Day 13 Bettyhill to John o Groats

There's only one picture that counts today....

Imagine my surprise to be met by Oliver and Alice, I'm still in shock!  A family conspiracy I think! 

Final ride stats. 1038 miles. Climbing 62,000 ft

Average mph 12.5

MPS (miles per snickers bar) Never less than 8!! (Must have been a really hilly day!)

A fantastic adventure, so lucky with the weather!

Many many thanks for all the messages of support, and for reading my blog.

Day 12 Bonar Bridge to Bettyhill

Fabulous B&B last night. Haggis for breakfast! Very relaxed day today both in terms of mileage and hills. 

Left Bonar Bridge at 8.30 and found the Falls of Shin soon after....

Then to Loch Shin, 

The road heads due north from here across very wild and open country. The wind was a brisk northerly , I had four layers on and only just warm enough. 

I came across the Crask Inn at coffee time!

It really was in the middle of nowhere. The landlord made me a huge pot of coffee and asked me if I would like to stay for the monthly Holy Communion service. (I wasn't expecting that)! 

Onward to Altnaharra for lunch, (I did some cycling between coffee and lunch, honestly!) as I said it was a relaxed day, 

Saw these just outside, thought they would make a change from the usual cattle picture.

Then to follow the shoreline of Loch Naver for its entire length.

On leaving Loch Naver due north and into Bettyhill..

As you can see its on the coast!, I'm nearly there...

Ride stats. 57 miles. Climbing 2400ft. 

Tomorrow I'm heading for John o Groats!!!

Day 11 Grantown on Spey to Bonar Bridge

I was pleased to set out this morning across the flat lands of Dava Moor, in glorious sunshine.

It's very exposed..

The Cairngorms were now behind me!!

Crossed the Moray Firth then cycled close to the shore line of the Beauly Firth.

Then due north and followed the shoreline of the Cromarty Firth.

At Alness the days quota of climbing began, at this point I'm still heading due north. I could see clouds coming towards me as I got nearer the Dornoch Firth. Then I seemed to be in the clouds! The road then heads round to a northwest direction and for the first time on this trip the wind became an issue!!

I can't say I got truly wet but the horizontal drizzle was freezing! (Horizontal drizzle? Hmmm?) 

At this point the road is high above the Dornoch Firth and it is supposedly one of the best views in Scotland! Unfortunately armed with only an iPhone camera and battling the 'horizontal drizzle' I missed it!! 

Eventually arrived in Bonar Bridge where the view from by B&B window isn't at all bad...

Ride stats. 85 miles. Climbing 3500 ft

Tomorrow I'm heading for Bettyhill. (It's on the north coast! I'm nearly there!) 

Day 10 Glenshee to Grantown on Spey

The day of big climbs had arrived! The Cairngorm Mountains. This pictures shows them in yesterday's evening sunlight.

The first climb was 12 miles long with 4miles at 12%, it took a few puff stops and 3 Snickers bar to get me up to the top! 

Thought there might be someone at the top to hand me a newspaper to put in my jersey for the long descent as they do in the Tour de France. (Can't see Chris Froome with panniers on his bike though!!)

More climbing before arriving at Braemar for coffee.

On leaving Braemar spotted these Highland Cattle.

I managed to ride all the climbs thrown at me in the morning but faced with a 20% gradient late in the afternoon it was time to admit defeat and walk!! (First time since Devon)! 

Finally left the Cairngorms behind....

Into Grantown on Spey in the Highlands. It's been a beautiful evening here just the sort of evening to go out for a bike ride!!!

Ride stats. 62 miles  Climbing 4500 ft (Doesn't seem that much really!) 

Tomorrow I'm heading for Bonar Bridge.

Day 9 Edinburgh to Glenshee

Due to a slight oversight in my planning, my B&B for the night was 18 miles further than Blairgowrie. As problems go it was the best kind, as it meant I made the most of the glorious weather, I am 18 miles further on and I had a very nice steak on my way up to Glenshee! 

Some views on the way from Edinburgh...

I didn't see any of these...

At this point I am heading for the hills in the distance. (Picture above) 

Sorry non farmers, a field of potatoes.. They look really good..

Ride stats. 104 miles  Climbing 6100 ft.

Tomorrow I'm heading for Grantown on Spey. 

