Royal Hotel Kirkwall

... the A99 along the East coast stopping occasionally to take a photo or two. I got to John O'Groats around 3pm and there was not much going on, just a few cyclists coming in from their Lands End trip and having their photos taken around the famous sign post. I sneaked a picture of the sign while the man wasn't watching and then headed off to the Stacks of Duncansby just about 2 miles from John O'Groats for a few more pictures.

... Helmsdale scare me.

Worrying isn't going to help though and I'll just have to take each day as it comes - there aren't any shortcuts! Inspired by a friend who cycled across America and who talked about having specific milestones for every day (alarm going off, getting on the road etc), I decide that as well as milestones I'm going to focus on what makes me smile each day - anything from a silly placename ...

... double ensuite , which means a single queen-size (almost) bed with bed side tables, a chair by the window, a decent closet and a small and very comfortable private bath room. The nightly tariff includes a perfect breakfast. Please try the homemade and local cheese and the splendid homemade jams & marmalades. Eat the porridge, it is oatmeal in excelcis. Our hostesses pride themselves on using as many local products as possible. They have wi-fi and it works a treat. I am ...

... room at the B&B- it really is a very nice outlook with a big old house in the distance on top of some cliffs. Breakfast things even include Vegemite for your toast although toast and cereal is about the extent of the choice- not like our Dublin accomodation which still takes the cake for best brekky on our trip so far. The ferry crossing to the Oarkney Islands is only 40mins and the water was very calm. There are quite a few seabirds ...

... which was probably the most amazing scenery all day. The area around Loch Ness (no sign of Nessie, though we had a good look from the ruined but still pretty Urquhart Castle on the banks of the Loch) is also very pretty, though with less rugged mountain peaks. Loch Ness is one of the larger lakes and you can sail through it now, though you'll have to navigate the Locks, but luckily all the bridges over the waters swing now (interesting to watch ...

Rousay is a small island just a few miles north of Mainland, Orkney. It has been called the "Egypt of the North" because of the large number of prehistoric sites found on the island. Only about 200 people call the Island their home, but it is a popular tourist site because of its archaeological importance. We visited just a few of the hundreds of sites on the island where even today most of the sites have yet to be excavated and researched by archaeologists.

... was occupied for about 600 years around 5,000 years ago. The site was found in the 1850's after a large storm had blown uncovered the tops of the ruins.

This small cluster of about 10 homes looks more like something a millionaire would make for his children as a play ground. The homes are built into the earth where they are sheltered from the wind and sea.

... at all times, as well as organizing tender’s to shore, taxis or dinner reservations for guests and greeting guests and showing them their staterooms. They are also responsible for keeping a vigilant watch for unauthorized visitors, or any hazards or alarms on board. They have a long check list of things to examine every few hours, as well as other duties assigned by the Captain. They are always in full uniform, except at night when everyone is asleep and the yacht is secure.

... For £5.00 each we had super leek and potato soup, baked potato with mushroom topping, grated cheese and salad and sponge cakes - wonderful things. Incredible value for money and truly delicious food. We loved it. We decided to get back to the boat to digest a little and then get the bikes out to explore the southern part of the island. Then it all went wrong. Firstly, the bad weather descended, with mist and drizzle and then it took me over an hour to find the ...

... knot currents at worst. However, from our point of view this was purely academic as the wind wouldn't allow this direction, so we opted instead for the tricky passage of Eynhallow Sound, which divides mainland from its small neighbouring islands, Eynhallow and Rousay. Having settled upon this course, we prepared for the night passage. This meant ensuring that we had the harness lines ready ( at all times at night, when on deck, harnesses and life jackets are ...