Day 20 Betty Hill to John o'Groats Ending on a high note!

Started the morning inside a mountain cloud of heavy Scottish drizzle. As we scaled the early hills we were nearly blown sideways by gusting winds. We pushed on to Reay and shared a mug of warming mug of hot chocolate as we dripped onto the carpet in a tiny Spar shop. But nothing daunted us today as the weather started to improve we could see the final stretch of coastline on our way to John O'Groats.

We rolled together down the final stretch towards an amazing welcome from the massed family choir / orchestra performing Mervion and Mick's reworking of The Pushbike Song. What a great end to a brilliant experience.

So we've done! We're retiring now to spend more time with our families. If you've waiting for this moment before contributing to our causes then now's the time !

And thanks so much to everyone who's looked in and given us so much support.

Lots of love from Team GBR - Gig, Bobs and Rach

49 miles

Day 19- Recipe for a perfect day

1 Get up late
2 Leave castle after yummy breakfast
3 Cycle up 23 miles of spectacular scenery to top of Highland mountain but it is very gradual, nearly flat
4 Decide to set off for pub/hotel at bottom of 7 mile hill
5 Whizz down 7 miles like the Cresta Run - no pedals!
6 Find pub no longer open - nowhere else for 27 miles
7 Sit and eat malt loaf, hobnobs and cup of flask tea by bridge
8 Cycle along Loch Naver slightly downhill all the 27 miles
9 Arrive at destination really early and it is beautiful and by the sea
10 Have a husband with car coming to see us for the evening
11 Know you only have to do this for one more day and tomorrow night we will be on HOLIDAY!!!

53 miles - amazing country and easiest ride to date

Bobs x

Day 18 Inverness to Carbisdale Castle

A shortish mileage day, opting to go over the mountain instead of around it! We aint scared of those hills no more! Great to meet up with Mum, Mike and Marilyn who passed us on the road, heading up to end of cycle holiday cottage. Feels like the end of this cycling malarky is nigh! Tonight, staying in grandeur at the YHA run Carbisdale Castle. Photo shows us in all our newly toned glory, post shower.

Big thanks to Mick, and now Paul Weir, for helping update this blog with pics, when the smart phone wasn't being so smart.

43 miles today and our first sight of a John O'Groats sign.

Rachel

Day 17 - To Inverness!

Hi all,

Easy peesie day, lunch at lunchtime, sun in afternoon on cue, sailed down from Cairngorms to fab view of Inverness and the Sea unexpectedly appearing! Fab Youth Hostel in Inverness, hot showers, and LAUNDRY!!! Hurray!
Pic of the day is the Carr Bridge at Carr Bridge!
49 miles - easy going and lovely end
PS - Cycle path by the A9 all the way from Inverkeithing has been a winner with beautiful views. Well done Gig for sorting that one out!

Day 16~ The Highlands!

Stopped off at Pitlochry and then lunch at Blair Atholl, all interesting places to travel to. Saw many fabulous Salmon/trout rivers gor the fishermen among you, definately the place to be.....Paul and Peter take note!
Then a 20 mile climb up into the Highlands in a strong headwind that nearly finished us off! Nowhere to stop and too cold anyway. Eventually made it to the summit as you can see in todays 'pic of the day'! 20 miles downhill to Newtonmore where we once again collapsed in a heap! 4 days cycling left!
56 miles - spectacular scenery and climb to 1512 ft above sealevel.
Bobs x