We are Home

We have all arrived safely home. A 11 hour wait for a delayed flight in Orlando airport and with security taking our bike bags apart and swabbing everything, left the team totally exhausted.

We have our party on Thursday in the Botanical Gardens of Wales.
Hope to see you there. it's a 1830 hrs start in the Great Glass House

Please check back to see the updates on the blog.

Thank you everyone - your support has been overwhelming and without it, the C2C challenge would not have maintained the high morale that was needed to complete the crossing of the continent.

SONG OF THE TOUR - AN AMERICAN TAIL

TRAVELING IN A BUS FROM SUNNY OCEANSIDE
POPPY WAS POPPING PILLS ALL THE WHILE
RICHARD DIDN’T SAY A THING FOR A THOUSAND MILES
THEN WE STOPPED FOR A CYCLE RIDE

BACK IN THE BUS AND ALONG TO 29 PALMS
IAN WAS DRIVING AND LOST ALL HIS CALM
THE SAT NAV TOOK HIM DOWN A DIRT TRACK TO A FARM
BEAR HAD A BLOW OUT BUT HE CAME TO NO HARM

CHORUS
IN WITH THE BIKES OUT WITH THE BIKES
IN WITH THE BIKES OUT WITH THE BIKES

NEXT IT WAS ON TO KINGMAN AND ROUTE 66
ALL WENT TO A STEAKHOUSE FOR OUR KICKS
CHATSY HAD ANOTHER BURGER – NUMBER 96
HENRY HAD SO MUCH ROOT BEER HE WAS PISSED

NEXT TO GRAND CANYON WITH ONSLOW IZZARD
DROVE US INTO A SNOWY BLIZZARD
PORTH WENT WILD AND DRUNK UP ALL THE TURKEY
WOKE UP IN A BATH AT 4.30

CHORUS

THEN A BIKE RIDE TO MONUMENT VALLEY
DUFFS GOT HIS BIG LENS DROVE US DOLLALLY
NEXT TO MEXICAN HAT AND THE NAVAJO NATION
MERV WAS FAMISHED BUT CARROTS WERE HIS ONLY SALVATION

PEDALLING HARD TO TAOS AND OVER A MOUNTAIN
TEN AND A HALF THOUSAND FEET PHIL WAS REALLY PANTING
OVER THE RIO GRANDE WHERE WE MET ZORRO
BIG PARTY IN THE BARN THEN OFF TOMORROW

CHORUS

THE MARIACHI BAND WERE PLAYING IN THE PLAZA
MERV AND TOM MISSED IT ALL WHILE HUNTING GOAFER
NEXT DAY WE CYCLED ONTO CLOVIS
THE WAFFLES WERE GREAT BUT THE BREAD SURE WASN’T HOVIS

BURNING RUBBER ALL THE WAY TO AUSTIN TEXAS
BRAKES ON THE CAR GAVE UP AND WE WERE HELPLESS
WE THEN TURNED OUR PEDALS OVER TO HOUST-ON
WHERE WE ALL WENT TO THE PUB WITH IAN AND HAD A SING SONG

CHORUS

THEN INTO LOUISIANA WHERE THE SWAMPS GOT DENSER
THE BOYS IN THE CAR ARE DULL THEY’LL NEVER JOIN MENSA
US IN THE BUS THOUGHT THEY HAD BEEN HAD BY A GATOR
THEY GOT LOST IN THE BAYOU SO WE SAW THEM LATER

TRAVELLING FAR ON A BUS TO NEW ORLEANS
DOWN TO BOURBON STREET WHERE WE SAW QUEENS
INTO PAT O BRIEN’S FOR A HURRICANE
MORE THAN ONE NIGHT WOULD DRIVE YOU INSANE

CHORUS

CROSS MISSISSIPPI AND INTO ALABAMA
WE MET DAVE AND SKIP AND SUSANNAH
FROM MOBILE WE CYCLED TO PANAMA CITY
BOYS ROAD HARD BUT ROADS WERE GRITTY

THE WEATHER GOT HOT SO DUFFERS TOOK A SNOOZY
AT THE HOTEL IT WAS ALL IN THE JACUZZI
TO THE LOBSTER FOR A FISHY MEAL
THERE WERE LOTS OF SOLE IN THE PLAICE BUT NO BIG DEAL

