Day 16: Brora - John O' Groats (67 miles)

We were very excited as today proved to be our last. I had light panniers and Sicknote had none. We knew that it was going to be a hard day, especially the first 30 miles.

Ever since we embarked on this crazy journey, I have been warning about "Berriedale Braes". "Can't be that bad" "we'll see".

We had a gentle warm-up with the hill at Helmsdale, 10 miles in. Then we met a couple of JOGLErs who had just climbed Berriedale (13% and 1.5 miles long) and warned us about the crazy descent and then worse climb.

We were both delighted to conquer this beast and then the climb at Dunbeath (10%). We sailed into Lybster where Helen suprised us and took us to lunch at the Portland Arms (highly recommended). Who was also there? The two lady fellow end-to-enders and their rather large entourage.

It seemed to be only a few moments later we cycled into Wick and, just when we thought that our record of having had a donation every day would be broken at the last, a mystery lady donated to Sicknote as he waited outside TESCO's in Wick (other supermarkets are not available....not here anyway).

On our cycle in from Wick, Hamish McLean (soon to be father-in-law of mine) was at various points along the road to take action photos of your two intrepid saddle-sore 40-somethings. We were determined to ensure that the supported bikes of the fellow LEJOGers wouldn't pip us to our destination so we put the feet down and sailed along the Caithness coast to.......JOHN O'GROATS!!!!

What a feeling it was to cross the line and to discover that we had just broken the 1000 miles cycled barrier (1002.5 miles in the end). We were met by a reception party, my much-missed son Aiden being guest-of-honour.

We also were delighted to meet Fathead and Pinhead who had just finished before us. There was also a group of 8 others who also just finished...with a pipe band to lead them in! Shortly afterwards, the two ladies arrived to the pipe band also.

A well-earned botle of bubbly was shared with our reception party and Fathead and Pinhead (who, incidently, dubbed us 'Richard and Judy' as they couldn't remember my name!). Those boys still had 16 miles to do to their destination of Castletown, before cycling to Dunnet Head the next day, the true most Northerly part of Scotland.

A lady who was around at the finish also spotted our vests and donated to our cause.

Our bikes were loaded up and we headed back to Reiss where my future parents-in-law treated us to a welcome cup of tea and home comforts prior to a celebratory curry that night!