Day 9: Drumnadrochit to Tongue
Mileage: 98
Cycling time: 6hr 38m
Total mileage: 881
Total cycling time: 59hr 43m
Another awesome day in both the saddle and in terms of scenery as we headed right up to the north coast before our final assault east to John O'Groats tomorrow. Saying that, to be honest we don't even feel we are really in Britain at all such is the stunning solitude and scenery in this part of the world. With moorland and great forests surrounded by towering peaks and giant tarns it reminds me more of a Canadian skyscape than anything closer to home. One wonders how many people in Britain have actually ever ventured this far north!
The day didn't begin well with Graham puncturing within two miles and having major problems with his tyre, but thankfully our back-up van was still behind us and we were able to sort the problem without too much delay. Graham now heads the puncture count league table with four!
After nearly getting mown down by a bus on the A9 we were relieved to leave the main road and branch off for our coffee stop where we found a treasure at the Cornerstone cafe in Evanton where we were treated to some fantastic carrot cake while the staff also gave us another £35 towards our charity. However when Richard asked if the road was flat to Tongue they just laughed at us!
In such a remote part of the world sorting eating stops required serious pre-planning so we lunched a little earlier than usual in Bonar Bridge, before attacking the serious climb into the northern highlands. As the "A" road turned into a single track with passing places it wasn't just the hills that were against us but the midges which came out in force and, believe you me, made cycling very uncomfortable!
Late afternoon we took refuge with a pint in the extraordinary Crask Inn, which must be one of the most remote pubs in Britain, where we were joined by two-gear Kate and no-cleat Janine who had cycled up the valley to join us (see today's video clip along with a clip of the boys taken by Lance, who was obviously finding the cycling far too easy and decided to video on his iPhone!). The only problem was that afterwards we had to face a brutal final 20 miles as we passed through Altanarra, officially the coldest place in the UK, and then a final never-ending climb before we dropped into Tongue.
A tired team finally made it to the village just before 7pm, but were cheered up by the thoughts of a seafood pie which will hopefully fuel us sufficiently for our final few miles tomorrow.