The decision to finish the trip early was not made hastily. I took some serious time on my own and with the team to think about it and admitting defeat was tough. Its hard to describe how the weeks of cycling and camping wore me down but on days 36 through to day 39 I felt I had reached my limit and I was fully exhausted. The days cycling before hand were challenging and continuing into Morocco for more of the same was not within my mental ability. The boys were sad to hear this and spent time encouraging me to think otherwise. I had after all come 1700 miles to the tip of Europe and could literally see Africa. I had to want to carry on and couldn't find the worth in forcing myself to the end if I didn't want it anymore. My heart sank at the thought of crossing over the sea and starting yet another stage of the cycle. I was tired and defeated.
I am very sorry to those who have been rooting for me personally and for the whole team to stick together till the end. I feel however I have played a solid part in this trip and none of the miles I cycled were done half heatedly. I truly enjoyed the summer. Its wrong for our supporters to read this and think I have come away from the trip without gaining any positive experiences. I am proud of our efforts through Europe and despite small problems within the team I am also proud of how we managed to work and live together for 5 weeks. The support we have received for Right to Play has been epic and I'm happy I completed 1700 odd miles for the fantastic charity.
Of the many experiences since departing Glasgow on the 30th of June I decided to narrow them down to a top 5 Highpoints and 5 Lowpoints that sum up the trip personally for me. The low points were hardest to pin point because now im home, unsurprisingly nothing seemed that bad. There are tonnes more high points I would have included but you would be reading this for hours!
My 5 Lowpoints
1. Bike being stolen in San Sebastian
2. Forgetting the last lunch that didnt include 'smiling cow' processed cheese in it
3. Falling off my bike - twice, leaving me with scratches people gawked at
4. First team split when Donnie got the train to San Sebastian
5. Waving the boys off at the ferry to Tanger on the 5th of August
My 5 Highpoints :
1. Horan Family kindness and all the friends and family who put us up in Britain.
2. Our first 100 mile day, day 18 (and all 100 mile days thereafter!)
3. Meeting Ben Toulson
4. Our mid-trip break in San Sebastian.
5. Chris' encouragment after my bike was stolen in San Sebastian. An inspirational heart to heart that reminded me that even though my bike was stolen my drive to keep cycling was still there.
On the morning of the 5th August the team awoke at 6.30am to pack up camp and be at Tarifa port for 8 oclock. I waved the boys onto the ferry after a heart wrenchingly sad goodbye. A chat with Chris outside the ticket office wipped all doubt from my mind that my effort would be forgotten in this expedition because I was leaving early. He thanked me so sincerely for being part of this trip and heading up the idea in the first place that it actually made me cry that I wouldnt be carrying on the trip with such a hero. A look of dissapointment on Matty's face as we waved goodbye also confirmed how much of a role I had played in this trip,something I had never given myself credit for. It was a real pleasure getting to know Matty, a friend of Chris's id only met once before. From his dance moves to his questionable facial hair, Matty was constantly fun and relaxing to be around. Thank you for being such a great team mate. All the planning I'd put in leading up to the departure in Glasgow was truely worth it (despite the stress at the time)! Infact every mile cycled in this trip has been truely worth it and although in Spain I vowed never to do anything like this again, I am already looking at how to get a new bike for venturing around Scotland with next year.
I would like to make a note of the people that helped me get this far, each of you deserves a special shout for making the trip what it was. Thanks to my flat mates; Emilia, Bex, Kirsty, Julz and Sarah (plus Gillian)in Glasgow for putting up with me in planning mode, my mum, Glasgow University Sports Association (Chancellor's Fund), Right to Play for equipment, those that came to wave us goodbye on the 30th of June, Eilidh Menzies, Shell Hope, Chris Bush, Eleanor Franks and Ellie Coyle for their support on the road and near the end, the Horan family, the Smyth family, Chris' Cousin and Fiannce in Gosport, my stepmum, my brother, Gears cycle shop, Ben Toulson for his bike, Libby Jennings for her hospitality and much needed girls banter and Javier in Spain. Big thanks to all those who donated to help Right to Play.
Finally, thanks team. None of this would of been the summer of cycling that it was without you. Team work, cooperation and compromise were hard lessons to learn by all of us. When you share a 1 meter tall, 2.5 meter long tent and cycle next to the same people every day for 30 odd days you learn things about yourself and others you never expected. Thats what this summer was all about and without question im proud I took part in Cycle to Sahara 2011.
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