Getting VERY VERY close

As Hank from Galgos del Sol pointed out very early on, the ride from Chester to San Javier is probably only about 4cm....

Well day 13's effort now puts us about 5mm from our final destination!! To say the team will be relieved to reach the other end, is an under-statement! This road trip has had every emotion, amazing terrain, surprises, a bit of illness, and heaps of laughs have hallmarked this amazing adventure.


Day 13 took the boys (with AP back in the saddle after his bug), from Utiel to Yecla. It also brought the ride into the Murcia region of Spain, and leaves one final day of pedalling to bring this amazing adventure to it's physical conclusion.

Obviously the work continues. Sighthounds' lives still need changing. And political and social opinion still needs to change, so the welfare of working hounds, down here in Spain, and back home in Blighty improve. And every penny you can donate will contribute to those efforts, even after the saddle sores and worn muscles of Toby and Andy have healed.



You probably already know, but the links to both amazing organisations are at the top of the page on the right. Please, if you can afford to, contribute to the hard work that needs to continue long after day 14.

Thankyou. Your support has been essential, and appreciated.

Finally, the plans for tomorrow, currently top secret, will be revealed on the Facebook page (you don't need a facebook account to view it!! Click here! ) as the day unfolds. What we can say, is we'll hopefully live stream the boys' arrival at the Velodrome - it could be any time between 6pm and 8pm UK time (7-9pm, Spain time).  We'll be also putting photos from the arrival event on the ride's Instagram page - click that link and search "uk2spain"  - so if you've been following us for the last two weeks, hopefully you won't feel like you are missing out on the fun!!

(AP, 11/08 @7pm)

"Will we ever find her alive?" asks eminent Scientist Professor Sir Michael Schmeer

Today was a much shorter ride for Toby.



The 76 miles features one prolonged climb midway through, which he polished off to defy his tired legs. 

The arid scenery in Eastern Spain, and blue warm skies should have

been another reason for Toby to struggle. but what breeze there was stayed at his shoulder.

And after 3 days laid low with a stomach bug, old Sicknote Andy finally got his bike legs back on, and joined Toby for the day's final afternoon stage into Utiel, a commuter town near the Spanish City of Valencia.

and the support crew cheerily waved Andy off, safe in the knowledge that peace and normality can return to the service car for the remaining two days of the trip!!

TWO DAYS!!!!!!  CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

(AP @5pm, 10/08)

Un rumor en la selva

Firstly, apologies for the lack of an update yesterday.

The team headed off from Sangüesa this morning (sadly Toby was left to pedal alone again, due to Andy’s illness), which lies close to the River Aragon and is only 45 km from Pamplona (of bull running notoriety).

Another hot day and another 10-and-a-half hours’ ride to Calatayud, situated in the midst of the Sistema Iberico mountain range, and just southwest of Zaragoza. 

After the demise of General Franco, Calatayud was the first Spanish city to hold a general election, on 15 June 1977.

MP 08/08@21:00 

The heat is on...

Day 8 of the adventure and riding through the very southern part of La Belle France. First stop was Roquefort, where the cheese is made from Ewes’ milk. EU law stipulates that cheese can only be labelled Roquefort if it is aged in the local Combalou caves. That stinks...

Lunch was served in St. Sever, or should I say Lilliput? 

Tonight’s destination is Orthez, where in 1814 the Duke of Wellington defeated Marshal Soult during the Napoleonic wars. 

Tomorrow the fun really begins when the team head over the Pyrenees (sore knees too, I imagine).

MP 06/08 @22:00

In the words of Bon Jovi....

Whoa-oh! we're half way there...

Great news. At the end of day seven. One puncture. A couple of chain slips, but that's about all to report from the pedalling side of things!


Some highlights so far. The amazing support of well-wishers in Chester, Ross-on-Wye, and Bath (and so many hounds hanging out to see us all, too! Also, the amazing response on Facebook to the daily posts! It really does feel like you are right there with us!

So, to summarise, 718 miles. 54 hours. 32,000 feet climbed. Just need to do it all again, starting tomorrow!!

Thanks everybody. Couldn't do it without you!!

(AP, 05/08 @10pm)

Now we are in Champagne region, we are not popping any corks just yet....

42%.

630 / 1500.

That's where we are, folks!

Chadenac is a beautiful grape growing valley region to the north of Bordeaux. We've been kindly hosted by family friends Paul and Carolyn. Paul, an old School friend of Toby's, even chased around the country lanes to help Toby and Andy find the place and guide them home. Every help was appreciated, particularly after another 107 miles in the bank.

