Day 6 - today's update from Lochboisdale, South Uist.

The longest day in the saddle as our heroes (who are they kidding, ed.) cycle the 74 miles from Tarbert, the island capital of Harris, via North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist to Lochboisadale.

Gorgeous scenery (from the Machair and sand-dunes of South Harris to the tiny sea-lochs and causeways of Benbecula) and fantastic weather - apart from the south-easterly head-wind which has made this an especially hard day for cycling.

Unlike in Sutherland, no Peregrine Falcons seen today, but plenty of Curlews, Buzzards, Avocets and the full range of Gulls.

We loved this road sign - as we crossed the causeway from North Uist to Benbecula, Outer Hebrides.

Robbo trades in his trusty Dawes hybrid bike for something a little smaller

at Leverburgh ferry port, South Harris

Tomorrow's Plans

So - Day 6 tomorrow - we're planning an early start tomorrow.... and we'll be heading through South Harris, North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist......

Day 5

After the ferry journey from Ullapool to Stornaway this morning, this afternoon and against a fierce head-wind we've cycled a further 36 miles from Stornaway (Isle of Lewis) to Tarbert (Isle of Harris) in the Outer Hebrides. Gorgeous sunshine today!

Robbo takes a break as they cross from Lewis into Harris.

Robbo enters Tarbert on the Isle of Harris after a gruelling 40 mile cycle from Stornoway.

Stokesy's penchant to be photographed at every county boundary is evidenced here on the border between Sutherland and Ross & Cromarty: no shops, pubs or tea-rooms for more than 50 miles!

Arrived in Tarbert at 1715hrs - Monday 30th August 2010

We're now 195 miles into our journey from John o' Groats.
Another hard day due to the head wind!

All at Sea! (Now crossing the Minch to Stornaway)

On the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry.

Robbo's kids call him 'Big Nose Slap-Head'.

Children can be so cruel - and accurate!

Day 4

Day four and the boys are heading for Ullapool from Scourie.

Robbo descending towards Inchnadamph and Loch Assynt in Sutherland, north-west Scotland.

Scourie to Ullapool road ....... aided by a ferocious gale force tail-wind..... No jokes please!

Just reached Ullapool

We're now 155 miles from John o' Groats and it's going well.

Day 3

Robbo takes a break on the cliffside near Durness on the north coast of Scotland in Sutherland.

Day 2

Day 2 - Paul and Mark pose outside the former nuclear research centre at Dounreay in Caithness en route to Tongue from Thurso

Thurso

.... time for a break!

Arrived in Thurso at 1845 hours.

Robbo and Stokesy


( http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Thurso&mrt=all&sll=58.648012,-3.076859&sspn=0.07038,0.219383&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Thurso,+Highland,+United+Kingdom&ll=58.591162,-3.524551&spn=0.149934,0.438766&z=11 )

Day 1 - Leaving John o' Groats and we're off!

Dear all,

Just to let you know that after a long 24hours to get here .... our adventure actually starts now!

We're about to set off from John o' Groats - wish us luck!

Best wishes,

Paul and Mark

This is where we are ( http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=John+O'+Groats&mrt=all&sll=58.442597,-3.091937&sspn=0.037643,0.109692&ie=UTF8&hq=John+O'+Groats&hnear=John+O'+Groats,+Highland+KW1+4,+United+Kingdom&ll=58.648012,-3.076859&spn=0.07038,0.219383&t=h&z=12  )

Getting on our 'Wick'

Glorious weather here in Wick ......
We hear it's still pouring down in England??
Now on our bikes, en route to John o'Groats.
Best wishes,
Paul and Mark

This is where we are ( http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=58.442597,-3.091937&spn=0.037643,0.109692&z=13  ) ......

Inverness

.... just arriving in..... Inverness..... a long cycle ahead of us to get to the start line..... :-)

We're off!

OK - so here goes.....

We're on the sleeper train up to Edinburgh and will be moving up to the starting point at John o' Groats tomorrow.

See this page for our route .....

Previous Cycle Rides

Stokesy & Robbo mountain-biking north of Skye in 1991 before Mark put on weight and Robbo still had some hair!

Robbo & Steve Graham having just finished cycling the 'coast to coast' from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to the Solway Firth in 1999

Robbo about to cross from Switzerland into Italy on the Tour du Mont Blanc

Robbo on the Tour du Mont Blanc with Mick Butters and Stokesy out of sight!

Robbo and Mick Butters take a rest at a French farm on the Tour du Mont Blanc

Robbo powering up the Swiss valleys near Verbier on the 1998 Tour du Mont Blanc