Julian Hoskins Child-Safe Sponsored Cycle 2007

4.30pm - arrived at John O'Groats. Blowing a hooley, sea mist has descended and the road has run out. It's been a fantastic trip with lots of highs and equally a few lows. Feel elated and looking forward to coming home.

Left coffee break and continued up the coast magnificent views. However wind getting stronger and, to my surprise, very hilly up here with some long climbs. 1.45pm - have reached village of Lybster and stopped for a pub lunch. 40 miles gone and, according to the signs, 33 miles to John O'Groats. Feeling very tired now but the toastie should do the trick to get me to the finish.

Woke up this morning to cloudless blue skies. The BBC weather girl was promising a strong south westerly wind. Had a late start (10.15am) inevitably a south west wind was in fact a strong north easterly one!
It's now 11.15am and we've cycled an hour up the picturesque east coast and have now stopped after 18 miles coffee in Helmseale. 55 miles to go...

What a difference a day makes! Woke up to blue skies and, for the first time, a south westerly wind. Spirits were high as we left Carrbridge and headed North trying wherever possible to avoid the A9 and take B roads instead. This involved some climbs rewarded with spectacular views across the Highlands. It made us realise what we missed yesterday.

Covered the first 25 miles to Inverness at an average speed of 19.8MPH with a top speed on the decent to Inverness of 43MPH. I realised that I could not keep up that pace all day and stopped for a well earned coffee in Inverness. We crossed the Moray Firth and then the Cromarty Firth before leaving for B roads again and hugging the Cromarty Firth through Alness and Invergorton.
We arrived at a spot saying “road closed” presuming we would some how be able to get through on our bikes. In fact we came to a river where the bridge had been swept away so had to retrace some of our steps and reach Tain for a late lunch. Unfortunately the winds then changed once again so we made slower progress up the coast to Golspie where we were staying for the night. In fact we were staying inland at a hotel where the owner proudly pronounced he had “no stars”.
A fantastic day, the best so far in contrast to the day before which was undoubtedly the worst. 82 miles covered today and only 75 to John O'Groats!

An utterly miserable day. The wind was howling from the north through the passes of the Cairngorms (which I could hardly see). It rained as hard as I have ever seen, all day. The roads were treacherous and it took forever to cover the first 35 miles. Some of this was on the A9 with the added danger of oil tankers and lorries. The surface water was horrendous and when I stopped for lunch, was completely drenched through my waterproofs. I thought there would be another 4/5 hours to cover the final 45 miles.

Luckily the winds changed direction at lunchtime and started blowing from the South West (the supposed prevailing wind) - the first time it had actually blown in this direction. The result was an average speed increase of 8-9 mph in the morning to 20 mph that afternoon.

The rain didn't stop but that didn't matter as I managed to get to Carrbridge via Aviemore very quickly. The only regret was not seeing the mountain scenery due to the conditions. Forecast is better for tomorrow.

Wind yet again against us and it is still raining. However the wind is not as strong as yesterday which has made the going slightly easier. We headed north via Stirling and then up towards the highlands. Some tiring climbs before arriving at our bunkhouse accommodation for the night close to the River Tay (approx 80 miles in total).

Bitterly cold and wet. Extremely strong north wind today very hard going - seemed a lot longer than the 75 miles it actually was.

Woke up to pouring rain (the first serious rain we've encountered) and, more depressingly, a strenghtening north wind. Left Kentmere and cycled towards Windermere before ascending Kirkdale Pass (a four and a half mile climb). It was very difficult with the wind howling down the pass but once at the top there was an enjoyable (if not a little treacherous) descent into Patterdale where we stopped for coffee at a friend's house. From Patterdale we went around Ullswater to Penrith and from there onto Carlisle, Gretna and a further 10 or so miles into Scotland to a guest house at Annan for the night (88 miles today).

Left the police HQ at Preston where I stayed and went north via Lancaster. Winds yet again against us. After 50 miles arrived at Kendal in Cumbria where I had a good pub lunch. From there went up into the Lake District. Sun was shining and the views were fantastic. Arrived where I was overnighting at Kentmere - staying in a bunk house (6 to a room)! Although very basic it was great to have left the cities of the North West behind and I'm now looking forward to tomorrow in the Lakes and then on to Scotland.

I've got to go 85 miles today. A bit apprehensive after yesterday and not sure how legs will cope. In fact went the first 55 miles into strong headwind and felt 100 times better than yesterday. Looking forward to leaving citties behind and heading out towards the Lakes tomorrow.

Thank you to those of my colleagues who have 'dressed down' for me today. I hope you all have a good bank holiday weekend (although I hear serious rain is forecast).

Arrived in Preston having done 90 miles and feel fine.