AND SO TO BED.......

Sleep tight, trusty old steed.

Apparently, 1907 is a 'she' and Steve says 'she' is the only female that hasn't answered back on this trip!

CHARMING!

I'm off now, but will put a few route details up tomorrow.

Thanks for watching! xx

RECONSTRUCTION OF 1912 FAMILY PHOTO

(If only I could crop the photo it would be more authentic). The hotel has been derelict for some years, but is now being refurbished. We share the limelight with 21st century scaffolding, but grateful the building is still there 100 years on!

CELEBRATE!

Steve was drinking out of the bottle by the end of this.

STILL SMILING!

JOHN O'GROATS- yes I said JOHN O'GROATS

3 miles away I text my brother Frank who says we are bound to make it now - we could push 1907 from that distance! Too right! This photo shows us at the finish but to follow are many random photos that will please us, if not you all!

GETTING CLOSER - WE COULD PUSH 1907 FROM HERE

On my phone are some other counters marking distance to John O'Groats, but my ipad is too stupid to download them - too much power required! (I wonder if an ipad could crawl to John O'groats from Lands End in 100 years time - HA!).

We are now on the A99, by the way and have gone through Wick ...... Looking promising.

WHERE ARE THE DRIVERS?

Captains' (plural) Scarlet are ahead, but who is in the support vehicle - the 'misterons?'. Actually, no. In the support vehicle are the magnifient wifes of Ian and Steve (obviously only one each), they being Mary and Gill who not only have done stirling work in their support of the venture, but who have been such good company and fun. It's true what they say - behind every great man is a woman working hard!!!!!

STILL GETTING THERE

Some of the hills were a bit vertigious for 1907, but being gently coaxed by Ian and with David breathing in, all were made in fine style!

SOME OF THE JOURNEY TODAY

I'm sure that you would want me to show you some of the fabulous scenery we saw today whilst you all were at work or doing equally mundane tasks. Everything seems so much more acute after a good meal and some alcohol, which is what we have all had - hence my ability to do this blog as there is a wi fi network at the place we have eaten at.

DAY 9 AUGUST 30TH. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED??

Ian and Craig start off the day - 9.05 this morning. 1907 looks gleaming as Steve gave the brass a quick rub when he got up, so no water marks to spoil his reflection! Craig gives a wave and off they go - err, what road was it? Ah yes, the A9. But different today as the sun is shining and all is right in our world.

There is virtually no internet. ...... too busy to wait for loading. That might be because we are celebrating, or because we are commiserating. Until wi fi..........

ONE DAY TO GO?

Hopefully, we will be in John O'Groats tomorrow. 872 miles completed (that's eight hundred and seventy two!) and about 100 more to do! Keeping everything crossed.........

Now off to 'happy hour' (or two), with the 'team'!

Until tomorrow then - wi fi permitting.

COMMENTS

Thanks to all those who have been putting their comments onto the blog. More (nice ones!) are always welcome. You just need to create a sign in name

MECHANIC FALLS DOWN ON HIS DUTIES

Unbeknown to us there had been some slight difficulties with 1907's starting handle. According to Steve (and I quote) "as well as greasing the nipples, I should have been oiling the shaft". And Ian felt it necesary for Steve to inform me of this! Where have these people come from??????

ENDING AT DINGWALL

After stopping just past Aviemore for lunch, David and Steve are up for the afternoon shift. The heavens literally open and at some points it even begins to hail! Who drew the short straw today then?! However, they still both maintain it wasn't too bad. These photos show more or less the same view from our motor hutch - one with the window up, the other down. I think the rain was sh.. awful!

MORE HANDY SIGNS FROM THE SCOTTISH HIGHWAYS AGENCY

Actually we haven't had too much of a problem with this - it's everyone else!! But seriously, only a couple of motorists have got the hump with us over this trip, and Ian and Steve just wave regardless!

UP TO INVERNESS

Ian was a touch worried we might get lost this morning as the route is rather complicated up to Inverness. Once on the A9, you have to follow the A9 before continuing on the A9 and generally going straight ahead, around a few left bends, back around a few righthand curves to straight ahead again.......on the A9! At least it gave us a chance to admire the scenery once the weather improved a bit.

