Sitting in Sue's conservatory having breakfast we thought it didn't look too bad outside, she waved us off full of porridge and poached eggs and advised us to buy some lunch as there are few shops on the way. We dutifully purchased two little scotch pies, well it's only polite to support the local suppliers and set of blissfully unaware of what we would encounter once we emerged from the cover of Lybster village and got on the A9!
Struggling Against the Wind Even on a Slight Incline
WHAM, the wind hit us, merciless it was and right in our faces! It was sheer hell. The road is undulating with long stretches climbing gently and some downhills, we were in granny gear pedalling like crazy on the downhills but still getting nowhere. What a struggle! I kept getting off and Neil would go a bit further stopping to wait for me. The wind was gusting so I was constantly being pushed into the verge and wobbling like a two year old starting to ride! Most of the vehicles were pretty good overtaking wide but some scared me sh......s coming really close. Stopped at a little tearoom, the first we'd seen and did the touristy thing and visited the croft museum, so small it took all of 10 minutes!
Laidhay Croft Museum; a Bit of Culture
About 3 hours in and ten miles covered we were both walking and there were two vans parked in the layby one with a bike on the back. We stopped to talk to them, they were back-up for a group of young riders cycling from JoG to Dumfries for cancer research. Well I must confess here we cheated. Berrydale and Helmsdale, two very difficult hills were ahead of us, We asked Jamie for a lift and he obligingly drove us 4 miles over those hills and deposited us on the other side! Is that shameful? We did make a generous contribution to cancer research!
Stunning Countryside
We still had another 17 miles in that hellish wind which we we struggled through and reached Brora and the Sutherland hotel at 4pm. Thanks due to Jamie. I don't think I could have made it, I was exhausted.
A hot soak in the bath and cup of tea and I feel nearly human...
Well done Pedaling Pattersons. Fantastic effort. I think you need to be riding along that road pictured in the background of your blog. Where in Scotland is that? Have a extra pint of heavy tonight and a couple more poached eggs in the morning and tomorrow will feel like downhill all the way. Caps off in your general direction. Love from Clarks.
ReplyDeleteNat, Yan's advice to you is when riding in a head wind ride as close to Neil as you dare, you will be surprised at how much this helps........................Neil, your stuffed mate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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