LEJOG Day 15 - Drumnadrochit to Lairg

After a nice stay at Kilmore Farmhouse B&B we managed to get started at about 10:15 this morning. I’d consumed the usual massive breakfast but was well aware that there was a big climb just a couple of miles into the day. As I turned onto the A833 my heart sank - the road reared up so sharply that I was immediately into my lowest possible gear! That meant there was no hiding place: if I couldn’t keep that gear turning I’d have to get off and walk. I settled into a rhythm and crawled up the hill. Unusually this hill was at a consistent steep gradient and I had to stay in my lowest gear for over a mile, then as it eased a little and I could start getting a higher gear, Jan was parked at the side of the road and apparently filming me. I stopped and grabbed a banana (ooh-er missus) and then Jan asked me to redo the last bit as her filming hadn’t worked!!!! Like a fool I went back about 50 yards and re climbed it just for her video! The climb continued for another half mile and was a little easier although I was sweating profusely all the way. By now the sun had hidden away and I started to get a little chilly. I pressed on a little harder and warmed up a bit. However, once again the wind was in my face (still blowing from the northeast) but nonetheless I managed to meet Jan at todays lunch stop by 13:00 hrs. It is a cafe cum visitor centre at Foulis about halfway along the Cromarty Firth. I had the soup / sandwiches combo that worked for me yesterday and by 14:00 I was back on the road. Ten miles later the second big climb started. It wasn’t as steep as the first and I didn’t get down to granny at all. Plus, when I got up to the top the sun came out again and I was treated to some stunning views. Jan had stopped at one of the viewpoints and we had a chat and enjoyed the scenery for a few minutes - a selfie was taken. Shortly after this I enjoyed a fast ride down The Struie and on into Bonar Bridge. Heading further north I used a B road up the Shin valley and had some great views of the waterfalls/cataracts the river flowed through. Stopping to enjoy the sights slowed me down but I still managed to finish at my predicted time of 17:30. Tonight we are in Lairg. Jan and I have been discussing what new competition to give you. One idea was getting you to decide whether I’m a hero or a fool for doing this ride but that would mean giving out a load of prizes and probably getting depressed if the answer is not to my liking!! So, instead the competition is for the person who most accurately (to the nearest tenth of a mile) guesses what my official final mileage will be. To help you out, it should be somewhere close to 990 miles I guess - but I could be as much as 10 miles or more out with that estimate! There will also be a prize for whoever correctly guesses the grand total in the Yellow Car Boom! count. To enter your guess for each, just comment on this post before midday on my last day of cycling - Wednesday 8th June. As ever, my decision is final. Todays Stats: Distance: 62.26 miles Avg. speed: 10.8 mph Max speed: 37.7 mph Climbing: 3163 feet Yellow Car Boom!: 123 Accumulated distance: 885 miles