After stirring for a couple of hours, we got up, and layered up for our final day of riding. Despite my best efforts, my clothes were still damp. This made wanting to step outside an even harder task. But, this was our final day, and I think we're both ready for this challenge to end. I loaded my bike bag with as many Snickers as I could fit in, and we set off just before 8.
Our journey was only 30 minutes old when we stopped in a lay-by to do another radio interview, this time for BBC Radio Derby.
It certainly seems our media train is gathering pace now. Since the interview I've had calls from various local (East Midlands) newspapers and even a women's 'Real-Life' magazine offering to pay Sarah a couple of hundred quid for a piece about how she copes with her condition!
In the very next town I became victim to yet another spoke breaking incident, buckling the wheel yet again, leading it to rub up against the frame of the bike, making it impossible to ride. Disaster.
We were a mere 50 miles from JOG, I told Brooksy that I've come 900 miles so far and there was no way I way failing this now. I said that if it couldn't be repaired I was going to 'cool runnings' it over the finish line, and I wanted him to be the one who starts the slow hand clap that gradually builds louder and faster the more that join in.
But, as luck would have it I glanced, literally, across the road to see a bike shop. With the effort of simply crossing a road required, the bloke fixed it quickly. When the hunted down those final few miles.
Brooksy was chalking off the miles as we ticked them off, 49...48... However, one rather large challenge still lay ahead. Helmsdale Hill. We had been warned about this one from day one. The road leading it's way into the town of Helmsdale was steep, windy and ultimately knee crunching. But we'd have been naive to believe that we'd conquered it that easily. Team Trailer Man and Team Bodger and Badger had bigged this one up, so we knew it'd be a doozy.
We decided to have a bacon sandwich to fuel our last mammoth effort up one of Britain's steepest roads. The lady in the cafe was awesome! She even gave us free cake and sponsored us £4! She told us about the Helmsdale gold rush in the 1600's, and that legend has it if you wanted to marry someone you'd have to spend 3 years panning for enough gold to make a wedding ring. This, coincidentally, is a hobby of her and her husband, and she made her wedding ring out of the gold they'd panned together. It's a good job Sarah wasn't as fussy! ;-)
We attacked the colossal hill, which we worked out to be roughly 10 miles. It wasn't the worst we've encountered, due to the fact there were some downs. During one 13% decline we managed a new high speed, 45mph. But a 13% incline met us on the other side, which I think we met with a top speed of 5mph.
We said from the start that our adventure wasn't a race, but when you bump into the same teams along the way, accompanied with my competitiveness, it's hard not to have that competitive element.
A pursuit towards the finishing line sparked a conversation between us, predominantly about 'beating' Team Bodger and Badger. We knew we were already miles ahead of Team Jungle Book, as we knew their blog details, but beating the Badger is the one we wanted.
We raced on, gaining speeds that were surely going to put us in with a chance of winning, but of course remember it was only a race if we win. We coasted the last 3 miles into the town, even casually posing for a couple of pictures next to various signs. But as we cruised through the other side of the town, towards the famous signpost chequered flag, we saw Mrs Bodger and Mrs Badger, surely they'd won. Our complacency had caught us up, did we really need ALL those pictures? One of them asked if we'd finished yet, I replied with a, "We will have in about 4 seconds, where are your lot?"
It turns out we were ahead of them, we'd won! Now that we'd won, we can thus claim it as a race. It was a classic case of the Tortoise and the ... Badger... And again, the fans favourites won.
We spent a good 30 minutes collapsed over various 'You're in John O' Groats' signs and murals, forcing a smile across our beaten faces. We cracked open the champagne, which was actually Cava Brooksy had bought from home, and Formula 1'd it all over each other, and anyone within the 'splash zone'. Most of Brooksy's Cava he'd shaken ended up going in my ear. Which probably wasn't a bad thing considering that they hadn't properly been washed for 12 days.
We went to buy some naff tac from the gift shop, somehow you haven't really experienced something unless you have a fridge magnet saying you'd done so.
Then, we noticed Team Bodger and Badger roll in. We strutted across to claim bragging rights, and you could see by their faces they were disappointed. The excuses came out, but they knew it. We knew it. It was us taking top spot on the imaginary podium. To be fair to them, despite our continuing rivalry, they were all a nice bunch. It was all in good humour, and they were raising money for a couple of good causes too.
One thing I am concerned about, post trip, is my addiction to snickers. I figure that instead of going 'cold turkey' I should move firstly onto fun-sized snickers, graduating then to celebration sized ones to gradually ease myself off them.
It wasn't until the drive home that I fully appreciated how far we have actually come. It took nearly 2 hours just to get to our start point for today! It's going to be a long old trip back.
I'm proud of what we've achieved. There have been highs, lows, blows, painkillers and a smirk being wiped off a badgers face, twice!
Don't forget, we are only £100 away from our target. I'm not going to nag, but I'd love it even if you spare £2 for our chosen charity, Kidney Research UK.
www.justgiving.com/landsendcycle2011
Miles today: 84.7
Miles total: 935.9 (Finish)
Position in race: 1st
Location:Tain - John O' Groats
Well done on completing LEJOG and for keeping us entertained with your blog !
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