Scottish-born adventurer Jamie Ramsay takes time for a beer at John O'Groats
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Fuelled by peanut butter, Jamie Ramsay – previously dubbed Scotland's Forrest Gump – arrived in Caithness today as part of his nuttiest challenge to date.
He is currently over halfway through an epic 80-day, 10,000km cycle tour of the UK to rally the nation’s support for Team GB as they face the first Olympics with no British spectators.
A passionate Team GB supporter, along the way Jamie (41) has faced some harsh winds and rain, midge attacks, scorching sun, and some near-death experiences on country roads.
Sponsored by Whole Earth, Jamie has been eating vast amounts of peanut butter in lots of interesting ways, to give him the natural protein and fibre he needs to keep his energy levels up. His still hopes to try Team GB's official peanut butter with haggis.
The former Scottish Adventurer of the Year, had originally planned to drum up support for his beloved Team GB by cycling and sailing across two continents from London to Tokyo 2020. However, due to the pandemic he has had to re-route his planned journey to the games and will now arrive in Stokeyo, aka Stoke-on-Trent, in late July.
Along the way he is recording cheers and waves from people he meets to create the biggest virtual Mexican wave for Team GB.
This morning (Friday) he set off on the latest stage of his journey from Durness, enjoying the local scenery as he made his way along to Thurso and on to the most northerly point at Dunnet Head, finally arriving in John O'Groats shortly before 4pm.
Jamie, who has already made his way to the most southerly point of the UK as well as the highest point at Ben Nevis, said: "Dunnet Head was the place I was really heading for, I found it more peaceful than John O'Groats. I have been doing my compass points of the UK.
"For me Scotland has been the place I have been most excited about – I have had the best weather while I have been here."
He had just enough time to sample a beer from the John O'Groats Brewery before catching the 4.30pm ferry to Orkney where he intends to cycle another 20-30km before setting up camp for the night. He will return to John O'Groats on Saturday and head on down through Wick towards Inverness, stopping at the Fyrish Monument, near Alness, along the way.
As a runner, cyclist, trekker and mountaineer, the endurance athlete has taken on many challenges including a 17,000km Americas run.
In just one day on this present challenge he climbed Ben Nevis, then ran back down and jumped on his bike and cycled 70 kilometres to the Isle of Skye and has completed around 100 miles each day since that.
As Jamie made his way into Caithness this brought the total distance he has covered in all his adventures passed the 40,075 kilometres mark – the circumference of the earth. "I have humanly powered myself around the earth – it happened here," he said.
Explaining the idea for his latest exploit, he said: "I’ve always been nuts for Team GB and peanut butter, so when Whole Earth approached me a year ago with the idea of a naturally powered journey to the Olympic Games, I jumped at the chance.
"Sadly, travelling to Tokyo isn’t possible right now, but I hope my passion, perseverance, and determination to do this challenge will inspire Brits to get behind Team GB too. We’re all in this together."
Jamie added: “The midges have definitely made their presence known, especially when wild camping in Scotland. But with the right sprays and good headsets they add a certain inexplicable joy to being in the wild.
"One thing I have come to appreciate on this trip is that the wind, rain, sun and even the midges all contribute to make this part of the world so beautiful and special.”
Kirstie Hawkins, Whole Earth brand controller, said: "As Team GB’s official peanut butter, we’re encouraging fans to back our Olympic hopefuls the whole way and Jamie’s renavigated journey to Stoke-y-o is as nuts as it is inspiring.
"On top of the support from Jamie and millions of Team GB fans nationwide, we hope that our peanut butter helps to fuel our athletes in Tokyo.”
You can see Jamie’s full Whole Way journey route and how and where to get involved here: www.wholeearthfoods.com/teamgb/wholewayjourney
