John O'Groats

I'm writing this on the coach back from John O'Groats to Inverness, where we are going to have a big celebration having completed the ride. Yes, that's right, we all finished the ride, all remaining 32 miles with no further mishap, or mechical issues.

The day started as usual at 6, with the usual scramble to get bags packed, get breakfast down us, and get on the bikes by 8. Hunter was the last man out and copped a fair bit of flak for slowing up the departure! I don't think Kiwis like being called Australian too much, you get the gist.

After that, Stuart (one of the DA guys), drove the van down the high street to show us the route to JOG, and promptly turned into the wrong lane. Once we were back on course, we made steady progress toward Dunnet Head, all cycling as a group. It gave me a chance to catch up with one of the cyclists who I'd not had a chance to speak to before- Tom - and we compared notes on training, and our jobs, as well as the charities we were cycling for. It gave me a chance to reflect on the fact that we were all cycling for many good causes, some more popular than others, and some more personal to the individual. One thing is certain, that they are all worthy causes, and everyone on the trip was a great ambassador for their chosen charity.

We made good time to Dunnet head, with a small climb to get to the car park. Not much to see, but the achievement of getting to the northern most point of mainland Britain was a great feeling. There was a lighthouse here and everyone stopped to take photos of this and the Dunnet Head sign. We quickly re-grouped in the car park as the tourists turned up in a large coach, and headed down towards JOG. We all headed there at our own pace. I eventually grouped up with Andy and Ben, whom having had the rear derailleur arm snap on his bike, was riding one of DA's hybrid bikes. This of course had been suitably decorated with handlebar tassles and go faster fins on the back wheel. They'd even put a bunch of Kenny's orange direction arrows on the back of Ben's cycling helmet to make him look like a time trialist! Ben had taken this in good humour, but obviously still had the legs to blow us all into the weeds should he choose to!

We had a very good run, not too fast and the weather was holding which was good news, as the weather reports seemed to indicate rain. We all met at a T-junction and went into the local cafe for a quick cup of coffee, the idea being that we wait for everyone to arrive before heading down to the finish. Coffees drunk, and back to the bikes for a slow trundle down the hill to the finish. I followed Andy onto the harbour wall for a photo at the very end of the ride! WE HAVE DONE IT!

Lots of photo taking here, and at both of the JOG signs, before getting the bikes into the trailer, and bags into the coach. Word of warning for anyone needing a pee when you get to JOG-its 20p to get into the toilets, operating a turnstile affair, much like at mainline London railway stations do! So don't say you've not been warned!

We had sandwiches and crisps, tracker bars and fruit for our packed lunch for the coach journey to Inverness, and we were underway.

What an amazing few days of riding. I'll have time to update the blog with further reflections once we've had a good party at Inverness, as I'm looking out of the windows at the amazing scenery, the North Sea oil rigs, and a couple of hills outside of Wick that Ben thinks he could get 55mph out of the bike descending!

Feeling sleepy, but very happy to have finished!