We woke up to a cloudy but dry morning in Tongue. This particular SYHA is self-catering only and we had missed the shop the previous evening so we raided our supply of muesli bars and bananas for breakfast, then when we set out bought some snacks for the road.
The skies soon cleared and we were presented with some super views of the coast.
The route from Tongue to John o' Groats is half in Sutherland and half in Caithness. The Sutherland half is very hilly and the Caithness part gently rolling.
The only downside to the morning was that now we had changed direction from North to East, the wind had changed too from a northerly to a strong, cold, buffeting easterly. Clearly the ride was not going to let us have it easy on the last day.
We both found the morning hard going. I think we were drained after yesterday afternoon, and we had not had a proper breakfast, and it was windy. I think too some psychological effect had come into play, we knew the end was within reach just 65 miles away, and we just wanted it to be over.
Andy jarred his knee with a missed gear-change and we didn't want to risk an injury at this late stage so we continued plugging away at a steady pace, counting off the miles.
Along the way we joined up for a while with a father and son. The son had just graduated and was doing a LEJOG and his father had joined him for the Scottish leg.
Lunch was baked potatoes with haggis and cheese (I recommend the combination) in Thurso before the final 20 mile push to John o' Groats.
In reading about other peoples LEJOG experiences a common theme is that John o' Groats is a bit of an anti-climax and I must agree. Although we had arrived at 4.15 the famous sign had been taken down for the day and the photographer who looks after it had no intention of returning until 9.00 the following morning. Both coffee shops were shut. All that was open were the gift shops so we had a celebratory Mars bar and of course we took some photos which I will upload soon.
We managed to hang around in John o' Groats for over an hour so decided to get a cab to Wick instead of cycling the last 17 miles, we had completed our challenge and had nothing left to prove.
Got some very nice congratulatory emails from friends, family and colleagues - thank you all!
So we've done it, Wow!, how does it feel? I think it has still to sink in but I feel proud, relieved, elated, tired, and a whole lot more. Although the cycling has been gruelling at times and the weather sometimes foul, the overall experience has been absolutely brilliant. Just having the opportunity to exercise all day long for 14 days in a row makes you feel so alive. We have seen some absolutely stunning scenery and wildlife. Met some brilliant people along the way, and generally had a great adventure.
It has been my great pleasure to share his experience with Andy. He definitely is a bit fitter and stronger than me which shows up mostly on the hills, but generally we are well matched as cyclists, so neither was holding the other up. And in temperament too we are well matched with a similar sense of humour. Even when the weather was at its most foul we would curse, grin, push down on the pedals, and sing "oh I do like to be beside the seaside" at the top of our voices while cycling through the rain and howling wind. Priceless! Thank you Andy.
Supper consisted of champagne, steak, chips, red wine and malt whisky.
This morning we hit the road in a transit van at 8.30. Seems odd not to be cycling!
