My Story
The Long Day up is a Motorcycle challenge which has run for a number of years taking place annually on the longest day of the year. This year approximately 30 individuals will take on the challenge including myself and great friends Philip Smith & Charlie Playfair. The team of slightly portly, middle aged, motorcyclists leave Lands End at sunrise and aim to reach John O'Groats by sunset the same day following a designated route. In principle a relatively simple undertaking, however riders are tasked with completing the journey on motorbikes costing no more than £300 and following a designated and somewhat circuitous route which entirely avoids motorways. This year’s route totals just under 1,000 miles taking in the sites of Chippenham , Gloucester, Ross on Wye, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Wrexham, Birkenhead, Liverpool via Mersey Tunnel, Ormskirk and Preston, Lancaster, Kendal, Penrith, Carlisle, Longtown, Gretna, Dumfries, Kilmarnock, Irvine, Gourock, a ferry to Dunoon (!), Fort William, Inverness, Wick and finally John O’Groats. Whilst endeavouring to sate the unquenchable thirst for adrenaline by this troop of 40+ yr old Valentino Rossi wannabes, there is a more sobering desire to raise money for Cancer Research UK – arguably an organisation which more of us than would like, will at some stage be thankful of their endeavours. We fully understand that whilst it’s not a fete of superhuman physical endeavour it is still for a good cause and as such our request for sponsorship are correspondingly modest. The cost of a Starbuck’s Caffe Latte (Venti) is £2.85 and a classic blueberry muffin is £1.89 totals £4.74 plus a bit of goodwill and we get to a fiver. For the sake of your waste, we are asking you to simply abstain from your morning caffeine and sugar fix and support a really worthwhile charity. Thank you! Neil, Charlie & Phil
