Day 4 Crianlarich 2 Irvine

The first day so far, we're both lying in bed as the 7 o'clock alarm goes...more hysterical laughter, as we re-live yesterday's ride and discuss our aching bodies, my spine still not fully rebuilt. The weather check, oh dear minus 1 to start the day! My feet curling up at the prospect.

The day starts with blue sky if not a little chilly. Luckily the stiff legs are given a little break as we get a 3 mile downhill, which for a change, we don't have to pedal down! we soon clock 10 miles or so and the beginning of Loch Lomand. The roads busy , sky now grey but still beautiful. We stop at Luss for a "Take The High Road" break, if your old enough to remember the TV series. As we leave the Loch a hint of sadness that the roads are now even busier and the stunning highlands were now behind us. This wasn't helped by the I Spy Road Kill count today consisting of a Venetian blinds, a Henry Hoover and a broken claw hammer! oh dear civilisation! The rain was now quite heavy and as we approached the outskirts of Dumbarton, the smell of deep fried Mars bars filled the air and at the next set of lights Colin pulled along side and said "What a grey miserable hole" well ok he might of use a few less words, one beginning with S and ending in T! Then over the Erskine Bridge which wasn't too bad really. We then ended up on a lovely smooth cycle track down an old railway line with just over 20 miles to go. After 10 miles or so for the first time we got a little lost but managed to pick up the cycle route 7 to Irvine. Boy, was that a hilly last few miles to get back on route. At last arrived at my sisters, to a warm welcome and spoilt with a mobile massage booked, bliss. Please keep the text and comments coming as they are great to receive and a real boost to us both. 82.9 miles today ( although this is the first time I have uploaded my Garmin computer info which appears to be a bit different from Colin's iPhone data, I only made it 82.miles?) Left knee really sore, ice pack on. Only 100 miles tomorrow, forecast heavy rain..... in the words of limp bizkit......keep on rollin'

Day 3 Fort Augustus 2 Crianlarich

IIf yesterday was a day of mixed blessings, then today was a day of highs and lows. It all started rather well with blue sky's and broken clouds. Shortly down the road we were greeted by regular packs of colourful MAMIL's, all telling us we were going the wrong way, they obviously new what lay ahead and at this point we didn't. Oh sorry, MAMIL it stands for, Middle.Aged.Men.In.Lycra :-) Shortly after this we turned off the the A82 onto a lovely little roller coaster of a road north of a Loch, I forget the name of, oh it was Loch Lochy . This was fab for a few miles then the road turned into a gravel road that made yesterday's tow, path seem positively smooth. We did however see a stoat shoot across the road in front of us, it's black tipped tail disappeared into a hedge. The road (well track really) got worse and more hilly, and we had at least another 7 miles to go ( In hind sight it would be better to stick to the A82 if on a road bike)  and the gravelly descents were pretty hairy. Clearly my road bike and smooth tyres were not built for this kind of terrain and my route for this little section had turned out to be a little suspect. I was just about to turn round to apologise to Colin for the dodgy road, to only be greeted by Colin's big cheesy grin, the shopper, clearly in its element! The only bonus to the route were more spectacular views, Ben Nevis for one, including snowy top. By the end of that 10 mile off road, as we came past Neptune's staircase (the locks photo), my spine felt like it had been shaken apart so badly and then reassembled in the wrong order! Time for tea and cake, Fort William. And yes, no flat tyres ( thanks mum x) What came next was main road all the way on the A82. I was just about to say how very good the traffic, especially the lorries , were being, giving us lots of room and waiting to pass etc when I was nearly taken out by a tourist and his caravan! It was that close with the caravan as it cut in, well all I can say is thank you St Christopher. As we turned the corner starting our approach to Glen Coe, two things struck us. First was the wind, Met office states 33 mph head winds! It felt like 60! Clearly I had been flippant with the use of the word brutal the day before, as the word much better fitted the bill today. The second was the ominous black clouds over the mountains. Another stop, some food and full wet weather gear, we weren't going to miss the rain today. At the foot of Glen Coe,  we stopped, looked at each other smiled that smile that said, we might not be breaking any records today but we're going to make it all the way to the top no pushing! 8.4 miles of mountain later we did! And from pretty much sea level we had climbed 1142 ft! Most of which I could only hear hysterical laughter from Colin " ever corner....it just keeps going... Aaaahhhh".  At the top I had to have the third PR of the day, only needed two the day before. Sorry PR, Paula Radcliffe? Road side wee wee, you'll be pleased to know no wet clothing, though that was tricky, considering the wind was at full blast on the bleak Rannoch Moor. Moving on, well barely, as we were slower into this head wind along the top than the climb I think! Struggling to keep 6 mph! The temp was now 2 degrees and felt like minus 2! My right foot now happily requesting amputation. Where was the downhill, we'd just climbed 8.4 miles?  Now I knew why the MAMIL's had said we were going the wrong way! There were a few small downhills, which unfairly we had to pedal again. To add insult, another 3.5 mile climb! Finally arriving at the B&B, after a bit of a 2 mile U turn, having missed it, probably through exhaustion! Arrived at 18: 14 having left at 08:20 having done another 85.81 miles. We both lay on the beds and laughed out loud.....it had been EPIC.

