Prologue 1 - Hampden Park, Bannerman High School

Thank you Glasgow, we've had an amazing day!

We commend Glasgow Holiday Inn Theatreland breakfasts! After an unscheduled gathering of pyjama-clad hotel guests on the pavement outside the hotel this morning (the fire alarms work and so does the evacuation of the building).  This was followed by Jake having a nosebleed.  So, pleased to report that the status quo was returned by toast, bacon and mushrooms!

We headed off to Hampden Park early enough, over the Clyde on a very splendid pedestrian suspension bridge and then somewhat higgledy piggeldy to Hampden Park.  Note to Glasgow City Council (need more signage for Hampden Park - not everyone has Sat Nav.)

Two lovely ladies on reception introduced us to Alex Hall who was our brilliant guide for the morning.

Jake's first glimpse of  Hampden Park
Home to 8 Olympic Football Matches
Most northerly London 2012 venue

What a great place, it was incredibly clean and fresh looking for 13 years of service and Jake loved the museum.  Best of all was standing pitchside - let's hope there's a great turn-out for the Olympic footballers because Alex said it's a really good noise when the crowd get going.

Now there's an interesting kit!

Oh, and we mustn't forget that Jake's mascot, the 'Destination London 2012' taxi cab came along for the ride too.  The Corgi taxi fits in exactly with our ride.  So here it is at Hampden Park, Glasgow ready to depart on stage 1 of it's journey home to London.  Jake's got the Road Cycling taxi but there are lots of different Olympic and Paralympic sports to chose from check them out here: Hornby.

Whilst at Hampden Park we got a telephone call from Rob Ross at Bannerman High School inviting us over to meet some of the current pupils as well as some of next year's intake visiting the school on an induction day.

This was the second appointment of the day where we arrived bang on time!  Let's hope this is a precedent we can live up to - don't hold your breath!

Rob Ross was a great host and Jake really enjoyed meeting the pupils.  We had the opportunity to meet a wide range of future talents in psychology, architecture, games programming, midwifery and tattoo art to name but a few.  Jake also found a bike buddy in Ben.  Ben really enjoys his mountain biking and so it was a  great connection.

Pupils current and future at Bannerman High School

Rob Ross doing our promotional work for us - Thank you!

Jake and Ben the mountain biker.

Glasgow Here We Come

Ready or not here we go.  (We're not ready!)  Still cutting up bits of maps, still trying to understand Jake's Garmin birthday present, still trying to get a school in Newcastle to get on board and still wishing we were fitter..

Bed late, up early, greeted by a policeman at New St. Station.  No, we weren't parked in the wrong place but he had spotted the 3 bicycles (not difficult as they were covered in bright yellow panniers) and was offering us an opportunity we couldn't miss...Secure Code our bikes for free!  (twitter: @safertravel)

Is this your vehicle, sir?
Thanks to the police at Birmingham New St. our bikes
can now be traced if they go missing

It was a rather opportune start to a surreal day.

The concourse at Birmingham New St. station.  Nicky, Network Rail had really put in a lot of effort on our behalf to maximise publicity for bikewithJake ; posters,messages and announcements!

Elaine, Amanda, Katie and others from Action for Children were there to support us and they'd brought along a friend....Craig.

Craig was equipped with a camera, an i-pad and a strange, grey, hairy candyfloss on a stick - he was armed and extremely dangerous - he was about to commit our adventure to videotape.  Craig was from Central News and he worked really hard to get some usable film to put out at 6:00pm.  His dedication knew no bounds as he gingerly volunteered to film Jake & Philip pedalling towards New Street whilst riding Nic's bike. Camera in hand he set off - he managed a few feet before stopping and asking for a lower gear- there weren't many left, he was already in the 'Granny' ring.

Elaine being interrogated by mouldy candyfloss
and its accomplices Craig & Nicky

Our amazing day got more bizarre with Jake taking a seat in the train driver's cab and the passengers being informed of Jake's charity bike ride.

Arrival in Glasgow was a breeze and we were met by Sarah and Alan at Holiday Inn Glasgow Theatreland who couldn't have been more helpful and friendly.  Olympic fever has really arrived here as 3 staff members will be carrying the torch over the weekend.  We met Maureen, running at 7:30am on Saturday, when she and Ann came to sort out a bed for Jake. Maureen is a fundraiser for charities supporting children with Autism and has had local connections with Action for Children.  

Busy, busy day - lots of lovely people, lots of goodwill, what a great start!  

Oh, and thanks to Ellie and Andrew for their £50 donation via the virginmoneygiving site!

Jake's blogging his diary here www.bikewithjake2012.blogspot.com so see what he has to say.

150 Followers

Just a quick thank you to Sean Taylor who became our 150th follower on Twitter.

Many thanks to everyone who is following us by whatever means we are extremely grateful.  Please keep it up through our challenge - we appreciate it very much.

Right, folks time to sign off for the last time before we land in Glasgow and set off on our adventure.

Access Sport through BMX

Access Sport run many projects that encourage children in urban areas to take up BMX cycling.  On Friday, team bikewithJake got the opportunity to see just why this is such a fantastic idea.

Are you ready to have fun?

 It really was this kind of day....