~CHORUS

OFF FROM PANAMA CITY THE WEATHER WAS SHITTY
ANDY TOOKA TUMBLE ON THE RAILS COS IT WAS SLIPPY
NEE NAW NEE NAW NEE NAW OFF TO ER
LOTS OF PAIN FROM BOUNCING OFF THE BLACK TAR

ANDY HAD A JAB AND STARTED ACTING SILLY
SINGING DIRTY SONGS ABOUT A CHURCH IN ABERGWILI
HE TOOK A NASTY FALL BUT IT WAS NO JOKE
SO INTO THE RV AND OFF TO LIVE OAK

CHORUS

AT LIVE OAK THERE WERE TWO TORNADO WARNINGS
THE RAIN WAS HEAVING DOWN TILL THE MORNING
RICH AWOKE TO FIND HIS BIKE WAS BROKEN
TO THE BBC POPPY HAD SPOKEN

FINAL DESTINATION ST AUGUSTINE
FOR THE BEACH AND SWIM WE WERE ALL LUSTING
THE SUN WAS BEATING DOWN LIKE WHEN WE STARTED
TWO WEEKS AGO FROM L.A. WE DEPARTED

CHORUS

NOW WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR STORY
ANDY’S TWO YEAR PLANNING FOR THIS GLORY
IT WAS MUCH BETTER THAN OWNING A DEBENTURE
WE’VE ALL HAD A WONDERFUL ADVENTURE

CHORUS

CHORUS
LYRICS: COMMODORE MERVN COOPER
MELODY: THE BEAR/PORK PIE

Stoney’s farewell blog….from Orlando

Well, its finally over. We have now arrived at the Quality Inn, Orlando for the last night in USA before traveling home to our loved ones after a job well done.

This has been a wonderful experience which will live in my memory forever. We’ve had a lot of fun along the way, although I will be more than happy to forget the experience in Panama City where I thought we’d lost the Bear. To say that Phil acted heroically would be an understatement. His reaction at seeing Andy prone on the carriageway was undoubtedly one of the most selfless actions undertaken by anyone. Without thought for his own safety, he ran back into the middle of the carriageway stopping traffic that would have struck Andy. He could easily have been struck himself, but didn’t care a jot about this. Only his mate’s safety. I’d like to think I would have reacted the same, but HE actually did this. Phil is a top man. The Bear will be forever grateful. As will all his relatives and friends.

Enough doom and gloom. We all had to say a few white lies to our loved ones, because The Bear wouldn’t let us tell anyone until he’d told Sue and the family, so apologies to everyone!!!!

What I will remember about this, apart from getting soaked by a passing car driving through the river that was the hospital road, was Andy’s version of “A Church in Abergwili” whilst being fed painkillers via an IV tube. Mike Mouth would have been proud of it. After nagging everyone to cycle, I fell off in the rain, too. Rich got spooked by a dog and stopped, causing me to hit his bike at a fair lick. My handle bars (of my new sexy cycle) absolutely wrecked his frame. That’s two wrecked bikes for Stoney on this trip (although my new bike was fine) Cuts and bruises down the left side, but no way I could moan, after what The Bear had gone through.

Arriving at St Augustine was a satisfying moment, but tinged with sadness that the organiser and driving force of this whole expedition was unable to cross the finishing line on his own steam. After cycling round the fort for the inevitable camera shots, all of the five remaining cyclists, led by Pork Pie marched up to the camper and shook Andy’s hand, thanking him for making the whole thing possible - a moment that will stay with me forever. THIS WAS NOT CAUGHT ON CAMERA!!!!!!! It was a private moment and had to remain that way.

After a tough night in Casa Yallaha, where Andy struggled to get comfortable and Phil literally kicked the bucket (of unmentionables), we took Andy to the hospital again, where this time, he got the proper treatment. After this, he was great. He had an afternoon in bed, whilst Phil, Henry, Merve and myself finally got to look around St Augustine. A few beers and lunch in a jetty restaurant, followed by feeding seagulls and fish at the same time (fine except for the dive bombing by our feathered friends). We then adjourned to a Cigar and Guitar Cuban bar. I decided that we had to bring Andy down here.

