We made it!

Day 13

Thurso to John O Groats.

Miles - 20.1, Calories burned - 910, Metres climbed - 186.

There were times last week, looking at the filthy wet and windy weather forecast, when I wondered whether we would be beaten by the weather. But we have been incredibly lucky, and had light breezes at most, and even some sunshine for much of our time in Scotland - other than the torrential day riding through Ayr to Ardrossan.

Today was more Scottish - a stiff wind, and rain in the air. We knew we had to get to John O Groats and back to catch our train, so we were up for an early breakfast. You know you're on an endurance holiday when your alarm goes off at 6.15.
Andy had a bowl of porridge big enough to sink a battleship, and Matt, for the first time, was defeated by his fry-up. The landlady presented us with a miniature of local single malt to toast our success (just what you want at 7 in the morning), and we were then blown all the way to John O Groats by the wind.

It should have been an amazing moment- it was an amazing moment - but we were momentarily thrown off course by the sight of a bloke posing for a self timer photo in front of the LEJOG sign, then stripping off to his underpants and posing again. He assured us he was going to win £100 in a bed by freezing himself to death and making himself look like an idiot!

Putting him aside, I'm struggling to describe the sense of achievement when we arrived. It's been building over the last couple of days as we've got closer. But to know that you've ridden the entire length of the country, and kept on going for day after day of exhaustion and general bodily pain is a great feeling. It's been a true adventure, a fantastic thing to do with Rachel and Andy, wonderful to share the experience with Angela and Michael, Albert and Rosemary and Ann and Jill, and brilliant to see the variety and loveliness of the UK and to have fleeting encounters with so many friendly people.

Yesterday, I felt I could just keep riding my bike north forever. Now, watching the countryside we rode through pass by from the windows of the train, I feel intensely relieved to be sitting on a comfy seat, with the pink pinarello packed up in the bike compartment.