Now when we booked our accommodation for the Inverness Youth Hostel it was “probably the best hostel in Scotland” … I think that they were being a sarcastic. We shared our dorm with a couple of snoring Poles in a hot stuffy room – to be honest though we still slept for most of the night after Day 7’s exhilaration.
So we were back in the saddle for one final push from Dingwall on to John O’Groats. As we walked out of the hostel I had a bit of a chat with a couple heading out on their bikes…the incredulous look from them when we said we were going all the way to JOG said it all.
So we headed off on the long road North East. Now for some reason today hurt a lot more than previous days – psychologically I suppose we must have relaxed and the mind had stopped blocking out all of the pain. Now when I say pain I don’t mean tired legs and limbs - we‘ve had them since day one…what I mean is sore backs from bending over the bikes all day, sore necks, creaking knees – but the most acute pains shot up through the saddle and took the form of an incessant reminder of every one of the lumps on the road. Oh for a bit of smooth road! What’s more, both Paul and I still hadn’t regained the use of our left hands – which meant any gear changes required a look over the shoulder and two hands on the left gear lever whilst the bike veered across the road and the chain clunked onto the big cog and control was regained once more… But what kept us going through all the hardship was balls of steel.
We pressed on through gritted teeth and before too long we were teased with signs for JOG – the fist one at 104 miles was met with whoops of joy!. With about 80 miles left on the clock we stopped for a quick feed with the girls before pressing on to break the back of the day – over the bridge over the Dornoch Firth and along the coast line grinding out the miles. We were lucky with the weather today and apart from a headwind the sun was shining all day. Out past the spectacular Dunbrobin Castle and along the A9.
By now the views were getting dramatic looking out across the North Sea on our right and the rolling yellow flowering gorse bushes which spread across the rolling grassy banks. After another few hours and a couple of harsh unexpected 15% climbs around the coastline we rolled into our last proper stop of the trip and a picnic in the sun to recharge the batteries one final time. Becky and Natalie were a sight for sore eyes with soup and flapjack from a clifftop with spectacular views.
The last 40 miles passed steadily – and mile by mile the end drew nearer. Normally by this stage we would be tanking along to make the end of the day but by this point we hand plenty of time in hand as there were no mountain ranges or big hills to conquer so we made it in up over the last rise and down into John O Groats for our welcoming committee of Becky, Natalie, Mark and Helen (honeymooning from Chris’s office!). I’m glad we don’t have to wash our kit for tomorrow as the champagne may have been a bit sticky mess! This was all followed by the compulsory photos at the sign post thanks to Mark and the comforting sense that we wouldn’t have to sit on our saddles again tomorrow…
Tonight’s celebratory meal included a delicious “Stack of Haggis”, locally sourced smoked salmon and hake- washed down by some wine, beer and a couple of wee drams of the local whisky as nothing else would seem more appropriate. When we started to fall asleep at the table we retired to our homely B&B.
