Ok so as you would have guessed by now, the blog never happened. This was due to a variety of reasons, including lack of availability to computer access, time available in pre & post rides each day (minimal to say the least!) and the fact we were both shot to pieces come 8pm each evening (or in the pub!)..

But, what I have vowed to do is update the blog as an overall summary of the trip, whilst breaking down each day for you so as it's as though I'm still cycling...great for me as I didn't want it to end and great for you as you can gauge our moods, hear about our route and experiences based on after each day of the ride!

Please bare with me as I'm going to try and make the blogs as detailed as possible but as I've not had long to reflect as yet, it may all seem like much of the same! I am going to try and play catch up but you may only see 2-3 blogs appear a day so as I say, bare with me!

So, I'll begin with summarising from Bristol, back on the 19th of August (day before dept.). After saying my goodbyes at work, I rode down to Max's house to start the packing (nothing like leaving things to the last minute!). The bikes proved more troublesome to pack into the cardboard boxes than first anticipated but after 2 hours & 2 cups of tea made but not drunk, we finally had them boxed up in preparation for flying them up to Inverness the following day, with us in tow!

August 20th - finally the big day has arrived! Did we sleep well? Well not too bad, but a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation meant that I personally was relieved to hear my alarm blaring at 08.30hrs. After a light breakfast, I awaited for Max to arrive before we set off for Bristol Airport. A rather inauspicious navigational start led us down the M5 the wrong way but after doing a quick U-Turn at the next junction, we made our way to meet Max's parents who had the bikes and then onto the airport.

After checking in, we were directed to take our bikes to the 'oversized baggage' area where I bikes would be sent for loading. After consultation with the 'oversized man' ( I don't mean he was overweight, that's just the title I am giving him), we thought best to deflate our tyres in fear of them exploded due to the pressure in the hold of the aircraft. This mean ripping the boxes open (I wasn't best pleased as I was rather impressed with my crosstitch tape work!) and resealing them but once done, we saw them swallowed up by the conveyor-belt en-route (we hoped!) to the outbound Inverness flight!

The flight to Inverness was short and pleasent enough, as we were lead to the emergency exit bound seats (you know, the one's where you get extra leg room in return for being solely responsible for getting everyone off the plane in an emergency!) and discussed the trip and other biking adventures with a guy who had done 'JOGLE' a few years previous.

After exiting the plane, we nervously awaited safe unloading and delivery of the bikes. We were chuffed to bits to see the boxes in one piece and carried them the short distance to the bus stop directly outside Inverness Airport to catch a ride into the town centre.

Once arrived in the city centre, we surveyed for a suitable area to assemble the bikes. We eventually plumped for a supermarket loading area, as good a place as any...yeah we thought so as well! Assembling the bikes was one of our main concerns, but we made a pretty good fist of it, although we did need to make a short trip to a nearby bike shop to get my breaks looked at!

After grabbing a bite to eat & some goodies for the ride from WHSmith, we hopped on our train to Wick, although that was easier said than done, as what seemed like one train was actually two ajoined, the latter of which was not going to Wick. Fortunately we got on the right one, and settled in for the four and a half ride North. My decision to buy a grab bag of Skittles left me twitchy to get riding, and we were both relieved to get to the end of the line at Wick before riding around the small Scottish town aimlessly looking for our B&B. After passing it 2-3 times without realising, we were eventually spotted by Keith of Harbour House B&B who raced out to attract our attention. We initially carried on riding, upping our speed slightly in fear that we were about to be mugged before we realised who it was! Needless to say, we were relieved and already slightly worse for wear when our heads hit the pillow shortly afterwards.

August 21st (Day 1) - up early today in time for breakfast (the full monty of course!) and after saying our goodbyes to Keith, we set out for John O'Groats! We got all of 100 yards before I had to stop to adjust the breaks on the bike. Most probably a sign of things to come!? After stopping off at a nearby Tesco's for supplies, we experienced our first (and hopefully our last!) minor accident. After I turned right at a T-junction, Max followed in tow but after turning to see why the car behind had sounded it's horn, he had next to no time to react to the fact I had stopped shortly after the junction to reconfirm directions, all of which ended in Max & bike in a heap. Fortunately, with the exception of grass/mud stains, Max and his bike came through relatively unscathed and after dusting himself down, we carried on toward JOG. In a way, it may well have prove to be a blessing in disguise, as if we had any complacancies before setting off, they have been well and truely banished. We have to ensure we remain focused at all times to ensure that there are no further mishaps!

Shortly aftwards we arrived into John O'Groats to be met with the sight of groups finishing their respective rides. We both immediately thought ahead to our prospective finish at Lands End in 15 days time and after a few quick pics, we got back into the saddle to head west to our first stop, Tongue.

The 66 mile treck across the west-coast could not have been much tougher. We encountered a strong head wind all day and showers to add salt to our wounds. The terrain was also tough, scaleing large mountains only to have to peddle furiously coming down the other side due to the wind! We certainly feel like we have been thrown in at the deep end...or at least that's what we hope! Due to a slightly later than planned start at Wick, we were also running short on daylight, so we were relieved when we eventually arrived in here in Tongue and the YHA which we had booked into earlier today.

The hostel is in the middle of nowhere, the weather is still bleak and there is no where open as it's a Sunday. Pasta with tomato sauce for tea and bed. Things can only get easier.