Lejog day 35 Lybster to John O'Groats


 Well, what do I say?! A beautiful day to finish. Blue sky, soft light, clear views, easy cycling. We've done it! We didn't have a clue how we'd get on, cycling day after day which is why we factored in a rest day once a week. In fact the rest days were the days we didn't know what to do with ourselves but I think they were essential.

How do we feel? Mixed feelings really - glad to have done it but sorry it's over. Sam and Louise have met us here, the bikes are on the car roof so it's the long drive back tomorrow.

The Seaview Hotel is three minutes walk away from our accommodation so that's where we've just been - I had haggis and neeps for the first time on this trip.

We're staying at Puffin Cottage which is also The Petting Farm. The farm is open to the public and we, as residents, can have a look round in the morning before we leave and meet some of the animals. The lady who owns it gave up her job in London (we think it was London) and took on this farm without having a clue about what she was doing. Anyway, she's been here for ten years or more and has made a go of it. Helen, last night's hostess, told us all this. The reason I'm not sure about the London bit is that Rosie thought Helen had said she'd given up her life as a nun! We haven't been brave enough to ask yet which is the correct version.

Instead of following the coast road today (the busy NC500) we went inland to follow quiet lanes through farmland and moor. They were very straight! It was great to be able to cycle side by side without cars and camper vans whizzing by.


We came across this sign and wondered whether the NO picture really happens! 

The last mile or two was coastal (back on the quieter NC 500) to John O'Groats. We had the statutory photograph taken at the signpost by an obliging couple then celebrated with an ice cream. Sam and Louise arrived soon after that so we celebrated again by having drinks at the John O'Groats brewery.

 



We're so thankful to have had such wonderful weather. Who knows how different it might have been if we'd been subjected to days of wind and rain. It didn't happen so we feel truly blessed.


 


Thank you to all who have given us support and encouragement. I hope the blog hasn't been too much of a chore to read! Thanks to Louise for putting together the videos, at the top of each day's blog, from my helmet camera.

Thanks to all who have donated to the Gofundme page for Kampala Children's Centre. It's amazing that the present total is £2305. That's fantastic and we are so grateful as will be the centre themselves.

There may be an epilogue to this blog but,  for now, that's your lot!  



 

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