Day 14

Day 14 Inverness to Altaharra. Another epic day 74 miles. We left Inverness and picked up a quieter road heading towards Dingwall and Bonar Bridge. We stopped in a village for a pee stop and I saw a seagull who was quite friendly and liked my snack bar, see extra. We saw a cafe at around 15 miles in Evanton and decided to stop for an early lunch. Then on to Bonar Bridge and stopped again for addition food. Then started our third climb of the day, and the biggest. It was 18 miles long and climbed 800ft, but only 6%, so quite gentle.

Before we started the climb the heavens opened, and our bad luck I got another puncture. This was when we discovered that we had lost my special wheel nut tool, so Mr PB had to fix it in situ, in the rain. The horrible job complete and made all the worse by an attack of the midge.

The climb was not too bad, and the scenery was spectacular. I knew Sutherland was pretty, but the expanse of bleak moor is something else. We were hoping to be at the hotel so we could get a bar meal by 6.30. The single track road was amazing, and the climbing was fine, but we were trying hard to push on. At last we reached the top and had a 6 mile descent. The head wind we had been fighting meant we had to peddle down hill, but we made it to the Altnaharra Hotel, but too late for bar meals so had to suffer the really fancy restaurant. Dinner was delicious but when your cycling you want a big plate of veg and tatties with your asparagus tart. We are staying in LEJOG cabins but are welcome to come and use the hotels bar and restaurant. It's a very posh fishing lodge, so being veggie is hard, but they have accommodated us. Now sitting in the lounge with a beer!