Got There!

At 4.40pm the intrepid cyclist was met by a welcoming committee of his wife, his driver, his back up and his blogger (all one and the same Penny) at John O Groats!!!!!!!!!!! The 70 miles today had been very hard because of the chilly headwind which prevented any build up of speed and some final killer hills outside of Helmsdale and through the Berriedale Braes. Pat says he was counting every tenth of a mile during the last hour. John O Groats is quite bleak and windswept- a good setting for a mystery/thriller.

The coastal A9 passed through green fields full of lambs and sheep with quite dramatic sea views at times. We sheltered behind a grey drystone wall to have our lunch just past Lybster, and because there was only the one road kept very much in touch as I had frequent photo stops. I guess I also wanted to keep the cyclist in my sights because I found the long narrow ribbon of road with swaying heavy vehicles and speeding cars a little unnerving.

The A9 is virtually the only road to the far north. It is a very sparsely inhabited area. Phil Horsley the author of the book about the ride writes "scatterings of Spartan windblasted houses"and "a wild section spattered with stark homes among the derelict cottages." Very different from Brora with its trees and pretty harbour and scenic golf course. The trees became bright yellow gorse and then finally scrubby grassland with not a tree in sight.Pat did 70 miles today bringing his grand total up to 1022 miles in 14 days. You will hear from the man himself tomorrow when we sign off the blog.

I am really fighting with the computer tonight as I sit on the Band B bedroom floor in Wick. Therefore I shall continue blogging tomorrow evening when we are staying in a nice hotel in Thurso to celebrate our arrival at John O Groats at the end of this great journey and adventure. I guess it will have wi fi.