'I'll travel 900 miles for a Spitz gig!'
Sponsored bike ride from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise money to
Support The Spitz
Super Spitz supporter Caroline Kehoe is embarking on a mammoth charity bike ride on Tuesday 7th August from Land's End to John O'Groats aiming to raise £10,000 for the Dandelion Trust Spitz Appeal. The appeal is raising money to assist in finding a new building for The Spitz live music venue, gallery and restaurant after it has to leave its current site in Old Spitalfield's Market, London, E1 at the end of September.
Caroline will be travelling solo with no on-the-road assistance and will cover her own costs such as food and accommodation. Her journey will be a total distance of 933 miles completed in just 15 days. To raise money for the appeal Caroline is looking for corporate and individual sponsorship. A website page has been set up to track Caroline's progress and to receive donations at www.justgiving.com/end2end4spitz.
So far Caroline has been sponsored by Rumblers cereal, She Active sportswear, Cycle Surgery, Pavilion Insurance, Jordans Cereal and Innocent smoothies who have all helped her with vital support for her bike ride. All sponsorship is very welcome and gratefully received.
Team Discovery, the winners of this years Tour De France have also donated a very special item-a Spitz t-shirt signed by all the members of the team. The shirt will be auctioned on E-Bay with all the proceeds going to the campaign.
The Support The Spitz campaign has an online petition with over 10,000 signatures at www.ipetitions.com/petition/TheSpitz.
Caroline has raised £ 1000 so far, please Support The Spitz and help Caroline hit her target of £ 10,000 by sponsoring her mammoth bike ride at www.justgiving.com/end2end4spitz
Support The Spitz!
CAROLINE'S ROUTE:
DAY ONE (7th August) Tuesday
Land's End / via Woodlands Dandelion Trust project (Praze-an-Beeble) / St. Austell - 54 miles
'Am at Land's End. Blue sky n sun which I HOPE will remain 4 beginning of end2end4spitz 2moro. Got drenched cycling to London to Paddington, n had an introduction to Cornish hills cycling from Penzance to here earlier! Hoping to meet some of the Dandelion Trust people at Praze and Beeble 2moro on my way to St. Austell. Going to bed soon! Txt 2moro pm! Cal x'
DAY TWO (8th August) Wednesday
St. Austell / via Plymouth - 58 miles
'Heya! In St. Austell now. Been a day of feck off hills and pummelling downpours...But Cornwall's gorgeous. Was even shown round the woodlands project in Praze an Beeble by Pip and her little terrier. Bike refused to down smallest rung, so was feeling it going up STEEP hills in no lower than 2.1! All fixed n ready to head over to Loddiswell to the Chernobyl Legacy 2moro... Hope all's well with ye! Calx'
DAY THREE (9th August) Thursday
Kingsbridge / seeing Trust's
woodlands nearby then via Newton Abbot/ to Wellington - 62 miles
7.59am Heya! All good here. No reception last night. Yest 30 degs, more
and worse feck off hills on way here. Cycled over toll bridge bikes
aren't meant on (whoohoo!) and had a Cornish pasty, my lover! :o)
Hazelwood Hse gorgeous n people lovely. Exhibition a grand success!
Setting off to Wellington now.
