Sun, Sea and Spinning - Training Dedication

I managed to complete eight cycle Spinning sessions in the last two weeks on board the fantastic Azura P&O Cruise ship whilst on our family holiday cruising from Southampton to Venice. Such training dedication for the Ghana Charity Cycle Challenge!!!!

The holiday was fantastic with great ports of call (Malaga, Cephallonia, Dubrovnik, Venice, Korcula, Corfu and Vigo in Spain), excellent weather, calm seas (with the exception of a Force 11 for one night) and making great new friends with the Allan family!

The Spinning classes were really hard work for 1 hour on each of the 8 sea days and the fitness instructor Tyler from New Zealand worked the group to a high level of intensity.  This was only my second time Spinning and  I have never sweated so much in my life!   People thought that it had been raining as I was soaked from head to toe.

I'm sure that the five course meals, afternoon teas and ice creams had something to do with that!

It was great fun and very motivational with a nice bunch of people.

I hope to do a few more sessions at the local sports centre before the challenge which is now only 5 weeks away, which is coming around very fast!!!!

1,200 Training Target Achieved

Just a "short" 21 miles this evening broke through my 1,200 training miles target this year (achieved in 7 months) before the Ghana Charity Cycle Challenge in September.   To celebrate it only seemed fitting to have a pint at our favourite local pub the Red Lion at Earlswood.

The final eight week count down now to the event and I need to focus on keeping my fitness and doing more long back to back rides over the weekends.  I have set a target for a 60 mile cycle with Mil in September which will be the longest in a single day on my mountain bike and  to do some off road with Phil at Cannock Chase.

Arriving at the Red Lion to celebrate cycling 1,200 miles in 7 months

Northgate Laptop Donation

Many thanks to my company, Northgate Information Solutions (www.northgate-is.com) and in particular Alexandra Moseley in our Purchasing team for providing a Laptop so that I can blog my way around Ghana on the Cycle Challenge.

This will be a great way to keep everyone updated on my progress.

On an even more generous note Northgate will be donating the laptop at the end of the challenge to a young person from the town of Kwahu Tafo starting at University to use during their study.  This will make a great difference to the education of the young recipient.

Many thanks Northgate!  

Snake and Castles - Longest Training Cycle with Mil

A great training ride today with Mil (friend and former colleague from ITNET), longest ever cycle covering 56 miles. Many thanks Mil, it was a really good test of my fitness (particularly as I did the ride on my mountain bike) and my kit for Ghana.  I was particularly impressed with the base layer which kept me cool, very good investment, even though it does not seem right wearing 2 layers in hot weather!

Map of the route

The route was from Wythall to Kenilworth Castle, in Warwickshire...

 via Warwick Castle...

... and then through Great Alne before the return climb up to Wythall.  The weather was great with  sunshine and the temperature reached 25 degrees.

Not long after leaving Great Alne we came across this snake on the road.  It was either sleeping or "expired".  We believe it is an English Adder and was approximately 18 inches long!

We think it is an English Adder

Hurray for summer

Finally some summer sun and a chance to try out my new summer cycling kit.  Although it (only!) reached 22 degrees whilst out cycling this morning the new kit was very effective at keeping the sun out of my eyes and body cool.

Fingers crossed that the sun will continue and can try over a long distance.

Minimum £3,000 Donations Received

THANK YOU...

.. to everyone who has donated over £3,500 raising over the minimum requirement of £3,000 to support me on the Go Ghana cycle challenge before the deadline of 22nd July.

I am overwhelmed with people's support and generosity!

Although the deadline for the minimum donation is the 22nd of July donations can still be received.  Including my own personal donation of £1,500 to cover the costs I have so far raised over £5,000.

I am still continuing to raise as much as possible and it would be excellent if I could get close to £5,500 for such a great cause.

Amazing £360 raised at Studley Car Boot

Many thanks to everyone visiting Studley Car Boot in Warwickshire today who stopped by our stall and supported Friends of Tafo to raise an incredible £360 !!!  Particular thanks to the organisers for the free entry which really helped with the fund raising.

So many people were so generous and gave donations on top of their purchases. Thank you!

Jill and Elise ran a make up stall, with all items £1 which was very popular.

Nephew Harrison and I focused on the other items donated by ourselves, family and friends.

Elise and Harrison were star sales people and really brought in the customers with their friendly chat and detailed product knowledge!

A great end to a fund raising weekend with £500 of donations to Friends of Tafo and the Go Ghana 2011 Cycle Challenge.  This has taken me very close to my £3,000 target which is amazing and I have been over whelmed with everyone's  generosity.  There still is time though to donate and raise as much as possible to such a great cause.

Let the selling begin!

You could not miss our stall

Harri takes a well earned power nap