Less hilly than previous days, the boys were delighted with a mostly rolling landscapes that today's ride brought. They even forgave the support crew's lapsed concentration - firstly unable to get a phone connection to map their route to the original meet point, they eventually suggested somewhere else 10 miles down the road, then let the boys beat them to the rendezvous point!! Sloppy, people! UP YOUR GAME!!

Summary of today's pedalling:

7hrs 29 minutes to cover the 106.9 miles. 4,530ft of climbing.

And finally, a note from Karen. Being on the road is making it difficult to write thank yous to all the very kind people who are donating to the great causes. She is trying her best to keep on top of acknowledging everybody's generosity, but if she takes a little while to respond, please know that we are all very grateful for every penny given. (and if you are still waiting to donate, you'll find the links at the top of this blog post.

(AP, 04/08 @ 10pm)

Ticket to ride

Today was a better day. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the rigours of yesterday’s ride, the team set off a bit later than planned, especially when Andy (or rather, his bike) developed a puncture. After a comfortable evening at Vitre, the boys set off to Bressuire (which comes from the words Berg – hill, and Durum – fortress).

Along the way, the team had a pitstop at Champtocé-sur-Loire, which is situated on the North Bank of the Loire, and southwest of the city of Angers (itself 190 miles southwest of Paris). Before the French revolution, Angers was the capital city of the province of Anjou. If you know your Kings and Queens, you will know that the Angevins gave our fair country King Henry II.

After a most enjoyable picnic of bread and cheese (mais oui – when in France...) in the sunshine, the team carried on their merry way to Bressuire. En route, Karen and Dave encountered a toll road with no instructions on how to pay. However, with the aid of Stuart Bines and some flamboyant Gallic gesturing, a ticket was dispensed and the journey continued. Tonight’s kind hosts are Stuart and his wife Claire.

Miles completed: 510 (ish)

Miles to go: 1000 

MP 03/08 @ 21:30

Well, blow me down...

Today was the toughest leg of the journey so far for Toby and Andy. They battled persistent, strong headwinds and rain for the whole day - 126 miles and 13 hours. I wonder if Hank will be impressed now?

Following a “cosy” night in their cabin bunks, the team arrived around 06:00 at the port of Caen, which is the third largest city in Normandy after Rouen and Le Havre. However, not much sightseeing was done by the boys who cracked on in unfavourable conditions (I have to use polite language on here, guys). To add to the excitement, there were no sockets in the cabins, so the team were running short on power for phones, GPS, etc.

At today’s destination, Chancé (near Rennes, Brittany), the boys got as many carbs on board as humanely possible (without being sick). Tonight they will be sleeping like logs. They should be very proud of themselves.

MP 02/08 @22:30

Ahoy me lovelies!

Today the team set off on the last leg in blighty – from Bath to Portsmouth. Did you know that Portsmouth is the UK’s only island city? If the boys pedal hard enough maybe they could push it across to France.

After a good sleep and a hearty breakfast in Bath, kindly provided by Cheryl McKeon-Slater, Toby and Andy set off on today’s leg with gusto. They were able to visit Stonehenge to marvel at the wonders (and sanity) of the druids who managed to cart the stones from Wales and lift them into place. Anyway, after seeing the relics, the boys reached Portsmouth this afternoon.

Waiting to meet them was Karen (obviously) but also her co-pilot for the journey, Dave. They have christened themselves Team Tandy. (For those of you old enough, let’s hope they don’t run out of batteries.) Poor Dave, he will be sharing accommodation with Andy...

This evening the team are taking the ferry across to Caen in Normandy. Living the life, they have cabins with all mod-cons, including beds and everything! 

MP 01/08 @ 21:40

Went to Bath, had a shower...

The team had a good rest overnight in Ross-on-Wye (thanks to Tracy from Forever Hounds Trust) before starting out this morning on the second leg of their adventure, and Andy met his first podenco (Radiant Red from Galgos del Sol)! Nina Pillar from Tyrell’s Crisps also kindly donated a crate of these snacks for the team (although Karen says she’s not sharing!).

This stage was from Ross-on-Wye to historic Bath. On the way, the boys crossed the River Severn via a cycle trail parallel to the Old Severn Bridge. They later enjoyed bacon rolls and a cuppa at Tintern Abbey (how very civilised, I hear you say). Maybe they are enjoying this a bit too much? 