( I'm really glad to be 18 miles up the road already as this is going to be the toughest day yet!) 

Day 8 Longtown to Edinburgh

My friend Pete from the cycle club joined me today. 

We rode for 10 miles along a main road before heading up into the Borders, the weather was grey and overcast and as we got higher, cold. However the scenery was stunning, I'm afraid we were chatting to much to take photographs! 

After a couple of hours thoughts turn to coffee! We came across the 'Kagyu Samye Ling. Monastery and Tibetan Buddhist Centre' just the sort of place you would expect to find in the wilds of the Scotish Borders! The coffee shop was certainly unique.

However the coffee and cake were excellent! Just as well as we didn't see another coffee stop at all. 

The next food stop was lunch at the Gordon Arms Hotel were I had the Gordon Burger...

The picture doesn't do it justice, it was a burger with Haggis added! As you can see I had made a start before remembering to take a picture! Certainly fuel enough for the remaining 30 miles! 

With 15 miles to go we joined another main road toward Edinburgh, far too busy to ride two abreast Pete was kind enough to lead and we steamed along at 20+ mph with me slipstreaming!! Thanks Peter! Fantastic fun! 

We arrived in Edinburgh at 5 pm. After more food Pete was able to catch a train an hour earlier than planned. 

I made my way to the Premier Inn where I have not only had another bath with my kit!! The bike is in the room!!! (No, I'm not about to have a bath with it!) Although it is getting quite dirty! 

Thanks again Peter for a fantastic day.

Ride stats. 85 miles Climbing 4000 ft.

Tomorrow I'm heading for Blairgowrie. 

(A little concerned as words on the map like hill, fell and dale are replaced by mountain!) 

Day 7 Slaidburn to Longtown

A picture of last nights stopover. I was actually staying in a pub! Too tired to make the most of the beer though!

My room did have a bath, (you've probably already guessed where this is going!) yes me and my kit in the bath, what could be better two jobs done in one go!! 

A short ride through the village to start the biggest climb of the day, 

After climbing for an hour, the long descent was very rewarding. Getting a bit more confidence with the panniers downhill now.

At lasting found some Hereford cattle, (only a few counties late!)

Then into the North Yorkshire Dales, don't think I'll be winning this competition!

Then a bit of mile munching with more climbing,

A quick picture of the star of the show..

Ride stats. 91 miles  climbing 6420 ft. (Biggest day to date I think) 

Tomorrow Peter from Ashwell Cycle club joins me for the day, we'll be heading for Edinburgh. 

Day 6 Market Drayton to Slaidburn

Late post tonight due to lack of internet connection here in the depths of the Forest of Boland.

Continued northward through the rest of Shropshire then into Cheshire. Countryside in short supply as I passed Manchester, Warrington, Bolton and Blackburn. I did find myself on the Leigh canal path for a while.

Eventually emerged into Lancashire and found a peaceful place for afternoon tea.

The ham sandwich was a parting gift from last nights B&B owner. Thank you. 

Ride stats. 105 miles. Climbing 5200ft.

Looking at the hills all around me this evening, I think today was probably an 'easy' day! 

Tomorrow I'm heading for Longtown.

Day 5 Ross on Wye to Market Drayton

My bike spent the night in the dining room of last nights B&B because there was no garden, which meant there was no washing line. So having washed my kit, I hooked it all on the curtain rail with the window open. I checked on progress in the early hours to find the shorts still damp, then had a brainwave and put them in the bed. It didn't quite work as well as I hoped as there was a bit of a damp patch on the dining room chair after breakfast! (Sorry you probably didn't want to know that)! 

I left Ross on Wye at 8.30 and followed the river for a while, almost had another p&s (poetic & soulful) moment here! 

I saw fields of cattle everywhere, but couldn't spot a Hereford anywhere. This chap was happy to pose for a picture. 

So on into Shropshie,

Cattle country is giving way to arable here with fields of really good looking wheat.

No Blackgrass!!! ( Sorry, that won't mean much to non farmers). 

Then spotted these guys,

I've just asked a farmer in the pub what they might be getting ready to plant? He had no idea. They obviously hadn't got time to be swanning about on a bike!! 

Ride stats. 89 miles Climbing 4800ft 

Tomorrow I'm heading for Slaidburn. It will be the highest mileage at 102 (if I manage not to get lost!)