17th June 2019 Monday – Piccadilly Circus almost

Hello Everybody!

Route: Bonar Bridge to Bettyhill

For the non-mathematicians out there:

Distance:  55.8 miles (Total 930.0)	Average speed: 14.3 mph
Calories: 925	Cycling time: 3h55m
Average cadence: 69 rpm	Climb: 2,180ft, Descent: 2,038ft
Heart (yes I have one): max 138 aver 113	Aver Temp: TBCC, Max temp TBCC
Temperament:  Lovely, just flippin lovely

Today was live a few other days – just one climb and one descent. I had a very nice start from Bonar Bridge. A little uppy and downy to get the legs going for the first stop at Shin Falls (see pics) and then café stop after 10 miles in Lairg. I had a Latte and Coffee & Walnut truffle – it sounded nice and by gum drop it was nice. 

Very small Lairg island home for sale. Only people below 125cm can apply.

Start of day

Shin Falls from above

Shin Falls

Shin Fall from below

Lairg - very pretty

The table in front of me, consisting of a man and a woman. Sorry, the table was made of wood and some metal, not man and woman. Anyway, the waiter stopped at the man and woman table and the man said we’ll have the bottle. This caught my ear and I looked at them and saw they were drinking fizzy wine (probably Prosecco I think). The time was 11.20 in the AM. Anyway again, as the waiter returned I said: “Is this how you live in Scotland then?” at which the waiter laughed and retorted with “Yes we do this all of the time”.

Time passed and then some cyclists arrived who were doing LEJOG. They were being supported with a man and a van and were part of a UK Cycling tour trip. There were 6 cyclists in all with wide-ranging abilities shall we say i.e. the last two were quite a while coming in. More of these peeps later.

I went off and spotted a chap up the road and I took his challenge to a race. He kept looking back so he knew the race was on. I caught him up a hill as he was struggling a fair bit and I was still feeling good. I then increased my lead without ever looking back – hard to do but one of cycling’s great rules that must be obeyed. I also stopped breathing when I passed him which is another rule that I have just made up also.

I also met the man from Yorkshire who was quite chatty today. The other day he did not want to converse, so I left him quite soon. I also saw the couple who I met in Killin.

We all ended up in the Crask Inn for a mid-morning stop. I had apple and parsnip soup and a glass of milk which was very nice. The 6 cyclists turned up again as man from Yorkshire, Race guy and the couple plus me & the gang were leaving so we said see you down the road. It felt like Piccadilly Circus with over 10 bikes resting in the inn car park.

Off we went and reached the summit very quickly so all downhill from now on. It also started to rain very heavily so we donned our waterproof kit avec sweet. My average speed increased as I was still feeling good and the tailwind was helping loads. The only other time I stopped was about halfway down to take some photos and have a free Magnum Mint Choc from a small caravan site – see photo.

Two of the 6 cyclists when past me and after I started up again I saw them just 200m down the road taking photos. We started off together but I was a bit too quick for them and never really saw them until I got to the hotel. It started to rain a few miles from home but not too hard, so I kept the waterproof kit in the cupboard.

Arriving at the hotel involved a very cheeky little 80m climb. It was OK but they could have moved the hotel further down the hill.

Last sleep tonight and then hopefully finish safe and sound and in one piece. I will cycle 50 miles to JOG and then back on the same route for 20 miles to get the train from Thurso to Inverness. I’m getting the last train so I have already left before even finishing this blog.

Franklin is looking forward to another train journey and the 3 A’s have decided to, yes you guessed it, swim from JOG to Inverness. They crazee peeps, no?

Thanks for all your support and good tidings and keep going for just one more day and we’ll be done.

Kisses and Love, Al, The Big F, The 3 A’s and no one else.

Nice photos:

Bettyhill viewpoint