So here we are, John O’ Groats. Yesterday’s initial excitement and expectation has given way to a realisation of just how far we have to cycle! We have spent over twenty fours just getting to our starting point and the short trips cycling with full panniers means our destination at the moment feels a very long way away. Still as is said we are taking one day at a time!
Booking overnight accommodation turned out to be a good call, even though we weren’t in our room for long. Rob had initially thought we could loiter in Inverness overnight, but the weather was’nt ideal for loitering and we were warned by a friendly female police officer that bike napping is rife in Inverness! We managed to catch the 7.15 am train journey from Inverness to Wick, which took over four hours, meandering through the beautiful Scottish Highlands, spotting the wildlife – Seals; Hawks; Deer and lots of sheep
After lunch at Wick and stocking up with provisions at Tesco Wick, we headed off for John O’Groats into a strong headwind. Everything was going well until our first problem! Rob failed to avoid a pothole, which blew his front tyre. Great! We have since spoken to a number of people who have completed the trip, who did not had a puncher over the entire trip, and we have had one before we got to the start line!
As shaun put his bicycle maintenance skills into action, the heavens also opened up. But he soon had the situation under control and we were off again in ten minutes.
Booking overnight accommodation turned out to be a good call, even though we weren’t in our room for long. Rob had initially thought we could loiter in Inverness overnight, but the weather was’nt ideal for loitering and we were warned by a friendly female police officer that bike napping is rife in Inverness! We managed to catch the 7.15 am train journey from Inverness to Wick, which took over four hours, meandering through the beautiful Scottish Highlands, spotting the wildlife – Seals; Hawks; Deer and lots of sheep
After lunch at Wick and stocking up with provisions at Tesco Wick, we headed off for John O’Groats into a strong headwind. Everything was going well until our first problem! Rob failed to avoid a pothole, which blew his front tyre. Great! We have since spoken to a number of people who have completed the trip, who did not had a puncher over the entire trip, and we have had one before we got to the start line!
As shaun put his bicycle maintenance skills into action, the heavens also opened up. But he soon had the situation under control and we were off again in ten minutes. Arrived at John O’Groats, had a quick look around, then checked into our hostel. Tomorrow our adventure begins for real….
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