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I dont think many expected us to cross the line still in one piece or within the 9 days we set ourselves but we did it. We may not have hit 1000miles either as with the awful weather we faced, the terrain which we didnt quite expect (Marc, Torridan mountain range?) and the general aches & pains we did have to adjust our route slightly. But looking back we left North Berwick on the Wed, hit John O'Groats at 8am on Sunday, then Ullapool on Monday back home via Fort William & Glen Coe at 7pm on Thursday. What an achievement with many memories to go with it, good & bad and I dont think many will have ever covered the same route before! Hope u enjoyed the blog and thanks to everyone who helped us on our way, cheers, Rob & Marc aka Bozza & Para. Ps - Marc, dont call me with your next idea when we hit 40 unless it involves a beach & Bow!
Was a long slog from Stirling to the bridge, we were both feeling the pain especially with our achillies! I wasnt sure Marc would make it as his ankle was in a bad way but the tablets are helping. I also dont think Marc's double brekkie is helping him either at this stage! An old face pulled in at a layby, hello to Rich Dunigan.
Wallace Monument. Water refill at local fire station then off towards Alloa
After a wet night at Lochearn we started our day in the rain and headed down to Callander for brekkie. At one point I thought we may have to swap the bikes for canoe's! Many will not know but we had decided to make the trip home today (Thursday) to make the 9 day target. After the 105miles we hit on Wednesday we knew today would be a struggle but the one thing that was certain was, no more burger & beans, own bed & a bath tonight, woo hoo! Crackin brekkie at Cafe Ecosse and the staff donated another tenner towards our cause. Onwards and homewards........
So with almost on battery left this was my last photo of the day, after our 10mile climb this was the scene looking back. I dont think the photo fully captures the same view we had but believe us it was fab! We headed down to Tyndrum and got caught in a torrential downpour, not for the 1st time either, with only 5miles to Crianlarich. We grabbed a tasty pizza from the Green Welly stop then we decided we could make the extra 21miles to Lochearnhead. Turned out to be a great run in the sun to, with a superb decline down to the Loch, just a shame the campsite was waterlogged!
We had Joey helping us again over last couple of days which meant we had no trailer's to pull however, we took them back at Glen Coe village and started the 10mile climb to the top of Rannoch Moor. Not a pleasant road as not very wide but extremely busy with tourist buses, lorries & car's. U soon forget about that though when u see this spectacular scenery with its many waterfalls & fast flowing rivers.
We left Fort Augustas & the midge and headed the 32miles down the road for a big brekkie. We started off in the sun but ended up drookit again after 15miles of torrential rain. I tried to get a picture of Big Ben but as usual he was hiding behind the mist, maybe next time as still a target to climb him & bag a few Munro's later in life. We leave Fort William and head to Glen Coe.
The camper's give us funny looks as we head to the burn for a dip & 10 press ups. Was it my Wilson headband?
We made excellent time today and had Glen Nevis in our sights but it was a stage to far as Marc was feeling the pain in his achillies & tiredness in the legs, not to mention the rawness of both our glute's! Fort Augustas is our pitch along with the midge.
2 miles out of Drum we capture this famous Castle sitting on the banks of Loch Ness. A huge hit with the tourists & the spot Marc proposed to Amanda about 5 years ago.
We made excellent time today down to Beauly from Ullapool then headed to the tourist haven that is Drumnadrochit which is another landmark I've never been to & for those that dont know either it runs alongside Loch Ness, the largest fresh water Loch in the UK, I think even the world. Hit a massive hill down to Drum & managed to clock 44.3mph (I know, crazy!)
After a wet & windy evening we woke to the sun shining down on the hills on the other side of the water, with little wind, in fact I was up at 6am and decided to skim some stones with a good dozen skims being my record for the morning. Off we set just before 9am with a fantastic road down to Beauly. Worth noting the barmaid from the night before couldnt quite believe we had just arrived from Tongue after visiting John O'Groats the day before!
Not sure of the spelling but this mountain was one of many spectacular views on the last leg to Ullapool. The wind is against us today and its not helping we need to cycle downhill just to get some speed up!
View after 1st hill climb of today, 1st of too many! It was clear the Durness road wasnt an option today, so we took the flatter option via Lairg to head to Ullapool
Sorry Clare, I couldnt pick up the key ring or T-shirt :-P anyhow, we made Tongue on Sunday night only to find out they no longer have a campsite and after taking 6hrs to go 40 miles from Thurso it was clear Durness was out of our range, so a very nice couple from the local B&B said we could put the tent up outside the local WC, use their shower room & dry our clothes. They recommended a local pub for some much needed food then it was off to bed
We're makin good time to Tongue but the hills are killin us. Fantastic scenery on the way but the weather aint so gr8, sun, rain & hail. Marc has run out of dry T-shirts, is sweatin buckets from his jacket and isnt lovin the flies!
Excuse me, how far to Tongue?
One for the Rugby Vice
We made John O'Groats today, had a nice quiet cycle up from Wick. Its a busy place and plenty cyclists headin to Lands End, funnily enough none pullin trailers! Off we now head to Thurso
Fantastic views on this route North, we hit 40+ goin down, mmm not a gr8 idea with bike trailer's (noted!). Some climb back up to. Hope these roads flatten out soon but things are goin well now & weather is startin to favour us a little bit better.
Not a great start today, weather conditions are awful around the Southerland area but we eventually enter Caithness. Onwards and upwards (North that is!)
We made Banff at 3pm after 60miles and a few decent hill climbs. Luckily we had a small support crew meetin us & they collected our kit & trailer's makin it easier (well slightly) for us to pull in the last 50 to Forres. Big thanks to Joey & Anne and thanks for the steak pie, hot shower & warm bed. Back to pullin the trailer's tomorrow as we start to head North to John O'Groats
First pitstop of the day, 32 miles on the road on route to Banff. Bit of a wet start this morning with reports of torrential rain & floods at Inverness. Bit tired today but the burger & beans breakfast has helped, time for a bacon roll!
Things not goin quite to plan with Marc's tyre's goin bald on the buggy! New types required I left Marc at Mary Culter & picked up 2 new tyre's after pleadin with Halfords to let me in. Time for food & bed! Oh we still managed 98 miles, plus my 15 to Aberdeen
After leavin St Andrews via the Tay Bridge we stopped for breakfast at 9.30. Tapps Aff, sun is oot
After reachin Kennaway at 20.45, we wer made to feel very welcome at Rab & Clare's with a lovely Spag Bol. Thanks again guys. Off to Dundee now!
Helped raise £400 for Hearts & Balls
