Getting up from Lairg to the pitter, patter of rain and wind, didn`t instill me with confidence of a pleasant trip, however, I had to get to Durness and today would be the day and the battle with the elements......
Durness was 64 miles away from where I was staying, but I was prepared and raring to go!
The route I would be taking would be the A838, a single track road through some of the most fantastic scenery in Northwest Scotland.
It wasn`t bad to start, flat - ish and with bike going along swimmingly, it was a nice pleasant ride.
With signs for different places and Highland Cows looking inquisitively on, onwards we went at a steady pace, taking in the views at leisurely grace.
It was a pity about the weather with the low cloud enveloping the stunning hills.
The road was not the smoothest with plenty of bumps and potholes and it made for sore peddling!
After 20 miles it felt like I had been cycling all day and the bumps and potholes were taking there toll on my behind! Well, sitting on a razor blade seat no matter how much padding you put on, is not everyones idea of fun!
And in the pouring rain now, not drizzle!
I managed to catch a glimpse of the red deer, stags too but they were always to far to get a decent photograph.
I found a nice hotel to stop and have some soup and coffee for warmth before carrying on.
Overscraig Hotel is about 40 mile from Durness and is a good stop of point and I was glad of the break.
It would be another 20 miles before reaching the ultimate milestone, Laxford Bridge.
Turn Left and you pick up the A894 to Scourie and Ullapool and the west coast.
Turn right and you`ve the North West and East, Durness, Tongue and John O`Groats which is 119 miles away!
Laxford Bridge and this is where the bumps, potholes and steep climbs got a whole lot worse!
With each winding road and steep climb the journey was proving alot tougher and once I had passed the turning for Kinlochbervie and Rhiconich it was about to get more interesting as vehicles passing me seemed to get a little to close for comfort and it proved the case as one did just that and promptly left me down a ditch!
Battered and bruised I looked with dismay at my upended bike and my foot that was still in a stirrup, but it was my knee, thigh and groin that looked worse for wear.
Did the vehicle stop? No, probably unaware of what happened and the fact I was 6ft down a ditch! Bugger!
Having made sure nothing was broken I picked myself and bike up and walked up the steep incline to the road, suddenly I didn`t feel like cycling and felt quite demoralised, but true to me I`m not very good at staying down, I jumped on the bike (tentatively) before having to dismount quickly - ouch! so for the next 3 miles of uphill I limped with the bike and having got fed up I pleaded with the man upstairs to help with a downhill, I was obliged and for the next 8 miles, it was downhill all the way and towards the Kyle Of Durness.
The road I took can clearly be seen travelling between the mountains, just a shame the weather was so bad and the journey a little fraught but overall it was enjoyable.
Would I do it again?
No, I would choose a longer cycle ride next time!
A welcome sign and knowing I was only 5 miles from the B&B made all the pain in the nether regions worth every bumping, potholing, motorhome madness crashing steep mountain riding worth every penny of a wonderfully hard fought journey - now for The Cape Wrath Callenge and The Half Marathon!
They are smart and play the bagpipes brilliantly!
Even in the pouring rain, they were under shelter, which could be more than said for me!
After packing the bike and finding Willow`s smackos and poo bags in pockets, it tickled me, knowing she was safe with a friend and Mother, even if the vet saw me mother coming and recommended this that and the other for the poor dog! Well done Jan for keeping mother in check!
The route I would take upto Lairg which was about 60 miles away, was one I was actually dreading.
The A9 is the main route to Northern Scotland, going all the way to Wick.
It is busy and with a day like to today, terrible wet and visibility was down to nearly nothing.
The journey took nearly 8hrs to complete, with the spray from the trucks and the torrential rain I was soaked until I got about 20 mile from Lairg, the route was not to bad considering, though I couldn`t see it properly with blurry vision, I literally took pot luck in going today.
I hated the lorries rushing passed, but it could have been worse, it could`ve been thundering and lightening!
With not much to show for the journey, I was glad to reach Lairg, which is a small village on the Banks of Loch Shin.
Once settled, I went for an explore.
The welcoming sign to Lairg..
I found a little cafe called The Pier, afterall, I was hungry and needed sustenance!
I ordered soup and a sandwich and The Orkney Fudge Cheesecake.
Both were very good and the cheesecake was to die for!
