WE DID IT

DAY 13



Distance
30.4 miles
Cycling Time
2 hours 26 minutes
Average speed
12.6 miles
Distance
968 miles

A short run to finish off! The wind had changed direction over night and finished as it had started 13 days ago – straight at us! But with only 30 miles to go - who cares!

Jan and Linda passed us with 2 miles to go and were in John O’Groats in time to cheer us over the finish line.

What a great trip! Thoroughly enjoyable - we’d recommend it to everyone.

We will be in the Squash Club bar from 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday. Everyone’s welcome to join us for a pint – we would love to see you there.

Many, many, many thanks to everyone who has sponsored and supported us.

If you would like to sponsor us and have not done so yet, please visit www.justgiving.com/philgeoffsbigadventure or see us on Wednesday in the bar.

FIDO AND BONZO

DAY 12

Distance
67.9 miles
Cycling Time
5 hours 19 minutes
Average Speed
12.6 miles
Total miles
938


Our landlady said that Cromarty Firth is the deepest natural harbour in Europe. As we sat outside the pub at 11.00 p.m. last night, having our last pint in broad daylight, we studied the oil rigs parked there waiting to be towed away but when we woke up in the morning a ruddy cruise ship also arrived. Our landlady said they are frequent visitors so that the passengers can head off for a day trip to Loch Ness. We woke to another glorious sunny morning and miles after miles of stunning scenery. Thankfully the A9 was quiet on the Sunday morning and we made rapid progress. So much so that we reached our target destination, Helmsdale, just after midday with only 50 miles left that we decided to push on and take on the much written about and daunting “Berriedale Braes” that day. This is the last really testing stretch of the ride, allegedly.

We were told before we left that we would be as fit as butchers dogs by this stage of the ride well, we don’t know if butchers dogs have beer bellies and man boobs, but we gave ourselves the names ‘Fido’ and ‘Bonzo’ and kicked on. The last challenge turned out to be two very long and very steep climbs coming down to Helmsdale. (Today’s picture is the harbour there and Berriedale itself). Tough but not a match for Fido and Bonzo so we decided to stop at the Porland Arms at Lybster – only 30 miles to go.

Jan and Linda are on their way to see us finish and they will get to John of Groates around lunchtime. Until then we will hang back like a couple of coiled springs or crouching butchers dogs ready to leap forward for the finish line as soon as the girls give the instruction to go.

A PORTION OF GRUEL

DAY 11

Distance 90.8 miles
Cycling time
6 hours 41 minutes
Average speed
13.4 miles
Total miles
870



Woke up and read Don’s description of the coming day and a word leapt out “gruelling” -nearly went back to bed.

First stop we visited Brunel’s Neptune’s Staircase – a series of locks linking the Caledonian Canal with Loch Linnhe. We enjoyed the pleasant cycling of the first part of the Great Glen Way along the Canal.

We visited the statue for the Commandos Regiment at Gairlochy. It coincided with a visit from a bus load of German tourist but we managed not to mention the war.

From there we had a comfortable ride to Fort Augustus, a very attractive place. Then on to a long ride alongside Loch Ness to Drumnadrochit. At this point the gruelling word kicked in and we turned straight uphill. A very difficult climb but after this the day took an easier turn and we raced to our intended destination Dingwall with a following breeze and warm temperature.

We decided to carry on for a further 15 miles to Invergordon. We passed our first signpost for John of Groats – only 104 miles to go. Hopefully an easier day tomorrow.

Dizzy heights

DAY 10

Distance 61 miles
Cycling time 4 hours 47 minutes
Average Speed 12.8 miles
Total Miles 779

A funny day lined up today, we were on the one road only – the A82 for as long as we could keep gong. It turned out to be a day of two halves.

The first half was hard. For 30 miles we climbed and climbed, at last we reached the sign proclaiming ‘Welcome to the Highlands’, another sign read Rannoch Moor Summit 1042ft - gradually the road began to level out.

The countryside was stunning and only slightly spoiled by a steady flow of cars going past.

After 35 miles we started to descend and what a descent!!!!! Ten miles all downhill at speeds of up to 40 mph, right down to Glencoe where we had a quick lunch and back on the road.

From Glencoe to Fort William the road was really flat running for 15 miles alongside Lock Linnhe. We raced the passenger ferry along the Loch and won with ease!!

