This was it - the last day! The final leg of our journey home and the last installment of the adventure!
Time to pack our panniers one more time - funny how we paid less attention to how we stashed it all away!! One more breakfast (they were good breakfasts!), and one more trip down to Deck 7 with all our stuff!!
Upon arriving back at the bikes we saw the carefully tied rope knots and were reminded that we had been expecting a less than calm crossing - we exchanged glances and shrugged, nobody had noticed a thing!
Once again we waited our turn to ride down the ramp, not quite the same without those motorbikes to honk at! We slowly rode down the ramp, the queue at the bottom meant we had to practically stop halfway down!! Shame! No wheee for us today!!
It felt really good to be checking in at British passport control - we had grins on our faces and knew we were one step closer to home! We couldn't wait to get going!
The weather back in the UK was a little dubious as we headed back inland. Once again we carried our bikes over that two storey steel staircase, we rode along the iron walkway, daring to look down into the murky depths, we passed the rocky rubble and reached the Halfords car park - but no Starbucks today!
As the path narrowed I remembered only too well those horrid nettles! I told myself that today, on this last day, I would just ride for my life! So I did! Straight along the path, straight through the nettles, as fast as I could, never daring to look down, on and on they went, seeming higher than before. I waited for stings and pain in my legs and arms but nothing came...
As we came out into the open we slowed and stopped, waiting for everyone else to catch up... I looked down at my legs and saw that they were red, as were my arms, covered all over in raised lumps, nettle stings! We all were! Adrenaline must have kept the pain at bay!
We regrouped and set off again along the open track, leaving the Humber Bridge behind us! Our first break of the day would be back at Brantingham but before we got there we had to tackle one almighty hill!!
After cycling on complete flat this was a massive reality check! The hill was steep and very long and the group soon split into those who went racing off ahead and those who stayed in the 'slow and steady' camp!
The road levelled off and I breathed a sigh of relief... until I realised that the hill continued around the bend and just kept going up...! I felt the energy drain from my legs and I focused on the tarmac beneath my front wheel... I grimaced with effort as my leaden legs pushed against the pedals... I was still moving but at such a slow rate I was amazed I hadn't fallen off!
I got slower and slower...and slower... and had to stop! It just wasn't possible to keep pedalling... I got off my bike and walked... but I wasn't alone... we had cycled so far over the last few days... and somehow it didn't feel like failure!
Finally we reached the top but we knew we were not the last and we looked behind us for signs of the last of our team...
Jaynes helmet rose into sight and she slowly pedalled - yes PEDALLED - into view! She had stayed on her bike the whole way up that darned hill! Every foot of tarmac, every bend in the road, she had stayed on her bike for every inch of it! What a woman! We whooped, honked and cheered for all we were worth! Way to go Jayne!
From that high we cycled the short distance to the Triton pub at Brantingham. It looked very welcoming with its large canopies and familiar benches. We rode in and dismounted... and heard a shout from Lianne! As she cycled round a bench to park up she had hit her ankle on its corner, it was very painful and started swelling almost immediately! All this way without incident and now this... out came the ice-packs and she laid it up on the bench to rest!
Teas and coffees were very welcome and the landlord was very pleased to see us again. In fact he insisted upon taking a group photo in front of the pub before we left.
By the time we set off the temperature had dropped and a few of us had donned our waterproof jackets... wet and cold just didn't appeal! From here on in the route followed along country roads and we cycled along in groups happily chatting away! On the very next pause I took off my waterproof which had proved unnecessary and I also took the chance to ring home and tell John about the landlords photo - he said he'd check the website for us!
Yet again we were making excellant speed, heading towards Howden for our lunch! Sometimes when the road was busy we had to stay in single file but mostly we were able to chat and we were back to our habit of moving up and down the line, chatting and then moving along...
Howden soon came upon us and we cycled into the car park of the pub. There was plenty of space but no racks of course so we leaned the bikes against the wall, sometimes 3-4 deep, and locked them with multiple bike locks!
Our early arrival caused a little consternation however as the chips weren't due to be ready until 1.30pm and although the sandwiches were visible, covered up on trays, they wouldn't serve us until the chips were done!! We still had 45 minutes to wait!! We were sooo hungry!
With it being the last day I allowed myself a lunchtime drink (I know, quite the daredevil!). One fruit cider later (!) and the chips were finally ready - we made a bee-line for the food! It didn't last long though and Rich had to ask them for more!!
Next door to the pub is Candy Andy's - well known as a most amazing sweetie shop! As word spread the girls popped out and Candy Andy's rapidly filled up with ladies happily stuffing paper bags with goodies galore and liquorice sticks of every colour!!
With sweets safely stored it was time to hit the road but not before I had a call from John to say that the landlord from the Triton had indeed put up the photograph of us on his website and a lovely write-up too :-)
Helmets on, locks off and we honked for all we were worth... locals must have wondered what on earth was going on!!