Light and fluffy with mouthwatering fudge and a strawberry on the side, just complimented the meal.
I topped it with a Cappuccino which also came out with its own design and all very reasonably priced.
The recipe will follow shortly.
Very refreshed and full, I continued alongside Loch Shin and in full view was a hydroelectric powered dam which provides electric, water to the village, just a shame its ugly looking!
Further along the Loch I found old farming machinery, just left, abandoned along the waters edge, where they were at the mercy from the elements - shame really.
But, in the distance the bad weather was never far away.
Wychway bed and breakfast is just as mystical as Touchwood where I stayed last year.
It is a 17th century house which can boast its own "friendly ghost" and with all the witches hanging up and the broomsticks outside, you could be forgiven for checking the beds for bedknobs!
You are guaranteed a Scottish warm welcome and the landlady will help you any way she can.
I decided that as a warm up I would cycle and pay a visit to Drumnadrochit.
I had visited there once before and was a little unhappy about it, would it be the same again? No would be the answer....
The journey there would be different, I was on my new, lighter and custom made bike and I hadn`t ridden it for a great distance, so I was a little apprehensive and the route would be the main A82 which is the main road to Fort William.
Drumnadrochit would be a 15 mile cycle ride from the B&B and with glorious sunshine, a grand day too!
The route is also the main Loch Ness Trail and is pretty busy!
I had forgotten what a wonderful journey this was following the Loch with its twists and turns and my bike was proving itself, which made cycling a joy!
Gears moving with precision, though the only problem I had was cramp in my hand, not my leg or bottom - well I have to be different!
It wasn`t to long before Urquhart castle came into view and then Drumnadrochit itself and the Loch Ness Centre.
After walking in and watching the video about Loch Ness, it was alot different to last time and I enjoyed the half an hour performance.
It seemed to be more informative and enjoyable and made you think is there a Nessie or is it a myth?
Me, I believe there is a Nessie hidden down in those dark peaty waters.
There are several excursions you can go on and take in the centre and castle, all worth the visit.
Well, so did my Mr Men and Little Miss Team believe and is that Nessie in the background?
After having something eat, it was time to head back to Inverness.
On the way a group of ducklings crossed the road, all but one, which was left on the rockside, I dismounted and grabbed it, waiting for the traffic to clear before taking it to the waters edge and watched as it chirped of to its mothers side! A happy ending.
It wasn`t long before I completed my journey with comparative ease, tomorrow would be a different test......
It was early to rise on this day of long journeys.
With bike and bags packed, my heart was a pounding with the knowledge of the challenge that awaits us in Scotland.
I was eager to get there and so were my team!
It was glorious sunshine that greeted our journey from Peterborough to Inverness and the 12:47.
Yes they are with me and will tell a story, a journey to be had and enjoyed by these soft toys! Afterall, they are helping me to raise funds!
Whilst the girls clung to the window watching where we were going, the boys had other ideas and not really knowing!
With little effort we glided along the track, bags in carriages and people about, it was a busy route which we were bound.
With York our next stop I peered around and saw its arches and intricate artwork standing out and proud.
Its National Railway Museum not too far away, I shall have to pay a visit to this old town, one day.
It has its moors and castles and its dungeon so sinister, but I love old York and its medieval Minster and its ghoulish tales and stories of horrible flails!
But along the track we rush passing fields of green velvet brush and bright yellow rape.
I turn my attention to those on the train, the businessman, the bags, the strain.
With ipods and pads, kindles and phones, to books and papers and bags and sacks, to those young and old and the sounds of laughter to behold, people unwind, and sleep or recant their own stories to be told.
Perfect strangers meeting on a train then friendships formed easy and untamed.
As the train trundles along, we pass Durham and its mighty cathedral then `tis not long before we reach Newcastle and over the Tyne...
I have to have a smile as this was the place I used to work many years ago and hearing Gazza`s voice singing fog on the Tyne is all mine is something of a cringe factor!
But there was no fog today, just broken sunshine filtering through.
Newcastle has some of the finest food places around and why not visit the life centre, I enjoyed the space exploration section.
I like stars and planets!
Oh well, end of reminiscing! Back to reality and the continuing journey.
We continued to hurtle along and watched the changing landscape and then the tides of the could be visible, though the clouds appeared to lose their whiteness and dark grey consumed them.
