Undeterred by the pounding Highland wind and rain we have arrived in Helmsdale, Sutherland, our last stop before John O'Groats, which is now only 55 miles away.
We set out from Inverness at around half eight, after yet another breakfast feast of porridge and a full English – thanks mainly again to Andrew (Porridge) and David (full (ish) English). We bade farewell to Father Christmas and his wife, (who had arrived on a tandem last night) and headed north more or less tracking the A99. All day there was a very strong headwind, which made it feel like we were cycling uphill all day.
The last of us arrived around 4:30 pm and most of the riders feel that today has been the hardest day’s cycling so far. However, we only have 55 miles to go as the road sign outside the hostel constantly reminds us.
After lunch we only had 30 miles left to go but the wind and rain dug in and it was very hard work. As a group we spread out as we each followed our own pace in the testing conditions. Stewart kindly took the wind for Ian and David as they crossed a bridge across an estuary only for them to pass him and leave him for dead on the other side – taking the pirate’s code a bit too far.
Mishap mile was mile 923; when leaving the lunch stop Kieran fell off his bike, bashing his knee and hand in the process as he put his body in the way to prevent his bike from getting scratched, and AJ got yet another flat tyre. Kieron was ok although he lay in the road until somebody helped him get up in case he scratched his bike in the process.
Thank you for all the continuing donations and support. We are now very close to our target of £10k so if you have not yet donated then there is still time left.
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