The route to York from Howden was a convoluted one and the road we took held a surprise for one of our team... a lady ran out with her baby to say hello as word reached her we were passing by, tears welled up from most of us as they hugged.
The road led on along familiar territory, a route I had cycled with my children, a route which I knew would pass through my village, within yards of home, at a time when I knew my daughter would be there...
Next time we paused I quickley rang and she said she would come out to see us...
Along the riverbank we cycled, through gates and stiles, in single file, until we grouped at last to take the village!
The team were great, and knowing how excited I was to see my girl again, they put me at the front...
From the back I heard... give me an 'E'... give me an 'M'...give me an 'I'...'L'...'Y'...
...and then there she was, my beautiful girl, sitting by the church, she stood to meet us and I almost dropped my bike in my haste to hug her! I wrapped my arms around her and held on tight! I had missed her so much and this adventure, this amazing, challenge had made me realise just what I could be and I just wanted to share it with her...
'Hey Em...' Lisa called and Emily went to hug her, 'and me' called Lianne... 'and me' called Jayne... she hugged them all! Tears flowed and the lump in my throat was huge!! One more brief hug and we set off again, she would be there tonight...at the finish!!
I was on such a high! With renewed energy I pedalled on, fighting back the tears! I felt so proud, what a fantastic day! I waved at my friend passing by in her car, I waved at Ron, sitting as always by the window in his house... what a day!
We cycled on to the next village and honked at the people we saw, we waved and cheered and honked some more!! What a rush!!
The plan was for all three teams to meet up at The Drovers Inn, Skipwith, so that we could cycle to York as one team! We were the first to arrive at the pub and felt like we deserved a treat so we four bought a bottle of Rose between us and enjoyed it outside in the sunshine!
Sadly Skipwirth would be the last stop of the journey for Lianne as she had to travel to Manchester that night... she would not be able to finish the ride with us! We had come so far, had such good times, shared such fun and such laughter... it seemed so unfair!
As we sipped our rose a silver car pulled into the car park, it was Russ come to collect Lianne. We left her to have her own reunion and then we all piled in for hugs too! It was definitely share and share alike when it came to hugs on this ride! She had been fantastic company and her presence at the end would be missed!
While she was loading her bike and luggage into the car we plotted a fond farewell and as Russ drove her away he had to pass through two lines of girls, all in daffodil yellow, all clapping and cheering and waving her off... I don't know if she was crying, but I know I was!!
Friends and family had been briefed to expect us back at McArthur Glen at about 6pm but Rich warned us that we were likely to be there early! We all made hasty phone calls to alert those who needed to know!
A photo call was made and Rich gathered up all the cameras while we posed as a team in front of the pub. His arm was weighed down with cameras and we all sat grinning until everyones camera had a photo taken on it! Thanks Rich x
Now this time when we set off we really did look a sight - 54 of us, cycling along, singing any tune which happened to come in our heads, even a part of a tune or a chorus would be enough to get us all joining in! We had 'You'll Never Walk Alone' amongst others, and 'Here Come the Girls' which seemed to have become a kind of anthem for the trip!
What with singing and the honky horns you would have thought it was Day One not Day Five :-) The energy was amazing and we were fair racing along...
As we approached McArthur Glen we stopped just a little way before the car park... adrenaline was pumping and we were singing 'Dancing Queen' at the tops of our voices... just around the corner family and friends were waiting and we could barely contain ourselves...
Rich said a few words at this point but for the life of me I can't remember what they were!! I was so excited, so proud, so energised, so happy... so many emotions all at once...
Well, we rode into that car park like we'd been away for a month! We honked, and cheered, and woohoo'd our way into the car park as fast as we could pedal!! Everyone cheered and clapped and waved and we all just dropped our bikes and ran to hug everyone!!
The din was incredible but the atmosphere was electric! Everyone was hugging and crying and it was the most amazing thing I have ever been a part of! Family and friends now gave way to team-mates and girls were hugging each other... there was much back slapping and signing of shirts... we were all on such a high!
John had brought with him six bottles of champagne and it wasn't long before there were scenes reminiscent of a Grand Prix win! Champagne was being sprayed everywhere and over everyone! Balloons were bouncing around and we were all buzzing!!
Team photos were needed and we all posed in rows whilst cameras clicked from every direction! In a moment of madness Lisa grabbed a bottle of champagne and ran between the ride guides pouring it over their heads!! We all screamed with laughter and the moment was priceless!
One by one people started to leave, some were being driven home, some had to drive themselves, some had just a short way to go but others had miles before they got home... all of us thinking the same...
What a fantastic thing we had done! We had just reason to be proud of ourselves and for me it was the biggest, and the best thing I have ever taken part in!
I loved it, every minute of it! And I would do it again in a heartbeat :-)
We rode from York to Amsterdam,
All the way there and back again,
We had good times, we made good friends,
We wished the journey would never end ...
We came together from near and far,
To challenge ourselves and raise the bar,
Raising money, the means to an end,
Teams irrelevant now! Just friends!
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