Day 28... So proud to be part of your life Philip. Xx

This will be my last post as I am no longer cycling and recording my day to day life would not only be pointless but also a waste of my time and anyone else reading it.

I completed my 2400km and 28 days on Saturday. Was so amazing to see everyone there at the castle to say hello. Even had a piper there to add to the scottish welcoming! Thank you so much to everyone that came along and also to all the people that have supported me and the cause I am raising for.

I also want to add that throughout my cycle my Grandpa Philip Toogood had been very ill with Leukaemia. Even through his illness he managed to follow my progress, supporting and contacting me regularly. It's definitely safe to say we all got a lot of our adventurous genes from him. Last night just after 10 he passed away. For myself and those there it felt very special to be with such an incredible, inspiring and loving man in his last few hours. He knew we were there for him as he has been throughout all of our lives. I managed to make it on my bike in time to his hospital in Galashiels on Friday for his final hours of conversation and consciousness. It was such an amazing feeling and relief. I am so proud to be part of his life and want to dedicate my last adventure and travels to him. I know he would have loved to join me on a bike of his own if he could have. Love you loads big man, you're a perfect example of someone who knows what they want and follows through with it. He's had an incredible life and because of that should have had no regrets. If you want and think you can do something then do it. When i'm next contemplating what to do in life I will definitely ask myself, 'what would Captain Toogood do?'

We'll miss you loads but you'll never be forgotten Philip. 

Xxxx

Day 27.... Hame tomorrow

Woke up for the last time in my tent this morning. Was absolutely freezing, raining, dark and kept hearing a scratching on my tent which scared the s**t out of me! Heard it just before going to bed then again early when I woke up. I packed all my things up very quietly hoping the beast outside would leave and decide there was nothing in the tent worth eating i.e. me. It kept going and as all my things were packed up and i'd slowly eaten my breakfast I had to face whatever was waiting for me outside. I very stealthily opened my inside zip followed by the outside. It was right in front of me staring with it's little beady eyes.

After the two monsters help me pack my things I got straight on it again. My grandad Philip isn't too well just now and is in hospital so I decided to pay him a surprise visit. He is in Galashiels so had a bit of a trek to get here. Seeing him and some of the family today really pushed and motivated me to keep going. In weather conditions I had today I needed a boost too! Made it here about 3 so managed to spend a bit of time hopefully cheering him up a bit with some stories from my journey.

I made it to the boarder of England and Scotland within a few hours but was unbelievable cold! It's so typical that the worst weather I have had in a month was the second I made it into Scotland. A bus of German tourist pulled up and decided they all wanted a photo with me. A lot of them deciding that I was also from Germany. Must be the German looks.... Apparently.

I am staying in Galashiels tonight. A lot of family members are here so it has been so nice to see them all before my final leg of the journey. I also am sleeping on a gigantic blow up bed, had steak for dinner and got to use a clean proper towel for the first time in ages! So sick of using that 'super absorbent' one which resembles drying yourself with newspaper. Hopefully have a reasonably easy ride to Edinburgh Castle tomorrow. I know for a fact it's going to be shocking weather as Scotland doesn't seem to know what sunshine is. 

See you all soon! :)

Day 26.... Saw my first sign to Edinburgh

Had a complete nightmare of a morning from Hartlepool! Thought we would take a nice scenic route around the coast. It ended up being one of the most ridiculous decisions of my whole trip. We took a road up a little steep hill that led us to a dead end and decided to stop and ask a nice man and his dog which way we needed to go to reach Sunderland. He told us to take the coastal road, explaining that what we were riding on was absolutely fine for it and we'd have no problem. He obviously got mixed up and thought we were both driving 4x4 trucks. Easy mistake to make.... Dunno what he had been smoking but he had absolutely no idea what he was sending us into. It led us round a dirt track that I wouldn't have even touched with my mountain bike. It had narrow tracks that were clearly designed for tightrope walkers with an immunity to nettle stings. A massive thank you to that man and his dog!