6.58pm 'Hiya! Day 3 over... Hills were much better after Exeter. Glad to have Cornish hills behind me! Got up to 40mph on the A38 downhill! Whoohoo! Plus stopped in Exeter for lunch, and had a chat with a dotey old woman n TWO men asked me if I wanted to sign up for the Next catalogue. I'd only been there for 10 mins! Staying near Wellington now, and 2moro's a rest(ish) say of 27 miles. Today was 65! Hope things are going well there x'
DAY FOUR (10th August) Friday
Wellington / via Taunton/ Isle Brewer- 27 miles
Hiya! In Isle Brewer tonight after a lovely rest day of 30 miles. Last night was spent in a farmhouse b&b so was cuddling a gorgeous collie b4 I left! Sun was out... Relaxed reading a mag in Wivelscombe, had a haircut in Taunton which could have easily have made a wig. (When you're mucked up to the eyeballs most of the day, it makes you embrace your inner girlie. I text this while wearing a SKIRT! Gasp! SHOCK! <thud>!) Staying at Harrient's tonight and she's getting up at 6.30am to come cycling. I've warned her about my singing on the bike! ;o) talk to ye 2moro it's a long one, 77 miles to Stroud. X
DAY FIVE (11th August) Saturday
Isle Brewer / via Bath/ Stroud- 78 miles
Heya! Day 5. A third of the way there at about 300. Left Isle Brewer with Harriet who stormed the hills for about 25 miles with me. Met Pat and his friend Alec about 10 miles down the road, and they came all the way to Stroud. Has to be said, today was punishing. Hitting 33 degs pulling up the big hill out of Bath... my camelak bladder became incontinent at the thought, just before leaving Bath, but found a camping shop 2 mins later. Someone's looking after me! Incredible scenery... Fingers x'ed the weather holds up. I'm off to Birmingham 2moro. X
DAY SIX (12th August) Sunday
Stroud/ via Gloucester/ Birmingham - 52 miles
10.20pm Heya. Day 6 over. And now in Birmingham. Mostly flat... And dry! Mini downpour in Tewkesbury, but missed me as had stopped and gone on internet! Ended up being a longer day, at 65 miles... And my right thigh seems to want to join a union for unfair working hours. Swollen, but hopefully better 2moro. Better be! It's 91 miles! X
DAY SEVEN (13th August) Monday
Hales Owen / via Manchester / Bolton - 91 miles
Halfway there. Day 7. 98.7 miles btwn Birmingham n Bolton. Nice n flat, and I seemed to duck showers, which was great! Leg did cranky after 60 miles, but took Ibuprofen to reduce the swelling. Knackered now...Off to bed. 60 to Kendal 2moro Cal x
DAY EIGHT (14th August)
Bolton / via Lancaster/ Kendal - 62 miles
Day 8. Didn't put on factor 30 today...Beautiful scenery over the penines. Rain fell heavily and leg giving me more gip. I'm now clad in sheactive gear AND a knee support! Meeting lots of friendly people as go along, and a cycling buddy drove during his lunchbreak to see me just outside Lancaster. V dotey. HAve to admit, the last 15 miles in pouring rain and pain did make me wonder what the hell I was doing here... But it lasted 30 secs. Hope everyone bk there are asking friends and co-workers to donate to help the Spitz and the Dandelion Trust. Everyone's efforts help, big or small...Tomorrow, I cross the border into Scotland Cal x
DAY NINE (15th August)
Kendal / via Carlisle, Gretna/ Annan - 65 miles
Heya! Day 9 over...And I'm in SCOTLAND! Was sunny leaving Kendal...And sent a few postcards while parcelled up everything I didn't need and sent it home. My panniers are fengshui'ed! The climb over Shap fells wasn't too bad, and it was stunning scenery. I let a roar out of me when I got to Gretna! No man in kilt to greet me... But ya can't have everything! The last ten to Annan flew. Tonight, my 'puter tells me I've cycled 586 miles. Almost two thirds of the way to John O'Groats! Cal x
DAY TEN (16th August) Thursday
Annan / via Dumries/ Cumnock - 60 miles
Heya! Day 10 over... Pretty nippy leaving Annan this am, but apart from being windy, was nice and sunny. Scotland is gorgeous! It's also a bit changeable, as the last 25 from Sanquhar brought gale force winds and wintery, ice pick rain! You can imagine the language! Peddling like a mentallist has no effect when the winds coming at you, head on! But the weight of the panniers kept me from being hoisted off the road a few times, so it wasn't all bad! The knee's holding up with the drugs and support...Tonight I'm up to 651 now...And tomorrow, head to Arrochar. Cal x
DAY ELEVEN (17th August) Friday
Cumnock/ via Gourock, ferry over to Helensburgh/ Arrochar - 72 miles
