?

Hope you don't get too tired on Thursday.

Hugs
Kathyx

[Scottietottie]

Hi Kathy 

I've been watching the sailing and thinking OMG! they were rowing in sea like that  - and a lot worse!! It wasn't even blowing a gale. She doesn't know any of those athletes. I still wish the 4 of them had got more kudos for their feat of endurance than they did.

When the paralympics start she does, however, know one of them. The American woman who was rowing, who does it for a living but who is a wheelchair user, is competing doing shot putt. I think Bev is intending to meet her in London sometime.

Bev arrived at our house today so she's half way to achieving this particular goal. There is a more direct route so she is riding further than normal in order to take her Dad along for the second half. Today she was riding through thunderstorms and torrential rain. She arrived looking like a drowned rat. Thankfully she is now feeling a bit better than she did.

Take cafre - Scottie 

[eyeamdry]

Scottie, thanks for the story of your daughter and the roof, meeting up etc.  It kind of gives us a broader view of something good (not the roof) going off across the ocean.  We hope Bev has all the luck and good health she needs and also her parents.  Dad to keep up with cycling and you to hold down the fort while he's gone.  Lucy

[susanep]

Wow, what an adventure. You must be so so proud, and your hubby going with her is so cool. They will have so much to tell. Hope everyone stays safe, and gets rest at some point.

susanep

[Katybarstool]

Scottie

I'll make sure  watch the Paralympics, to see Bev's friend. HOw has her journey gone today? Has your husband been able to keep up? Hope the roof is sorted now, and that you don't get any more of that horrible torrential rain.

Kathyx

[Scottietottie]

hi 

I think hubby found today harder than he thought he would. I think the hills were bigger - or longer than anticipated. I think they did about 75 miles. They got to their destination anyway and he was heading for his bed about 9p.m. At least it didn't rain on them. They were really disappointed to find that something billed as a 'cycle track' was totally unridable. It may have been OK for someone skilled on a mountain bike but it certainly wasn't any use for 'touring bikes'. They ended up doing more walking than planned and cycle shoes are not great for walking on!

However that is is day one out of the way. It's not bad - he's 64.

I don't think the shot putter is exactly a 'friend'. She was an integral part of the rowing team though. By the end of 50 days in that boat I'm not sure any of them were 'friends'. Bev does have respect for her though despite the fact that she wanted to kill her after aboiut 3/4 of the trip!! Must be a case of forgive and forget seeing as she plans to meet up in London.

Take care - Scottie 

[Bucky]

Scottie - I'm so impressed with Bev's determination not to give up when she is faced with all kinds of hurdles along the way.

Riding a bike in a torrential rain sure doesn't sound like fun to me!  I bet she was looking forward to a soft bed to sleep on at "home".

How many more days of the trip is there?

I bet after today your husband was thinking, "what WAS I thinking joining Bev??!!".   

Scottie, make sure and take breaks on your trip to join them.  Safe travels.

Bucky

[Scottietottie]

Thanks Bucky 

I'll be joining them tomorrow night and will be able to take their dirty washing and anything else they don't need to carry with them, which should make their bikes a bit lighter.

The last couple of days they've had no rain. Hubby is cursing his beta blockers because he figures they are stopping his heart pumping enough when he encounters a big incline. He's been having to 'walk' his bike for spells. Overall they both seem to be enjoying themselves though.

Not sure when I'll have access to getting online again but I will pop in when I can.

It's crazy when the driving becomes the challenge - isn't it??

Take care - Scottie