We made it!

Day 18 Photos Tongue to John O Groats

Day 18 - Tongue to John O'Groats

We made it!  

The last day started dull, grey and cold, but with very little wind as we headed out of Tongue.  It was pretty un-spectacular scenery to be honest and some quite steep rolling hills as we rode through Bettyhill and then later arrived in Thurso with about 20 miles left to go.   A further tea stop and then the sun came out, so we had intermittent sunshine for the last few miles and a sunny finish at John O'Groats.

We have now made it back to our B&B, are all showered and clean and ready for our "celebratory" dinner at the very unglamorous seaview hotel.

Off to Orkney tomorrow for a couple of days site seeing and touring around before getting back to the mainland on Saturday evening.  We then get picked up and transported back to Inverness at 1pm on Sunday.  We then get a flight back to Luton and our bikes get packed up and courierred  back to us in the next few days.

Day 17 - Rogart to Tongue

We have finally made it up to the North Coast and now have just one more days cycling to do.  Today was a hard day as we were heading north most of the day and the wind was really strong and mostly heading south east, so at times progress was quite slow.

Forecast was for sunshine and showers, so they were at least half right in that we got lots and lots of showers with a few glimpses of sun on the way.  

It was spectacular though and we had a mostly empty road, fantastic scenery which was pretty much devoid of any habitation, or buildings of any kind.  Terrific views of Ben Loyal and Ben Hope on the final run in to Tongue, but we were mighty relieved to arrive at the hostel in Tongue.

Day 16 Photos Inverness to Rogart

Day 17 Photos Rogart to Tongue

Day 16 - Inverness to Rogart Station (near Lairg)

After sorting out a few minor repairs at the bike shop in Inverness we headed across the Kessock Bridge out of Inverness and headed North.  The wind was howling across the bridge, and we had to virtually crawl across in the lowest gear we had.  We then followed the National Cycle network route all the way, which at least kept us off the main A9.

It was a really pleasant days cycling, with it turning almost warm at times in the afternoon and we just had the occasional light shower.  

Our evening accommodation was a railway carriage which had been converted into hostel type bunks, with a kitchen dining area and some carriages left as communal seating areas.  It was called sleeperzzz and was fun and really comfortable and warm.

A quick total up......

Have just done a few quick sums and it would appear that we have so far ridden 880 miles and ridden upwards a grand total of 58,100 ft (17,710m) which now makes two Everests we have cycled up.  

We are now due to reach our destination in John O'Groats on Thursday afternoon.

Day 15 Photos Fort Augustus to Inverness

Day 15 - Fort Augustus to Inverness

The weather today was actually much better than expected and we only got a couple of small showers on route.  It was bloody cold though and we had to find a cycle shop in Inverness, so we could both buy thicker and more waterproof gloves as we had been losing the circulation in our hands.

We headed up the south east side of Loch Ness after taking a couple of photos by the Caledonian canal as we started out.  It was a huge climb up and we reached about 1400 ft after only a few miles.  Then a more gradual decent to the shore of Loch Ness which we then followed most of the way to Inverness.  

So a cold day, with a big climb to start, but then fantastic views all the way.  

Day 14 - Roy Bridge to Fort Augustus

Weather was pretty bad today but still made it out and onwards. So Just a short ride up the Great Glen to our hostel at Fort Augustus on the banks of Loch Ness.  

Had a fairly lazy morning but managed to book our accommodation for the next few days up to John O'Groats.  Revised plan now is to do another short day tomorrow to Inverness as forecast is still just as bad.  Then cycle up to Lairgs the following day, then Tongue on the north coast, followed by JOG on Thursday.   This then leaves us a couple of days to hop over to Orkney for a visit before our return trip on Sunday.

No photos today as weather was so bad and cold, we just legged it and got into the warm and dry as soon as we could.

Day 13 Photos Oban to Roy Bridge

Day 13 - Oban to Roy Bridge

Not Friday the 13th, but the 13th day and I had two punctures. The first of the whole trip as we headed inland to avoid the forecast storms and gales.  

Actually a really nice day and virtually no wind, so still can't believe we are going to get a storm as forecast but we will have to wait and see.  At least we should be a bit sheltered inland from the worst of the gales and we can now do two short days if the weather is bad, to Fort Augustus and then Inverness, or we can just stay where we are if its really bad.  Have found a really nice hostel in Roy Bridge about 15 miles from Fort William, so can see what it looks like tomorrow and then decide.

