Final Day

Day 7 –

 

We set up the bikes, checked the map and set off on our last day, after about ten miles we saw our first sign for John ‘o’ Groats (112 miles), that was not a good sign as we were already soaked through and freezing cold.  We continued on the A9 again heading for wick, we came across a couple of mountain bikers that were completing the cycle in 14 days, a young lad and his dad they were heading for Wick to spend the night before finishing the day after.  We stayed with them for a while then increased our speed again to make some time up.  This day was proving to be pretty tough, we still had the headwind and freezing cold rain hitting us, but heading further towards wick the hills became steeper and longer.  We were around 50 miles to go when we stopped to talk to the girls who let it slip that Kelly’s parents who had driven on, told them the hills get really steep closer to John ‘o’ Groats, ‘what a treat’ we said. 

   We spent the next 20 miles climbing hills and creeping towards the finish, as we saw the John ‘o’ Groats 3 miles to go we felt warm for the first time, we’d made it, and what a tough day to end on.  We headed into the town and as we turned the corner all our friends and family were at the finish line with champagne, screaming and shouting, after some pictures we got back on our bikes and made our way to the pub, we walked in completely drenched and was shocked to find the put full of Royal Marines ready to begin the same cycle the other way, they were doing it in 8 days stopping at a few bases on the way down, cycling for an amazing cause ‘help for heroes’ that night we had a few drinks and a laugh with the lads from there support team.  That concluded our cycle from Lands End to John ‘o’ Groats – 1174.2 MILES   6 DAYS 15 HOURS.  Total time cycling in the rain – 30 hours, Total time in the saddle – 80 Hours, Total time listening to Martyn complain about his BUM – 79 Hours. Lol.  

 

Thanks to all our friends and family for their support and to everyone who helped us make our cycle possible. I’d especially like to thank Verve Glasgow for the transport and fuel and within Verve to my Dad and Niki for all the support they have given to us, I’d also like to thank Premier Inn for giving us three very comfortable nights sleep, and finally to ‘Wilma’ Martyns mum for helping with so much of the organizing and for being the inspiration for it all.

 

Lots of love

Ally,Kelly,Martyn and Paige xxx