At the end of the leg, Toby & Andy were greeted by a large and enthusiastic crowd of hounds – IT’S STILL ALL ABOUT THEM – (and human supporters) who had been patiently at Alice Park in Bath waiting in a downpour. Tonight the team are enjoying the hospitality of Cheryl from Forever Hounds Trust. 

The distance travelled so far is around 180 miles, so that’s about 1300 miles left to go.

MP 31/07 @ 22:30

... And they're off!

After months of preparation and training, Toby and Andy finally set off on their mammoth ride.

Things got off to a flying start this morning at Vets4Pets (Brook Lane, Chester), where there was a real party atmosphere. Danish pastries were the order of the day!

Loads of people turned out with hounds of various shapes and sizes to see the boys (including Felton Pedals, of course!) off on their first leg, to Ross-on-Wye.


And there was an amazing cake too (made by the Manchester Cake Company) that will be raffled before the team set sail for France.

Here's some stats for you:

112.02 MILES
AVERAGE SPEED: 16.2 MPH
CALORIES BURNED: 7760
TIME TAKEN: 6:54:04




 



MP (30/07 @ 20:00)

Finishing touches to the prep

These last few days have been one for organising, sorting, and getting in place all the finer details required to let the ride run smoothly.



Karen wanted to get the support vehicle spruced up with a valet before fitting the magnetic decals to the bodywork. Up stepped Owain, from Revive Auto Detail. He's homed a number of rescue dogs himself. And once he'd discovered the purpose of the fundraising trip, he gave his time for free to help the cause. His generosity is greatly appreciated. Take it from us, he's the real deal - so clicky linky if you need your car sorting (obviously he's going to charge you, but I'm sure if you love the causes we are working for as much as Owain does, then he should be a shoe-in for your future valeting needs!! Thanks, Owain! Loving your work!

Meanwhile, I've started stockpiling all the bits and pieces I need for the ride. I'll be loading up the motor on Saturday, and driving up to Chester with my bike (and if the photo is anything to go by, then I'll need to hire a trailer too!) . Trying to think of every eventuality is quite a challenge. In some ways, I'll be glad when me and Tobes get turning the pedals on Sunday morning! Which reminds me - the Grand Depart, from Chester Vets 4 Pets, gets under way at 0900 THIS SUNDAY!!! Would be great to see a few people to share a coffee and pastry with - and if you bring wheels of your own, perhaps join us for a ceremonial ride-out for a few miles of the route!! 

And finally today, I thought I'd link you to a video. This highlights some of the amazing work being done by Galgos del Sol. The reason why Karen and Toby conceived of this crazy adventure, and the reason myself and Toby wanted to raise funds and profile doing something we both love so much.

The links to the fundraising pages can be found top right. We'd love it if you scrolled up and clicked. As would the hounds.

AP (27/07 @ 9pm)

Au revoir, Tour de France. Bonjour Tobys UK to Spain!

This weekend, the Tour de France came to a close, with the final stages seeing Chris Froome claim the coveted yellow jersey after a gruelling 2200 mile event (average of 104 miles per day).


If the efforts of the pro cyclists has whet your appetite, then stay tuned!

Toby and myself will be donning our yellow jerseys (fluorescent, admittedly...) and banging out 14 back-to-back stages of around 110 miles, albeit at a slower pace than the pro's.

And this weekend, Toby took the worse the British weather could throw at him. Rain, sunshine, thunder and lightning wasn't enough to prevent him completing his Saturday training ride.

I had my usual bimble around Essex this morning, and trialled an exciting app that enabled viewers to track my progress via GPS. The pilot appeared a success, and while we can't boast a live high-definition TV  feed on a cable sports channel like Froomey and his mates give you, we are hoping to bring you some or all of the ride in real time! So if you'd like to know which bit of England, France or Spain we are tackling each day, then the facebook page is definitely the place to be!

And Karen briefed myself and Toby on the logistics for the coming fortnight, and all I can say, is the military precision of Karen's planning suggests this fundraising trip will be absolutely AMAZING! Mine and Toby's legs might be spending hours turning over from next Sunday, but I can assure you that Karen, and all the people who have given up hours of their free time to make this happen have put in multiple shifts to get this event to the start line. And for that, we salute you! All we need now is an end to the current heatwave affecting parts of Spain. #SCORCHIO!


