So…stocked up with Marks and Spencer supplies, courtesy of the Support Team’s raid in Inverness, we headed off in to the wilderness of the Scottish Highlands on the A836 from Lairg to Altnaharra. I think this must be the only A road in the whole of the UK that has 1.) cattle grids, 2.) single track road with no road marking , 3.) passing places…and is possibly the most exposed road to the elements….especially noted when you are on a bike.

As if the ride through Rannoch Moor and Glencoe 3 days ago had not battered enough….the gales today we faced often left us cycling like mad, but not getting anywhere due to the force and random direction of the wind. Once again….the support team came to the rescue to drive in front of us to take the blow of the wind (and rain….that I can only describe as ‘horizontal’ at times), while we attempted to ride in the slip stream. They also came to the rescue thankfully, lead by Doug, when once again I required assistance with a flat tyre….that’s a total of maybe 4 inner tubes…I think I’m in the lead!

Due to the weather, progress this morning was very slow and tiring. The scenery however was once again spectacular…now changing to remote hills surrounded with colourful heather…passing a random cottage or desolate house. Half way up to Altnaharra we did manage to find an pub called ‘The Crask Inn’ …literally in the middle of nowhere, where we had a well needed toilet break, and where Rob managed to upset the owner as he ‘did not say hello to him when he walked past’….manners Robert, don’t want to upset the Yokals!

So…once we reached Altnaharra, we got off the horrendously busy (???!!!) A836 and took a smaller B road that ran along Loch Naver, heading towards Bettyhill on the north coast of Scotland. Finally we managed to hit some shelter from the wind and rain…it was a great road that once again allowed us to enjoy the great highland countryside, comfortably and at a better pace. The rain however did not allow us to enjoy this for long though….as we continued the rain came down and the wind was up once again…..and then I got through inner tube number 5…oops!

Team mechanics 1 (Doug) and 2 (Big Al), diagnosed my bike with severe tyre damage, with less than 40 miles to live….not good when John O’Groats is over 60 miles to go. With a new inner tube, and a lot of duct tape (duct tape fixes anything…according to Big Al) to cover the tyre damage, we carried on and it was decided that after lunch the Support Team were having to leave us and go on a hunt for a new tyre (to prevent my embarrassment of having to stagger over the finish line!).

So in the afternoon the Support Team went on their mission and we rattled on up to Bettyhill (which is called BettyHILL for a reason by the way!!!)…and that was when we reached it..the north coast of Scotland…unbelievable we had made it all that way! An amazing feeling…but also realisation that we still had a long way East to go!! But we cracked on….fighting the hills and weather, even though we were all suffering from tired legs from the mornings beating!

We met up with the Support Team again in Melvich where my bike got a shiny new tyre, and we rattled on to Thurso, where we are for the night. Tomorrow awaits us….due to our valiant efforts today, only 19 odd miles to go until John O’Groats…amazing!!! Who would have thought it!!??

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