It wasn`t long before the spatter of train hit the windows though only in short bursts and by the time we reached Berwick Upon Tweed, it was back to the sunshine.
Many a battle has been fought over this place, with its inhabitants being part of England, then Scotland and back again.
This has been going on since medieval times.
Whilst the people class themselves as Scottish, the English parliament class the town as English!
Even in these modern times governments are still arguing!
As the train continues ever northwards, clouds are still increasing, but the journey is still enjoyable as we pass through Edinburgh and Falkirk and onto Stirling where the castle still stands and William Wallace Monument adorns the hillside.
This is the first time I am able to complete the whole journey in broad daylight and it is something special as usually it is a dark September`s evening when I come this way.
Though as we travel and pass through Gleneagles, Perth, Pitlochery, Kinguisse and Aviemore before reaching Inverness, we are treated along the route with an array of rainbows that just seemed to go on and on and on........
What a journey and with the dark clouds gone, I am at Inverness and the B&B I call home here.........
Having had a couple of requests for my cheesecake mentioned on previous page, I`m now obliging with the recipe, I hope you enjoy it!
Ingredients:
1 23cm springform tin, any size will do it just depends on how big - or small - you like your cheesecakes!
1 300g pkt of Plain Chocolate Digestives
2 Cartons 284ml (10fl oz) of Double Cream
2 Cartons Cream Cheese (I`ve used Philadelphia which has added a more creamier taste, but Mascapone works just as well)
2lb Raspberries (use as many or as little as you want)
2 tbsp Caster Sugar
A left over Easter Egg or large pkt bar chocolate (plain or milk)
Butter (half pkt of 250g)
Method:
1. Crush/bash all the chocolate digestives until they resemble crumbs
2. Put some butter into saucepan (leaving a small `chunk` for later) on a low
heat.
3. Once melted, add crushed biscuits and 2 tbsps of cream and combine mixture.
4. Remove from heat and put in 23cm springform tin, flattening it down and covering the base then put in a fridge for about half an hour.
5. In a small saucepan add remainder of butter and another 2 tbsps of cream and the chocolate (either a large bar or as I did an easter egg) and meltuntil smooth and runny, remove from heat.
6. Whip all the cream until soft peaks form
7. Stir the Cream Cheese (it is already quite stiff so no whipping needed!)
8. Stir in cream Cheese to Whipped Cream with 2 tbsps Caster Sugar (this adds as the glue instead of using gelatine) and all the raspberries and 3/4 of warm melted chocolate.
9. Take out tin from fridge and add the ingredients, smoothing down.
10. Finally "swirl" remainder of warm chocolate on top and put in fridge for an hour or so.
Enjoy!
Tip: I`ve also added flaked chocolate on the top, but you can also decorate with fresh raspberries or chocolate balls!
When I decided to raise funds for Children With Leukaemia, I asked for a little help, although the little was taken quite literally and 5 "little helpers" came to be part of the team.
I couldn`t turn them down, and with just over a week to go before the big challenge, I wanted to put them through their paces!
Well, I won`t be alone!
I have Mr Bump, Mr Bounce, Little miss Naughty, sunshine and Chatterbox.
They all seemed quite sweet and innocent to start, but then tell tale signs of their characters began to emerge.......
Everything went fine to start, they all learnt and enjoyed the pasta, oranges - the healthy foods, then I noticed the chocolate flake, Naughty little Miss Naughty...
The Mr Men and Little Miss team got everywhere and into everything and it appeared no one was safe, even Willow seemed to be used for a lift, and the cheeky Little Miss team enjoyed it, much to the bemused Willow!
Little Miss Naughty definitely has the sweet tooth and I have warned that too much fizzy drink and chocolate is bad for her.
She won`t have a big smile on her face for long!
It wasn`t long before they all decided to climb the doors, where they started to sing, not bad but ear muffs come in handy!
Now, how are you going to get down from there?
Naughty Little Mr Men and Miss....
From the tops of doors to inside of the fridge, Mr Bump was quite startled as I caught him eating the raspberry and chocolate cheesecake and he didn`t help with the making of it.......naughty Mr Bump.....
And finally, they all decided to go pole dancing.
I wonder what they`ll get upto next...........
