236.57miles 30hrs 1 min 16,467ft gain
Day 10 – Monday 21st August
Last stage. As there was no where to sleep outside, at this CP all the riders slept inside, and to be honest I think I got my worst nights sleep. Snoring, walking, doors slamming. I would have rather have been in my tent.
Oh well. Big breakfast and pre-stage faffing over with, it was close to 8am and the 15 riders that were left from the 35ish riders that started at Lands End hobbled outside and looked as ready as we could be for the last push to the end.
My legs and mind really were not in it this morning. I just wanted to be finished to be honest. I let everyone go ahead and found myself towards the back. I just wanted to ride alone. I had to get out of this headspace. I was doing this for enjoyment and no other reason. A few hours later, after chatting with Wouter at Contin Stores, my spirits were raised and I remembered how lucky I was to be riding my bike in such a beautiful part of the world.
I passed the point on the Highland Trail where my cleat bolts snapped last year, and I prayed for something similar not to happen again, as if the forests above Contin were tainted with some sort of Highland Trail/Strathpuffer demons. Luckily, I got through unscathed.
The route roughly followed the HT550 route, so I was in familiar territory and enjoying the riding through Alladale reserve. Hitting Oykel Bridge around sunset, I went to the hotel and filled my bottles up at the outside taps, resisting the temptation to go inside and get a warm meal.
I then passed another pub, where I saw a couple of other racers bikes outside, I continued on, trying not to think of the warmth and draw of a cosy pub on a dark and rainy night.
Then the sun went down, and the rain started coming heavier and heavier. The route was a mix of road and off road and the descent towards Loch Shin was grim!
I stopped at the bottom and think I Put all my clothes on, I was frezzing and soaking. I ate some food in the shadow of a disused building and carried on along the road until the turn off towards the Bealach Drover road. Here Laurens caught up with me and we rode for the next few hours through the dark and the rain, trying to keep each others spirits up. Time and miles were moving slowly.
I did think about riding through the night to the end, but then the next section I had never ridden before. I may not get the chance to again. I wanted to see it in daylight.
I always find myself in these dilemmas in my head in these races. Push on through night night and do the so called ‘heroic’ thing. Or get a few hours rest and enjoy the views and ride the next day in the light of day. I was also pretty knackered.
The more events I do, the more I sway towards the latter and taking time to rest my body and mind and start fresh the next day. So when we got to Altnaharra and saw Bart, the 3 of us found a semi sheltered spot to pitch up the tent. Not beautiful or perfect, but it was to us that night!
Day 11 – Tuesday 22nd August
Final Day!
After a pretty rainy and stormy night, the 3 of us packed our tents up whilst fighting the midges off and all set off at different time, I was off just before 7am. The longest sleep I had had since starting the race. My body was definitely ready to be finished!
I was so pleased to ride this section in the morning light. The roads were quiet and the view of the lochs and mountains were spectacular. The end was in sight and the day was going to be a good one.
I didn’t want it to end. Well I did, but I savoured the last days riding.
So much so, I passed a cafe and stopped for breakfast. I was starving and didn’t want to finish in a state. The race for minor places was all but wrapped up, so 30 minutes having a nice breakfast and coffee only made the last day that bit sweeter.
What also made the last day sweeter was the roaring tail wind. Thank you weather gods!
Dark Caramel biscuits and the allure of the taste of the finish line pint spurred me on and I rolled into John o Groats early afternoon with a big smile on my face when I was greeted by all the riders I had been riding with for the past week or so.
I just about managed to lift the bike above my head, then went to the pub for a few pints and lay flat on the floor, not having to think about the clock ticking or where I had to be next. It was done.
I really had enjoyed the ride as a whole. There were some down times, but these were massively outweighed by the ups. I find keeping emotions as steady as possible on these long events really helps completing them.
By finishing on my own terms I had set out what I had planned to do. Enjoy it and finish. Yeah, I didn’t win or battle it through the stormy night to get a good position, but that really didn’t matter to me. I had some long days on the bike, I had finished and I had a smile on my face for the whole ride, all the way to the finish line. And thats what really mattered to me.
FINAL STATS:
8 days 14hrs 4 mins
1259.18 miles
110,786ft elevation gain
30 Caramel Bars
10 Co Op Halloumi Wraps
11th place
Jordan Matthews 