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VOYAGER 2001
Friday 18th May - Day 8

 
The final day started from Inverness Marina at 8 am. where John headed towards the last lock before entering the North Sea.

Would the Voyager 2001 jet ski endurance team complete their Challenge ?

John met up with the support boats on the Moray Firth
and sped off under the magnificent bridge.
The weather was bright with a slight wind and 
at this point it looks like our passage to John O Groats was to be a smooth one.
 

A cheery wave from the Commercial Boat Services crew
before the off from the slip way at the RNLI station.

 

The conditions in the North Sea changed dramatically and John and the back-up team had to slow their progress considerably as the sea state became rougher with swells of 2.5 metres and wind speed increased to a force 5 making the last 17 miles the toughest so far. It was as if the North Sea was throwing it's final challenge to remind us that it was not to be taken for granted.

Rounding the magnificent buttress of Duncansby Head, we took our first sight 
of the harbour at John O Groats.
Hooray ! They've made it... 1.40 pm.
170 Hours and 40 minutes since leaving Lands End which seemed like an age ago, we entered the harbour and thus ended this epic voyage.

 
They shared the harbour with the John O Groats Ferry whilst they enjoyed their moment of Glory.
Elated and emotional, John tied up along side the Commercial Boat Service's RIB for the last time on this voyage.

Time to celebrate !
The team gathered after quick refreshments in the Groats Inn for a photo call with the local press. Many thanks to Mike Brunton.

We would also like to wish our congratulations to Robert Burford and Marie Sadler who in 14 days covered the 1017 miles from Lands End To John O Groats on cycles.

 

The team are shown together with the support vehicles
which without this would not have been possible.
Many thanks to James Edward's and Hoylake Van Hire.
John pictured with Elaine Murray from Seacat presenting a lovely surprise.

The team thanks Seacat for their support throughout this event which would not have been completed without their generous support.

We would also like to thank all our sponsors and everybody who we met on our journey.

 

P.S.
We would like to say that we have received positive support from all of the people we have met, except  for ...

a. the officious parking attendant at Urquart Castle who called the police to us to have us moved on for parking in a car park !!!!!

b. the 'official' John O Groats photographer who threw his teddy out of his pram and put the famous sign post in the back of his car and went home in a huff. Apparently he owns John O Groats.

All future visitors to John O Groats please include in your luggage, one eight foot, three by three post, white with attached sign, "Lands End 846 miles". (Template available upon request).
You have been warned. Either take heed or be disappointed. Thanks Tom, for your charitable gesture, we have a few of our own.

On a positive note, we would like to thank Walter Mowat, a local to John O Groats from the First and Last shop who presented each of the team members with a certificate free of charge to mark our achievement. He is shortly to start selling self assembly sign posts as there is a gap in the market...

This marks the end of Voyager 2001 but stay tuned 2002 is already on the drawing board. Thank you all for tuning in.