Thursday 25nd September
Today Mileage miles 71 ∑Total to date 963 miles
Nice early start, on the road by 8.30am. Audrey and Sandy were perfect hosts – they’ve got the bed and breakfast routine par excellence and they don’t even do B & B! Corinne was most impressed by their new shower, but was a bit frightened to enter the chamber for fear that her body may be disparticled and transported elsewhere!! She thought Dornoch might have been chosen as the first venue for time
travel! Jimmy had trouble getting into his bed as it kept moving on the castors, at one stage he was in the hall way. Thank you to them for their hospitality and lovely breakfast.
First stop was Brora where we were treated to home made carrot cake and coffee at Morag Sutherland’s who has a beautiful sun porch overlooking the bay at Brora harbour. We didn’t want to leave here, especially with the thought of another 50 miles or so to go. We decided to go with a bit of local knowledge from Johnny, a friend of Morag’s who is a retired ghillie on the Helmsdale River. He advised us to go the route via Glen Loth which cuts off the corner of Helmsdale and takes you up to meet the Forsinard Road. He said we might have to walk the first mile (due to its steepness) however, Johnny, you didn’t tell us about the second, third and fourth miles that we might have to walk because of their incline!! However, this extra exertion was offset by the beauty of the hills with the heather just dying off.
Joan was in her element as she plummeted down the hill and on to the Forsinard Road (her choice over the Berriedale Braes) which we all agreed is a great, mostly flat road of almost 40 miles – single track with virtually no traffic, just a few hunting, shooting fishing types. We were again “buzzed” by military jets who seem to be following us with regularity. Corinne and Tina wondered whether the team might be a defence risk (sheep as secret agents perhaps?!). Corinne and Tina fancy their chances with the fly boys who they think have been stalking them all the way up Scotland!!!
Arrived in Melvich up the obligatory hill of course to the accommodation. Whilst we were all puffing and panting up it, Joanie remarked “imagine what it will be like tomorrow when we are cycling down it”. Typical Joan – Corinne is going to recruit her as her positive lifestyle coach when we finish this trip!! We are stopping for the last night before the push to J.O’.G. in the splendidly newly ongoing half-renovated Melvich Hotel where the rooms and the views of Orkney are fabulous. The “boys” (Tom, Peter and Stephen) enjoyed their longer trip today, Stephen having a little difficulty with his saddle (sore) and slight disappointment that Guinness is not available at the hotel, but soon made up by drinking the beer cellar dryl! Peter was delighted to discover that he was in a room with the two boys with two double beds but then found that they had split one of them and he has to sleep on his own!! Team bonding Birchwood style...beware all you Birchwood staff for future team building events?!!
LAST day tomorrow.....hoop, hoop horray!!!
Today Mileage miles 71 ∑Total to date 963 miles
Nice early start, on the road by 8.30am. Audrey and Sandy were perfect hosts – they’ve got the bed and breakfast routine par excellence and they don’t even do B & B! Corinne was most impressed by their new shower, but was a bit frightened to enter the chamber for fear that her body may be disparticled and transported elsewhere!! She thought Dornoch might have been chosen as the first venue for time
travel! Jimmy had trouble getting into his bed as it kept moving on the castors, at one stage he was in the hall way. Thank you to them for their hospitality and lovely breakfast.
First stop was Brora where we were treated to home made carrot cake and coffee at Morag Sutherland’s who has a beautiful sun porch overlooking the bay at Brora harbour. We didn’t want to leave here, especially with the thought of another 50 miles or so to go. We decided to go with a bit of local knowledge from Johnny, a friend of Morag’s who is a retired ghillie on the Helmsdale River. He advised us to go the route via Glen Loth which cuts off the corner of Helmsdale and takes you up to meet the Forsinard Road. He said we might have to walk the first mile (due to its steepness) however, Johnny, you didn’t tell us about the second, third and fourth miles that we might have to walk because of their incline!! However, this extra exertion was offset by the beauty of the hills with the heather just dying off.
Joan was in her element as she plummeted down the hill and on to the Forsinard Road (her choice over the Berriedale Braes) which we all agreed is a great, mostly flat road of almost 40 miles – single track with virtually no traffic, just a few hunting, shooting fishing types. We were again “buzzed” by military jets who seem to be following us with regularity. Corinne and Tina wondered whether the team might be a defence risk (sheep as secret agents perhaps?!). Corinne and Tina fancy their chances with the fly boys who they think have been stalking them all the way up Scotland!!!
Arrived in Melvich up the obligatory hill of course to the accommodation. Whilst we were all puffing and panting up it, Joanie remarked “imagine what it will be like tomorrow when we are cycling down it”. Typical Joan – Corinne is going to recruit her as her positive lifestyle coach when we finish this trip!! We are stopping for the last night before the push to J.O’.G. in the splendidly newly ongoing half-renovated Melvich Hotel where the rooms and the views of Orkney are fabulous. The “boys” (Tom, Peter and Stephen) enjoyed their longer trip today, Stephen having a little difficulty with his saddle (sore) and slight disappointment that Guinness is not available at the hotel, but soon made up by drinking the beer cellar dryl! Peter was delighted to discover that he was in a room with the two boys with two double beds but then found that they had split one of them and he has to sleep on his own!! Team bonding Birchwood style...beware all you Birchwood staff for future team building events?!!
LAST day tomorrow.....hoop, hoop horray!!!
3 comments:
What can I say? A superb effort and a fascinating blog. All the best for tomorrow.
hi again lol (lots of love)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
going 2 bed NAKERD
jude
We're all going to have to work instead of reading about & discussing your latest exploits. It was great to see you on Weds - & it'll be good to have you back again - it's been too quiet without you! What next I wonder? The book? The film? Brilliant
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