Friday

The last day of the LEJOG run itself.

After checking over Dennis in the morning, and readying ourselves for our final Morrisons breakfast, we headed out in our previous position as car 14. The Minibum was locked up on the campsite as we didn't need to take it with us, so we didn't need to tail the lead car any more.

We fuelled ourselves and Dennis, and set out on our way up the east coast of Scotland to our final destination, John O'Groats. This is a fantastic, very enjoyable and scenic drive with some great sections of driving roads and plenty of little towns and villages to go through.

We had no problems on the way up, until climbing the hills around Helmgate (which I still think sounds like it should be in Yorkshire). Unfortunately, for the first time in this run's history one of the cars didn't make it to John O'Groats, dying without drive on the uphill section out of Helmgate. I think in all honesty, even though it was a BMW Mini rather than one of the classics, no-one would have wished it on anyone that their car would not complete the run. The frustration felt by the driver was apparent for the rest of the day, although he did manage to make it to John O'Groats by other means.

We made the usual loo stop in Lybster and took the usual trip down to the harbour, which gave us another chance to take group photos and chat with some of the locals.

And then we headed for the final run into John O'Groats.

Unfortunately we couldn't cross the traditional start/finish line as the John O'Groats Hotel, in whose car park it is painted, is currently undergoing some form of building work. However, we still had opportunity to pile round the roundabout just before it, and time to get our pics taken at the signpost, grab souvenirs and hear more rumours of sightings of Moo and Teef. They were still missing at this point, although some had an inkling of where they were.

Once we were all finished (and once some had braved the photographer who couldn't count or spell) we headed back to Inverness, retracing the ever-enjoyable route back to the campsite. As with last year, we had a number of muppets on the road trying to overtake but with a bit of gap-making (and collective ranting on the CBs) we all made it back safely. And with it being Friday night, it was time to party!

Grace celebrated her 3rd birthday on the run, so we all had a party alongside. There was also the creation of "Terry's Secret Garden", and following an email from one Mooanteef Knapper, a ransom was left behind Team Cheese's tent to ensure the safe return of Teef And Moo. The story of their ordeal (and the resultant investigation) is soon to be serialised...

Eventually it was time for us to crawl into our pits, ready to rest for the long drive home the next day...