Cycling Land's End to John O'Groats (LEJOG)...to benefit the Simon Sharp Eagle Fund: 06/09/13

What a Journey! YES, I did finish yesterday and it was not only an exhilarating day, but very emotional one for me.

I started out at 8:15 a.m. in Altnaharra riding the Strathnaver Trail. The weather was cool and overcast, but the sun peeked out several times throughout the day and it warmed up to 68 degrees. My last leg of the trip took me through Bettyhill ( I prefer to call it bugger hill), Melvich, Dounreay, Thurso, Dunnet, Mey to John O'Groats. I really felt a burst of adrenaline as if Simon was pushing me this last leg. At the end I had so much energy, I felt like going back to Land's End the next day. (Don't laugh....a group of eight retirees were at the dinner table next to us and were doing exactly that starting tomorrow...JOGLE-John O'Groats to Land's End). It was a relatively easy ride from Altnaharra to Bettyhill, then a grueling climb up onto the road along the northern part of Scotland where you could see the North Sea along the entire route. I ran into the Pelaton at Bettyhill where I stopped for tea, but they were already pretty spread out. From Bettyhill the road was very up and down. Up to the dales and down not to the valleys where the towns were along the coastline. Stopped in Thurso for a late lunch and had a sausage roll and tea. Did a little shopping there and then onto the Castle Arms in Mey. The Queen Mother had her summer residence here at Mey Castle until she passed away. I waited at the Castle Arms for the rest of the group, met the owners and had a half pint. At 4:00 p.m., the group had not arrived, so I continued on the last 6 miles to John O'Groats. As you can see the photographer had to put extensions on the sign, just to fit Jackson, Mississippi. After congratulating the group and taking care of photos, I rode back six miles to the Castle Arms where I stayed for the evening. Had a nice celebratory dinner with the group at the Seaview Hotel and yes had one dram of Glenmorangae before calling it a night.

I plan on blogging more and summarizing the highlights later. But let me just say a few thank you's.

Thanks to Tamar for letting me make take this journey, and dealing with the day-to-day headaches of running the Inn while I've been gone. Thanks for the support and encouragement from my sister Penny, brother's Michael & David and Nick, David, Martin, David, Matt, Helen and from the tour group that I joined along the way.

My sincere gratitude from all the well wishes from friends and acquaintances, and words of encouragement along the way. And special thanks to everyone who donated (large and small) to benefit the two great causes in Simon's honor. It truly has been an incredible experience, one I will cherish forever!!!

Starting off my journey outside Altnaharra