After our massive D-tour which added a good hour on to our journey we managed to find the roads again and was pretty basic from there. Weather was also amazing today and definitely appropriate taps aff weather. My back is so brown but front hasn't changed from summer, arms are really dark and have funny tan lines on my face from the helmet straps. I look like a dulux paint chart for 'all shades of tan.' We even stopped outside Tescos for lunch and a quick lie in the sun. Didn't realise the glass was a one way mirror though and that everyone in the shop could see us outside sunbathing on the concrete. Security guard came and told us to bugger off as we were putting off customers. Don't think so mate. If anything, seeing the two of us outside will double your customers.

Was amazing having Callum around and have some company so was gutted when he left me at Newcastle to head back down to York. Cheers for the support Callum.

It was pretty tough getting to Newcastle at about 4 o'clock, exhausted and seeing on the map that I wasn't even half way to where I wanted to reach today. Managed to make it out of Newcastle ok though and carry on going. Morale shot up again when I saw a sign to Edinburgh! What a feeling. It was marked with 92 miles but it's the first sign I have seen for home and feels like I really am on the home stretch now. Also had a laugh along the road at the cows and sheep along the way. I don't know why but they are so much more alert than those in Europe. They all looked so concerned seeing me in my highlighted jacket. A load of concerned cows is funny to someone that has been alone almost a month.

Didn't make it to the campsite I wanted tonight as it was starting to get dark and my concentration/ energy levels were really starting to dip. I was just about to set my tent up at the side of the road when I seen a sign for a B&B. Pulled in and after speaking to the family who own it managed to pitch my tent up on their land. Such a nice family who have let me use their facilities and shower etc. So chuffed and more than happy to know this is my last night in a tent on this trip!

Nearly home. Can't wait to see everyone on the weekend!

Day 25.... So good to have some company

Left York today and headed towards the coast to Hartlepool. Callum joined me today and will come up to Newcastle tomorrow before going back down to York.  If anyone asks me what tips before doing a long cycle. The first would be 'don't' and second would be to do it with someone else. Makes such a difference cycling with a bit of company! We decided to cycle through the Yorkshire moors for a change of scenery and it was a really good days cycle. Hills were tough and without a breeze it was absolutely roasting! Had a beast of a hill to end them too. My wheel has buckled again and has gone a bit wobbly. The spokes seem a bit lose so will head to a repair shop tomorrow and try to get it sorted.

Spoke to quite a lot of people on the road today. The further north I have gone the nicer the people seem to have got. It really winds me up now asking people directions now for them to reply 'pffft that's quite some distance mate, you won't make that today.' I replied a bit smugly today with 'I've come from Switzerland' and she replied 'Jeez! What time did you start?!'

Callum booked us into a really nice hotel tonight and it feels like absolute luxury! Even had free digestives and ginger nuts. We got here about 6 as it was a slightly later start this morning, got a chippy, got washed, changed and hit whetherspoons for a huge burger! mmmmmmmm!!!

Got a long cycle tomorrow up to Northumberland. Cycling through some forest that apparently has a campsite i'll sop off at. Shattered so will try blast though and get there reasonably early to get an early night before the last two day home stretch!

Day 22 and 23

Cycled up to a place just above Lincoln on Saturday called Blython. Nothing much there. Getting pretty bored of cycling through countryside. Have seen so many cows it's ridiculous. Has made me realise how much of Europe is just fields with the odd village with an average of maybe 3 houses. It was quite an easy day just following a river for most of it. When I made it to the campsite i'd planned on staying in it was pretty empty. A few caravans and 3 tents. As there was no one in the tents I thought I'd pitch up between two reasonably big ones. They looked like big family tents and had a milk bottle outside so thought 'aww this'll do. Nice wee family break with their baby.' Pitched my tent up and got everything unpacked and as soon as I did 3 cars pulled up and about 300 kids piled out. All wearing matching onesies. The adults then stepped out also matching. I would pick the noisiest point in England to pitch up a tent for an early nights sleep.

