The Apple Crumble

A couple of days in Dartmouth, in the South Hams (from the old English word “Hamme” meaning an enclosed or sheltered place FYI) and back to London where I crashed against the planning of organized world.
When taking the train in the fun and eclectic town of Totnes, I sat there contemplating the idea of going to, who knows, Southampton maybe. But attracted by the idea of meeting some familiar faces in the big city, I thought it would be cool to spend a couple of days wandering around the busy, ever-clicking machinery of London streets and in the mean time have a few laugh with old time and newly made friends.
When the train was getting to Reading station, I realized how close I was of my sister’s and a few days with the incomparable and warm company of the most familiar of all faces. But decided to keep going with shameful guilt of softening down and not being truth to my hardcore travelling spirit I believed I had going on. But right then I realized I was somehow tired and didn’t need that travelling eager anymore. At London, truth to my disorganized and keen-on-improvisation nature , I called a few people only to find out everyone had plans and were organized for the evening and next day. A glance of the London lifestyle, and after the prospect of mixing in the London crowd purposelessly, I decided to head back to the always welcoming Park House in Abingdon, where Gaby and Joe were almost drowning in an apple flood.
Moved by a naive thrust of eco friendliness, I set myself into not wasting oh so many apples and try to do something useful of my few last days before starting the new job. So talking to my sister, Joe and everybody I met that weekend basically we planned the strategy. I would pick as many apples as possible on Sunday morning, leaving those trees right down to their bones I was confident. Then Monday morning was going to be used to buy all the jam jars, ingredients and utensils needed for the “jam factory” as I called it, so in the afternoon I would make unthinkable quantities of apple jams that we would take to my sister’s local Butcher where they could hopefully sell for us and I could add the profits to the funds raised so far during JOGLE 2010. What a plan!
Enthusiastically, I embarked myself in my fruit picking Sunday morning and was loving it. Feeling such a farmer boy. And right here, is where the crumbling starts.
The naive intention of picking all the apples was soon demoralised after one and half hours, around 60 kg of apples and looking back at the trees to see no difference at all. The bloody trees! They looked untouched. Soooo many apples! And that was only 2 out 5 trees.
One massive bag, the kitchen sink, a big box and a apple flooded kitchen later, I decided it was enough. Back to research and look for the mighty apple jam recipe that would delight many untrusting Oxfordshire residents with the little known qualities of the very well known fruit for jam making purposes.
Monday lunch arrived and I was starting to feel the weight of the enterprise I have taken upon. I was cooking for my sister and I, and haven’t even started with the jam cooking. After about 20 apples peeled, I knew deep inside this ship was very soon running aground... A big apple crumbling failure of my skills as a untrained fruit picker, untrained cook and untrained eco mentalist.
No details will be giving of how hard or disappointing were the next few hours for this failed entrepreneur, but here’s a few conclusions and lessons I will remember of all this.
If you haven’t heard of apple jam before, there’s a reason for it. They are shit for it. Or at least the ones in my sister’s garden are.
Do not try to peel a kitchen-full load of apples on your own. And do not try to invite friends to help you out, it won’t be appreciated I am certain.
When trying to do some kind of charitable job, make sure to give it a try and be sure that is doable before you proudly tell everyone. The shameful notifying of failure is a very embarrassing moment.
If you’re in anyway riding, keep it on... if you’re not, get up and go for a ride, you’ll feel loaded with energy afterwards. Just think twice how you spend it all! Jam making... uhhhhmmm!!!

Fonzie the Fruit Picker (Mind the scarf, my sister's)



Fruit picking utensils...



Joe will eat some for sure!

