An interesting start to the day...
We started keenly at 7am with cooked breakfast all around. On our 15 mile drive from the Castletown Hotel to John O'Groats things took a turn for the worse. Firstly, Steve realized halfway to John O’Groats that he had left his sunglasses in the hotel. Pippa and Robin, ultra reliable in the support vehicle, kindly went back to pick them up while we prepared our bikes for our short little jolly of a ride – some 950 odd miles. Secondly, Will Stebbings, who had driven us up from Durham managed to park the car without the handbrake. We wondered who was trying to steal our car with bikes still attached but realised that the handbrake had not been put on and so Will and Steve took a run for it just stopping it from rolling back into a wall, 2o metres from where the car was originally parked. What drama! But the drama wasn't over! Thirdly, Will, the star of the day, managed to smash the rear windscreen with the bike rack. So Will then drove back Inverness (121 miles) without a rear windscreen to get it fixed!
Getting going...
Finally we got our photo by the famous sign post but with the sign having been stolen it was, simply, a white post. The message on the post was in memory of a cyclist who died cycling to Lands End - a reassuring message after a morning of drama!
We started pedalling like mad men. The long six months of preparation has created much excited energy. But once we’d remembered our fitness levels and overall abilities we slowed down.
We started keenly at 7am with cooked breakfast all around. On our 15 mile drive from the Castletown Hotel to John O'Groats things took a turn for the worse. Firstly, Steve realized halfway to John O’Groats that he had left his sunglasses in the hotel. Pippa and Robin, ultra reliable in the support vehicle, kindly went back to pick them up while we prepared our bikes for our short little jolly of a ride – some 950 odd miles. Secondly, Will Stebbings, who had driven us up from Durham managed to park the car without the handbrake. We wondered who was trying to steal our car with bikes still attached but realised that the handbrake had not been put on and so Will and Steve took a run for it just stopping it from rolling back into a wall, 2o metres from where the car was originally parked. What drama! But the drama wasn't over! Thirdly, Will, the star of the day, managed to smash the rear windscreen with the bike rack. So Will then drove back Inverness (121 miles) without a rear windscreen to get it fixed!
Getting going...Finally we got our photo by the famous sign post but with the sign having been stolen it was, simply, a white post. The message on the post was in memory of a cyclist who died cycling to Lands End - a reassuring message after a morning of drama!
We started pedalling like mad men. The long six months of preparation has created much excited energy. But once we’d remembered our fitness levels and overall abilities we slowed down.
Beautiful scenery and decent roads
Most surprising was how well the roads had been maintained - much better than most in England. Phone reception has also been surprisingly good - a full 5 bars at John O'Groats. Most of the days route was surprisingly flat with only three major uphill challenges all day. [One of which we can show you if we can get this damned blog would work properly.]
We left Buzz messages where we could - but the GPS must have been a bit dodgy as some maps weren't quite right - most were though. You can check our daily progress at http://www.google.com/profiles/111913016175762020082#buzz
We covered some fast ground which led to suspicions that we’d got a lift. One such accusation coming in from one Peter John Stebbings in Abu Dhabi.
Lunch was a massive portion of fish and chips –
they give you two bits when they see you are healthy eaters. It was good enough for TV’s two fat ladies – who rated the restaurant in their top six fish and chip shops in the country – so it was good enough for us.
We tired in the afternoon but wind assisted by the baked beans from breakfast, we kept going. There were some stunning views, wonderful properties and the sun made a temporary appearance too. We had fun making videos with the mini camcorder, but can’t work out the technology for putting them in the blog.
Most surprising was how well the roads had been maintained - much better than most in England. Phone reception has also been surprisingly good - a full 5 bars at John O'Groats. Most of the days route was surprisingly flat with only three major uphill challenges all day. [One of which we can show you if we can get this damned blog would work properly.]
We left Buzz messages where we could - but the GPS must have been a bit dodgy as some maps weren't quite right - most were though. You can check our daily progress at http://www.google.com/profiles/111913016175762020082#buzz
We covered some fast ground which led to suspicions that we’d got a lift. One such accusation coming in from one Peter John Stebbings in Abu Dhabi.
Lunch was a massive portion of fish and chips –
they give you two bits when they see you are healthy eaters. It was good enough for TV’s two fat ladies – who rated the restaurant in their top six fish and chip shops in the country – so it was good enough for us.We tired in the afternoon but wind assisted by the baked beans from breakfast, we kept going. There were some stunning views, wonderful properties and the sun made a temporary appearance too. We had fun making videos with the mini camcorder, but can’t work out the technology for putting them in the blog.
Ready for tomorrow…
After a good first day we’ve been a little overconfident and tucked into a mixture of beer and wine for supper. Things are looking good for tomorrow though with a sunny forecast. I’ll believe it when I see it in Northern Scotland, a fabulous place.
After a good first day we’ve been a little overconfident and tucked into a mixture of beer and wine for supper. Things are looking good for tomorrow though with a sunny forecast. I’ll believe it when I see it in Northern Scotland, a fabulous place.
Today’s Stats
Distance – 86 miles
Average speed – 14.7mph
Top speed – 40.8mph
Sunset – 10:50pm
Distance – 86 miles
Average speed – 14.7mph
Top speed – 40.8mph
Sunset – 10:50pm
Good stuff guys!
ReplyDeleteI can upload your vids if you want to e-mail them to me?
Hope you have a good day 2.