Day 1 - Big hills and headwinds

So this is it, day 1 completed!!! What an f#%&ing day! Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. I think I speak for both of us when j say, we've had a smashing day, just ill prepared. 

We started off at 7:01 am this morning (7:01 as it's just so cliche to set off on the hour.) We cycled from our AMAZING air BnB in Mey to John O Groats harbour edge. Took the mandatory excited photo under the John O Groats sign that states; 'Lands End 874 miles'... Already I can only wish it was as direct as 874 flat, dry and warm miles! However, it's not!

Our route will take us approximately 1034 miles from start to finish. This is providing Becky doesn't make us go the wrong way. (I am putting this in writing so you all know it was Becky's fault if we do one, single, mile more than planned!) We set out to hit 100-120 miles a day so we could enjoy some of Cornwall in the summer months, that we are all sat around waiting for. It's such a British thing to complain about the weather, I mean, take last years EPIC summer, it was perfect, the right amount of heat and consecutive sunny days. Yet, some keyboard warriors still took to Facebook to complain that its too hot, their lip jobs are blustering or their clippo melted too quickly! (I am very aware over the next 2 weeks, I will be one of these people...) 

Anyway, so we were setting out to do 100-120 miles a day. What we didn't really take into consideration when coming up with the logistics of what's achievable, what that it takes you a damn lot longer to go UP hill than it does going down (basic I know) basically, today we had planned to get down to Lairg (aka butt fuck middle of know where) to get some food and find our camping spot for the night. Instead, we have only made it 87 miles and are staying in a place called Crask Inn what I have got into the habit of calling Craster Keep. (GOT references) 

 So our day planned out as followed;

Got up at 6:20 am and started to back up and load our bikes. At 7:01 am we cycled from Mey to John O Groats.  

 We took our epically awesome/awful shots under the John O Groats poll and set off back to the Air BnB for breakfast! 

 After filling up we cycled back to Thurso and further along the North Coast of Scotland. The wind wasn't too strong, however, it was a headwind what was made worse by some of the biggest hills Becky or I have ever been up. Views were incredible from the top, but damn they were tough. 

After about 3 hours of hills, we found a great little pub where we stopped for some food and a well-earned pint of Guinness. Because it's important to get all the calories!! 

 After eating we set out again and ended up hitting the biggest hill of the day, on a full stomach and after a pint, not a good combination. I have to admit, near the top I did feel I was going to be sick. 

 Eventually (6hours later) we turned and begin to head south! The headwind turned into a tailwind, the sun popped its head out and the road turned to the fresh smooth tarmac with NO FUCKING HILLS!! It was glorious!!! Until my knee begins to cause me quite a lot of grief. We pulled up at the side of the country road and Becky taught me some stretches. They did help but only for about an hour or so. 

 After stopping again for some more tasty food and another beer, we eventually got to The Crask Inn. Scotland's most remote pub!! Needless to say, I had another beer and we found out, for a small donation to tbs church we could camp in the garden. This seemed to be the most sensible option after all those hills, my knee playing up and the fact we where both exhausted!! 

 So we set the tents, wandered into the pub, had a good chat with the owners and what we are doing/doing it for and got a beer. The fire was lit so we sat and stretched out by it. After about an hour of silence, we decided to get ourselves to bed for the night.