[Home] [Background and Preparation] [The Ride] [Postscript]     LEJOG Saturday 29th May 2010 John O’ Groats to Wick It was raining early in the morning at John O’ Groats but I got up same time as usual, about 7.30, and broke my fast at 8.00. By the time I’d eaten and packed my gear the rain had passed, pretty much, and I cycled down to Wick with no problems. The bike ready to leave John O' Groats There were lots of other cyclists starting out from John O’ Groats that day. At breakfast two blokes with their wives/girlfriends were chatting excitedly about it and wondering if they’d done enough training because they hadn’t done any 70 mile rides on consecutive days. They were doing it without panniers or loads, meeting up each night with the girls who were transporting everything for them. Another two blokes set off while I was watching, one with panniers the other carrying everything in a rucksack; I felt a bit sorry for him, for it was going to be a bit uncomfortable with that load on his back all the way. It turned out fairly sunny as the morning progressed. I got to Wick easily enough and then just waited around till Trisha turned up at about 15.45. It was lovely to see her. Trisha arriving at the car park in Wick Me and Trisha The weather clouded up again as we drove south but I didn’t mind any more. We got as far as Brora where we checked into the Sutherland Inn (£60). A nice enough place but Trisha picked up a line of insect (midge?) bites on her back just above the waistline of her trousers. They became quite bad and lasted well into our subsequent holiday over a week later. Distance: 16.5 miles to Wick Average speed: 10.3 mph The following day we left Brora and drove the 630 miles back to Ware.