Hebridean Odyssey Cycle 1 - 6 May 2011
On Sunday 1 May I set of from our base in Bearsden on the outskirts of Glasgow to meet up with 8 participants who were about to undertake the 176 mile Hebridean Odyssey Cycle from the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse on the Isle of Lewis to Castlebay on the Isle of Barra.
The cycle over 4 days would see them pass from Lewis, through Harris, Berneray, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay and finally Barra.
Charities benefitting from their efforts included The Scottish Council for Deafness, the NSPCC and the Japan Earthquake Appeal.
We were extremely fortunate with the weather with clear blue skies throughout our journey out to Lewis and the first three days of the cycle however day 3 did present our participants with a great challenge as they had to endure cycling into a very strong head wind. That said spirits remained high and when the going got tough they were able to dig deep by reflecting on the many good causes that were going to benefit from their efforts.
The final day of the cycle was very wet with a 25 mile an hour head wind as our intrepid cyclists left Daliburgh on South Uist to head over the causeway to Eriskay before catching the morning ferry to Barra. From there it was only a final 10 mile stretch into Castlebay.
Needless to say the group enjoyed a well-earned celebratory drink on arrival in Barra and a welcome rest before our final evening together.
Next morning we caught the early morning ferry on Friday back to Oban and although the day started of wet, it soon brightened up and everyone enjoyed a lovely sail back to the mainland.
Both Alice and I would like to congratulate everyone taking part for such a great effort and for making the trip so enjoyable.
Well done and we hope to see you all again on another challenge in the future.
Ian and Alice
Here is the link Brian Forsyth's You Tube video of his experience - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMWfJ5uhyyo