Hello!!!!!!!!!What a day we have had, few bike problems, extreme snow and wind, meeting a man doing the same journey but walking it (will take him 70 days!- what a legend), free coffee and cakes in Wick plus meeting some really genuine helpful people and some serious hills (eg Berridale Braes)
We arrived at JoG about 8 o clock last night to meet my sister, her husband, my nephew and a close family friend Paul, had a few drinks and tasted the local whiskies to calm the nerves... specially when we heard the forecast, snow snow snow. Got up at 7am to go down to the official startpoint at John O Groats, basically its no way as grand as it sounds... its a car park including a used condom (right infront in the pic). After we went back to the hotel for our first cooked breakfast, we finally got round to setting off about 9.
Weather was quite sunny, with a southerly blowing wind (what more could we ask for....) within a few miles we were already hitting a few downhills and managed to get tomtom up to 40mph- niceee.
After reaching Wick (18 miles away) within an hour we thought we might get to Golspie by 2pm... haha no God thought otherwise. Then began the snow, not just any snow, this is Scottish sideways knifelike snow which hits you in the face like a midget ninja. So painful and the wind in flat land was pushing us all over the road. LEAN!
After about 20 miles or so we noticed something was rubbing on the bikes rear mech and chain. Nearest bike shop was 30 miles away, cool. Called ahead to the bike shop and Hollie the resident bike expert thought he was talking Japanese, so decided to start speaking in kids language - the round bike thingy holding the chain thingy.
Luckily when leaving a place called Lybster (basically a house and a few sheep) we saw tearoom which I remember from the trip up and spotted a few mountain bikes attached to the back of a car in the car park, spotting a chance to fix the bike without cycling 30 miles and just letting a fresh pair of eyes have a look at the derailleur. Went in and saw two old guys who we asked if it was their bikes and if they knew about them, we told them what we were doing and after that prob thought if you cant fix a bike why you cycling so far. Few cups of tea later, my sister turns up thinking we just taking a casual break and not doing any riding.. the guys both ex army (Hugh and friend) managed to see the problem and one screw later it was sorted. This is when we met the legend Santa lookalike Walker doing the whole 900+ miles to Lands End just because he has nothing better to do (his words!!!!) We do have a photo with him but we shall upload it after the ride. We also got 20 pooooounds (insert scottish accent) from other people there, considering it was in the middle of nowhere.
Once we left the tea room we were warned of two major hills- the first was Dunbeath where we didnt actually do it (even though its smaller than the other) and then the monster 15 minute constant climb of Berridale Braes, which we did non stop - this hill was so big it had a sandpit at the bottom for any runaway lorries. check victory photo above.
Then 3 hours later covered in snow we arrived in Golspie about 6.50 headed to Coop for tomorrows supplies and made our way to the very cosy Golf Links hotel - met by the owner at the front door - we have been made very welcome, got a cuppa tea soon as we got in the door and dropped our stuff off. Since then we have been sat infront of the open fire, bite to eat, written this blog and watched TV Burp (the best program there is.)
Now we are off to have a bath and wash our clothes, then some tv then hit the hay for tomorrow. Good news snow is sposed to be worse tomorrow, we got the snow plough attachment for the bike lol.
Will try to write as often as possible, if it has internet we will do it!
plus my n95 wont send MMS at the moment so I cant update this remotely, Ill get on to o2 pronto.
Much love!!!!!!!
Phil and Hol. x
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