The Final Miles
- Tom
- Aug 13, 2016
- 3 min read
Free wheeling into John O'Groats, having ridden 1100 miles (we took the scenic route- instead of the normal 870 miles) we weave through the car park and stop at the instantly recognizable sign. Me and Gaz hug and, although I can't stop smiling, this is it, this is where the two weeks of grind finishes. I'm numb.
It's only after we take the pictures and final shots for the video that we're sat by a wall opening a wee bottle of Isle Of Arron whisky that it hits me. Shouting and punching the air I nearly take out a passer by.
"Sorry mate,"
It's no passer by. It's Bill, the most enthusiastic man ever to walk the earth. He's done 'End to End' five times and he's only just discovered the visitors sign in book!
"I'm not stalking you, just wanted to let you know," it's touching to see him relive the first time joy if reaching the finish.
We started today at the ominous Altnaharra Hotel. A very popular place for Ender's to stay due to it being 75 miles from the finish (or start). It's hard to understand just why they put us cyclists up.
When me and Gaz walked in, we entered a time warp to the early 20th century. There's a library room, a lounge full of ancient furniture and a small cocktail bar (storing solely whiskeys). Everything within 20 miles has been taxidermied, including the owners first wife and four rosey cheeked posh boys prop up the bar and belittle the poor young bartender as she awkwardly smiles through her braces.
We are proposed to retire to the lounge for our tea and pudding and anyone not from the area whispers so as not to be in the way. They're guests! It's all very odd.
Anyway we have a cracking breakfast the next morning and fight our way through the midges to the finish line, but not after seeing many false John O'Groat headlands on the way. The nervousness that something could still happen and end your journey looms until you reach walking distance. Potholes, punctures and crazed arrogant farmers stay at the forefront of your mind.
We must send a massive thank you to everyone who put us up, fed us, cheered us on, made us laugh, let us borrow gear, helped keep the blog alive... Everything! There's too many to individually thank. We are blown away at the kindness.
But also a thank you to all who donated. At my lowest points I was thinking of the people counting on us to make it. Each donation was like another person on the sidelines shouting "Get back on that bike you wimp!" We've now officially passed our target of £2500 and more donations are still trickling in. So thank you.
Enthusiastic Bill told us that 'no one will understand what we've been through.' And although he's right to some extent, I hope we have at least given some insight into what might, could and does happen on An End-to-End ride.
He is a list of all the counties we passed:
Cornwall
Devon
Somerset
Bristol
Monmouthshire
Herefordshire
Shropshire
Wrexham
Cheshire
Merseyside
Lancashire
Cumbria
Dumfries & Galloway
Ayrshire
Argyle & Brute
Ross-shire
Sutherland
Caithness
Our total Milage:
Travel : 35k cycling (to Paddington, then to Penzance to lands end)
1 : 80k
2: 80k
3: 142k
4: 180k
5. 144k
6. 84k
7. 121k
Day off. 32 k
8. 185k
9. 134k
10. 124k
11. 157k
12. 134k
13. 120k
Travel : 30k to Wick, 10k Kings cross to flat.
TOTAL: 1792 K / 1113 miles
Commentaires