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.

The little plane

The little plane we arrived on yesterday. Lovely and sunny. Today is cloudy and a bit cold. Colin should have hire bike sorted by 13.00 ish and we plan to do our 35miles shortly after.

Bike update

Colin's bike is now out of the equation. Through contacts we managed to get hold of the guy (Sean) who works at the bike shop. Sean came out to the hotel late last night to check Colin's bike over and confirmed our worst fears that basically it was just too unsafe to ride. The new forks would need to be ordered and likely to take best part of a week. Chatting through the options we came up with hiring a bike for Colin, posting his bike home, to sort out at a later date. Obviously this is a hugh set back and involves extra costs but with the support of Deb (Colin's wife)  and family, it's been agreed.  So late last night we packed up the bike back into the box and at 8.00 this morning caught a bus with Sean to go to the bike shop and see what he could hire.
There a few things to note here. First off the incredible spirit of human kindness that been shown to us both. Alex back at work pulling out all the stops through family and friends in getting Sean's personal telephone number. Sean offering to come out to the hotel to see what he could do to help,  he even offer to loan Colin the folks from his own bike! ( unfortunately they weren't compatible) . Then there was a call from the local Police control room offering to help if they could. The Hotel also more than happy to help with helping in collection of Colin's bike. It really restores your faith in humanity. So as I sit and type this waiting for Colin to return on a bike, for the first time since we arrived a slight smile creeps into the corner of my mouth. We could still do this, we're not beat yet. I just hope he doesn't return on a penny farthing!