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Day 17: the longest day
Day 17: the longest day
Thursday June 21, 2012, 78 miles (125 km) - Total so far: 1,028 miles (1,654 km)
Thursday June 21, 2012, 78 miles (125 km) - Total so far: 1,028 miles (1,654 km)
We had a long day today, so getting up at 5.15 to be on the bike by 6am felt tough to do, but we knew it would be worth it... And it being the longest distance we've ridden in a day, as well as mid-summers day, and my 40th birthday as well, it was a big day all round...
Setting off, there was a loooong hill ahead of us, though not steep at all, we got that, and the following 20 miles to the north coast of Scotland done by 10.30, even passing paul, who we met yesterday, while he was still sleeping in his tent...!
He's supposed to make it to John O'Groats today, so I hope he woke up in time..!
Though the weather wasn't great, it was rarely raining and was generally just very windy...
As we got to the north coast, we saw our first sign for john O'Groats, so we had to take a photo...
The last 33 miles of today were hard work.. A steady strong headwind meant at times we were only able to go at about 10mph, about half the speed we would usually do...!.. It took us a while to get to Thurso, but we made it in the end, and we both agreed that going the extra distance today was the right thing to do... And Andrew found a Scottish flag by the road, so we fixed it to the bike, and splendid it really did look...!
Checked in to the hotel, we went for a chinese, and enjoyed probably the most far away Tsing tao beers you could get from China...!
We were also comparing strange tan lines you get from cycling... Here's Andrews hand... Notice the fingers tanned from the first knuckle down, and the tanned spot on the top of his hand, from the hole in his gloves..
Tomorrow we are starting at 9am, to do the last 20 miles to John O'Groats, but in a 25mph headwind, it's still not going to be easy...
Midges Andrew ate : *20*
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