As you will have seen from yesterdays blog post - we made it.  But the final day was more than just getting to the end.

We had camped the previous night in Bettyhill up on the North coast of Scotland.  We had popped down to the pub at the bottom of the hill, and had a few pints and a meal each.  It was a nice little pub, but when we arrived, one of the locals in there was a little worse for wear.  20 minutes later though, we had a giggle, when his wife barged into the bar, virtually grabbing him by the ear and dragging him home - he'd only popped out for a pint of milk !!!!!  The cockney landlord in there had more tall drinking stories about the drunk man than a fisherman.  Like the night he had 72 pints, give or take a few, or the time when he drank 16 pints without even going for a pee.  And judging by the number of stories of lightning strikes in the area knocking out internet, telephones, tv and sky services, then surely this could be an area dedicated to the capture of green electrical energy !!!!

Me and Andy were on our way along the top at 7:30 in the morning.  It started off as a fine and relatively calm day, I even put a little suntan lotion on my face which as it turned out, proved to be a little premature.

My wife Ann was with us to transport us back down the road to Edinburgh, so there was little point in packing up all the tent and camping gear and loading it all on the bike - we did the gentlemanly thing of leaving all the gear on the campsite for Ann to pack up and load the van up with, so our final day along the top was pannier, and significant weight, free.

after such a long distance of carrying a load, the bikes felt completely different when unladen.  The first 12 miles were a little lumpy, but by this stage of the trip, we're quite happy to cycle up any gradient - put the bikes in the granny gear and plod up slowly. However with no bags - it was a bit of a doddle.

however, the winds then came.  We specifically chose to cycle South to North due to the prevailing south westerly winds, but in the 17 days of being on the roads, we've only had the wind in our favour for about 7 hours in total.  Rain hasn't been too bad, but the wind ............

Fair play to Andy, he took the lead and I stuck in behind him.  I thought to myself - about time too, it's just a shame that it's taken til the last day to do a significant spell up front, then it dawned on me, Ann was taking photos and a few video clips, so he wanted to appear to be the one in the front all the time !!!!!!  I hope his cycling training buddies make him pay over the coming weeks ;-)

On the way we had stopped for a coffee in Thurso - only to realise that nothing opens this far North on a Sunday.  It was at this point, that Andy chose to tell me that my cycle helmet wasn't sitting right and needed straightening up.  It's at a "jaunty angle" he told me, and said that it's often been at a jaunty angle.  It took him a thousand miles, but eventually he thought he'd get around to telling me I was looking a little camp !!!!!!!

we knocked off mile after mile, the rain came, the wind got stronger, the weather god was throwing everything at us and even the normally reserved Andy chose to swear out loud in the final straight towards John o 'Groats, but we would not be defeated.

As we cycled the last 100 meters down to the finish, we put our arms around each other as we cycled across the line.

a few pictures were taken, we were both chuffed to bits but for me it was tinged with the fact that our trip was over.  I dropped him off at the airport this morning, and for the first time in nearly 3 weeks, I haven't heard him chattering away.  I sort of miss him already !!!!!

It was a long 6 hour drive back from John O Groats to Edinburgh, and we followed the main A9 south, the route that many cyclists might take to do the journey.  Both Andy and myself have been over the moon with the route we chose.  It may be longer, it may take more days to complete, but with traffic free roads, scenery all around that you can look at and cherish, and take your time over, it could hardly get better.

what started out as a bit of a desire a few years ago, really turned out to be a great adventure, which along the way, we like to feel that we've done some good to the Parkinson's charity.  We're just shy of £1500, which will go to helping out the cause, so it really is a big thanks to all those great comments of support along the way, and to the charitable donations which will make a difference to hopefully one day finding a cure.  Thank you very much.

And of course a big thanks to both Ann and Donna who ferried us to the start and from the finish, and had to put up with us doing all the organising in the months running up to the trip, and for , well, just putting up with us !!!!

Whoo hoooo

Is that the Arctic I see ahead?

Well, after a very welcome rest day we managed to drag ourselves away from the bar in the clachaig inn and get on the road again. The weather as we left glencoe was superb, and we quickly got up to Fort William and started up the Great Glen way.

Once up past Fort Augustus, we hit Loch Ness. The first time Andy looked over to the water and said "quick look, is that something in the water", it was funny. The second time amusing. By the 65th time it was really grating on me, and I contemplated if Nessie might fancy a 'Thatcher burger' but I'd forgotten to pack a mincer !! Note to self - consider all eventualities in future when creating a packing list !

We stopped in Drumnadrochit, where we discovered that a pony and trap were also making the journey North, I envied the comfort of a carriage.


