Last day of this cycle trip! Because of Tom’s injury we missed a couple of days cycling in the middle of the country, knowing that they were easier to finish at a later date than bits missed at the extremities.

Tom had cycled from Ashchurch (44 miles south of Birmingham, where I left Tom) on his own and had met me here in order to complete the last day of the trip.

We set off in the sun at around 9 from the farm and headed for the main road near Clapham. I was unsure whether to go straight to Clapham or to go via the backroads to Ingleton which would be shorter but much more hilly and on tiny roads.

After cycling up the A65 to Kirkby Lonsdale we stopped to take a few pictures and to eat an apple, then turned off onto the A683 up the old roman road.

The road was anything but straight (there was a rumour that Romans built straight roads), but the countryside was very pretty.

Continuing north, now on the B6257 we passed through Firbank, and found lots of blackberries. I tried to master picking them whilst cycling past quite fast, but found that on the few occasions when my hand-eye coordination worked and I grabbed one, I either grabbed it far to hard and sqished it, or it slipped out of my hand.

Once we got to Tebay we had fun with the sign, obscuring the ‘T’ to make ‘ebay’. Simple things…simple minds and all.

There was a fairly hard climb on the B6261 as we snaked past the motorway, but once we met the A6 the road flattened out and we reached Penrith a few minutes earlier than expected at 2pm.

As we approached Penrith the road seemed familiar – and I remembered that I passed through the same roads when I cycled across Britain a few years ago. I have done the breadth and now the length of Britain – the only thing left now is the perimeter. Tom assured me that the coastline was of infinite length, but using the same logic my bike tyre circumferance is also infinite, and so it would take roughly one rotation of the wheel to cover the coastline. Mathmaticians eh.

I guess its all over now. It was a hollow ‘finish’ at John O’Groats because we hadn’t finished it then, and now it feels like such a long time ago the two cycle rides are unrelated, and it is another hollow finish, but this time official.

Distance: 55.4 miles [14.2 mph average] (Cumulative: 981 miles)

Todays cycling was somewhat different from other days. It was about a month since we ‘finished’ cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats, but as I had missed out a couple of days in the middle (Denton -> Penrith) now was the time to go back and finish the challenge.

Today was also the first day that I was cycling alone from the start. I had to think about the route for myself, and make sure that I had all the neccessary bits and peices – pump, repair kit, first aid kit etc. Additionally my parents were carrying my stuff as we were going on holiday to Clapham and so I was cycling unloaded.

I set off from home at 9.00 and cycled to Ashton. Despite the rain I was overheating so removed my flourescent jacket. Rounding the edge of Oldham I headed for Royton and then onto Rochdale.

From there I headed across the moors (or at least some moorish ground) towards Haslingdon where I stopped at McDonalds for the toilet and got a large fries whilst I was at it.

After finishing my fries and drying off a little, I continued on past Accrington towards Clitheroe.

After about 42 miles I decided it was time for food, and so I ate the few crackers and chocolate that I had brought near Sawley, just off the A59. It was a welcome break although I was quite damp and so stopping was cold.

I set off soon after eating to avoid getting too cold, but a few miles later it started raining very heavily and I got soaked – really soaked. The nearest place for shelter was about 8 miles later, so when I got to Long Preston I followed directions to a hot drink and a bacon buttie. It lead me to the village hall where there were a few ladies and a guy just packing up their kitchen. They gave me their last sausage buttie and a cup of coffee whilst I stood there dripping and making a big puddle in their village hall.

Once the most of the rain had subsided, I continued on and found that the road I had intended to take was closed due to a gas main being installed, so I headed for Clapham knowing that I knew the way to my destination from there.

I arrived in Clapham at about 2.20 and visited the village store to get some chocolate. I knew my parents would be a while in arriving so there was no rush!

I cycled the final 3 miles to the caravan where I was staying and took off my damp clothes. My socks inparticular held a lot of water! After texting my younger brother I found out they were about to set off. So much for cars being a faster mode of transport! I chilled out for a couple of hours waiting for them to arrive, and then put the tent up.

