Day 12 - Helmsdale to John O'Groats

Final day - We woke up to a sunny day (surely not this far north).
Everyone had a smile on their face as the weather was good and only 74 miles to our goal. We did have another 16 miles after JOG as we had booked a B&B in Wick so that we could catch our 8.15 train from Wick the following morning. But it mattered not.
Porridge again on the menu and talk was all positive - we were going to make it.
We could have chosen the quick route up the east coast but we decided a route up the Helmsdale river valley and then turn right along the north coast.
Saying Hasta La Vista to Helmsdale we continued our jolly jaunt to John O'Groats. We set off at 8.45 without cold or wet weather gear. What a pleasant feeling.
We had definitely made the right route choice as the Helmsdale valley was a joy to ride. Fantastic countryside and the best road surface of our trip. We were stopping every 15 minutes or so for photographs. There was golden gorse, a vivid blue river, lochs, mountains, deer, scenic bridges with blue streams running beneath. What a choice of route.
We passed numeous lochs, curiously named Tout, Tin, Shut and Tite and Smith.
This nirvana went on for 37 miles and 3 hours 36 minutes until the sea was spotted on the north coast where we had to turn right towards our destination.
This is where the "fun" began as we turned into a headwind that being in a valley we were blissfully unaware of.
This was to be our final leg of 37 miles - oh joy! But I was feeling good.
We passed another couple of cyclists doing the same E2E but over 15 days. After stopping for another photo oppertunity and climbing out of a small valley we were passed by the supported group we met travelling towards Oban. As they passed I increased my pace and got onto the back of these three riders (they had no panniers!) CFE did the same behind me. This was pleasant as we were moving at a good pace into the wind with some shelter. What proved to be CFE's downfall occurred next as there was a split in the group as a guy on a De Rosa sprinted off the group. Not wanting to be a cissy I went after him. The group split as the road turned downwards approaching Reay. Despite my weight penalty and lack of aerodynamics I could only get to within 20 metres of the De Rosa rider. I was unable to catch the De Rosa (very similar to chasing Kevin Haynes along University Boulevard!) so I slowed my pace to then be overtaken by a Specialised S-Works. I thought I had done well with my panniers but I only succeeded in causing CFE to suffer for the rest of the ride to JOG! CFE decided that he no longer wanted to be a member of the T.W.Ats!
Arriving in Reay we stopped at the village shop/petrol station and sought a "meal deal" only to find out that they were out of sandwiches. As his supplies consisted of rolls, cheese, ham, crisps, coffee etc, we made our own sitting on a picnic bench just behind the petrol pumps. It was in the sun and sheltered from the wind so it was welcome. We certainly found some excellent dining facilities on our trip!
We passed through Thurso and re-fuelled at Tesco as we understood that there was very little at JOG and we then had to cycle onto Wick.
The rest of our pilgrimage was again into a headwind and as I was feeling strong CFE was happy for me to lead. We decided that we were all going to arrive together so within 5 miles we found a sheltered place in the sun and lay down and waited for OWO.
Together we arrived at John O'Groats, like a three horse posse riding into town and staked our claim to being members of the LEJOG club!
OWO had said to me "It's not the destination that matters, it's the journey" - He was mighty glad to reach JOG though!
Despite a very cold wind and a photographer who didn't like to do things quickly we had the obligatory photos at the post.
Several other cyclists were also arriving and had a welcoming involving champagne and cars to take them on.
We felt nothing. I had carried a half bottle of whiskey to celebrate our achievement but we forgot we had it such was the sense of anticlimax!
We had made it in 12 days and cycled 988.1 miles with all our gear on our bikes.
The final comment was made by my scottish companions "Is that us?" - and it was.