After my new tyre purchase, I quickly noticed that it would not bed in properly, even inflating it to concrete levels of firmness it would not pop out on the rim. Consequently, it was running with a flag spot. Is that a problem, I hear you ask? Well if you consider that I have ridden over 200 miles now where every 2 meters you get a bump pulsing up through the saddle, then yeah - I can tell you my arse is very tender. Ann arrived last night to follow us in the van for the last couple of days run in to John o groats, and brought a spare tyre with her. The 47 miles today were a pure pleasure with a smooth running wheel, despite the tyre being a monster sized mountain bike tyre !!!! Andy is now saying my bike looks like the Frankenstein of the cycle world, with a monster rear wheel and a skinny front wheel. I think it looks like a dragster ! Andy keeps joking that if we bump into any other cyclists heading south, they'll look at my steed and say 'and you've cycled here on THAT!!!!'

The back wheel really is possessed by the devil, so much so, that were it not for the fact that I hate littering, I would cast the effing thing into the sea at John o groats. And griping even more about the bike, the bottom bracket is knackered too now, despite that only having done about 2000 miles since new. The journey really does take its toll on man and machine.

We stopped in the crask inn today on the way up to the north coast. A very strange experience at first, as the guy, who was just in from delivering a very tricky lamb invited us into the kitchen where it was warmer for a brew. We ended up chatting like old friends for about 45 minutes. It's amazing the hospitality of people we have met along the route.


Whilst I have been updating the blog (when we get appropriate signal !) Andy has been writing notes on a piece of paper. It dawned on me today the lengths he continues to go to in getting me to do all the carrying. Despite me never using the biro, he will still insist on me carrying it in my handle bar bag "as he knows where it is then"- its bloody 5 gramms - carry it yourself man !!!!!

Tonight we are in Bettyhill, right up on the North coast of Scotland and have just over 50 miles to go tomorrow to get to the end. I'm not sure how I will feel when I get to the end, but I'll gather my thoughts and let you all know I've the following days.

Photos to come tomorrow of us beaming no doubt at the top. and I know for a fact that Andy just can't wait to be back in Bristol with Donna and the kids on Monday. And there was me thinking I had been a great cycling and tent companion !

Blog addicts !!!!

We're still going - hope to update later :-). Currently negotiating the Larsen B ice shelf

Missing our wives

Being away from your loved ones for an extended period is never a pleasant experience. You miss their words of wisdom, reassurance, comfort and cuddles. Personally, I can't wait to see Ann in a few days when she comes to collect us, as i will not have seen her for 3 weeks. Andy also can't wait to rush back to Bristol to be back with Donna and the kids. Today however I think Andy finally broke, and sadly resorted to the comfort of another - Dolly the sheep. It took me ages to drag him away !!

And then we headed up the glencoe valley for a walk. We had intended to maybe do a quick run over the Aonach Eagach ridge, but a good covering of snow scuppered those plans as we have no space in our panniers for crampons !!! As I was walking, it dawned on me that Andy was tucked in right behind me again drafting. Is there any limit to the calorie and energy conservation methods he will adopt - shocking!!!!!

Highland life

Well, as we sit here in the Clachaig Inn in Glencoe, supping a pint after a meal, life is good.

We had a very short 35 mile day today after yesterday's ascent challenging route, which was very welcome. Just a few showers, but a fantastic run up from Oban, which has to have what is probably the best purpose built cycle route in the country.

So there were highland cows, castles, sea lochs and snow capped mountain peaks.

When cycling in the rain, we have been wearing our over trousers, and Andy has been holding his trousers tight at the legs with his 'lucky' elastic band. I had to console him today when 'lucky' snapped. He was gutted. 20 miles on though, his smile returned when the careless postman has dropped one of the red elastic bands that we all find mysteriously appearing near our front doors !!!!!! The simple pleasures in life :-)

The youths are in town

Despite me having substantially grey hair, and Andy thinning a little on top, we having returned to younger years and checked into the Oban youth hostel. And very nice it is too, an old Victorian mansion, refurbished last year and must better the your average travelodge/premier inn shoebox.

So today we did another 65 miles and put in probably the most amount of hill ascent so far- even more than cornwall.

Andy's bike continues to perform faultlessly. My bike continues on northwards despite the ongoing back wheel nightmare. The new spokes seem to be holding strong, but today the tyre wall started to give out on the rough roads. Luckily we found a bike store en route in lochgilphead and bought a new one. By this point the wall had shredded so much you could see daylight through one part, and we're sure it would have gone before getting to Oban. As Andy pointed out, all that's left now from originally starting is the rim and hub unit !!!

Tomorrow we have a short 35 miles run up to glencoe, where we will have a rest day, before the final push north.

We stopped today for coffee and a bacon roll in the small village of Tarbert.

A group of old ladies started chatting as we got ready to leave and the very Kind Frieda dipped into her purse and donated £5 to the charity. It's amazing the generosity you can find in people who don't even know you but are impressed by our trip. Frieda said we deserved it just cycling up the Oban road !