The ride was actually lovely today with great views across the lochs all the way up.

Day 12 Photos Lochranza to Obam

Day 12 - Lochranza (isle of Arran) to Oban

A lovely start to the day as we caught the ferry about 200 yards away from the B&B and cruised over to Claonaig on the Kintyre peninsular.  Nice weather and great views back to the isle of Arran as we crossed over and then did our first climb up of the day.  

My back wheel problems continued and by the time we had been going for an hour I had three spokes go, so after some emergency calls and frantic searching on Yen's iPhone we found a shop in Lochgilphead about 10 miles up the road who could replace the wheel and get us going again.  

Had a nice lunch in the smithy while the bike was being fixed then headed on to Oban.  Great views and decent weather all the way up and we reached the hostel around 6.

My birthday today on LEJOG

A lovely bed and breakfast for the night, a fantastic meal cooked by Karen for us too. Everything was just the way it should be and those who know me, know that I am very fussy.   And one of the best cooked breakfasts I have had.  So left Feeling refreshed which was just as well for our 50 mile dash across Ayrshire to catch the ferry from Ardrossan to the Isle of Arran.  Unfortunately not so lucky with the weather, it rained and was so windy could hardly pedal uphill so had to push up for a bit.  Some bike issues too, my mudguard snapped and Kevin got a massive stone in his tyre but we made it to the end of the day in one piece and pretty early.  So a day of mixed fortunes but heyho 

Gales, rain, storms forecast

Forecast looks horrendous from Sunday, so we may be forced to change our schedule.  We are due in  Oban tomorrow evening then were going to head to Mull and up the west coast to Skye over the next few days.  So this raises several problems such as the ferries may not be able to run, we may not be able to cycle in the wind and its going to be very nasty indeed for cycling.  

So we may divert at Oban and head up to Fort William and then head up the great glen to Inverness.  We won't miss the weather completely, but at least we won't get stranded on an island or get the full force of the wind as it howls in from the west.

Day 11 Photos Carsphairn to Lochranza

Day 11 - Carsphairn to Lochranza (isle of Arran)

A lovely B&B last night at Carsphairn as a special treat for Yen's birthday today.  Unfortunately we didnt get the chance to celebrate very long before heading off on our way to catch the ferry at Ardrossan to Arran.  Thankfully it stayed dry all the way past Ayr, Prestwick and Troon, with glimpses of the famous golf courses on the way.

Arrived in good time at the ferry station to catch the ferry at 1:50, then landed at Brodick on Arran 45 minutes later when the rain had started.  Shame as such great scenery, but couldn't make too much out as we headed to our B&B in Lochranza.  

Day 10 Photos Carlisle to Cairsphairn, Galloway

Day 10 - Carlisle to Carsphairn

Another exciting and eventful day on tour.  Started very romantically with a gentle ride to Gretna Green and across the border into bonny Scotland.  Can't quite believe we have got this far, but another major milestone done.

Then had a good ride through attractive lanes towards Dumfries, when unfortunately the heavens opened, quite literally.  We truly had a downpour of biblical proportions as we arrived in Dumfries well and truly soaked.

Had another spoke go, just as we arrived too, so off to bike shop again for a quick repair.  Will need to get a replacement wheel in Oban now, so hopefully can make it there with no more dramas.

It had stopped raining, by the time we got on the way again and had one of the best sections of the ride so far.  Beautiful quiet lanes, with rolling hills, not Cornish cliffs a great tea shop in Moniaive followed by a climb up and then the best descent so far.  6 miles of almost continual downhill, on an empty road, with good Tarmac and no potholes, views across the scottish hills and not a single car.

Day 9 - Slaidburn to Carlisle

Today was always going to be one of the hardest days passing between the Lakeland
fells and the Howgills, but then we were faced with a headwind in our faces the whole way too.  So 80 miles and about another 5500 feet of climbing into a headwind made it feel like,a very long day indeed.  We had some great views especially first thing climbing up through the Ribble valley and across to the lakes but it was a very hard day.