I dont know how to call it really

John O’Groats is quite a random place. In the far North East corner of the UK, it sits where development seems to have struggled its way in. Though, given its geographical position, it has become quite a popular and known place between cyclist, runners, and many other who have challenged themselves aiming to complete the infamous route in any particular, authentic or extravagant way. Not long before we did it, I heard one guy had broken the record in a Monocycle, doing it in something like 12 days... Freak!
The same can be said about Land’s End. A place full of contrasts. The first and last as it’s many times quoted along the route. It sounds like a remote place, but being at the corner of a more popular touristic destination like Cornwall, it has developed in somehow into a paradox of its name. Welcome to Land’s End and into a Mall!!! Are you for real?
Anyway, nothing they could have done in Land’s End or John O’Groats could spoil the satisfaction of riding, running or hand walk this wonderful route, though a welcoming bag of ice will be appreciated in any case. And this brought back a recurrent thought. The way you travel on a bike and the rewards of doing so. When I set off riding my bike, it’s rarely about the place I’m going to. It’s more about the ride itself, the journey and its ups and downs.
Throughout the eight days we took to complete JOGLE, we rode through some amazing landscapes. A rugged, raw and fearsome coastline of the North of Scotland. The windy and lunar sceneries of the Highlands and the mythical forests of the Cairngorms. Down we rode through Edinburg and rain greeted us all along our way into England, through some hills and lakes of mist. Down we went, leaving Manchester to starboard, crossing the Pennines and through the busy and winding roads of Yorkshire we rode the familiar Cotswolds into charming Bath, setting up the last, long and steep battle through Devon into Cornwall.
For me, a cherry on top of the cake of a wonderful year on two wheels. Liguria and the Maritime Alps prepared me for the long climbs along the Pyrenees and the Alps. My climbing legs were at their best but were not ready for the struggle of the head wind on the rolling hills of Aquitaine and the Loire, leaving the battle to be fought only on stubbornness. Sardinia, Malta and Sicily kept me trained through the summer, and I got to the UK very aware of the mission ahead.
At the end of the first day, after 215 km, when I struggled to make it to the campsite (trying to hide it from everyone of course) I knew it was going to be some tough 8 days. Of these, I’ll keep the joy, and challenge at the same time, of riding along such a cool bunch. A pleasant change from my usual solo riding. The raw conditions that slowed us to almost a dead stop on the second day, and the last push into Perth along Kev, Lance Andrew and Kieran Fucking Cancellara. The downpour as we were getting into England. The suffering you could see at Chris and Paul on every single stroke right from the second day and their courage to finish the ride head high. The disappointment at Tom’s face through the van’s window, and knowing he’s riding this tortuous route on a 65£ bike after no more than one month training. All for the good reasons. Patrick fading out and then cheering him up the last hill arriving to Liskeard, while I could hear him crying on pain. And tearful Kevin at the finish line, knowing he was supposed to be here 4 years ago when a serious car accident interrupted his training. And knowing that we were all there, giving our little support to a honourable cause and helping some of the riders that have first hand experiences with Parkinson’s made this awesome a week, a truly memorable one.
I’m excited about the times ahead. A new job, new places and a lot of sailing. But specially, I can look ahead at the prospect of more adventures like JOGLE 2010. I want to keep riding, walking or cooking and while doing so, try to make any of our enterprises as useful and productive as possible. Thanks to all of you who supported me in any way. To all the riders for their effort and words of pride and gratefulness about this whole experience. To the support crew who made it all easier on us. To James and Amy for putting this whole thing together, and to spectacular Britain for hosting us in such wonderful places.
Tunisia next... curious, always curious!

Check some pic at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=232674&id=548987720&l=8a40b0bf74

Thanks to all!

Hello everyone,
I’m writing to thank you all for your donations, messages of support and for following my last ride from John O’Groats to Lands End. It’s been a truly amazing experience full of effort, sacrifice, suffering but joy and self satisfaction at the same time.
We started 24 cyclist from JOG on Sunday the 5th, and after 8 days and almost 1600 km of riding, 21 of us finished last Sunday at Lands End under the clapping and cheering of the support crew and other public and tourists present at the finish line.
Amongst us there was James who is dedicating his life to organizing events fundraising for the Psychiatry Research Trust. Tom, Dan and Paul’s close relatives have been diagnosed with Parkinson recently and it’s been an honour to ride along them, see their effort fighting illness and injuries, and heartbreaking seeing Tom’s efforts being spoiled by mechanical problems. They are all heroes for me and it’s been very satisfying to help their cause by fundraising for What’s Driving Parkinson’s. A project which can bring solutions to their beloved ones situation.
I have seen your donations coming through during the trip and I will be updating my blog with stories and pictures in the next few days. I want to take the time to thanks each one of you for supporting this initiative and motivating me to keep pedalling even when pain was winning the battle.
As part of my fundraising efforts, I wanted to pass by the Clinic these days while I’m still in the UK to check the job they’re doing and to meet part of the people responsible for carrying out the development of the project so I can inform you guys and you have more firsthand information on how your money is being invested and used to help the project. Unfortunately James is not available these days and will be impossible to visit the clinic so he’s commit himself to send me some photos and all the information available. Hopefully I can learn more about it and its people as well.
Hope you’re all enjoying yourselves and I thank you again for your messages and donations. There’s still time to donate at www.justgiving.com/fonziesjogle2010 so please spread the word around and keep checking my blog out at www.fonziesride.blogspot.com
Love,
Fonzie

Land's End!

