Count me in for next year – I’m too slow for Dave “The Tour” Rae now.

Warmest regards, yours aye,
Jim
(aka LB)

Just a “plug” for the excellent ‘Beachcombers Cafe and Amusement Centre’. Firstly for an excellent light lunch with nice clean facilities but also for putting some dosh in the Macmilllan can. As we shared an interest in the RNLI, we reciprocated accordingly.

Recommend its pleasant harbour location for any snack partaking!!

Your nieces – Bean, Teef and Pinz – are all very proud of your achievements on the event and wish me to pass this sentiment on to you. I can only concur – we are very proud of you boy for competing such a long and difficult week.

Hope you enjoyed the route set out by Dennis as much as I did.

LB (Jim)

Interestingly, many have commented on the effectiveness and professionalism of our sponsor relations, particularly this aspect. Sure they will also be delighted when the final blog pages are posted featuring our results and trophy win.

Incidentally, despite the “text fever”, we still only actually made 1 (one) recorded mistake (in the first section of the first day – and even this was a tranposing error -also made by several muh more experienced and frequent competitors- rather than a route miss!). Not bad for an old codger emerging from 36 years of retirement.

I look forward to stamping the card of your appointed navigator next year. Best of luck for then.

LB

The youmg madonna with the boobies is a great laugh. She also kept as all amused with her stories. Apparently, aged 10, she navigated her mother home to Budapest from Cornwall. Incidentally, I also tried out your recipe for “Hungarian Chicken” this weekend – it went down a treat with the whole family, though I am a little worried about the possible side effects – changing into a serf-woman!!

Jeanne (Dave’s wife!) please be advised that on Dave’s behalf (he had trouble walking during the later stages of the event) I purchased some ‘body balm’ from the Burren Perfumery (it is heading for you via brothers Bob and Frank – a kind of fragrant baton race!). The staff at the Perfumery itself were brilliant and made donations (both on behalf of the business and as individual donors) amounting to over 50 Euro. Well done and many thanks!!

Jim

Also worth mentioning the staff at the Ramada, Inverness whom were generally very helpful – providing carwash bucket water on arrival and help in securing parking spaces in a “tight fit”. Many thanks.

However, the Vauxhall Vectra now seems to be the car chosen by meglomaniac captains of industry (clerks) and markefing directors (salesman). One of the latter breed took great exception to the space occupied by ‘CnC07′ entrants and duuly blocked us in to ours – THE DISABLED BAY – I hope you read this an are shamed by your arrogant disregard of genuinely disabled drivers and fellow hotel residents. Numtie!!

As one of the rally drivers I used to partner on Scottish ’special stage events’ (like the Snowman, Haakle, Autumn Stages etc) used to say. This particular silver Vectra was suffering from a case of thrombosis – a clot behind the wheel!!

Thanks also to the BBC – one of its staff staying in the hotel whilst setting-up new Gaelic broadcasting facilities chatted to me in the bar and very generously made a donation – unprompted of course!

Hope the cyclists raised their funds for children requiring special care. They looked immaculate and fit, despite 10 days on the road from Lands End and 1.5 days away from John o’ Groats. Thanks for the square-wheeled bike lapel badges. Still being worn on my Team Nimlock Porsche safari shirt.

Hope to add some info on the entrants within the next few days. Meantime, many thanks to Dennis and all the officials for assisting Dave and myself in so many ways throughout the Tour’s duration. Th £675 plus £9.48 are on their way…..honest (at this point had to stop as I felt very dizzy – frequent occurrence when Aberdonians are parting with money – the bed feels less lumpy though)!!

Looking forward to Dave’s next installment and the photos (my personal email service is down at the moment the joys of PCs.

Regards to all
Jim
Navigator, Car 30

’til next year then?

Regards
Jim

Seriously, it would be good to have you on board on the next one, whether as a marshal or a competitor.

There was a young? man called Dave
Who shagged a dead whore in a cave.
Oh what rotten luck
To have a cold f**k
But think of the money he saved.

(insert suitable limer isk here: “There was a young man called Dave”, etc. – please complete”).

However, i have very sad news for you….. I have decided not to retire completely and hope to be taking part in C2C 2008………but as a marshal – “to the woods, to the woods”, ” mymother won’t like it”, ” your mother is not getting it!!!” Remember to zip up at the finish next time!

Sure the trophy will have pide of place on the Welford fireplace, as I recover and catch-up on m y sleep!

Great to meet yourself and Derek. Count me in for the marshalling team next year – much less stressful, as people are dleighted to see you.

Yours aye
Jim Rae, Frightened Navigator