After showering and watching a bit of TV, we headed to bed.

Distance: 68.4 miles [15.4 mph average] (Cumulative: 926 miles)

Woke up late and had a nice breakfast in the B+B.

Set off at around 9.30 into nice weather.

Cycled the fairly flat 20 miles to John O’Groats where we took loads of photos, and ate ice creams.

After filling in the visitiors book we wrote lots of post cards to people and ate lunch.

There were lots of people starting and finishing cycling and so we talked with quite a few of them.

Bought some items from the gift shop and waited for a while on a bench near the harbour.

Set off at about 4.30 for Duncansby head, took a few photos then headed off-road to see the stacks.

Continued back to the youth hostel where we did some washing and had showers.

After making and eating dinner of golden rice, we played cludo and scrabble.

At 11 we were booted out of the common room by the less than friendly staff at SYHA John O’Groats, then shortly went to bed.

Distance: 27.0 miles [14.0 mph average] (Cumulative: 858 miles)

We set off at around 9.30, with some hot weather neccesating plenty of sun cream.

The terrain was fairly flat as we followed the coast towards Helmsdale. However, once past Helmsdale the hill became severe and there was a steep climb for about 4 miles, a steep decent and then another steep climb.

Once out of the Berrisdale Briars we continued on towards lathreonwheel, where we stopped for lunch.

Jam, crackers and flapjack later we set off again and decided to find a b+b in about 10 miles. 10 miles came and went and we found nothing suitable, and so we continued onto Wick where we found a nice B+B for £20 (down from £25).

There the lady made us feel most welcome, and we had showers, relaxed for a while then went to Summerfield to buy some food. Quiche, crisps and reduced sandwitches fitted the bill, and were ate in a local park.

We went to bed fairly late after playing a long game of monopoly.

Distance: 56.3 miles [14.0 mph average] (Cumulative: 831 miles)

We were up at 8, and had breakfast of porridge again.

We were not sure how far we were going to get after the trouble Tom had with his knee at the 32 mile mark yesterday, so we just packed our bags and set off north.

We had our first stop after 22 miles, and again at about 45 miles for lunch. It seemed that it was the stops that Tom’s knee disliked so we made fewer stops than we might have otherwise had done.

The weather was a bit patchy, with some sun and a few blobs of rain.

After about 50 miles we decided that we should stop, and so looked at the B+B’s in the next town, Golspie and found a nice one.

After showering and watching some TV, we played some games then went to bed.

Distance: 54.8 miles [14.6 mph average] (Cumulative: 775 miles)

Got up around 8.30, and had a slow start to the day.

After eating porridge for breakfast, we set off at about 10.

Met someone coming in the opposite direction on the cycle track along the A9 who stopped and asked for directions.

Followed route 7 for much of the day, which took us on a prettier but much longer and harder route than we had reconed on.

Went to tesco’s in Avimore where Tom got some more heyfever tablets.

Went through Carr-bridge and saw the Landmark waterpark and took some pictures of the bridge.

Continued on the A9 cycle route, which later left the A9 for a small town called Moy where we stopped and had lunch. At this point Tom was in a lot of pain, but the backpackers hostel in Inverness was booked and so we pushed on knowing that Inverness must be nearly at sea level and we were currently about 400 meters above sea level.

Tom took painkillers and continued on to Inverness at a fairly constant pace.

Arrived at Eastgate backpackers at around 4pm after shopping in Morrisions for some food.

Had showers then went shopping for some deodrant and some deep heat for Tom.

Cooked 1.5 kg of potatoes for tea, alongside some reduced chicken and losts of peas. After eating half of it we were both stuffed and so put the rest in bags for lunch tomorrow.

Sat in the lounge in the hostel I read much of the book ‘The best of Beano from the 50’s’ which was quite funny.

After Tom had finished playing cards with some Swiss guys we talked with a couple of American girls for a while who were over here for a friends wedding.

Went to bed after midnight.

Distance: 51.8 miles [13.8 mph average] (Cumulative: 720 miles)

Made a breakfast of porridge after getting up at 7.30, and finished off the jar of jam.

