LEJOG day 10

The penultimate day started badly, with Sarah having a valve pull out from the tube before they had even set off and snow as they fixed it.

 In fact the start was so bad they didn't even stop for a photo , so Soup stepped in!

The weather was also conspiring against them it seemed, with 20 mph headwinds forecast for much of the day accompanied by snow flurries. The temperature at this time was showing 2 degrees, whereas the top temp yesterday had been  a balmy 19.

The A9 was the order of the day for all of the 88 miles. This was the most direct but was also the route taken by all and sundry. The views for Ken in the support car were great. The cyclists were keeping their heads down avoiding the cats eyes & craters.




There were very few chances to ride abreast so they had to stay mostly in line and in the gutter. Unfortunately this led to both Richard and Sarah having punctures, unbelievably within 200yds of each other.

The lunch stop just short of Inverness was most welcome as it was in 'The Dairy Cafe' where they could warm up and the food was fab! The team were donated a real Scottish £5 note by a customer at the cafe,  they were on a walk with others with joint replacements. Who should be donating to whom? Thank you anyway.

Over 3 bridges and onto Dornoch, every mile made much harder by being into the strong wind. 

The group were buoyed by the first sign for John O'Groats, Soup was also thrilled as you can see!

The surprise of the day was that Allison had flown up from Bristol that morning and in a cloak and dagger move had been picked up by Ken without their knowledge. Their faces when they spotted her in the support car were a picture!  Allison was thrilled to be reunited with the team - cyclists, support team & dragons!!!

It had been a very hard leg, possibly only being beaten by the curtailed day 5 in the howling wind & rain.