Day 11

Over half way now - and we're still on schedule!

You can usually get a good idea of what somewhere is like by looking at the map of the area. Nothing prepared us for the amazing countryside of the Forest of Bowland though. The sweeping moorlands and hills provided us with the best morning's cycling of LeJog so far. Great riding and beautiful scenery.

And as a bonus we had a dry, and then sunny morning after a forecast of rain all day. Our ride today was a potentially gruelling one of 69 miles - with over 5,000 feet of ascent. We rode into North Yorkshire and into Cumbria, stopping at the very attractive Kirkby Lonsdale for lunch (including the local hot pot to keep up the local food thing). By the time we emerged from the Red Dragon the rain had started and stayed with us for the rest of the ride.... another 3 hours. By the time we got to our site, just south of Penrith, we were thoroughly soaked and at these latitudes that can soon lead to a survival situation.Then we spotted the campsite - yes. And then we spotted our van - with a highland cow right in front of it.

The owners of the Low Moor Park site were really kind to us, drying out all our kit in their tumble drier and over the Aga cooker. The team was finally augmented by the arrival of Sarah, our Nutrition and Media Director, who had come up from Southampton by coach. Why didn't we think of that?

At the end of day 11 we have completed 548 miles, over half way to John O'Groats and only 45 miles short of the Scottish border.

Some comments at the completion of the first half....

Dad: "We must try this again in the Summer"
Greg: "Its been sick man, here's to the second half" (raising bottle of Stella)
Tom: "Much tougher than I thought, not quite the sun-kissed holiday we'd been expecting but I'm looking forward to the heat wave in Scotland"
Mum: "Can't believe how quickly we've worked our way up the country - ready for the sunshine now"
Sarah "Way good, it all downhill from here"
Team Physician "These guys are amazing. The cardio-respitory figures are off the scale; I've not seen such stats since I started working with Lance"
Team Masseuse - "These guys are fit"