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Arrival at John O' Groats
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| Arrived after a day of riding into head winds. Exhausting |
Well, we made it. No thanks to the weather it has to be said. We woke to find a brisk north wind blowing in our faces and combined with two very hard climbs along the coast road, legs were quickly aching. Plus I missed the only coffee stop (Steve not happy about that..) which meant that it was not until Wick, just 14 miles from JOG that we had the chance of a hot drink.
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| A couple of stiff climbs on the last day.... |
The final drive to JOG was REALLY hard against a strengthening wind but we finally arrived at 3pm, taking mandatory photos and having a well earned cup of tea. It was really good to bump into others we had seen along the way, the lone rider who we met entering Scotland, the four riders in Monmouth, the young couple met by Loch Lomond and the three very well kitted out riders who shot past us near Fort William. Quite a reunion!
So, was it worth it?. You bet...
The journey
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| Sheltering from the wind with a welcome cuppa |
Favourite bits? Difficult to say. For Steve it was the day that took us up Loch Lomond and the valleys beyond to Inverlochy. I enjoyed so many days it is difficult to pick a particular one. Devon is hard work but rewards with its lovely patchwork of fields and quiet lanes. Axbridge to Monmouth via the cycle paths and Wye valley fascinating with warm sunny weather and the climb up Shap was dramatic.
But we both agree that the best accomodation was the B&B at Tiverton. Thanks Barbara. Great rooms and a marvoulous breakfast. We forgive the impossibly steep climb to the house.
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| Obligatory shot of the signpost |
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| and my daughter, Stephanie in 2011 |
The bikes
Both bikes recieved a tremendous hammering from road surfaces that desperately need urgent repair, particularly in Scotland. Even the guy from Belgium, home of the cobbled street, thought they were bad!
Steve had picked up his Dawes bike new and had only riden limited miles on it so it was impressive that it performed faultlessly.
The Holdsworth proved equally up to the task. The only failure was the new bottom bracket set I had fitted prior to the ride as a I was worried that the original would not last. I need not have worried. All the 70+ year old components performed faultlessly!
Steve
Thanks Steve for agreeing to join the ride, thanks for the laughs and helping make it such a success.
Jane and Marina
Thank you to Jane and Marina for your support and encouragment even though you both thought it mad. Now, for the next ride I thought..... (only joking)
