Inverness to Dunnet Head
Tuesday 21st May
Evanton to Brora
Daily miles 42.5
Total miles 907.9
Daily ascent 1137
Total ascent 46744
Weather Damp start but a little brighter later.
Difficulty Moderate
After another night of rain we had to pack wet tents while trying to keep the rest of our things dry. This was now something we were getting quite good at and were on our way again by about 07:30.
It was not long before the traffic began to build up again. One incident makes me smile when I think of it was when John and I were approaching the top of a long climb, we saw two other cyclists, like us, fully loaded with camping gear, coming towards us on the other side of the road. Trailing patiently behind them was a long line of lorries and cars extending for several hundred yards or so. I turned to comment to John when to my horror I saw that we were leading an almost identical column of vehicles. We pulled off the road to allow the traffic to clear as did the guys across the road fully expecting some sort of reaction from the drivers, but all we got was thumbs up and friendly waves.
Most of the morning was overcast with showers but it became brighter as the day wore on and when we reached the Green Park Camp site at Brora the sun was actually shining. this gave us the opportunity to dry off some of our damp gear and I even managed to get out for a walk.
Later in the afternoon the wind began to freshen and through the night the tents were taking a bit of a battering but they survived OK and by morning it was almost a flat calm though overcast.
No photos today because the camera batteries were flat
Total miles 907.9
Daily ascent 1137
Total ascent 46744
Weather Damp start but a little brighter later.
Difficulty Moderate
After another night of rain we had to pack wet tents while trying to keep the rest of our things dry. This was now something we were getting quite good at and were on our way again by about 07:30.
It was not long before the traffic began to build up again. One incident makes me smile when I think of it was when John and I were approaching the top of a long climb, we saw two other cyclists, like us, fully loaded with camping gear, coming towards us on the other side of the road. Trailing patiently behind them was a long line of lorries and cars extending for several hundred yards or so. I turned to comment to John when to my horror I saw that we were leading an almost identical column of vehicles. We pulled off the road to allow the traffic to clear as did the guys across the road fully expecting some sort of reaction from the drivers, but all we got was thumbs up and friendly waves.
Most of the morning was overcast with showers but it became brighter as the day wore on and when we reached the Green Park Camp site at Brora the sun was actually shining. this gave us the opportunity to dry off some of our damp gear and I even managed to get out for a walk.
Later in the afternoon the wind began to freshen and through the night the tents were taking a bit of a battering but they survived OK and by morning it was almost a flat calm though overcast.
No photos today because the camera batteries were flat
Wednesday 22nd May
Brora to Thurso
Daily miles 52
Total miles 959.9
Daily ascent 3138
Total ascent 49882
Weather Awful
Difficulty Hard work due to the weather
This was the worst day of the entire journey. It was a damp start to the day with intermittent rain and a northerly wind that grew stronger as the day went on. Once we left the coast and began to climb, the rain was now steady and we had a head wind driving it into our faces, that coupled with the spray thrown up by passing vehicles made for unpleasant riding conditions which went on for twenty miles or so as we crossed the high ground between Latherton & Thurso. Eventually, cold & wet we arrived at Thurso Bay caravan park where we rented a caravan for the few days until our lift home was due.
Total miles 959.9
Daily ascent 3138
Total ascent 49882
Weather Awful
Difficulty Hard work due to the weather
This was the worst day of the entire journey. It was a damp start to the day with intermittent rain and a northerly wind that grew stronger as the day went on. Once we left the coast and began to climb, the rain was now steady and we had a head wind driving it into our faces, that coupled with the spray thrown up by passing vehicles made for unpleasant riding conditions which went on for twenty miles or so as we crossed the high ground between Latherton & Thurso. Eventually, cold & wet we arrived at Thurso Bay caravan park where we rented a caravan for the few days until our lift home was due.
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Thursday 23rd May
Thurso to Dunnet Head & return.
Daily miles 26.9
Total miles 986.8
Daily ascent 1105
Total ascent 50987
Weather Not too bad outward but terrible back.
Difficulty Very hard work on the way back to Thurso.
After a night of drying out our gear the weather seemed to have abated so we decided to tackle the last few miles to our destination. Though overcast, it was a pleasant enough ride as far as the village of Dunnet where we turned off the main road for the last 3 miles to the finish. from there, the weather steadily became worse and worse until by the time we reached the Head it was raining and blowing a gale with the low clouds sweeping in from time to time. I had been here once before on a cold but clear winters day and thought what a beautiful place it was, but today I could only think what a bleak barren and forbidding spot. It goes to show what a difference the weather can make.
After the photos were taken we began our return to Thurso and immediately realised that we had a challenge on our hands. Once we were on the main road we were heading directly into driving wind and rain which was blowing so hard that from time to time it almost stopped us in our tracks, but having no option we just had to battle on until we finally arrived back at the caravan where we began to dry our stuff all over again.
After almost 1000 miles the bikes had performed perfectly without even a single visit from the 'P' fairy. As for ourselves, I think we did OK for a couple of old farts, completing the trip completely unsupported and carrying a full load of camping equipment in 22 days.
Total miles 986.8
Daily ascent 1105
Total ascent 50987
Weather Not too bad outward but terrible back.
Difficulty Very hard work on the way back to Thurso.
After a night of drying out our gear the weather seemed to have abated so we decided to tackle the last few miles to our destination. Though overcast, it was a pleasant enough ride as far as the village of Dunnet where we turned off the main road for the last 3 miles to the finish. from there, the weather steadily became worse and worse until by the time we reached the Head it was raining and blowing a gale with the low clouds sweeping in from time to time. I had been here once before on a cold but clear winters day and thought what a beautiful place it was, but today I could only think what a bleak barren and forbidding spot. It goes to show what a difference the weather can make.
After the photos were taken we began our return to Thurso and immediately realised that we had a challenge on our hands. Once we were on the main road we were heading directly into driving wind and rain which was blowing so hard that from time to time it almost stopped us in our tracks, but having no option we just had to battle on until we finally arrived back at the caravan where we began to dry our stuff all over again.
After almost 1000 miles the bikes had performed perfectly without even a single visit from the 'P' fairy. As for ourselves, I think we did OK for a couple of old farts, completing the trip completely unsupported and carrying a full load of camping equipment in 22 days.
Monday 27th May
A few miles more
Daily distance 24.3
Total distance 1011.1
Weather Cool but sunny
For a few days after finishing our E2E we had almost continuous rain before the weather cleared up.Before we set out from Lizard I was hoping that we would cover 1,000 miles on the trip but the actual distance fell a little short of that so I took the bike out along the coast to make up the difference. after an hour or so I found myself at Sandside Bay and a little harbour by the name of Fresgoe. I was going to take a walk along the beach but changed my mind when I saw a sign. I returned to Thurso by a different route and so competed my 1,000 miles
Total distance 1011.1
Weather Cool but sunny
For a few days after finishing our E2E we had almost continuous rain before the weather cleared up.Before we set out from Lizard I was hoping that we would cover 1,000 miles on the trip but the actual distance fell a little short of that so I took the bike out along the coast to make up the difference. after an hour or so I found myself at Sandside Bay and a little harbour by the name of Fresgoe. I was going to take a walk along the beach but changed my mind when I saw a sign. I returned to Thurso by a different route and so competed my 1,000 miles