Today was the first day in a while that we did not have to apply suncream. The weather was damp although it wasn’t too bad but we had out coats on most of the morning.

The terrain was very difficult between 7 and 25 miles, and at points we were travelling downhill at 7mph despite peddling hard because of a very strong headwind.

We had lots of stops and ate loads of peanuts up until the 25 mile mark, when it became predominatly fast downhill cycling.

Arrived in Newtonmore at 3pm and stopped off at the local shops for supplies before finding Strathspey mountain hostel and eating our lunch outside.

After having showers we watched some TV, eat 250g of spaghetti each, as well as lots of saussages, carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes etc! Quite filling.

Played a game of ‘take two’ with scrabble letters before heading off to bed at 11pm.

Distance: 45.3 miles [13.3 mph average] (Cumulative: 668 miles)

We had a slow start to the day, got up at 7.40 and had breakfast of Juice, cerial, a fried breakfast and toast.

Set off at around 10am towards perth, where we had a short break in the park there. Continued on to Bankfoot, where we bought a few bits and peices from the local shop.

Shortly afterwards, we passed Waterloo and later arrived in Pitlochry at 1.30 where we ate lunch in the town center.

We needed the toilet, so followed the directions and ended up at a building charging 30p a go. I needed to get changed because my cycling shorts were starting to hurt, so had to pay what must be the most I have ever paid to use the toilet.

Found a Co-op, and bought some items for dinner before finding the youth hostel at 2.30pm and updating our diaries.

We then put our bikes away in the nick of time, before it starting puring with rain.

Had showers, then made some rice, tomato and tuna mix up for dinner.

Just as we had finished eating, 30 american kids filled into the dining room about to eat their evening meal. we just about escaped the noise.

A long game of monopoly that I really should have won, but didn’t, occupied most of the evening before heading to bed.

Our dorm slept 4 men – and one of those men must have been the world champion snorer, and both me and Tom found it impossible to sleep due to the noise!
Distance: 42.6 miles [15.0 mph average] (Cumulative: 623 miles)

After getting up at 8ish we had breakfast then looked on the maps and internet to formulate a plan for the next few days. We decided that we could do 40ish mile days and still make the train home that we had booked.

Janet and Peter later came home from church and made some dinner, whilst we watched the tennis.

After dinner we sat around for a while and eventually set off at 4pm heading for Kinross.

Coming out of Edinburgh we crossed the Forth road bridge – which was massive! We then continued on to Kinross where we saw T in the park – a music festival organised by the BBC. We started looking for accomodation, but because of the festival we had to continue further to Glenfarg, where Tom decided his knee had had enough.

After cycling round for a while looking for a local to ask, we found one who gave us directions to another house. After following the directions, we knocked on the door and were nearly taken out by a nice little dog with boundless energy. The owner of the dog made a phone call, and gave us more directions to a cottage about half a mile away where there were some spare beds.

After following the directions, we found the cottage and were welcomed by a larger dog and its owner, Sammy.

We had a mars bar for ‘dinner’, a cup of coffee and headed for bed.

Distance: 41.7 miles [11.3 mph average] (Cumulative: 580 miles)

We got up at 7.30, had breakfast of porridge and very strong coffee and set off at 9.15.

We made good progress for the first couple of stops, but then the ’scattered showers’ that had been forecast started so we took shelter in a bus stop. There we ate lunch and played cards, waiting for the rain to pass over. When it did we continued onto Edinburgh.

Tom’s knee was giving him a bit of trouble, especially when we set off after a rest but once he was going it wasn’t too bad, and so we managed to make it to Edinburgh for 2pm. There we locked the bikes up and put our stuff under the table of some friendly people and headed for the local cinema to see Pirates of the Carribean. Not a bad film but certainly not as good as the first.

Later we went back to Janet and Peter’s house, and had some very nice tea and watched some TV. After having showers and talking for a while, we went to bed at 11.30.

Distance: 45.8 miles [13.6 mph average] (Cumulative: 538 miles)