The run up to day 8, an easy day, the final procession followed by an overnight train home, didn't go as planned. I had carefully booked a berth on the overnight sleeper for the final day way back on 4 September. Firstly industrial action slightly delayed the journey and then on 28 October at 18:58 it was cancelled. There wasn't time to deal with it then, the posse had a dinner reservation for 7pm at the local pizza place in Penrith. The next evening I send an online enquiry to Avanti to see if there were any spaces for a bicycle on the Glasgow - Euston route that coming Sunday. I expected a reply within 24 hours. I did get one, there weren't.
On the Saturday morning in Dumfries I had a little more time and a decent wifi signal in the hotel and so I thought about options to get home. I remembered there was a new branch of Enterprise Rent a Car in High Barnet and so, although expensive, I could, should there be a vehicle available, have a one way rental. I went to their website, looked for a van in Glasgow and found a choice of two. I used to drive a Renault Trafic and the equivalent, a Vauxhall Vivaro was sitting there waiting to be rented so I booked it at 07:30 paid instantly and then packed my panniers and set off for the start point. I hadn't long been at the start point when I received a call from a Glasgow number, Enterprise, calling me to say they didn't have any vans and the website was out of date. Great. I was too surprised to think to ask if they had any cars (they probably didn't) as I could take the wheels off the bike and get it into a hatchback easily enough. There wasn't time to do anything else about my getting home problem then as I had 80 miles to cycle.
Shockingly Enterprise having advertised a van that wasn't available, cancelled it without much by way of an apology (absolutely nothing in writing or by email) aren't in anything like as much of a rush to refund me as to take my money in the first place. When Caledonian cancelled the sleeper the money was sent straight back to my card and the same for Avanti when they cancelled my Preston-Penrith train, a refund within 24 hours of me making a claim (they just needed to check I hadn't used the ticket on a different service) no fuss, no drama. The risible explanation I was given by someone who rang me from the Glasgow office after I had given Enterprise a good kicking on twitter, was that they had sent my payment to the USA. That's as may be but they really need a better system for making refunds. I'm not near my credit limit but others may be and having this money tied up (£251.99) despite a second promise that a refund was on the way on 4 November, could put some people in financial difficulties and leave them unable to pay for a replacement hire.
I've got bored now, Enterprise have had long enough, and I've been on my Barclaycard account, marked the transaction as disputed and then completed, printed out, signed and posted a claim to Barclaycard (can't do the whole thing on line in 2021!) and pointed out Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act to them which makes Barclaycard equally liable for a refund. I may get the refund by Xmas. Hopefully none of my readers will now rent from them, I won't be doing so.
On to happier matters. As there had been a hotel shortage in East Kilbride thanks to COP 26 and 100 of us cyclists landing I booked as near as I could which was Rutherglen.
I therefore decided to hang around at Rutherglen waiting for the procession to reach me from East Kilbride as it was coming almost past my hotel. It turned out that Anna Hughes was saying a few words at the start, as doubtless were others, and so I missed her use me as an example of what you can do if you put your mind to it, in that I went further, higher and faster all on the one day, so don't doubt yourselves. It was mizzling as I stood, early of course and the procession was running late, outside the Rutherglen United Reform Church which was busy. One worshipper invited me inside out of the wet and another said we (the London - Glasgow cyclists) were all mad, a little truth in that remark perhaps. Anyway, time passed and eventually the riders pitched up and I joined the line as we ambled to our destination of Glasgow Green.
These photos are from East Kilbride, fun was being had.
You can see what a wet day it was but as everyone was geared up for it cycling in the wet is fine.
The destination arrived quickly, a 6 mile procession only taking 30 minutes, nothing to us after 500 miles in 7 days.
This bike didn't do the entire journey.
Here are four of the Barnet posse, Charlotte had to stop on doctor's orders. She was sad about that and we missed her, especially as it was her who told me about the ride. I think we were all a bit sad that the ride was over but happy at the achievement. Penny & Salim are both experienced cyclists and I had cycled 50 miles with them before the event and I knew how quick they both were, easily able to leave me for dust. Kristien on her e-bike was a revelation, going distances she also hadn't done in a week before whilst working harder on the flat than anyone.
A lucky shot Kristien, you and a good banner.
That disposable shower cap lasted a few days and has been saved, single use plastic not being within the spirit of COP26.
The Trek, bought from Bike & Run in Finchley between 5 and 10 years ago, did sterling service, the only problem being that I wore through the new brakes in a week. I will carry spare blocks for long journeys in future. Not a single puncture unlike Kenny who 'won' with 9 but then he was on a road bike with narrow tyres and I had puncture resistant Marathon Plus tyres and the rear was a new one (thanks to Johns Cycles at New Barnet for the pre ride service).
Pretty much all of the organisers, Anna in the middle as no bikes to fix now.
A hard working photographer.
The band livened up the finish. Many cyclists were able to manage a dance.
Grey skies but no-one cared.
The previous evening at 9.30 pm I had spent some time on the phone to Avanti. They got me on a train home the enxt evening departing from Edinburgh at 7pm. Kristien was staying an extra night, Penny & Salim were on an afternoon train out of Glasgow. We had a final lunch together and then split up. I took my train to Edinburgh and found carnage at the station. Overhead power lines down at Peterborough, all the trains in the wrong place and delay and the passengers from four trains all getting on the one for which I had a booking. Penny & Salim fared worse. Their train was stopped at Preston (I love the place) due to flooding and then got returned to Lancaster and spent a night in the Travelodge before getting home the next day. By waiting an extra day Kristien had an event free journey.
I got into Kings Cross just before 1am and I really enjoyed my ride home. Hardly any traffic and it seemed so warm. I was home in an hour and still exhilarated from the adventures of the week.
I was clearly making good progress with personal records (PR) up the segregated bike lane.
Many of the riders had made pledges to camera during the week. Here is Charlotte's
Looking at you Barnet Council.
What a week. The end, until the next long trip.
Still time for you to pledge.