My name is Mark Parsons I'm a 49 year old who is hoping he is still in his mid-life crisis!! (rather than the male menopause). I have decided to try and raise some money for the Steeple Church Development Fund. Having been inspired by Mark Beaumont a fellow Dundonian. I came up with the idea of cycling around Scotland as it makes a change from John o' Groats to Land's End. I only found out later it was further and far more hilly!! I will be travelling a total of 1196 miles over a period of 17 days, an average of 70 miles per day. The total additive height attained over the whole trip is 31927 meters, which is equivalent to 3.6 times up Mount Everest - from sea level. Please help me by following me exploits and leaving me cheery messages and telling others about it. If you want to make a pledge all the better and thanks so much for your support. All the money pledged will go to the Steeple Development Project

Thursday, 19 May 2011

Lochranza to Oban

Forgot to mention yesterday that I met my neice (Natalie) and her fiancee Aaron in Ayr, and my brother at Ardrossan. It was lovely to see them all.
Had a bad nights sleep last night - not being the only person in the dorm at Lochranza Youth Hostel that snores!!!!!!! But I have to say that Youth Hostel there is brilliant!!

Today has been a good days cycling. I was joined by a retired cyclist Bill Honeywell on his way up the Mull of Kintyre. Though I would impress him by say I was cycling around Scotland. He thought that was great and then told me he was cycling around the Great Britian, in 17 weeks - so that blew me :))

I am feeling generally OK, a bit tired due to sleep depravation but should sort that tonight. Apprehensive about the next f ew days - the weather and the winds look dodgy and the distances and hill will be testing :-]

So far I have had a number of aches and pains - and I have diagnosed heart failure, Diabetes an anurism I'll keep you posted if I develop anything else :-S

At friends house in Oban - Robin Saxby and Sib - accomodation, food company all excellent

Sweet dreams (not including hippo's I hope)
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3 comments:

  1. Anonymous19 May 2011 at 21:54

    Looks like a tough day tomorrow, mum just got the map outtt!!
    Keep singing your ''GUIDE ME OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH...'' song and pedal!! :)

    Danielle xx

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  2. Bill Honeywell20 May 2011 at 20:59

    Hi Mark - Good to meet you and Dave yesterday. Didn't realise there would be someone else as mad as me. Tell Dave we're looking forward to meeting him 5/6 June - we're in Peterhead 5th and Stonehaven 6th. Good luck and keep pedalling!! Bill Honeywell (aka @CancerBikeMan, www.billhoneywell.blogspot.com)

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  3. Anonymous25 May 2011 at 00:04

    Definitely over half way now - but I'm sure you are exhausted with the stormy weather. No update would suggest that. Hope you've managed to keep up the schedule. Get the important things like food and sleep. Your news can wait till you get home. Rooting for you all the time.
    David and Edith

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