I started off the morning with a full English at the B&B, something to keep me going. There I met a man called John who was running the whole JOGLE route, 40 miles a day for 28 days, incredible! His father was following in the car and playing the role of cameraman for his travels. With the room paid up and everything packed where it should be, I set off, in true Two Tyred style, in the wrong direction! (Well, technically the right direction, but before I'd actually been to the John O'Groats point!)
After my short 6 mile ish 'warmup ride', I made it back up to the point for some photos. There seemed to be a fairly constant stream of coaches dropping elderly tourists to the viewpoint, who all took a photo or two and hopped back into their coach. A few wished me well and commented on how far it is. One lady even took my photo so she could 'inspire her son' to do something similar!
Back on the road for real this time, I passed a few other walkers and after a short while, John on his run. I wished him luck and set off down the road. The first 30 miles were wonderful, with only a few soft clouds in the sky and some great rolling hills. I thought I might miraculously manage to dodge the rain today, but then I noticed the large black cloud looming to my back-right. Uhoh!
A few more miles down the road and the fun began, with heavy rain stabbing at my face. The rain came at the most opportune moment, as I was beginning the steeper climbs and descents on my route. The water makes your tyres less grippy, your brakes basically useless and in the longer run leads to rust on your frame and drivetrain. Not to mention dropping your body temperature and making it very hard to see (the eternal struggle of glasses with no windscreen wipers vs. being poked in the eye constantly).
The scenery was stunning though, when the rain stopped and I could actually see it! In a few breif moments the sun even managed to break through the clouds, showing off the Highlands. The A9 I was riding on eventually meets the railway line I took yesterday to get to Thurso, and criss-crosses its way back to Inverness.
After a long cold slog, I made it across the Dornoch Firth and into Tain, greeted by the sweet whiskey smell of the Glen Morangie distillery at the top of the town. Checked into a family run B&B, a warm shower was very much needed. Dinner tonight was at a local pub where I had a prawn platter (basically and unmixed prawn cocktail) with a chilli con carne and, of course, a single Glen Morangie whiskey.... when in Rome!
Miles today: 85.5
Total miles: 85.5
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