Stats; total mileage 110.03, time in the saddle 9 hrs 1 min, av speed 11.97 mph, climbing 6197 feet, calories 5773
After torrential rain all through the night, the day dawned brightish and after making sure our legs worked it was off to the best breakfast so far. Home made porridge with honey, cream and brown sugar was just the job followed by scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, loads of toast, tea and orange juice. As I must have been a Labrador in a past life I'm finding all the eating pretty easy to be honest, budgie portion Dec less so!
Looking at the updated weather forecast for the day the grimness predicted handn't changed so we made sure that everything was packed as well as it could be in plastic bags and prepared ourselves for what was coming.
Saying good bye to the B&B (No 9, Dornoch it was ace!) we were soon on to the A9 once more and passing over the Dornoch Firth bridge on what was to be the best weather of the whole day. Stopping to take some photos and we were soon on our way, turning off the A9 to follow national cycle route 1 to Dingwall and Inverness despite Dec saying why weren't we staying on the really busy A9 as it also goes to Inverness! Explaining that we were meant to enjoy the route and told him for the first of many times today that he was in effect "on holiday" he agreed this was probably the better route.
2 miles later I had the first puncture on the trip, glad it was on the unclassified road instead of by the side of the A9. We had it sorted in 15 mins and were back underway just as it started to rain. And rain heavier. And hail. Looking at the blue skies all around us Dec pointed out that it was the comedy Wily Cayote style black cloud following our route directly dumping its contents. After what seemed like 30 mins but was really about 10 mins the rain had stopped and the weak sunshine peeped through to at least partially dry us out.
From there it was an uneventful 20 miles on lovely single track lanes to Alness and on towards Dingwall with the back drop of the oil platforms being built in the Cromarty Firth below us. Arriving at Dingwall at 11, Danny the supervisor made us a cup of tea and dug out the first supplies package that Tracy had posted to stores the week before. Photos done outside, me and Dec purchased a pair of swimming shorts each as we had found out that the hotel we were staying in tonight had a steam room. Little did we know that it would be shut by the time we got there.....
Out of Dingwall and on with the rain jacket and winter gloves as we could see the rain coming in across the hills, and back on the A9, but this time route 1 ran alongside the main road keeping us nice and safe as we began the long drag up to the Black Isle bridge and Inverness. The cycle path nearly ran all the way into Inverness but just 2 miles short of the bridge it turned off and led up a narrow hill into the distance. The cycle sign said 4 miles to Inverness but I knew it was only 2miles along the A9 so it was down with the brave pills and on to the dual carriageway pushing along at 25mph for the 2 miles until the cycle path over the bridge and a big sigh of relief!
Having a photo took on the Black Isle bridge, I had failed to smash the property record for the fastest journey between the Black Isle bridge and Wick by some 9 hours! I have however now set the cycle record should anyone wish to challenge it!
Along the cycle path on the bridge which was narrow and vertigo inducing as the barriers were low and the path was hanging right of the side, and it was past Inverness Cally Thistle football ground and over the very busy roundabout into Inverness ( more brave pills needed!) lunching in the forecourt of a garage with an M&S food it became apparent that the weather, punctures and general cocking about had slowed us down considerably. It was 1.40 when we pulled out of the garage and only 44 miles into the day. We still had the massive climb on the old roman road by the South side of Loch Ness to
do never mind the 64 miles to Fort William....it then began to tip down, and it wasn't to let up for the 3 hours.
I've found cycling long distances can really play havoc with your mental state. You'll go through high's when you feel really strong and think this is a doddle, then 5 miles later the demons are out and you think you may as well give up now, you'll never do it, it's such a massively long way to the hotel etc. let me tell you there was a lot of this over the course of the next 30 miles. As we started to skirt along the south shore of Loch Ness around 10 miles out of Inverness, despite the rain and some bellend car drivers trying to get past on the single track road and soaking us, the spectacular scenery kept the demons at bay somewhat. Then the climb started. Going up from sea level to 1700 feet over the course of the next 13 miles brought them demons out in force! The scenery was still as stunning as ever, but we were beginning to appreciate it less and less as it slogged up mile after mile.
Half way up and after a particular brutal 20% gradient the Waterfall Cafe at Foyes hoved into view. Running low on water I went in to ask if they would mind us filling the bottles up with water. No problem the lady owner behind the till said. Passing the bottles back to be filled the lady asked us about the trip and the charity. Bearing in mind we had purchased nothing from the shop, she opened the till and gave me a £20 note to put in the pot! As I went outside a guy called David and his family were talking to Dec and out came another £5 for kitty. As I said high's and lows! It is amazing how kind and generous people are, and one of the things I'll take from this adventure is a renewed faith in humanity. (Apart from the dickhead who nearly run us off the road coming into Fort William, he can do one!)
Finally at just before 5 we dragged our sorry arses over the final summit to be able to look down on the valley below. Through the mist and drizzle. We'd done 72 miles and had another 36 to do. At this rate we wouldn't get to the hotel till 9am. After reminding ourselves that we were in fact enjoying ourselves(!) we mad an executive decision to add an extra 3 miles on and after the very fast descent took a detour to Fort Augustus were we agreed that things would look better after a sit down and a cup of tea.
And indeed they did. 32 miles did sound a long way, but breaking it down into chunks, the rain stoping and the amazing scenery along the A82 passed Loch Lochy and then with Ben Nevis coming into view meant that it didn't seem that bad. That I can't really remember much about it would tend to suggest differently however. Stoping for a photo at the Commados monument in front of Ben Nevis meant less than 10 miles to go and before we knew it we were rolling into Fort William at 8.25 to the pleasure of the worst hotel I've stayed at for ages!
Still it has a shower and a bed and after forcing a very ropey prawn and salmon starter and very chewy mushroom ravioli main course down (inner lab!) time to get everything packed and ready for the morning.
Thanks for the blog posts Chris, they're much appreciated (although I am bit worried you're not going to bed early enough after the day's exertions).
ReplyDeleteKnowing that I'm joining you later this week I've read your updates with some trepidation. But is has reminded me that I should stop worrying about the cold that I've picked up, because you guys have it a lot worse!
As the first settlers in the Australian colony were told, I will bring fresh supplies with me - the only difference being that this promise will be true! Any requests let me know.
Keep up the great work fellas. I hope Day 3's ride has been a bit easier and that the weather has been kinder to you.