So bookmark the blog, like the facebook page, and keep tuned for the start of the big ride! We couldn't do it without your support!

ps. the fundraising links are up at the top of this blog on the right hand side. Go on. You KNOW you want to...

AP (23/07 @ 11pm)

Fourteen Days and Counting....

After months of planning, hundreds of miles of training, and repeated thoughts of 'why on earth?', we are now only 14 days away from the Grand Depart!

We are all delighted to say that Chester Vets 4 Pets has entered into the spirit, and adorned the storefront with a wonderful display to mark the fundraising event! Knowing there are companies and organisations backing us up on the mission really helps. Here's a picture from the shop's window! Thanks Guys! You are all amazing.

And this weekend, Toby and myself have got close to nature on our long adventure rides.

On the quieter country roads in Essex, I love the fact that the hedgerows and grass verges come to life. Rabbits, hares and deer, in the absence of any traffic noise, are not put off by us cyclists quietly pedalling our way along the empty early-morning roads. A rather brave (or foolhardy) domestic cat, acting out a bizarre stealth-mode sneak across my path got the shock of one of its nine lives when I shouted 'OI!!!' to save it from my rapidly approaching front wheel. I was recounting this story to some running friends, and we puzzled briefly on whether to shout 'cat' - given that cats don't really understand human-speak.... Anyway, tail and wheel missed by millimetres, and we both lived to tell the tale.
Another joy on Saturday, was bumping into four beautiful hounds, and their owner, Janette, in the village of Kelvedon Hatch, near Brentwood in Essex. Not put off by a random cyclist skidding to a halt alongside her before 7am in a peaceful village, Janette introduced me to her four lovelies. Penny, Katie, Lady and Shell. They all politely accepted a great deal of fuss (the dogs, that is!), and we chatted hounds for a while. I also took a selfie with them - which confused a passing van driver, who saw a cyclist on his arse in front of 4 hounds, bike laid out on the grass. He may have thought I'd been knocked over - though his concern didn't extend to actually stopping to see if I was alright! As it happened, the affections and attentions of the 4 girls had me singing along to myself for the remaining parts
of my triple-figures-mileage ride!  Janette, if you are reading this, I hope Katie's deteriorating health doesn't keep her from sharing her love with you and her houndmates for as long as possible. Much love.

Horseshoe Pass, Langollen. Category 3 Climb.

Toby, too, has been close to nature this weekend. On Sunday, he tackled the famous, and very lumpy Horseshoe Pass, as part of a ride around North Wales. A Category 3 climb, it's not for the faint hearted, and will have been excellent prep for our adventures in the Pyrenees! Along the way, Toby had a close encounter with a Kestrel who took flight along his eyeline for part of the ride. Not to be outdone, a local swallow also swooped and ducked under his arm as he rode.  
 
The pleasures of riding a bike go a long, long way.

Anyway, thanks for reading! Comments always appreciated! Either here, or on the Facebook page! Until next time!!

AP (16/07 @ 10pm)

the £4k barrier has been SMASHED!

just before a hectic weekend of training rides gets under way, I just wanted to jump on and say a massive thank you to everybody who has donated so far to the fundraising.

We are still a couple of weeks away from the 'off', and today, thanks to your kind help, the fundraising smashed through the £4000 barrier! 

Knowing that so many of you have already given so generously to the two dog charities really puts energy in our legs and passion in our hearts to hit the road from Chester at the end of the month for the fundraising ride!

If you are a facebook user, please click through to www.facebook.com/tobyuk2spain/ and like/follow the page. Updates every day will help you understand why we believe Galgos del Sol and Forever Hounds Trust are so important to keep funding and supporting. 

And please use the comments section, here on the blog, or on the Facebook group. It really helps to know you are keeping an eye on us and pushing us on to complete our 1500 mile adventure!

Anyway. This weekend, Andy's mileage should top 240, and Toby won't be too far behind either. The forecast is dry, and not overly warm. So have a great weekend!

AP (14/07 @ 11pm)

Being ingenious around family commitments can sometimes be the only way to fit in long rides at weekends. And so it was that Toby used pedal power from Chester to Belper in Derbyshire, so that he could turn round two 80+ mile bike rides over the weekend and hang out with family and friends.

We both pondered the complexities of riding the training miles, as opposed to the daily stages facing us in France and Spain. And in our minds, there were a couple of significant differences.

