Day 13: A tale of generous folk. And bandages.

We leave Sellet Hall after a night of blissful sleep in downy beds. Mum parks in Asda car park and we sort my foot out. A general consensus of action results in a part of my shoe being cut out, to alleviate any undue pressure on my gammy heel. Blister plasters everywhere, padding and gauze. Skating wounded today.

I was dreading the 12 miles into Kendal. It’s hard enough having to do it, but to drive along the road you’re due to skate back along is hard to stomach. Especially knowing you’re going to be doing it with an injury. Huge hills, steep ups, steep downs, rubbish road surface. A sick, looming feeling in my stomach.

No choice but to get on with it. Mum is cycling alongside me until we reach Kendal, it’s a big boost having company roadside. Hard slog, suicidal sheep run the verges looking for a return to their fields. My foot bleeds, we make the top and scrape down the other side. Sam, a cameraguy from Sub TV comes along to film a few hills. A chap called Steve from the local weekly turns up to take some shots for the paper. And we continue.

In Kendal by 1 after a great downhill run. Big relief to have those hills out of the way. Lunch. I do a radio interview for The Bay whilst sat on a bag of compost outside Asda. They tell me it’ll be on the 6pm news. Say goodbye to Mum, sleep for a few minutes. 23 miles from Lancaster, it seems a long long way. Going is slow for the first few miles. After 8 of them the traffic is getting heavy. It’s 4pm on a Friday and people are zooming around towards their weekend destinations. I have a long sleep, the pain is exhausting. Traffic dies down and Holly and I sit in the van waiting for the news. A car pulls up in front and a man gets out. His wife joins him. “We saw you outside Kendal earlier and had to see what you were all about.”

They were really friendly, very genuine, gave us £10 before they went.

We listen to the 6pm news. We’re not on it.

Half an hour later I’m skating along, closing the gap on Lancaster when Holly pulls me over, all excited and bubbly. “The family from earlier called the radio and said they’d met us!” She had recorded it and played me the clip.

From then on every other car that passed waved and honked. Some cheered. A family passed by and the three girls were stood on a roundabout shouting “Good Luck” a couple of miles on. Then the Dad and son who stopped earlier pulled up in their care. They had two bottles of iced water and a marker pen. “Go on, sign his t-shirt!” said Dad. So I did. Kyle was quiet and shy but looked happy enough. Legendary people, we need more like them.

The last ten miles to Lancaster was punishing but the support from passing traffic pushed me on. Holly right behind at every turn. We stop to let build-ups behind us pass by before irritation builds. Get into Lancaster finally, on schedule again. Find the train station, pick up Dimitri who is with us for the week ahead and then settle down at a Holiday Inn, where Holly’s man, Nat, arrives late. He’ll be with us for the weekend.

I have no idea how I’m going to skate tomorrow. Foot is in shreds.