Day 9 - Inverness to John O'Groats

Final day and up early to start the final leg to John O'Groats. No rain, no wind and a warm morning at 6:00am - is this really Scotland? Dave's brother Trev joined us for this last 85 mile stretch to the finish. Half an hour into the ride and we found ourselves in thickening mist and the temperature had plummeted. Should have put more layers on rather than just a single cycling vest. Nevertheless, riding hard soon had us warm and had started to dig into the miles. First planned stop was at an ice-cream shop highly recommended by William (our host for 2 nights), however when we arrived it was just too cold to stop and sample the delights within.

Some great sweeping roads and we enjoyed riding so close to the sea. Encountered some cracking downhill sections where are speed hit 39.7 mph, however these all seemed to preceed an equally long and steep uphill section. Roads much quieter in this part of the world. Lunch stop came about quick and we enjoyed a delightful picnic in the grounds of an old church, which has now been converted into a tourist information office. But best location yet for our lunch.

Probably ate too much as we where quite relaxed on this last day and just 35 miles to go. So the riding after lunch wasnt exactly quick. As more miles past this part of Scotland became more remote and desolate. Houses that once where quite substantial where now just derilict, then one would come across a small cottage with immaculate lawns and borders. Seldom saw anyone outside of the major town - Wick.

The final miles into John O'Groats were all downhill and we easily coasted into our final destination, looking for the finish line at around 5pm. Then we rode out on the harbour wall to the very end to ensure that we had gone as far as we could. We missed the official signpost as its removed daily to stop it from being stolen. Took the required photos to show that we had actually arrived and loaded up the car ready to head back to Inverness. 922 miles completed in just 9 days although the official distance is 874 miles.

Driving back to Inverness was a time for sleep and also a little reflection on the trip. What had we achieved, why had we done this, will it make a difference? Only time will tell how the lives of the children in Equcador will be changed by the work of Dave & Ana and the Hand-in-Hand team. But thanks to your generosity either with sponsorship and hospitality or both, we are making a difference. May God truly bess you all and the work of Dave & Ana.

Thank You
Dave, Phill, Paul & Abi

Day 8 - Pitlochry to Inverness

Ah ha, Feeling good about todays ride, but a little nervous about using the A9. Have decided to abandon the use of the cycle paths as they just cause us punctures and the bumps damage the bike wheels. Heres hoping that the drivers give us a bit more room than previously.

Set off about 7:30 to drive to where we finished yesterday. A9 not too busy at that time and we made good progress although mainly we kept our heads down and cycled hard to cover as much distance as possible. Aim for today was to get past Inverness which would shorten the ride into John O'Groats (about 120 miles).

Cramps for me where sporadic so manageable and we cover 26miles and stopped in Avimore for 2nd Breakfast. Jolly busy place. Lots of things going on. Away again before Paul & Abi could finish their cream tea (none for Dave & I). Cycled on the A9 for a while then dropped on a back road as we headed into Inverness. Seemed to go all around the place before Inverness finally appeared and then battle commenced with the traffic to get over the bridge. Once over we had a picnic lunch at the Dolphin place. Didnt see any Dolphins but apparentley they had some yesterday. However we'd already seen a tawny Owl and a Red Squirrel and Dave thinks he saw an Eagle or something like that.

Then the mission was to put in as many miles as possible, athough stuck on the A9. Have learnt a few new words, mainly from one or two truck drivers, but please we are allowed to cycle on that section of the road, so we didnt feel too guilty. The first stretch after the bridge was the most horrible ride of the whole trip for me. Too many vehicles and very few seem to drive within the speed limit. Plus a head wind and long hills and to make it worse I've forgotten to fill up my water bottle so rode dry 2 hours.

Once that section was done we hit the 100mile mark and yet another puncture. Decided to stop there as now just 85 miles to go to the end.

Back in Inverness now with our hosts William and Elizabeth. Good hot baths and super meal. Thank you very much indeed!

Last day tomorrow - just 85 miles and we have made it. Both riders are feeling good and ready to go. Dave's brother Trevor is joining us tomorrow at some point for the ride in to John O'Groats.

Stats for today - 100miles covered, top speed 38.6mph (lovely little country lane - but had to brake hard for the right-hand bend...), average speed 15.1mph

Thanks for all the txt messages, phone calls and blog entries - all encourage us on our trip. Big final day tomorrow......

Day 7 - Edinburgh to Pitlochry

Sorry to those friends in Edinburgh who I never got a chance to see - just not enough time in the day. Doug & Fiona (from old Oak Hall days) - hopefully next time, Good to speak to you Mary, thanks for phoning.

Awoke at 4:40am with a headache - too much coffee, too little coffee, body had enough, room too warm? Dont really know but took paracetamol and back to sleep. Still feeling rough at breakfast so popped a few more pills, said goodbye to our hosts David & Rosie (who looked after us very well) and into the Edinburgh traffic (in the car as we had finished cycling the previous day over the Forth Road Bridge). Note to myself - never travel with Paul in Edinburgh traffic.... he seems to make 'friends' with several dustcarts and bus drivers, who all had a friendly wave of one type or another - safer on the bikes me thinks.

