We're off

Day : One

From John O’Groats To Helmsdale
Weather: Showery, and strong side wind
Distance Travelled :54 miles
Ave Speed: 12.3 mph
Max speed: 34.6mph
Total Distance so far: 54 miles

Set off from the hostel for John O'Groats in good spirits, only for Rob to announce that he had another puncture. We came across two other guys who were about to do the trip, one of the guys Roy, was very helpful and kindly gave us a new inner tube. We later learnt that he had been diagnosed with cancer for a second time, and was completing the journey for cancer research.

After the photo shoot, we finally set off on our cycle adventure at 11.40am, only to get one mile up the road and guess what happened next….? Yes that’s right Rob’s front tyre blew! We were now worried as he had no inner tubes left, and the rate he was going through them we wouldn’t even make the end of the first day. Rob was beginning to get paranoid about even riding his bike, and even blamed Shaun for deliberately sabotaging his ride!

Anyway we made it to Wick, some 18 miles away with a fair wind. Tesco Wick unfortunately did not have the necessary inner tubes, so the only option was to try and repair it. In an effort to fix the valve, we had to harass the Sunday Tesco shoppers for a pair of pliers. Shaun then occupied a corner of the canteen and repaired the damaged tube.

From Wick it was onwards to Helmsdale, some 35 miles along the road. We perhaps underestimated the length this would take and the severity of a couple of the climbs. We have come to realise we need to eat more and at regular intervals. Still it was a particularly scenic ride along the north east Scottish coast line.

We eventually arrived at the hostel just before 7.00pm and dined at the Bannockburn inn. Still worried about the inner tube situation, but fingers crossed we make it to Inverness tomorrow, to enable us to stock up!