Having been known to sleep like I was dead, it did take a while to get off last night a mix of trepidation still about wether I could do this, Dec's hacking cough and someone with an unsilenced scooter deciding that going round and round the harbour was a good idea at 12 midnight!
All too soon the alarm went off and at 7.30 our breakfast arrived to our room on a lovely serving trolley! Toast, cornflakes, poached eggs and orange juice were soon dispatched while Dec did his usual faffing about before the off.
Riding the 1/2 mile to Wick TOFS we were early (amazing for me!) but within 5 mins bother the photographer and Francis the store manager had arrived and we had a few snaps outside before the off. It's at this point that I realised that we maybe's should have had a photo of the front of the Wick store a few weeks before as the sign was shocking and it badly needs decorating......that'll be me then!
Arranging to meet the photographer at JOG in about an hour we set off with the wind behind us into the drizzle for JOG. Following the route we undertook yesterday we steamed along and soon the first 17 miles were behind us and we were pulling up beside the famous sign post at 9.45. Photographer got some shots than proceeded to video the road surface as Dec asked him to take some action shots on his phone. Roddy the AM from Thurso had kindly agreed to drive the 20 miles from the shop to Pipe us out in full regalia and duly arrived on time to give us a stirring send off, lots of people taking there own pictures and videos thinking we must be someone famous!
The photos and other cocking about meant that we did'nt leave JOG until around 10.20 so it was on the bikes turn left and 20 mile eaters route to Thurso. Again pace was good and we were pulling into Thurso at 11.50 with photographer and Roddy waiting. Some more snaps (thankfully Thurso's facial is much better than Wick's) with me holding the bagpipes and Roddy on the bike then it was a quick cup of tea and some digestives and off, but not without a little gift bag from the shop with some Caithness Rock and a mug! We can't thank Roddy enough and it's people like him that make TOFS a fantastic place to work!
Out of Thurso and back on the A9 I knew all that was left for the next 23 miles was an undulating road across a pretty featureless landscape. There would also be no villages or shops until we hit the A99/A9 intersection at Latheron. About 50 miles into the day, my backside was killing it was drizzling and I'd run out of food. The demons were back whispering in my head about how I'd not even got half way on the 1st day and I was struggling. To go along with this Dec, I think, had been bluffing the previous day when he was seemingly struggling to keep up. It certainly looked like it when I was labouring after him for mile after mile.
Then suddenly without warning the road surface changed to some beautiful newly laid blacktop. It's usually the little things that make the most difference and suddenly from slogging away at 13 mph on the flat we were doing 15mph going up hill! The demons left the building for a little while and we lpromised we'd stop at Latheron to get some dinner.
10 mins later and they were back. We got to Latheron. There was nothing there. Worse we had again reached the coast and the weather had closed in. With Fog/Sea fret you couldn't see more than 30 yards in front of you. We pulled over, Dec found a chocolate brownie in his bag that we shared and we dug out all the lights that we had and switched them on. Driving conditions were pretty bad but the cars were speeding past with no lights on. We managed about 2 miles until at last we found a cafe by the road, pulled over and refuelled. Just as we were tucking into our toastie special and cup of tea an old couple came in and told us that 2 miles up the road there had been a fatal car accident involving 5 cars in the fog and the A9 was shut, probably for the rest of the day as the science was a crime scene and investigators had to come up from Inverness 80 miles away. As I know the roads round here from work I know that the only way round was back the 25 miles to Thurso and then a further 55 mile diversion which would bring us out at Helmsdale.
The first thought was bloody hell if we hadn't stopped we would have been right about where the accident was at the time. A sobering thought. The second was what we were going to do. Plan A was hatched to ride up to the scene and see if there was anyway to walk past, Plan B was to take to surrounding fields, Plan C was to get a B&B in Latheron and plan on a 150 mile day tomorrow.
With a sense of dread we headed the 3 or so miles to the scene, to be constantly told by cars already turned round that we wouldn't get through. We ploughed on regardless and we were soon at the roadblock. Dec managed to speak to a police office manning the roadblock and she was able to raise the Serjent at the scene. Once we had explained the situation he agreed to walk us up the grass verge past the scene. Hats off to him, he was really busy and obviously had more important things to take care off but we managed to get past me making sure that I looked the other way past the main crash.
Once past we cruised down a now empty road, but the wind was out of my sails and had put a shadow over the day somewhat.
Within 5 miles however the weather had lifted and stretched before us was the decent and climb out of Berriedale. Down the alpine hairpins into the village was a much fun as the 13% gradient was hard for the 1 1/2 out of it. Tough but not too bad was the verdict as we reached the top of the cliffs to ready for the decent into Helmsdale. Once agin a fast decent touching 45 mph for the 2 miles into Helmsdale and go the roundabout where the road was closed North.
With the big hills of the day out of the way and the 80 mile mark done we were feeling pretty good about ourselves. Coming the other way walking up the road was a big guy with a Keith Flint hairstyle, staff, kilt and massive back pack. We stopped to ask him if he was an end to enter, and just like yesterday put our little adventure into context. He'd set out from Lands End on March 23rd to walk the End to End! He'd camped most of the way up but was now staying at YH and B&B's. He'd raised 2k for McMillan research and was due to finish on Tuesday. The guy was awesome and it was very humbling to spend some time with him. Suitably gee'd up we vowed to make it to Dornoch for 6.30 and with just the one stop at Brora for a pork pie pit stop and some water we made it to Dornoch for 6.40.
It did take us 20 mins to find the B&B though as Dec through a mini tanty as I wouldn't stop and ask anyone for directions. I reasoned that it's a small town if we ride along we'll find it. Dec wanted to ask someone. So we did and no one was from the town or didn't know where it was. As Dec phoned Frankie to find him the phone no, I ride round the town finding it 5 mins before him......!
Quick shower at the lovely B&B and into town for tea and the pleasure of a pipe band marching through the town. So the day started and ended with the bagpipes, can't ask for more than that!
Stats:
Time in the saddle 7 hours 57 mins
Distance 107.52
Calories 5849
Average Speed 13.6 mph
Climbing 5390 feet
Tomorrow Dornoch-Dingwall-Inverness-Loch Ness-Fort William. 107 miles!
992 miles to go.......
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