We made it yesterday afternoon to Land's End.
After one thousand five hundred and more km, the crew of 21 cyclist call into the most Southwesterly point on Britain's territory, with clapping and cheering of support members, families, girlfriends and other strangers who joined in the celebrations. A very emotional moment it was, maybe the sense of achievement or the realization of restful and painless days ahead put smiles on all our faces and under a bright Cornish sun we gather and enjoy ourselves with a few drinks and plenty of stories of the last few hard fought days. More soon! Thanks for all your messages

Sad but true!

Today was the second to last day of this end to end enterprise we are into. It's been 7 days now and I have to say it's been even tougher than expected. Weather wise we've gotten a bit of everything, but the terrain is so rugged and roads so steep that is hard to get into a good rhythm to get the miles going and we end up spending long hours on the saddle everyday.
We've also been trying to stay together to make navigation easier for the riders and support crew and we have to work even harder to do so. Kevin is one of those who's been working his ass off and we all appreciate his effort and commitment.
A very strong rider, particularly a good climber, Kevin was ran over by a car 4 years ago when he was on his bike and spent 6 days on a hospital with arm, legs and skull fractures, so every time you hear him screaming with with a very particular tone "CARRRRR!" you know he takes safety very seriously nowadays. Reminds me of Chandler from Friends, everybody's friend but nobody knows what he does for work, it's like that doesn't matter here.
Up until yesterday Kevin was rock solid, no injuries and always riding at great pace. Today when people told me he had been dropped behind with a sore Achilles tendon i realize how tough this ride has been on all of us. No matter how fit you are, you will feel it, you will inevitably be in pain and it's how you deal with those bad moments which determine either you finish or not what you committed for.
Of course kevin did not gave in. We all knew he wouldn't. He went through it and at the end of the day on a couple of unexpected great climbs we both went ahead and challenged ourselves. Massive fun! The first one, Kitt Hill said at the top, it's been maybe the best climbing i've done since I started cycling a year ago. After 200 km and with "Sad but true" from Metallica as loud as possible on my earphones, i surprised myself on that climb and will be a highlight of this great ride.
Will be looking forward to meet with Kevin for some serious climbs on the Alps or Pyrenees sometime and will be looking forward to finish tomorrow with 120 km to Lands End and let the pain fade away.

Second to last day!

We're down to 18 at times, people are hurting and we just had the first accident of the ride... Weather not helping the spirits!

Through the cotwolds

Long day on the saddle. The crew are feeling the miles now and we spent long hours trying to stay together. Will post some more later...

Do believe in ice!

You know when you hurt yourself and people always says "oh just put some ice on it!"? Well it got to a point when i just thought it was a whole lot of crap. I would say it too of course if somebody was hurt, but just for the sake of the cliche or maybe pretending i knew something about it.
Well as from yesterday, I am a true believer in ice. A faithful preacher of its miracles and myths, and a loyal practitioner of his healing rituals. In ice I trust!
We arrived today at Lichfield, and I'm still riding along thanks to ice. Two days ago my right knee started aching. A very sharp pain in the internal side every time I would push on the pedal. That was day 3 and I rode the last 4 hours of the day pedaling only with my left leg. I put some ice that night and it felt pretty good the next morning until eleven when the pain restarted. By 2 o'clock when we stopped for lunch I thought I was out. Lots of climbing that day and my left leg was too tired of doing all the job. While having lunch I put some ice to try and finish the day and it was incredible. Pain was gone and i could pedal like during the morning. Two hours after lunch the support crew passed some ice while riding and then at the afternoon break I found some ice for my sore knee again. And so i did last night and this morning. It's been around 480 km since that knee started hurting and i'm still going solid. Today it didn't even hurt but I could feel the discomfort caused by the swelling, tomorrow we'll see.
It's been 5 days on a very hilly terrain and everybody's feeling it by now. Paul has a pain in his Achilles tendon since the second day and today his knee started to hurt badly. You can see he's hurting. If i remember correctly, Paul's grand dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's not so long ago and you can see he's fully committed to this ride and will not quit and i really hope so for him. The same with Chris. I don't know what are Chris's reasons for being here but he's struggling out there but just keeps going, it hurts to see him pedaling always leaning or bent in awkward positions. He's dad is having a holiday around Britain and is following us every now and then, good fun.
We had two retirements in the first two days with Steven retiring because of a hip injury and Allister with a sore knee. Luke had to take the van yesterday with tendinitis on his knees and gave it a try this morning but didn't work out for him and might be going back home tomorrow. We're down to 21 riders then and to all of then carrying injuries, I have and will keep suggesting that they should use ice, simple and magic ice.

