The last blast - it was hilly, steep, wet and headwind-toiling, and quite a finish as we worked our way along Scotland's wild far North Coast. Dave and Neville were irrepressibly cheerful, merrily slagging each other off as we dug in to the big climbs. They provided us with some much needed shelter from the headwind- something we had had remarkably little of in our trek up the country.
With hills to our right, and the sea to our left, we made Bettyhill - where we descended steeply and then climbed hard into the drizzle. We stopped for a good long lunch at a cafe in Thurso - and let another shower go by. We spotted Thurso station, Britain's most northerly - and it only seemed like a day ago we'd gone past Penzance, the most southwesterly!
By this stage- even I was convinved I could finish the ride! Our route took minor roads inland from the NC500 racetrack - which were nicer, but hillier than the main A836. Amazingly again we dodged the worst of the rain. My wife phoned to see if we needed to be met in the van to shelter from the downpour - but only a few miles from her we were pretty dry.
Eventually we closed in on the target, the famous signpost at John O' Groats, which is the other half of the pair we started at down in Cornwall.
As we arrived at John O'Groats, it was quite emotional. Not just becuase we'd worked so hard to get there, but because of what it meant, for us all and Stewart especially. My wife was there, David & Michelle were there and so was Szabi - a little welcome party for us. There were a few tears..
And then our final video, filmed in Aviemore on the way back south that night.
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