Hi all,

kirst here ians daughter, iv finally heard from my dad and we wanted to let everyone know after 12 days in total including 1 rest day hes finally made it in once piece to lands end!!

I would like to thank everyone for their generous donations and the support he has received whilst completing the ride.

Kirst

Hi all,

kirst here Ians daughter, after just having dinner with Ian and Will i have a very big update for all of my dads supporters!! He is currently in Cheltenham with us and is heading off to Taunton/Wells area tomorrow...

So far all good, Ian seems in high spirits and is looking fantastic!!! (very proud daughter) 
first of all he would like to thank everyone for their support and generous donations..
Secondly Ian would like to apologize for the lack of updates and communication this is due to his trusty blackberry dying :( even with his replacement some of the remote places he has been he has unfortunately had no signal.

A week ago last Saturday his epic journey began and Ian completed the first leg of his journey which was approx 122 miles from john o groats to inverness. then from inverness to Lossiemouth which was approx 79 miles, yes these figures are slightly different to the ones on the journey details chart. The next part of his journey was from Lossiemouth to Keith in Aberdeenshire along the Grampian mountains. Then heading towards Stonehaven which was approx 78miles from Stonehaven where Ian met up with 33 other cyclists where they were all raising money for the deep sea mission. Ian then left the the group and Stonehaven to carry on with his incredible journey, he was then heading toward Dundee which was approximately 63miles then over the historic Tay Bridge. Then over forth road bridge which i heard was very busy and dangerous into Edinburgh then onto Peebles which was also approx 93 miles. The next part of his journey was from peebles to Corbridge. Corbridge was tough ian rode through the northumberland mountains and national park. It was just mountain after mountain for everyone who knows West Dale lane in Nottingham it was like riding that 40 times over. Ian completed 98 miles that day.

On Saturday the 15th may ian set off at 7am and arrived into Nottingham at 13.00 during the last 20miles of the journey he was clocking the speeds of 17-23mph.. Later that evening Ian met up with his good friends Carl Froch, Rachel Cordingley, Steve and Carol, where Carl Froch and Ian decided to ride into Nottingham City Centre to raise even more money for Macmillan Nurses!!

Since Ian started his ride hes completed approximately 670 miles in 8 days!!

Monday the 17th may Ian left James T. Blakeman & Co. Ltd. newcastle upon lyme where ian is the head buyer heading toward cheltenham, to see myself my partner Lawrence and our beautiful son Mylo..

Ians put months of preparation into his incredible ride where every weekend he would approx ride 50-100 miles on the weekend, but he would hit the gym hard working out on the cross trainer which has been unbelivably benefical.

From what my dad (ian) has told me tonight was how much hes is thoroughly enjoying it, he loves the ice baths which he believes have saved him from any aches and pains in the morning, he has been soaking in this chilling baths for at least 20 minutes at a time and i thought he was crazy riding from one end to the other, he is an absolute riding machine!! I do wonder what his next crazy adventure will be..but im sure it will be for another fantastic cause!!
My grandfather Alexander would be incredibly proud of how well my dad has done, Macmillan had done alot for my grandfather when he was ill...

By what iv been told ian has met many characters along the way as you do...a few cocky riders who thought they could keep up with him, shame he left them all in dust!!
anyways iv babbled on for far to long now..IM EVER SO PROUD OF MY DAD AND THINK THAT HES DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB SO FAR!! KEEP AT IT DAD!!
I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT YOU'VE GIVEN HIM!!!
KIRST X

Dear all,

Apologies for the lack of contact over the last few days, ian and myself are currently sat down in the hotel lobby letting our food digest. For those of you who are rather confueds with that statement, this is Will typing this email as ian is a bit too"pooped" to be emailing you all.

Any whoo (poor Scottish Accent), we are in Aberdeen currently, after a hard slog up and down mountains today from Keith just outside Lossiemouth to Stonehaven, which is just south of Aberdeen. The day was going rather well, untill it decided to 1st rain, then sleet, then snow, finally finishing off with hail so hard that it drove Ian off the road in order to seek shelter.

Thankfully it didnt last for long, and we were soon back on our way. The rest of the day passed mostly without incident until our drive back into Aberdeen, where we received alot of beeps from fellow motorists who we reading the signs on the side of the van, and quite clearly approved of what Ian was doing.

Yesterday was a rather emotional day, as we travelled from inverness to keith, stopping off at lossiemouth on the way (see attached photo (Photo to follow, Ed), its the one with the bridge in the background), it was a similarly varied day in terms of weather, at some points there was no wind and at other times it was so strong that the cows were lying down in the fields.

The 1st day was by the far the highlight for myself, (and most probably the low light if you ask Ian) we got up at 4.30am so that we could start from John o Groats at a good time. two and bit hours of DRIVING later we arrived at John O Groats, which made me realise that if it took this long to drive, how long would it take to cycle??!!?!?!? anyway, Ian completed all 122 miles at a very respectable pace, and despite the 18 degree heat. Needless to say I am making sure that Ian stops regularly and consumes his body weight in fruit each day. Also, for the previous 3 nights when he has returned to the hotel I have forced him to have ice baths for 20 minutes, which makes Ian very..............er.............cold? the ice, I may just point, out has done very little to stem Ians libido. in fairness to myself (who has the great pleasure in pouring the ice in) Ian has said each morning how little stiffness he has in his legs, which can only be put down to the ice. The receptionists in the hotel also have a chuckle at the sight of me walking to and from the kitchen carrying large quantities of ice. anyway, will update you when we can.

adios ian and will