Pistols at dawn

Bettyhill to John O'Groats: 59 Miles

Over the past couple of weeks there has been growing discontent in the group of the tour leader, Mike (who works for the company that organises the trip - the general idea being that he is there to support us through the trip), mainly as the general feeling is that he's really only interested in chasing 18 year old waitresses (he's in his 50's) rather than supporting a bike trip. Discontent spilled over into open mutiny this morning when John finally snapped - John to explain is one of the kindest most thoughtful considerate individuals you are likely to meet, he's also 64 to boot - he does however not suffer fools gladly and he spoke for the group as a whole this morning when after a brief exchange of words he said to Mike that he should "just fuck off". I was most impressed! Apparently Mike blacklists anyone (from future rides) who annoy him, so I guess that will be eight names in the blacklist book then... shame really as he's not just letting himself down but the company as well.

So anyway, fracas over we set off on our ride and the weather decided to throw a spanner in the works for what could have otherwise been a lovely day. It started off with lovely sunshine but as the day wore on a headwind picked up and just kept getting stronger and stronger, turning the last 30 miles into a real energy sapping battle against the wind.

Pat our resident American amused me today - I cycled past a roadsign and on it someone had put a sticker proclaiming "vote Kerry / Edwards for a stronger America" which I think dated from 2000 (?). Pat being a big pro Bush supporter (apparently we've all been brainwashed by the newspapers into thinking Bush is a total idiot...) was not at all amused and stopped and painstakingly removed the sticker from the roadsign!

Swung by Dunnet Head en route - the most northerly point on the mainland. The wind up the top was brisk to say the least, a real struggle to walk - and then we had to get back on our bikes in a still increasing wind - I was almost blown off my bike a couple of times down off of Dunnet Head. Then a hard 12 mile slog, directly into a strong headwind to John O'Groats. All in all today was the second or third hardest day, a really draining slog.

John O'Groats is thankfully nowhere near as much of a tourist crap-hole as Lands End is - though I was not overly amused to have cycled just under 1,100 miles to arrive at John O'Groats and be greeted by.... a Costa Coffee concession...!

So this is it, my last post. I have thoroughly enjoyed doing this blog and I hope you've enjoyed following it. Time to rest my weary legs for a short while (well, until sometime next week anyway...). I've never done anything like this before and it's been really really fantastic, it's a lovely way to see the country, meet loads of different people en route and have a lot of fun. I will definitely do something like this again, though three weeks is a very long time to keep going, the fatigue really sets in. So, my lovely understanding wife permitting maybe next year you'll find me climbing up some of the alps for a week or two...


Stats for the day:

Time spent cycling: 4hrs 49 mins
Average: 12.3 mph
Max: 42mph
Total distance cycled 1,075 miles

Stats for the trip:
Total time spent cycling: 86 hours
Overall average: 12.5 mph
Max: 44mph
Punctures: 2
Photos taken: 875
Phrase on route sheet most disliked: "road descends, cross river and climbs steeply..."


Bob, Richard & Daniel on top of Dunnet Head, struggling to stay upright















Next stop the Alps?














The obligatory team photo.