My Journey Up and Back:
A few years ago I waited with friends at Lands End to see some young people arrive from John o' Groats. As they crossed the line I thought to myself I wish I could have done something like this when I was young. So when Peter suggested I could make the return journey with him I was up for the challenge. At that point I'd only been cycling short distances. I tried a 30mile round trip with a flapjack and tea stop and believed I could do it and so I began training. It was encouraging to find I could soon go up hills I'd once found difficult.
I had a fantastic trip to Scotland by rail. I travellled first class cheaply and had good company. I enjoyed seeing areas I'd never seen before. The following day I left the bike at the b and b and went sightseeing. I went to the Scottish National gallery and walked up to the castle. Peter later suggested I buy a disposable camera so on my next 2 journeys to Thurso I took views out of the window.The photos will appear when Peter returns from his trip around Britain.Yellow broom was profuse and the rivers were noticably low. Snow topped the mountains still. It was interesting seeing some of this same route as we cycled back including the Dalwhinnie distillery, the highest one in Scotland a travelling companion told me. The Scottish trains were modern and very clean.
The Orkneys were beautiful. Lambs and calves thronged the lush countryside.It is a very clean place.
When we set off from the Youth hostel at John o' Groats the wind was so strong my bike was moving onto the other side of the road, I was laughing thinking the trip was going to be impossible. We took the Sustrans route and it was great, Peter had gone on the main road the previous year and this was prettier,It was sheltered after Thurso.I loved the Sutherland hills, the road was so wide and the hills fairly gentle which encouraged me. I had been prepared to stop at Edinburgh but I found Scotland got me fit!! The b and b's were sometimes ones Peter had stayed at and the owners treated us like old friends. We tried lots of different foods. I loved Couttie dumpling.
We also made time to see some sights and the day off at Melrose was terrific, lots of tea places. I was particularly tired at that point and it was a very welcome stop.
I lost Peter one day. He had gone straight across the roundabout at Aviemore and I'd had my head down, so I went on the Sustrans route. I kept wondering why he hadn't stopped at a corner for me and I'd forgotten to turn my mobile phone on!! When we finally got in touch we agreed to meet at the planned stop where Peter was on his second scone when I arrived. My trip was more picturesque.
The highlight for me was crossing Carter Bar into England. The view was absolutely stunning, seeing mountains for miles and the weather was good. No photo could do the scene justic.
Another highlight was our enforced stop at Harrogate due to gales. It was like having a special weekend away, something we haven't done.
The Pennines trip was the hardest.The weather turned foul and it felt strange on the bleak moors. However nothing lasts forever but I was mighty glad to get a hot shower and a meal. The b and b was one of those memorable stops, the home of the wildlife photographer who Peter had stayed with on his way up.
At one fun b and b we had a choice of a pink or a green room and everything was pink or green including the smallest ornaments. I chose the pink one. It was very girlie!!
Seeing such varied scenery, crossing counties and hearing different dialects all added to the experience.
The toughest bit for me was the 10 miles past our home and uphill to Lands End, but a group of friends were there to greet us and I had the strangest emotions. It felt fantastic and I had a huge desire to keep going. Three members of a cycling group I belong to are on their fourth day as I write ths and are enjoying it very much from what we hear. So anyone out there if it's encouraged you to try it then go for it. It really is an experience of a lifetime.