In the meantime, Porth and gar were getting the party BBQ sorted. When we arrived at the hostel, I promptly dragged everyone down to this bar. Andy, H and Phil were playing whilst Merve started singing. Great memory.

Back to the hostel for the food, which was excellent. I made everyone say what the best moment, the worst moment and the funniest moment was on the trip. Again, this will stay within our memories, although my snoring was not mentioned as often as I expected!!!!!!

Finally, we drove down to Orlando. I must say that this is my least favourite place since we’ve arrived in America. Benidorm in the States. Not one I want to come back to, even though I probably had my best meal!!!!!

Right, lets sum up this trip.

Hard work.
Lots of rushing around.
Tiring
Exhilarating sights
Lots of laughs (and almost a few tears!!!!)
But basically, this is definitely one for the memory cells. Old friends and new will be with me forever. Thank you Andy for organising this. Thanks to the rest of the team for all your efforts in making this a success. Thank you Eileen, for letting me go this one, last time. And finally, thanks to all who have sponsored this event. Lets not forget why we did this. We’ve raised over £50k for a childrens' hospital in wales, which we shouldn’t have to be raising money for anyway. But that’s beyond our control. 11 men travelled to America to try and cycle from east to west…….and succeeded.

Cyfarchion Cynnes

Greetings from Carmarthen and Milford Haven

Congratulations to you all.

You achieved what you went for through unforeseen weather.
Sore behinds and slimmer than when you left.

Bet you are all glad it's over. I AM!!!

Ian - THE RAZOR IS CHARGING

Take care and have a safe journey home.

See you all soon

Eileen and all the family xxx

Phil - The Final Blog.

Here we are sunny St Augustine in Florida and all just about in one piece. Its been a fantastic exeprience with all its ups and downs and one which will stay with me forever.

After Andy's spill it was great to see him up and about yesterday and able to have a beer with us. It was such a pity that he wasn't able to complete the last day with us but he's done more than enough work and cycling for this challenge. Without his desire, drive and focus we wouldn't have even been on the plane to come here. Well done Bear a good job well done, tandem to Crete from Blighty next is it?

Also thanks have to go to the support team of Merv, Henry, Ian, Tomos, Andrew Porth and also Dyfrig and Craig who have helped us through the challenge, feeding and cleaning up after us, driving RV's and support car, humping bags, navigating and checking we're OK as well as some support cycling along the way.

Thanks also to the people how have helped us raise and have donated monies over the last 2 years to get us here and reach and exceed the $50,000 target we set for the Noahs Ark appeal.

Finally special thanks to Mandy for giving me up for 2 years in the run up to this so I could train every day and go off on weekends for long rides in the rain and wind and then go off and do fund raising gigs in the night.

Happy Pedaling and soft landings

Phil (ex long distance endurance cyclist)

Phil Jenkins

Team Cyclist

Cyfarchion Cynnes

Just seen your poor face, Poor Andy, just get over the falloff and the traumer. Once you get home to Sue you will be fine, she will give you a cwtch and cuddles then all will be better. Your job has been done and what you didn't do, your mates will do .

love Mags and Brianxx

Thank God you weren't killed and thank you too Phil xxxxx

Simply Unbelievable

We can’t believe you finished the task
Across all the states it was a big ask
Were all so proud of all you have done
This amazing achievement is second to none.

From Richard to Phil, Merv through to Tom
Their will be lots of well-done`s and best wishes to come
For Stoney and Stretch and Mr Porth too a million best wishes are all sent to you.
But the one that we all take our hats off today is for Andy the Bear, we hope your ok?

These magical moments are all down to you, the time and the effort you put your TEAM through. The heart of a lion and nerves of Welsh steel, it makes us all proud in the way that we feel.

By being successful and completing the deal you have raised lots of money for the Noahs` Ark Appeal.
I’m sure when you get home you’ll all be in Heaven
But how about Oz in two thousand and eleven?

Well fancy it?

Andy I take my hat off to you and the boys, it’s simply an unbelievable achievement you have conquered, and I'm sure I speak on behalf of all your family and friends that this achievement and the smiles you will now put the faces of many Welsh children in need is down to you.

You deserve a medal mate!

I have a tear or two in my eyes writing this :)

Steve Stone