Well hell we have only just gone and cycled from Lands End to John O Groats!! What a trip!

I had a bad nights sleep last night, still recovering from the trauma of yesterday! It will take me a while to get over it!
The Premier Inn in Thurso was very busy so we couldn’t have breakfast till 8.30am, our planned departure was 9.30am. I was hoping for later as the chances of getting my bike repaired were slim!

I set off on the trusty tractor, and Christina had dropped my bike at the bike shop in Thurso by 9am and it would be fixed in an hour! I wasn’t going to get too excited incase this didn’t happen so I painfully set off on Tractor!

The ride was 29 miles today, and 9 of it was a return trip to Dunnet Head, the most northerly point of the Scottish Mainland. This was optional but who wasn’t going to do it if the others were?

It took us a while to get there with a strong head wind, but the day was cooler and a change in the weather was surely coming. Going through the small villages from Thurso to Dunnet was fairly smooth and then we followed the winding road up to Dunnet Head viewpoint. We were not to be disappointed! The landscape lacks trees up here and it’s easy to imagine the harsh winds that sweep across the land! The coast is high and has stunning cliffs and lochans litter the bare landscape. We reached the end and witnessed the lighthouse and this monumental place. We were spoilt with the bird life with plenty of sightings of puffins.

After a small gathering there, we headed back out to reach our goal of John O groats! Some 2 weeks in the making, this was actually going to happen! After about a 2 mile descent , we met Phil and Christina in the van with my bike, I was sooooooo delighted! Any mileage not had to be done on my trusty tractor was a treat. I was able to put my bike shoes back on, I couldn’t get the pedals off my bike yesterday to put on the tractor so I had to cycle in my converse trainers, huge disadvantage.

it took me a while to settle back into the bike but I was back in coarse and my mood had finally lifted. We had about 15 miles to go with a strong headwind , but who cared, it wasn’t rainning and the end is near!

Us ladies finished off in a peloton, Christina, Cathy, Sharon and myself. We were to rendezvous at the Sunset hotel and then all head to our destination together. It felt quite orchestrated but it was a good way to do it and the way DA challenges usually finish.
We made it! Who frickin knew I could actually cycle the length and breadth of Britain!!

A quick photo stop and collection of luggage and packed lunch for the bus, we set off bound for Inverness. Getting in a vehicle after 2 weeks was a bit strange and we thought the driver was driving really fast! But our average cycling speed was about 13mph for the last while so it wasn’t hard to beat!
Tom and Paul were coming to meet us in Inverness and take us home and they beat us there! I was so excited to get there!

This has had to be one of the toughest challenges I have ever taken on. The training itself has been hard and other bits in life have been neglected. I have indulged myself the past 2 weeks to conquer this, and conquer it I have!! I now look forward to spending some lovely time with my family and not biking for a while!

I would like to thank profusely Sharon for taking on this ride of life with me! How many people do we know have achieved this?

Tom Nelson you are a star for supporting me all the way!! And for taking us home tomorrow after what I am sure will be a messy night.

Asha and Jack, thank you so much for your support, before and in my abscence at home where life goes on!! I love you and miss you!

Gus, thanks so much for your bike!! It has been a joy and I may just upgrade my own now and not actually go electric as I thought I would.

All the messages of support and donations have spurred us on so thank you to everyone!

Please donate to the Beatson if you can and haven’t already,

http://www.justgiving.com/page/marjorie-sharon

LEJoG over and out!