1907 GETS FAMOUS!

Here are the newspaper pictures and article that appeared today in The Scotsman and the Scottish Daily Mail. 1907 is getting so keen on all this attention that when BBC Scotland got in touch, a TV appearance was inevitable! So interviews were had with Ian, Steve and myself. But you will just have to take my word for it, as if you don't live in Scotland you won't see the broadcast at 6.30 tonight.

DAY 8 AUGUST 29TH PITLOCHRY TO DINGWALL

Rather a lot of rain forecast today, but it is my turn to start out with Ian, so valiantly we set off in our wet weather gear. Almost as soon as we are out of the campsite it begins to drizzle, but in ridiculous cap (for dryness), cossack hat (for warmth), ski gloves (warmth ditto), scarf, waterproof trousers and drover coat, nothing is going to get through to wet my skin! Ian is much hardier and has only the ridiculous cap and waterproof trousers and jacket to keep out the elements.

However, from the picture below, my scarf either looks like I am blowing an enormous bubblegum bubble or Ian has gagged me to stop my chatter! And Ian looks particularly pleased. Take your pick on the truth!

IMPORTANT NOTE!

Tomorrow we head for Dingwall and will leave there on Wednesday morning at 9a.m. We are entering the Highlands tomorrow with heavy rain forecast, mountain passes to climb and dwindling internet and phone connections; the John O'Groats ending may be a cliffhanger for the blog followers!

INTO PITLOCHRY AND STOP FOR THE NIGHT

Almost done for the day, we are going through Pitlochry and see the distillery for Bells whisky. Now, as Scotland is the home of whisky making it would have been rude not too stop, so we did. However, none of us care for whisky much, though we tried to show willing. This brought the best out in Steve who decided that the 'nipples' needed greasing one last time before our final destination. And he hadn't even had a drink - must have been the fumes!

ONE FOR YOU KELVIN!

This is what we will need when you do the end to end for real! I have 'van' envy!

DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHO DO WE MEET?

Not ourselves coming back just yet , but Chris, Hilary, Lawrence and the lads waiting in a layby having just finished cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats! Pats on backs and good cheers all round - and congratulations to all of them for their achievement!

20th CENTURY MEETS 21st CENTURY

David and Ian take 1907 into a drive-thru fast food outlet. Only the spectators are impressed!

OVER THE FORTH ROAD BRIDGE

Before going over the bridge we stop at services to meet Ronnie, who is an important part of the Scottish Singer association. Ronnie has brought with him his friend Alex who used to work for a Singer dealership in the 1950's and he is very keen to scrutinise 1907. We also happen across a reporter and photographer from the Scottish Daily Mail who consider our story much more interesting than the one they were sent out to cover. Interview done, photos were a must, so these were duly done. Ian yet again is generous with the 1907 and Alex rides with Craig and I over the bridge.

TODAY BEFORE LUNCH

David is the first up with Ian this morning and what a great pair they make. Scotland is the most beautiful country - when the sun shines, which it did for all today's travel.

The hills made progress a little slower today, but it could have been that Ian was observing the handy traffic signs that Scotland had erected for 1907's benefit - as the photo shows! (You might need to zoom in to see what it says).

Plenty of wonderful countryside but soon we are to cross the Forth road bridge - excitement!

DAY 7 AUGUST 28TH DUNBAR TO PITLOCHRY

Despite the bad weather yesterday, by late evening all was well again and this is the view from our campsite at 7 a.m. this morning.

Before we even got away today, we were visited by Alec Dale from the Myreton Motor Museum who duly admired 1907. Last night he had had a call from Archie Linton to tell him where we were staying. David had spoken to Archie when we got to the campsite as we had unfortunately missed him on our route. David suggested maybe he come out to see us, but Archie replied he is almost as old as the 1907! Alec told us that he has Archie's AVC 483, one of only four 1935 Singer 9 TTs which Archie used to race in the 1950's, on display at the museum. Great story and thanks for visiting