DAY SIXTEEN (I hope you are keeping up with the Geordie accent)

An earlier start today. For the first time in 16 days Pinhead actually got up before me, I have never seen him move so fast, admitidally it was the speed of a duck waddling, but for Pinhead that is fast. The plan was to be out on the road by 8.30am. By 8.15am, we were ready....... well almost. I had lost one of my gloves, we literally turned the bedroom upside down, emptied my panniers, started checking the rest of the house, it was only when I went into the dining room for a quick scan that the location of my glove was determined! As I turned round, Lindsay one of the owners laughed and said "It's on your arse" Bloody velcro!!

Thanks to Mandy and Lindsay for their hospitality. Also Thanks to Kev and Karen who were also staying there who gave us both a fiver towards our charities

We were still on the road by 8.30am as planned and seeing the mountains in rolling cloud was amazing. A wild deer did cross our path, but alas it was not a Stag, although we could hear a stag calling. I also saw a Salmon jumping and we both saw an Eagle.

We were then passed by two Hercules aircraft. I got a few photos but not as good as I would have liked. Then after 1020miles, it had to finally happen, I got a puncture! This was annoying for three reasons. 1) It was a puncture. 2) it was the rear wheel 3) One of the Hercules flew back other really, really low which would have made for a great picture, but I was in the middle of changing my inner tube.

We made good time to get to the North Coast at BettyHill. All trip, we have had predominantly west winds, the day that we need to cycle 40 miles eastwards, well I am sure you can guess. There were a couple of killer hills and the rest was just a slog into the wind.

We stopped at Thurso (birthplace of Sir William Smith, founder of the Boys Brigade) for a cuppa and choccy bar before the final push. Pinhead was really suffering with one of his knees, but he kept plugging on. To rub salt into the wounds it started raining 10 miles from John O'Groats. We finally arrived just after 5.30pm. The only word that I can think of that would explain my feeling would be Eurphoric. We almost made a cock up though as we both saw the white post and made a bee line for that, but a woman shouted at us to say the finish line is over there, we nearly cycled all that way and not actually cross the finish line!!

Applause and cheers from people waiting for other LEJOGers was really nice as we did actually cross the finish line. Hand shakes and photos followed. Pinhead even had a tear in his eye so I had to give the big Jesse a hug. Literally 5 minutes after we finished, Richard & Judy, the 2 chaps we met 16 days earlier at Land's End crossed the line, more hand shakes and photos and they kindly shared their champagne with us.

Another couple of finishers were walked in by 4 chaps playing bagpipes. Once again the camaradarie amongst all the cyclists was excellent

My only tinge of regret. It was nice to see others being greeted by their families and I would have loved it if Mich and Max had been there. But I am really looking forward to seeing them both on Tuesday.

Back at the hotel, Pinhead's fiance had arranged for a bottle of champagne to be waiting for us in the room which was demolished very quickly (the champagne, not the room). We had a huge roast dinner, followed by dessert and about 6 pints for me and a bottle of wine for Pinhead.

So we have finally done LEJOG. But our journey is not over, oh no. We still have to cycle to Dunnet's Head tomorrow morning and then back to Thurso to start our train journeys back down sarf. All we have to do though is a total of about 25 miles.

So fo all you avid blog readers, do not fear, there are still a couple more blogs to come. I will be doing another blog about our final cycle and train journey home and will also be doing another 'post mortem' blog with my thoughts on the how trip went, what was good, what was bad and maybe a few pearls of wisdom in case anybody else has a screw lose and decides to do LEJOG.

Road KIll count: Hedgehog 4, Rabbit 4, Seagull 2, Sparrow 1, Blackbird 1, UAs 3


Distance covered today 119.9kms (74.5miles). Climbing 952m (3123 feet)

Total to date: Distance 1733.5kms (1077.1 miles). Elevation 17408m (57113 feet)


With apologies to Tim Vine for plagarism,
'This was a once in a lifetime challenge........never again!

Bye for now

Fathead

 


Comments

Uncle Colin & Auntie Pam

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:25:16

Fantastic what an acheivement. Looking forward to seeing you soon Luv Pam & Colin. PS. Hope you are not thinking of hanging up your cycles clips, at least not yet.

 

Stuart Abrey

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:04:50

Well Done to you both, I promise that if you were to cycle AMERICA I will sponsor you to the tune of £250 !!!!!!

The Abrey's

 

Will Harrison.

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:19:39

Well done boys, glad you made it up from Tintern.

 

Mich

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:31:07

Er Stu

Please dont encourage him!!!

 

Keith N

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:53:31

Well done the pair of you. I always believed you'd complete the LEJOG challenge.
Get back soon as your football team needs you!

 



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