Hiya! Day 11 over and am now in Arrochar, after 72 miles cycling. Weather was a bit unstable but am really glad I took the coastal route from Irvine to Gourock. The sun shone and combined with the fresh sea air, it was stunning. Missed the 2.15 ferry to Helensburgh, so, rather than wait til after 6 for another, got one to Kilcreggan. Gorgeous there...One feck off big hill on the way here, but rewarded with a steep decline n rollings hills around Loch Long. Dotey Ann and Kevin at Fascadail, Arrochar are really kindly letting me stay here for free because they're really behind what the Dandelion Trust and The Spitz does. Tonight, the 'puter is at 724 miles. Tomorrow, I head for Spean Bridge. X
DAY TWELVE (18th August) Saturday
Arrochar / via Loch Lomond National Park / Spean Bridge - 78 miles
End Day 12. I'm not in Spean Bridge as planned. You might have heard that torrential rain was to hit Scotland? Well....it did. The first 20 miles weren't too bad. Even saw my 1st kilted man by Loch Lomond. Oileann pipes and all, and yes there is a pic! Then the rain REALLY started...I kept going another 35 miles until the cold and damp set into my body so much I couldn't feel my toes anymore and I was shaking uncontrollably. I've stopped in Ballachulish, 20 miles short. This challenge has pushed me to my limits in terms of pain, terrain and weather...It's been incredible. Tomorrow I'm adding my 20 from today to Day 13's total. I only PRAY the weather improves and allows me to do it. Cal x
DAY THIRTEEN (19th August) Sunday
Spean Bridge / via Fort Augustus, Drumnadrochit/ Beauly - 54 miles
Day 13. I'm in Beauly! Weather was grand today and I made up the 20 from yesterday as well. Loch Ness is gorgeous but Nessie coudn't be tempted out with a chicken salad sandwich. The midges were either blown away or drowned yest because none were biting around the Loch! 'puter says 860 miles tonight, and tomorrow it's of to Brora. Cal x
DAY FOURTEEN (20th August) Monday
Beauly / via Tain, Dornach/ Golspie/ Brora - 57 miles
Heya! Day 14 and am now in Brora...Passed some beautiful towns, and managed to ask a Limerick man where there was an atm in Golspie! Alot of wind about... Especially in Brora where seems to be gale force! I was turning left down a lane n it spun me right road and was ushering me bk down the road! Fingers x'ed it'll have blown itself out by morning. Tomorrow's 64 to JO'G. Already over 900 on the 'puter tonight! Wish me luck. Cal x
DAY FIFTEEN (21st August) Tuesday
Brora / via Helmsdale, Wick/ John O'Groats – 63 miles
Hiya! Day 15... And I've reached John O'Groats! The winds had died down significantly by this morning. Big hills at Helmdale and Berriedale... But after that, was quite nice! Once you cross into Caithness, you notice a distinct lack of trees.It's quite desolate the last 20 miles, but it was great to finally get here! Funnily enough, the photographer had packed up the famous sign ten mins b4! I thought it was funny anyway! JOG closes at 5:30pm! ;op just relaxing and getting some food now. The 'puter says I've done 985 miles in total. I'm trying to get my head around the fact I've done LEJOG! Cal x
Caroline's sponsors so far:
Rumblers
The team at Rumblers is delighted to be sponsoring Caroline Kehoe in this challenging cycle event in aid of the Spitz and Dandelion Trust Spitz Appeal. She loves the Rumblers 'complete snack in a pack' so it just seems right that we should support her! Rumblers are handy, healthy, heavenly snacking solutions for people, like Caroline, who are 'on-the-go'. Each pack contains 2 tubs. Cereal or granola in the first tub; Fresh semi-skimmed milk or bio-yogurt in the second. You pour one in to the other, then eat, and enjoy. We even give you a spoon! If you would like to enter our competition to win a supply of Rumblers for you and your colleagues, go to www.rumblers.co.uk The Rumblers Team
www.rumblers.co.uk
She-Active
She Active supplied sports clothing for Caroline, contributed £ 100 worth of vouchers as prizes for a Support The Spitz campaign competition and will give 10% of all sales that are generated from Support The Spitz referrals. Please go to www.sheactive.co.uk shop for all your female sports ware and the Spitz appeal will receive 10% of what you spend. www.sheactive.co.uk
Cycle Surgery
Cycle Surgery supplied Caroline's bike at cost www.cyclesurgery.com
Pavilion Insurance has given Caroline Cycleguard Triathlon cover for herself and her bike for the challenge. www.triathloninsurance.co.uk
Innocent Drinks www.innocentdrinks.co.uk
Jordans Cereal www.jordans-cereals.co.uk
Decathlon www.decathlon.com
Endura www.endura.co.uk
If you own or represent a company that would like to sponsor Caroline's bike ride please contact Rupert Orton at rupert@spitz.co.uk |