Firstly, the expectant arrival (home, or at guests' houses) tended to create a pressure to reduce the breaks during a ride, and make us more inclined to refuel on the fly, rather than stop to munch on something to keep the legs turning in the latter stages. Of course, thanks to David and Karen in the support vehicle, we will have the chance to fill bottles, take on board calories, and chat all sorts of rubbish in scenic rural France or Spain. 

Toby. Hot Legs.

Secondly, (and this is my bete noir!), you tend to race the pace when doing your 'regular' training rides. I seem to have found a good one mile per hour extra pace this summer, compared with my training for a similar ride back in 2015. And while that might represent better fitness, it also makes me impatient. For instance, I've found a really great loop, which, ironically, zips through Toby's old stomping ground near Chelmsford, Essex. And inevitably, I now know where I can reach one, two, and three hours into my training ride. Each new ride has me pushing to ace my previous time.

However, the 1500 mile ride from Chester to San Javier will not be 'against the clock' as such. How long 5 miles takes us, or how far we go in an hour, will be secondary to riding economy, recovering from some predictably intense climbs, and the undoubted effects of the 30+ degree heat we expect to be riding through for much of the 14 days. 

Apparently, That's a Double-Entendre!

So while these long rides in the saddle, at opposite ends of the country are useful conditioning for the upcoming adventure, I expect the 'real' training will start on 30th July. Myself and Toby are both looking forward to it immensely. And there's two things you can do right now to help with the building excitement. Firstly, if you are based in NW England or N Wales, our 'Grand Depart' takes place on Sunday 30th July at 0900 at Vets 4 Pets, Chester (whack CH2 2EB in your SatNav or Google Maps). Pastries and coffees will be available. Would be lovely to see people there to wave us off!

And if you have any spare quids/euros and want to support the real purpose of the adventure - to raise funds for two wonderful causes, the details are in the right hand border of this blog.


AP (12/07 @ 1530).

So it's been quite a weekend in the saddle for Preston. After an adventure the previous weekend up to(wards) Hull that ended on a hectic A15 somewhere south of Sleaford, this weekend, I opted for the more genteel and rolling roads of Essex.

Thursday, and a blast around Brentwood. Saturday, a sprint around Weald and Havering, and Sunday a meandering triangle taking in Ongar, Chelmsford, Southend and a moist Vange. With Sunday's 100+ miles, bolted on to the other two jaunts, it took my 4 day mileage up to around 180 miles. 

I can't overstate the importance of time in the saddle when preparing for a long, multi-stage ride. The great news, if you've never done something like this before, is the fatigue after a long ride goes fairly quickly once you stop pedalling for the day. And hills/climbs, albeit uncomfortable at the time, don't leave the legs trashed for too long. 

Toby lamented his relative lack of miles this weekend, but as he rightly pointed out, he's also a seasoned and regular cyclist, and we are not racing each other down to San Javier - we are a team, working together. We are taking on a challenge. And enjoyment will come a long way above the analysis of average speed, or who got where first.

I'm also pleased that an old rugby mucker has plans to meet us in Bath at the end of day two. Another old pal, Stuart, hopes to complete day one with us too. Having 'friends' en-route will be massive for morale. 

And I'm also thrilled that our friends at Cycle Surgery have stepped up to help us with the 'mechanical' side of our adventure. The Romford store has helped me with some new brake pads, tyres, and tightened up my Specialized Ruby, and Toby's about to start a conversation with the Wirral branch about the spares kit, and getting his trusty steed in ship-shape for the epic ride. I'm bound to say this, but it's true. Building a relationship with the tech guys at my local bike shop really means I can hit the road in tip-top condition. Thanks peeps. Worth your weight in gold.

AP (03/07 @ 0030).

Welcome to the TobyUK2Spain blog! We are around a month away from day one of the ride, and Toby & Andy have been training hard in preparation for the 14 day, 1400+ mile cycle ride from Vets4Pets Chester (30th July) to Galgos del Sol in San Javier, Spain on Saturday 12th August.

This blog is the place to be to find out about the preparations, daily updates on the ride, and links to all the groups, organisations and animals set to be involved in the epic adventure!


So leave the hard miles to Toby and Andy. You don't need to do anything more exerting than adding this to your bookmarks, signing up for the facebook page, and maybe clicking the fundraising buttons on the right!

Every single penny/cent we raise will be helping change the lives of dogs in the UK and Spain. It's most definitely ALL ABOUT THE HOUNDS!

Thanks for visiting! Come back soon for more updates!

AP (29 June @5pm)