Monday, 27 July 2009

We've only gone and finished it! As i said in the update yesterday, we had a shorter day to finish today which meant a more leisurely start and just a few hours on the saddle! It was a good days cycling with spirits inevitably high - singing at the top of our voices as we passed through sleepy Sicilian villages. Anything from Suspicious Minds to The Lion Sleeps Tonight to All Together Now was on the playlist of the Progetto Swift Quintet.

We got there at about 2pm - a bit later than maybe we would have as Ben had to change a tyre within spitting distance of the end (just over a km to go)!

We then celebrated with a beer (Becks for me, of course) before heading slightly north east to the nearest town - Portopalo, where we have been relaxing ever since with more cool beers safe in the knowledge that we don't have to clamber onto the bikes for any significant distance! BLISS!

It really has been a great trip - so many great memories, which i will go into further in my final update over the next week or so once i have had a little more time to reflect and a little less to drink!

Thanks to all those who have commented on the blog (once i finally sorted it out) - its been really good to know people are following our progress.

Final stats North - South Italy:
Day 1: Brunico - Trento 154km 7hrs 11mins
Day 2: Trento - San Giovanni Lupatoto 114km 5hrs 37mins
Day 3: San Giovanni Lupatoto - Portomaggiore 134km 6hrs 20mins
Day 4: Portomaggiore - Miramare 144km 6hrs 48mins
Day 5: Miramare - Sirolo 126km 6hrs 9mins
Day 6: Sirolo - Pineta 119km 5hrs 43mins
Day 7: Pineta - Termoli 119km 5hrs 39mins
Day 8: Termoli - Orta Nova 121km 5hrs 21mins
Day 9: Orta Nova - Matera 139km 6hrs 28mins
Day 10: Matera - Oriolo 145km 7hrs 4mins
Day 11: Oriolo - Cosenza 124km 5hrs 28mins
Day 12: Cosenza - Vibo Valentia 117km 5hrs 52mins
Day 13: Vibo Valentia - San Alessio Siculo 122km 5hrs 34mins
Day 14: San Alessio Siculo - Siracusa 135km 6hrs 24mins
Day 15: Siracusa - Isole di Corrente 67km 3hrs 19mins
TOTAL: 1,883km 88hrs 57mins 21.2km/h (1,170miles 13.2mph)

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12 comments:

  1. Rory Hall and Mel Lynch27 July 2009 at 17:28

    Congratulations to you all. Brilliant effort for a good cause. Enjoy your rest days; get some beers in you and we'll have a good ol' shindig when you get back in celebration of your safe return!

    Rory x

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  2. Anonymous27 July 2009 at 17:30

    Eell done you guys, sounds like it was fun

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  3. Anonymous27 July 2009 at 17:31

    probably meant to write "well done", but never mind

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  4. Anonymous27 July 2009 at 17:36

    TERRIFIC! AMAZING! BRILLIANT! FANTASTIC! WONDERFUL! GREAT! MARVELLOUS! TREMENDOUS! SUPERB! AWE-INSPIRING! CONGRATULATIONS! WELL DONE!

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  5. Anonymous27 July 2009 at 17:48

    ... EXCEPTIONAL! INCOMPARABLE! INCREDIBLE! SENSATIONAL! EXTRAORDINARY! REMARKABLE! OUTSTANDING! FIRST-CLASS! EXCELLENT! MAGNIFICENT! SPLENDID!

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  6. Rory Hall and Mel Lynch27 July 2009 at 17:50

    Anyone looking for a synonym for "amazing" - look no further. Cheers Mum....

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  7. The Jones27 July 2009 at 18:10

    CONGRATULATIONS, a FANTASTIC achievement and all those other words sourced above!!! True grit and determination by all. Have a well deserved relaxing few days - we'll have the champagne when you get back. See you on Friday!
    Mum J

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  8. The Jones27 July 2009 at 18:16

    Just realised that some of my comments didn't get posted on other days - technicalities of forgetting to copy the password. Fancy owning up to that to the world!!
    Mum J

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  9. Sarah-Anne27 July 2009 at 18:29

    WELL DONE GUYS...a truly stupendous effort (it's quite hard finding an adjective that Liz has not covered!)! Really looking forward to having a celebratory drink (or three) with you both (Siany and Iainy!) when you get back!! Enjoy a jolly good rest and make the most of the inevitable sun! Muchos love Sarah x x x

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  10. David Jones27 July 2009 at 20:22

    As all superlatives are now exhausted I can just add a really well done to you all. There were moments when I would have loved to be with you but I,m not at all sure I would have made it!Take full advantage of your remaining days there and look out for Sicilian drivers once you are off the bikes!!!!

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  11. Anonymous28 July 2009 at 10:25

    Acceptable, adequate, all right, common, decent, fairish, goodish, moderate, passable, respectable, satisfactory, sufficient, tolerable.
    Enjoy your rest days.
    You need to stop finishing things early, it should be a dramatic struggle right to the end

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  12. Laura Keen28 July 2009 at 18:28

    Blimey!!! Well done you guys, it's absolutely fantastic...looking forward to hearing about it in more detail when you get back. Enjoy the sun and beers, they'll be on me when you get back!! xxxx

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