Video diary

Monday 17th August - Helmsdale to John O'Groats (55 miles)

Our final day started with a steep climb for a couple of miles, a quick descent and then another climb. The first 10 miles took us 2 hours - would we ever make it? After a snack stop in Lybster at a beautiful harbour, we finally got some good miles done as the hills flattened out. We stopped for lunch just before Wick then had a final Tesco visit in Wick before heading off up to John O'Groats 15 miles north. In good weather we climbed the final hill and saw a stunning view of the Orkneys. We sailed down the hill into John O'Groats for the big finish at the famous sign post and signed our names in the big book in the pub.
It was all over at last - we are all very pleased with the achievement and glad not to be cycling again for a while...

John O'Groats !!

We made it!!!

Tesco in Wick

Nearly there - 15 miles to go

Caithness cows

Very inquisitive!

Sunday 16th August - Inverness to Helmsdale (71 miles)

What an excellent day! We awoke to the usual cloudy skies and impeding rain. Breakfast was an excellent all-you-can-eat affair at our Premier Inn (which was really good too). Then we were off through an industrial estate and out over the Inverness estuary bridge and onto the Black Isle and along beautiful coast to Cromarty. Alas the ferry to Nigg, one mile away across the Cromarty Firth, had just broken down. Thankfully Barry and Pauline were there too, so we shipped us and the bikes over to the other side in the car (a big detour) and we faithfully started from the ferry ramp on the Nigg side.
We followed the A9 for a while, across Dornoch Firth Bridge (absolutely fantastic) and then took a detour over to Dornoch (beautiful) and saw a load of seals in Loch Fleet. All day the weather was generally good, the scenery fantastic and the cycling generally easy (apart from the last few miles when Hannah and I were very tired).
Helmsdale Youth Hostel is superb.
And so to bed... Last day tomorrow!

Adam chills out at Helmsdale