The hungry cyclist!

It's been 3 tough days of cycling. About 600 km around some overwhelming hills in Scotland against the nastiest wind i've ever cycled in.
Last night we had dinner at a farm courtesy of Andrew Johnson just outside Perth where the local council offered us an epic bbq and whisky.
Today as we entered England, we've been hit by horrible weather including hailing and heavy downpours. On the other side, our first English meal has been a real blessing thanks to a local brewery where we're staying 10 miles north of Newcastle.
Speaking of food, we've been organized by a real expert on the matter. Talking life with Tom on the first night, we found out that he went to school in the same school my sister teaches in Abingdon. After some studies in sculpturing and something else i can't quite remember now, Tom has dedicated his last years to cycling the world, cooking (which means eating) and writing. In his book The Hungry Cyclist, tom tells the stories of his journey from Mew York to Rio i think, and gives recipes he finds out and discovers here and there. Smiley chatty chap, always available and optimistic, Tom's been a great part of the support crew and i thank him for keeping us fed and for all the driving around. Cheers for tom!

Edinburgh!

Rain and cold today. Many people suffering the conditions but it's getting better. Making good progress and having fun... Much better without yesterday's wind!

The female support

Olga and Amy spend their days following us on the support vehicles. A tedious work in fact.
Olga is the second Latin American on the team apart from myself. Coming from Medellin she's done a great job getting herself in the right angles to take some nice action shots of the riders.
Amy is from Newcastle and has been helping James organizing jogle2010. When not traveling the UK following and sorting things out for a tired group of cyclists, she works part time as a stand up comedian in London and apart from believing there's a pack of hungry wolves coming to attack cyclists in the campsites, she's always showing a welcoming smiley face... And gives very nice warm hugs if you're feeling a bit chilly! Nite nite...

What a day...

Just getting to Inverness on a glorious cycling day. 5 more miles to camp site and looking forward to more of beautiful Scotland tomorrow

Sun rises at midday!

It's been gray, windy and quite a chilly start... Just like you would imagine Scotland, and it's cool that. By mid day the sun came out and we're having lunch at and old mill in Golspie half way on day 1

Ladies first!

Rachel is from london and studied arts history. For work she prepares, packs, and ships recently sold antiques and artworks. Like a cezzane (excuse spelling if not correct) once sold in... Many millions! Any long distance cycling experience? Oh well, she says, i cycled from seattle to san francisco and then across america once... She doesn't drive so have always used her bike to commute to and from work. She's done a Great job fundraising and will be the only woman riding along... Very cool ladie indeed!

European eagle owl

A bit of entertainment in inverness before the pedaling

Inverness!

Here i am, waiting for pick up time and having a bit of a wander... Well like 3 wanders already, not a very big town this. 6 other people on the train doing the end-to-end, in 17 and 13 days... 8 looks quite intense, excellent!

It's on!

The good silver arrow is hanging from her head... Poor thing, from the mountains and landscapes of the pyrenees to a 12 hour train ride hanging upside down on her wheels... We'll get the mileage going soon!

21 kg de atún!

Probando mandar fotos del cel

Tomorrow off I go to Inverness!

Tomorrow I'll take the train to Inverness. Invierno in spanish means Winter, so can't help relating the place to the season... Thinking a lot of the weather, how rainy or windy it will be (not very nice according to this http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/10? )
And sort of wondering the whole thing to be honest, I guess it's because I'm a bit worried about the fundraising. I was only able to take the decision to come to www.jogle2010.org a little late (work was interfering with the important stuff) so all the fundraising ideas seem quite delayed. I have contacted some of the local media and didn't get any response so that has put me down a lot. But I'll get there, even if it means doing lemonade or taking my sister garden's apples and cooking apple struddle and pies to sell by the road... I'll get there!
If you have any ideas come on drop me a line I'm open to hear anything... need to sleep! always a rush before leaving, always!

The ponzian islands... Just trying this phone thingy!