Day 8 - Runcorn to Slaidburn

A day spent riding through the industrial wasteland ...er I mean heartland of England, after popping into the bike shop in warrington to repair another broken spoke.  Then onwards to admire the stunning scenery as we passed by Wigan, Bolton, Blackburn, Preston ..... Oh the delights continued all day, and some of the worst roads on route.

After leaving Preston the scenery improved and we had some great views as we headed to Slaidburn. Unfortunately we got caught in a heavy downpour but then were rewarded with a fantastic rainbow as we arrived.

Day 9 Photos Slaidburn to Carlisle

Day 8 Photos Runcorn to Slaidburn, Lancs

One week, another two to go

The first few days in Cornwall and Devon were so hard, I knew it was hilly but it was ridiculous, the downhill was so steep  had continually brake so couldnt take advantage of getting any momentum to get up the next steep.hill.  General consensus is we have taken the stupid but scenic route.  Kevin has been close to throwing the GPS garmin over the nearest cliff,  I have just been close to throwing up a few times!  

But been rewarded with great views, plenty of tea and cake and good wishes from the general public. 

Day 7 Photos Bridges to Runcorn

Day 6 Photos Wye to Bridges

Day 5 Photos Cheddar to Wye

Day 7 - Bridges to Runcorn

A terrific start to the day and ride down from the Shropshire hills into Shrewsbury for an early bacon butty and tea stop.

Our second stop of the day was beside the lake at Ellesmere, which was popular with local cyclists and bikers, before pushing on past Wrexham and Chester.  Couldn't find a descent Tea stop this afternoon so we ended up with Subway at a BP station before we expired. Yummy!

No hostel this evening, we have found a really good deal on a proper hotel.  So we have a bit of luxury and a proper bed and can't wait for a full on breakfast feed in the morning.

As we have now been going a full week we did a quick total up of the climbing we have so far done, which comes to over 31,000 feet.  So after one week we have done an Everest, which is quite satisfying but probably explains why we are so knackerred  at the end of every day.

Day 6 - Wye to Bridges (Shropshire)

A beautiful clear morning (we have been so lucky with the weather, so far), as we started out with a walk over the footbridge to cross the river Wye and pick up the road towards Hereford.  Lovely peaceful scenery along the Wye as we headed down some very narrow lanes along the river, before picking some proper roads into Hereford town centre.

We had an early lunch in Hereford, next to a very nice couple who used to live in St Albans and who made a spontaneous and very generous donation.

A bit of a long haul after that up through Shropshire to the hostel in Bridges close to the Long Mynd, so great scenery again and a nice evening with a hostel full of mountain bikers here for a completion.

Day 5 - cheddar to Wye Valley

Probably one of the best days so far.

A spectacular start cycling up cheddar gorge first thing in the morning, with hardly any traffic around.  The gradient of the climb itself wasn't too steep, so we were able to keep going all the way up, with just a couple of obligatory photo stops.

Then pushed on past Bristol with a nice stop for lunch in a disused railway station on the Bath to Bristol cycle way.

Next stop was the old Severn bridge, with spectacular views up and down the Severn, especially to the new bridge.

Final Tea stop today was Tintern Abbey, which looked very majestic, as we headed up the Wye Valley to the hostel near Symonds Yat.  Bit of a navigational nightmare at the end to actually locate the hostel, but a great day.

Day 4 - Exford to Cheddar

After lots of hills early on, a much more civilised day with some great flattish riding.  But still just over 1000 metres of climbing.  

Day 4 - Flat roads at last!

This afternoon we reached the Somerset levels and for the first time had roads that did something very strange.  They didn't go up or down, but were just flat.

Before then had some great views from Exmoor and the Brandon Hills across Somerset and back towards Devon.  Great tea shop stop at Bishop Lydeard and some local advice on which way to go and which way not too.  Needless to say we went the way not recommended.

Still been amazingly lucky with the weather and had fantastic sunshine all the way to Cheddar.

Day 3 photos - Bude to Exford

Day 3

Set off about 9 through some early morning sea mist, then loads more climbing through Torrington, then the double dippers before reaching south Moulton, for quite a late lunch.  Then biggest climb of the day up onto Exmore before a final run down through the pretty village of withypool, before finally arriving at Exford.  Very tiring but very rewarding day again. 

Photos from today's killer scenic route