From End to End - over £3,000 raised to reduce carbon emissions

So I rode a bicycle from Land's End to John o'Groats between mid-July and mid-August 2007 because I wanted to and also to raise money to reduce carbon emissions.
Thanks to everyone who preferred to sponsor the trip for this mighty cause rather than wring their hands in despair. May the wind not be in your face, the rain not run down your neck, and the sun not burn your skin. Sponsorship as of 16 October 2007: £3,213 (92 sponsors).
The trip blog appears below, most recent posting first (i.e. start at the bottom and work up!).

Where the money has gone

The money raised will help to cut the carbon emissions of the organisation that I worked for and admire – British Quakers. If you’re not a Quaker (nor am I), then please take my word for it that they are worthy recipients of the money.

Simple, contemporary, radical: Quakers were instrumental in setting up Greenpeace, Oxfam, Amnesty, Campaign Against Arms Trade and others, and were also pioneers in the abolition of the slave trade. They've never made oats (that's true). Find out more about Quakers.

The money will help to buy a glamourous new combined heat and power boiler for the Quaker central office, Friends House - these boilers are ecologically responsible, shiny and horribly expensive. Yes, it's a bit boring but it will cut carbon emissions. Find out more about CHP boilers (oh go on!).

17 July 2007

Lynton and Lynmouth crazy railway, 2007 (2)

And this is the present-day driver with his freshly polished steering wheel (the brake, actually). I asked him what the most commonly asked question was and he said it was how often the ropes broke. What do people think, they brake a couple of times a year? There are two steel cables, each heavily over specified - if one goes, the other holds the train. If they both go, the train automatically grabs the track, he explained. If that doesn't work, everyone plunges to a sorry but spectacular end. The railway has had a perfect safety record since it opened 119 years ago. 'Is that the steering wheel?' I asked (not really but I was tempted). I wanted to ask which question he thinks people ought to ask but but never do, but dingding, it was time to go.

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