I did manage to get some sleep and have a reasonably early morning on Sunday. Sunday was absolutely horrible though. Was constantly against the wind. Cycling against wind is like cycling up a hill but not getting the benefit of going downhill. At one point after constant screaming at the wind I had to stop by the side of the road and have a break. Have a video of myself cracking up and really is like watching a mans sanity hit rock bottom! I also started to develop real pain in my right thigh and knee towards the end. Hoping it was just tiredness and won't stop me the next few days. Had a break in York too with a friend, Dan who I lived with in Sydney. Been really nice to just chill out and not really do anything.

4 days left now and am so excited to make it home!

Day 20 and 21

Had my first couple of days in UK and it's been so nice. Have only had a few times getting lost, one of them being as soon as I got off the ferry. In my usual ways I left the ferry and had no idea where I was going. The ferry ride/ sleep was so nice and had a cracking shower! Could have spent a few days on it just going back and forth. Stopped at a petrol station to pick up a map but still took me a few hours to get my bearings. Left Harwich and went completely the wrong way. When I stopped to ask a couple of woman what the best route to Cambridge was, one of them studied the map for a good 5 minutes without saying a word then finally replied with,
 'Ok dear, so go to the end of this road, turn left, then your second left, keep going until you see the roundabout, go straight on past it. You will then see the station further down on your left.'
'OK great'
'Then get a train, will take you half an hour'
'I have to cycle'
'Oh I don't know then, sorry love'
'Thanks'
 That happened twice except the second guy asked where my final destination was and when I told him Edinburgh he laughed and pointed north.

I did manage to find my way out of Harwich after a bit of time and once I had it was a breeze to find Cambridge. Everything was signposted so well and the map I had was great. There have been a couple of roads/ dual carriageways that I have felt a bit uncomfortable on and would like to avoid them from now. Wouldn't mind finishing my trip in Edinburgh rather than the front of a lorry radiator.

I made it to Cambridge about 115km later at about 4 but took me over an hour and a half to make it to the house I was looking for. It was a nightmare to find! Was well worth the find though. Was staying with two family friends and was spoiled rotten. Was absolute luxury. Comfy bed, shower, amazing feed for dinner then to top off the incredible hospitality I was given a huge feast that Eva had went and bought for me for todays trip. Was in my element with so much food today!

I left Cambridge and managing to get out much easier than getting in yesterday. Felt really tired this morning even after a good nights sleep. Guess it's pretty expected after a few thousand kilometres. Today was a really simple cycle again with really easy to follow signs etc. Signs a bit like this one

Love how simple everything is back in UK. I got to Boston today, didn't even know there was a Boston in UK. Hope there is otherwise I've taken a really wrong turn somewhere. Found a pretty nice campsite and it's full of normal people which I am not used to after some of the places I have visited on my way. Up to Lincoln tomorrow and I think it's a pretty simple ride up an old rail track. A week tomorrow and I'll be on my way to the castle. Looking forward to a couple of bags of flamin' hot monster munch, a pint and a chippy with plenty of chippy sauce! Oh and to see everyone.... Obviously.

Day 19..... I'm coming for you UK!!

I'm currently sitting by the Hoak Van Holland port waiting for my overnight ferry to take me to Harwich. Was some feeling seeing the sea this afternoon!! Can't believe this time tomorrow i'll be in Cambridge. Still a trek home but it's a big relief to be crossing the water and seems a lot closer to home. Weird to think how many boarders i have crossed the past few weeks. Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxembourg (won't be back) , Belgium, Holland and soon to be UK.

I've just spent the past 2 nights in Amsterdam, which was amazing! So happy I was able to take a day off. Felt like a mini holiday. The hostel I was in was called 'flying pig' and was right in the centre. Within an hour of being there a group of us formed and stayed with most of them for the full 2 days there. Had 2 really good nights out. Didn't really want to leave but now I have it feels nice to be back on the bike and another step closer to finishing. Don't really have much more to say about the past few days. Not many stories.... Well there are but maybe for another time.

Don't really have a route planned for the UK yet and don't have a map so guess i'll just wing it again and cycle north. I've sort of managed up until now. Going to watch this lady struggle to fit through these broken rotating doors for a bit then go and say goodbye to the sunshine. Guess I won't see it for a while.