I might have mentioned we were excited about our last big
day but a little nervous. As it goes it was the second toughest day of our trip
and the first day the wind did not favour us. The elevation chart says it all
really:
We set of from Conon
Bridge with a long forgotten rallying call, ‘don’t worry Stilly, its a 100
miles toady, but just think of it as two big hills some flat another big hill
then some coast line’. We’ll soon be there’! I was making my way up the third
of what I would classify as a big hill before I lay eye’s on what was really
the first of today’s big climbs. In total we climbed just under 6,500ft with
twelve category 4 climbs!!
Yesterday I lasted 45 miles with the forward party, today it
was just under 45 minutes. I’m sorry if I am coming a bit predictable, but yet
again today’s the views were both outstanding and breathtaking. I actually
laughed out loud coming over the crest and seeing the viewing platform high up
above Bonar Bridge.
I caught up with the team again at our mobile feed station
at 30miles just before crossing the Kyle of Sutherland over a food bridge. I
managed to stay with the team hanging off the back until the Shin forest and
its open moorland. Having suffered strong head winds all day which Jenko had
taken the brunt of it started coming at us from a angle. Despite travelling in
a line we were all doing the work. For those watching the Le Tour this year it
was reminiscent of Team Saxo Banks breakaway which saw then claw back some time
from Chris Froom. For those that didn’t it doesn’t really matter, what does is
that I used these wind to my favour an found myself at the front passing kit
with a look of ‘WTF’ before amazing myself by being allowed, permitted and more
importantly able to take a turn on the front. Needless to say my turn was soon
up after 20 or so minutes and I was quickly dropped like a used energy gel
wrapper because I was unable to keep the pace up as they passed on the
sheltered side of me. This was really inevitable as the final large climb was
getting closer and closer!!
When it came it wasn’t a steep accent but a long and slow
slog up onto the High Highlands. Barren and desolate they are also beautiful,
mesmerising and give you an open sense of freedom on a bike. Really enjoyable.
Even with rain chasing us the back drop evoked memories of an old favourite
film, ‘Highlander’ and I ambled alone happily taking it all in. So with Connor
being asked ‘if you’ll do this to me forever’ Freddie mercury singing in the
background ‘who wants to live forever’ and the Krugen claiming ‘there can be
only one’ my thoughts turned to the races up front for KOM. It turns out there
weren’t any and an amnesty was called such were the difficulties of the gusting
wind and tiredness of the legs. This makes Jelly KOM and Jenko overall leader
in my book, but I’m sure this will still be debated.
After 30 minutes of wind and rain I’d long tired of Freddie
and put him back in his sleeve to gather dust for another 20 year and began
grumbling at the blue sky just to my left over Ben Loyal where it seemed I was
being followed by an acme rain cloud! Then miraculously I was joined by a
mysterious dark rider who cut a fine figure on the road in front. I soon
realised that it was my shadow which I hadn’t seen for some time and enjoyed
the sun and wind on my back for the next 10k into Tongue where we stopped for
lunch with a view of the Atlantic. We’ve now made it from the south coast of
England to the North Coast of Scotland in under 10 days.
The final 20 miles was a coastal slog up and down some
testing little climbs to our stop for the night at Strathy. The heavens opened,
coupled with thunder and lightning which was concerningly close but nothing
could dampen the spirits that this was really the beginning of the end and we’d
all made it. Safely in the bar Jenko’s eye’s turned to the top shelf and
impressive array of local Malts. The quick 40 miles tomorrow might be more of a
challenge that we thought!
No comments:
Post a Comment