John o' Groats

John o' Groats wasn't even born a Scot.

His real name, Jan de Groot, reveals that he was actually a Dutch settler who came to the northern tip of mainland Scotland around 1489. (It's funny to refer to the main body of Scotland the 'mainland,' given that Scotland is a part of Great Britain, an island nation.) From this area, de Groot operated a ferry service to the Orkney islands.

But the village of John O'Groats is the final stop of the trail that starts at Land's End, in Cornwall, England, and it's where I virtually found myself on Monday evening. I completed my 1,744-kilometre challenge with a nearly 32-km bike ride and nearly four kilometres of walking. I started on March 1, making it a 78-day trek.

This was my second virtual challenge by The Conqueror Virtual Challenges app, but it wasn't my last. In fact, the day after I completed the LEJOG challenge, I started another. This time, I'm in Germany (virtually), starting on the legendary Romantic Road trek. This newest trail by The Conqueror is a 431-km journey from Würzburg to Neuschwanstein Castle, passing through vineyards and past beautiful scenery.

Last autumn, DW and I were supposed to go to Europe, visiting Belgium, The Netherlands, and Germany. We had actually planned to visit the palace in Würzburg, which is the starting point of the Romantic Road challenge. Until we can get to Germany—hopefully, next year—this will have to do.

Being a beer lover, I also like that the medal that I'll be awarded at the end of this challenge is shaped like a bier stein, complete with a levered lid.

After having completed the LEJOG virtual challenge, the distance in this German trail will be no problem for me, but I'm going to take my time. As the end of LEJOG approached, I began to feel fatigued, and my legs and knees were growing sore. Since January 5, I've been either on my spin bike or my road bike practically every single day. In more than four months, I've taken a break from a bike only two or three times, maximum.

I'm no spring chicken. I need to give my body some time to recover.

On the first day of the Romantic Road trek, I stuck to walking and barely got out of Würzburg. But that's okay. Today, I plan to get on my bike at the end of my workday and add at least another 30K. And throughout this journey, I'll only cycle every other day.

DW and I have also started kayaking again, so on the days that I paddle, I won't pedal.

As I've said before, these virtual challenges have kept me active and, in a very small but not insignificant way, have staved off my hunger from real travel. When we can finally explore the real world again, I have more places to add to my must-see destinations.

So it's goodbye to LEJOG, so long to John o' Groats, and hello to the Romantic Road.