Day 14:the final push to Jo'G

We made it in peloton convoy together over the last 7 miles from Mey. We had begun the day spread out over 17 miles along a single-track B road running south-north on the plateau between snow capped hills. Eleven of us were taxied up from Lairg to the Crask Inn to which we had cycled the day before. It was strange going to this place of isolation: no mains electricity or water supply, but peaty coloured water to drink. We loaded our bikes up and pedalled on another seven miles to where others had stayed at Altnahara, a beautiful paradise of a loch refecting deep blue shimmering light under a cloudless sky. Sheep and lambs moved unpredictably across our path.

We reached the north coast at Bettyhill, and then had a further 25 miles of undulating hills to urge our machines over as we were warmed by the sun, but chilled by a cool headwind breeze from the east. Lunch taken, the undulations eased, but the wind did not abate. We passed Dounreay under its decommisioning resolution plan. We broke our journey at Tesco in Thurso to quench our thirst with a cup of tea. Graeme (Scottish - previously spelt the English way) and I were the last to reach that rendez-vous in Mey, not too long after the rest of the Peak Tours Group.

In John o'Groats we passed the Seaview hotel, turning left down to that signpost that points back to Land's End; for us a whole fortnight in the dim, but remembered distance. Team photos were taken, and individual and paired ones, mainly on mobile phones. The Orkney Isles shimmered in the clear evening light. The sun was behind us at this photoshoot finale.

We will be seen in silhouette more than in delighted but weary faces. But we were really there, thanks to that back-up support team that had seen us though our highs and lows, fixing us up when we had failing steeds; when the punctures hit in the hailstorm, when the brake-blocks burnt up on long hard descents, when spokes loosened over innumerable bumps and vibrations. We had been kept going by our group and our supporters around the country.

Down at breakfast this morning, we learnt that another Michael (Dad to an Ian on the tour) who had mainly travelled in the vans during the second week as he was receiving antibiotics for a chest infection, had been taken unwell again at midnight and had been taken to Wick hospital, where he was now responding to IV medications. So our coach to Inverness had Michael & Ian left behind at Wick. A sobering sadness as we drove south. Our reflections included the 20,000 miles that we had cycled without accident, through the vagaries of the UK weather in May 2013.

I have kept well. My asthma has not bothered me. Hayfever has not materialised. My left lower shin hurt on walking after rushing on foot to an eating house in Inverness. What a difference a choice of road and travel group makes! Taking the western route, supported through a wind-swept wintery blast, we had got through to Glencoe and then Inverness. My unsupported friend taking on greater daily distances with no on-the-road support, were hit by snow and hail on the high reaches of the A9 near Aviemore, and when energy levels were low, hypothermia stopped them in their tracks and thwarted their ambitions after >700 miles in 5 days. A huge accomplishment on its own, but a bitter-sweet pill for his 60th birthday challenge.

From texts and emails one senses that there is amazement at the achievement. But we are part of a growing group who have done LEJOG, by whatever means we choose to tackle the journey. We saw more pain on the faces of the Windermere marathon runners at the 4-hour mark, than I think we felt. We witnessed the elation of today's Edinburgh marathon runners in their blue T-shirts at Waverley station on their way home. I think of our Eaton Bray milkman setting six weeks aside to walk the walk. I think we had it easy.

But we needed your support.

Thanks so much.

Michael