IBettyhill
Written by Anthony
I think we've both suffered a depressing kind of mental collapse knowing we only have two days left. When all you can think about is finishing, the legs seem incapable of focusing on the job in hand.
But anyway, we chose our long route northwest out of Bonar Bridge specifically to avoid the short A9 route up the coast, and, more importantly, to find out what exactly occupies the empty spaces on the road map.
The answer to that question is simply 'nothing', for miles and miles and miles. When the A-road becomes single track with passing places, you know it's remote.
But miles and miles of the most beautiful landscape we've been through all trip, with deer roaming at will. Perfect.
To clarify, when I said there's nothing up here, there is a notable exception, that being the Crask Inn; the inn that time forgot, halfway across the wilderness. We wanted to stay all week.
To top it off, the inn sits on a corner of the road just where it bears northeast, having previously been northwest. So when we left, the almost gale force wind was suddenly behind us. Altogether the perfect pick-me-up for jaded 'endurance athletes'.
The north coast is beautiful, but hilly, for the next 20 miles or so at least. The beaches are golden and the cliffs spectacular.
Nearly there now.
Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
Bonar Bridge John o' Groats
Statistics
- Miles today:
56 - Average cycling speed:
12.3mph - Total miles: 956
