We did it!

It's now 6:10 am and I can't sleep so I've been catching up on emails etc and decided to post the final blog. Yesterday we travelled back home. After getting a lift with our bikes to Thurso station we had a mammoth 13 hour train journey back to Worcester, which actually went remarkably smoothly. 4 changes hardly any wait between and all trains on time - amazing.
The total mileage cycled from Lands End to John O Groats was something in the region of 1104 miles, give or take a few.
Below is the last entry in my journal for 12th May 2006. Incidentally quite an auspicious date, mine and Sian's 5th wedding anniversary.

Early breakfast early on the road in the freezing rain. The first few miles were pretty horrible, my face felt like ice, until we had warmed up. At Lybster we had to make the decision whether to head due north across the barren wastes of Caithness directly into the wind with no hope of finding a cafe, or continue on the A9 and head for the metropolis of Wick and it's hotliquid delights. It was a close run thing I can tell you. By carrying on the main road we missed The Grey Cairns of Camster. I also missed The Hill o Many Stanes as we had to focus on the main goal of our quest. So on,on, ever northwards, though the wind and rain till we get to Wick, not looking it's best I'm sure in this weather. However I can vouch for it's fine cafes and the brilliant cafe net internet cafe. But whats this, the clouds are breaking, is that a sliver of blue sky I can see? On we go north by north north beating our way through the wind around Sinclairs bay to Keiss where The Sinclair Hotel extended it's warm embrace and filled us up with Haddock and chips. It was also filling up a woman, who is attempting to walk the coastline of britain. I'm sure that sort of thing could send you bonkers. My suspicions were confirmed when I passed her further down the road when she was having a conversation with a herd of cows. North we continued and the anticipation was increasing. The low rounded hump of Warth hill in front meant a slow climb and swerve to the east, as we rounded this lump the vista in front of us developed, and what a view. The land was running out. It was totally apparent our northerly progress was going to be halted by an expanse of water, with the lands of Orcadia visible in the distance. This was really going to be the end. A long descent down down to the place where some hundreds of years ago a Dutchman by the name of Jan De Groot set up a ferry business. And so we arrive. Down two pints of 80 shilling ale, get our picture taken by the signpost and the documentation sorted out. a look around the shops, pick up some provisions then off to the SYHA hostal at Canisbay some 3 miles hence. And that was that.