Day 2 Brora 2 Fort Augustus

A day of mixed blessings and three bridges.
The day started with visit to the bathroom at 5.30 and being greeted by the window rattling in the wind  (the forecast stated 15 to 20mph head winds) and the pitter patter of rain. Full wet weather gear required I think. After another full breakfast, we left the B&B and the rain was no more and the wind was slightly with us, more of that Scottish sense of humour  :-) Within a few miles, the sun popped out and the wet weather gear came off, just time for a quick snap of Dunrobin Castle ( I know it looks much better from the other side but that involved paying!) Shortly after we came across the  Glenmorangie distillery, I was sorely tempted but we trundled along to the first bridge over a misty Dornoch Firth, the wind was a stiff side on by now, having picked up from earlier. Next came Cromarty Firth and bridge number two. Here we saw a single seal sat on a rock just in the shallows, looking across at the two mad blokes cycling. The bridge crossing was swiftly followed by a 3 mile climb up to Tore. The shopper did Colin proud and got him all the way to the top 'nay bother', I'm learning the native language. This could turn into something like a Top Gear special, where Colin falls in love with his trusty mode of transport and keeps it at the end. Another climb and as we get to the top we can see the Beauly Firth and Kessock bridge, all downhill to the bridge. With a cruel and unfair twist in the weather, not only was the wind now head on and brutal but we're having to peddle to keep moving downhill! It transpires on checking Strava later we managed the Kessock descent with an average speed of 6.6mph! Then we had to cross it, scary! We had arrived in Inverness and stopped for MacDonlds....honest it was all we could find. The next 30 miles was along the side of Loch Ness, starting with a 3 mile ride along the tow path of the Caledonian canal, not really for road bikes. For all of the 3 miles I was expecting to hear the deflating hissing sound from my tyres. I didn't need to worry about the shopper it was taking it in it's stride. A quick photo from a kind lady of the two of us and with no flat tyres onwards we went. Well for a mile or so, then Colin shouts "Nic I've got a problem", a strange noise he says. I soon discover a snapped chain link! Luckily I had brought a spare set of chain links....unluckily it didn't fit as it was for the thinner chains on our road bikes and not the shoppers bigger chain. Now I felt like either James May or Richard Hammond (you decide which) and out with the chain link removal tool I had packed and I successfully removed the broken link put it back together again and got us going ....ok I guess that's probably more James May, minus the hair! . Oh by the way, I spy road kill today included, a deer, badger, frog! and something fluffy we couldn't work out. Also saw a road sign you don't see that often "caution Otters crossing" and "caution sheep using the road". We also had to cross a unmanned level crossing, not many of those left. Back to Loch Ness and we pass Urquhart castle, no sign of Nessy. Then out of the corner of my eye, to the rear of me something, lurking, looming......could it be? Unless Nessy wears Lycra and a yellow jacket...it was just Colin cresting the hill behind me!
Arriving at The Bank House B&B Fort Augustus, we were warmly welcomed again, followed by, "would you like some tea?some cake? and can I do you any washing?" YES to all of the above please :-) Another day done. 89.07 miles today, 74.67 yesterday and 34.72 on the first.. So about 800 to go! X

Day 1 supplement

A few additions from yesterday I forgot to mention. First off we saw our first to LEJOGers, struggling up a hill we were going down. They had that deranged mad staring smile, that you knew meant "are we there yet!"
Secondly a recommendation for the Inverbrora B &B. Malcolm was a star he put our bikes to sleep in the sheep shed, with the sheep, who were merrily singing them off to sleep. The rooms were really excellent.

Day 1 Dunnet 2 Brora

As we left the Hotel, I couldn't help but smile at the weather forecast we were given on the phones. It will be 16 degrees and sunny...clearly the Scott's sense of humour, as it was cloudy and more like 6 degrees....however I was later going to have to eat my words. Now we were, until a week ago, supposed to come down through Wick onto the A9. But having looked at the hideous hills at Berriedale, I looked at a different route. Boy was I glad I did, as we turned off the the A836 onto the A897, it was like God appeared and drew back the curtains releasing the sun (eating my words, as it now must have been 16 degrees) and he gave us 39 miles of absolutely stunning single track road to ride on. Every corner was another wonderful view. And to top it all I bet we weren't even passed by 39 vehicles for the whole 39 miles!
On top of that we were getting sung to by the sheep, singing baa's in tenner, baritone and soprano as we cycled along the road. Then there was a baa that had Colin and me turn and stare.... it sound like the poor sheep was being hideously violated!
I spy road kill (sorry kids) some of you may have read the blogs from September last year and remember me ticking off a list. Well today two new additions (sadly) an Otter and a swift :-( On a happier note we saw our first Highland cattle.
I doubt the whole trip we will come across a better road than the A897, oh thank you A897 you have been splendid.
I can't understand why all JOGLE and LEJOGers don't take that route as they are really missing a massive treat and avoiding a massive hill...bonus

John O'Groats industrial Estate!

Every get lost looking for that unit you need, on an industrial estate that resembles a maze? Well they've solved that up here.....2 units lol .Even I could find my way round that....

Three Northern points

And so it begins........Colin arrived back at the hotel on the hire bike, a Raleigh hybrid, now affectionately known as the 'Raleigh Shopper'. So we set off to Dunnet Head, most Northerly, round to John O'Groats, most populated Northeasterly, not prepared to pay the cost of the official photo by the post, we got one taken for free by the harbor wall. Then we cycled up to Duncansby Head the true most Northeasterly point on the mainland. Total 34.72 miles
The 'stacks' you see below were at Duncansby Head to the South and looked spectacular, although couldn't really get close enough with the bikes as was a boggy field to cross.
So Colin's bike fully boxed up and Donald, the Hotel owner, has kindly offered to take it into Thurso for us tomorrow, as they don't collect parcels from here? Which was another headache solved by kindness. Colin's spirits lifted and thanks again to the support from you all. Tomorrow is 85 miles to Brora.......bring it on.