We arrived in Fort William at 3.30 pm with storm clouds building up around us. As thunder storms where forecast we decided not to push our luck and call it a day there – one of the shortest days yet, but we deserve a treat.

Next update Monday

ON THE BONNY BANKS

DAY 9

Distance
83.8 miles
Cycling time
6 hours 47 minutes
Average Speed
12.4 miles
Total Miles
718

We started the day with a 15 mile slog through the rush hour traffic on the A76 to Kilmarnock. We felt quite heavy legged after yesterday’s harder day.

We worked our way through minor roads to Glasgow and were rewarded with a great panoramic view of the city before we plunged downhill to Paisley.

We skirted around Glasgow and crossed the Clyde on the Erskine Bridge. Once over the river we took up the Lochs and Glens cycling route. We followed this for 11 miles along a disused railway line through Dunbarton and up to the south shore of Loch Lomond at Balloch.

The one discipline we have stuck to over our journey is not to drink alcohol during the day. We have, therefore, drank a lot of pints of lime and soda and we have kept a league table of prices – Loch Lomond has just shot into the lead at an eye watering £2.38 a pint (the best was only 30p at a Wetherspoons pub).

We then had 25 miles left to cycle along the A82 on the west side of Loch Lomond. The sky got darker and darker as we went with thunder and lightning all around. Unfortunately with 2 miles to go the sky opened.

We arrived looking like drowned rats but fortunately we were allowed into the hotel. We were feeling weary but only 4 days left to go.

DAWDLE AND THEN DASH

DAY 8

Distance 75.6 miles
Cycling time 6 hours 5 minutes
Average Speed 12.5 miles
Total Miles 634

Another hot almost windless day. Alan and Sue joined us again on their tandem for the first 25 miles to Dumfries.

This part of the journey was great – very flat and through some of the best countryside we have seen so far.

In Dumfries we said goodbye to Alan and Sue, after a cup of tea and a cake of course. We then picked up the KM Trail (named after Kirkpatrick Macmillian the inventor of the bicycle who is buried nearby). We followed the trail for 30 miles and it was stunning. We hardly saw a sole for 3 hours. It was quite hilly and hard work in the high temperature but we took our time and really appreciated our views.

After 30 miles we rejoined the A76. Back to loads of cars whizzing past at great speed for the next 20 miles. We stopped dawdling and got our heads down.

We arrived in Cumnock just before 5.00 p.m. Not a lot of accommodation around but Phil managed to negotiate a good deal at the Royal Hotel.

This is the best hotel by far we have stayed in and for the first time on the trip we had a bath! (Independently that is not together). It was great to soak our aching legs. We will be raring to go tomorrow as we cycle around Glasgow and head up to Loch Lomond

WHO ATE ALL THE PIES?

Day 7



Distance

74.9 miles
Cycling time

5 hours 31 minutes
Average Speed

13.5 miles
Total Miles 560


The hotel did not do breakfast so we left at 7.00 a.m. and walked to the local café. One bacon and egg sandwich later at 7.30 a.m. we were on the road to Kendal.

A lovely warm morning and a slight following breeze hurried us along and we were in Kendal by 9.00 a.m.

At Kendal we had a nice cup of coffee and a Kitkat while we contemplated the long drag to the top of Shap Fell. Some trepidation we set off on the 10 mile uphill crawl.

It turned out, however, not to be as bad as we thought and we sailed into Shap by 11.00 a.m. Windemere is the official half way point of the ride but we had decided to pick a different route and we therefore declared Shap our unofficial half way point and had a flapjack to celebrate.

We continued up the A6 marvelling at the great views and how quiet the road was. We flew through Penrith and reached Carlisle for lunch by 1.00 p.m. While munching our sandwiches Alan Harper rang to say he, Sue and their motorhome had arrived in Gretna. We arranged to meet them, on their tandem, in Longtown for a cake and a cup of tea. We were in Gretna comfortably by 4.00 p.m. – a very satisfying day. We found a hotel next to Alan and Sue’s motorhome park and joined them for a few pints.

In the evening John and Frances Harwood came down from Moffat and joined us all for dinner. A great evening and a big meal later we retired to bed. As we lay in bed sipping our coffee and eating our shortbread we observed that despite our exertions we appear to be putting on weight and we can’t think why.