Forcast was for rain, but the sun was shining on us. Made good time and cycled hard up from a place called Crosskeys towards Pitlochry where we had arranged to stay for the night. Cycled along beautiful wild raspberry hedge lined roads. Wanted to stop and pick some but time didnt allow. Cycled through to Perth, the gate way to the highlands which brought back lots of happy memories for me as I lived there for 12 months back in 95/96. Great to be cycling along roads I'd once driven and recognising old spots/ places of interest. Think Dave might have got fed up with hearing me say - I've been there Dave....... as we cycled along.

After Perth I started to feel worse with stomach cramps - maybe medication on an empty stomach earlier in the day, but found that I was started to struggle to keep up with Dave on his bike. We where a bit like we where attached by elastic, Dave would go ahead and then I'd manged to catch up, then he'd go ahead again. Still we made it to Pitlochry by lunchtime. This was good asevery mile that we now did, meant one mile less we have to do tomorrow. I decided to skip lunch to see if it helped the old stomach pains and of we set trying as best we could to avoid the A9 - quite a busy road and the lorry drivers do not like cyclists on their tarmac. Found a good cycle path - but if there is anyone from the Scotish Cycle network or National trust reading - PLEASE PLEASE can we have tarmac. The cycle tracks where built for mountains bikes rather than road bikes with our skinny tyres. Results in punctures on these sort of trails. 75ver the less we managed a healthy 75 miles before calling it a day just after Drumochtor Summit at around 1400ft above sea level.

Day 6 - Lockerbie to Edinburgh

Another day and another 95 miles... Due to the A7 being closed we were forced to take a diversion along a minor contry road which took us through some stunning scenery and resulted in this being the most enjoyable mornings cycling so far on the trip. We soon covered 30 miles.

Headed up north via Hawick (pronounced Hoyk), then Galashields and finally into Old Reekie - Edinburgh. We decided to continue as far as we could get today so headed out of Edinburgh towards the Forth Road bridge. Navigating through the rush hour traffic on a bike is NOT recommended but an incident with a Yellow Taxi who didnt like having to wait for a bike on a roundabout and a transit man who forgot they had a trailer and blocked our path, fortunately no one was hurt - scottish drivers are holding the status of the worst drivers encountered so far.

It didnt help that we didnt have a map of Edinburgh and Paul was waiting for us on the otherside of the bridge - asked a few locals the way and recieved interesting comments such as "Its a long long way to the bridge from here" "follow us" "its that way - but you cant take your bikes"

We eventually made it to the bridge and enjoyed the stunning views as we road across.

Now back with out hosts for the night -Dave and Rosie (& there 4 children) who have looked after us very well indeed!

Managed 35mph as top speed today, but average was just 13.5 miles an hour, but we did complete 95 miles today.

Day 5 - Leyland to Lockerbie

Will we or won't we? Thats the question at breakfast this morning - reach Scotland today that is. Yes, we are now officially in another country and have left old England behind!

Good day all in all today. Weather was kind to us and it wasnt too windy. Tony (Daves friend) came with us for the first part of the day until lunch and by that time we had managed a healthy 54 miles. Stopped for lunch just after Kendal prior to Shap.

On a full stomach it seemed to take an age to cycle up Shap but coming down the otherside was complete in about 3 minutes. We cycled 107 miles today before finally falling of the bikes with exhaustion.

Both riders are in good shape considering, some work required on my gears to stop the chain jamming - Dave already in bed as I head outside into the cold......

Day 4 - Wolverhampton to Leyland

Clear blue skys and sunshine - cant complain at that. However within 3 miles of cycling Dave's Pedal stem fell of his bike whilst cycling in the rush hour out of Wolverhampton. Paul & Abi quickly to the rescue and off we went in the car back to find a Halfords for repair.

Cycled through the Cheshire plains today following the Nantwich Canal for mile upon mile. Then into the glorious North West of England - if you've never visted then I highly recommend it! Hit Wigan at evening rush hour which was certainly a challenge, especially as a high proportion of cars want to use the cycle line and coincidentally have indicators that done work! One certainly need to keep ones wits about them.

Another 85 miles completed. Total complete around 381 miles.

Big day planned for tomorrow - up into the lake district and over Shap the highest point in England. Off for some sleep now.....

Day 3 - Bristol to Wolverhampton

Awoke to the smell of bacon & eggs, and blue skys, so up early and away. No hills, or nothing too bad really as we rode across the Glouchester plains - just a jolly strong head wind. Great countryside and associate smells. Quiet at first on the roads as people took it easy on a Sunday morning, but as the day wore on we saw lots of old classic cars, mainly morgans and Austin Healeys, and it seems everyone has a motorbike in this part of the country!

Rode into Wolverhampton and Dave was delighted to see Wolverhampton football stadium. Maybe next year we will do a bike tour of all the football stadiums in the country?

It was quite a slog against the wind all day and we had planned on getting out of wolverhampton before stopping, but another puncture about a mile short of our destination and we decided enough was enough after 86 miles.

Then onto our hosts for the night - Colin and his wife who didn't know who we are, but is a friend of a friend of a friend of a neighbour! Certainly a very hospitable couple. Stayed up talking a little too late...