LEJOG day 18 (Peter)

The team has discovered, albeit late in the trip, what it takes to get Martin “to the church on time”. Put him in a miserable hotel that he can’t wait to get out of! He will tell the story of the Sutherland Arms better himself (when his computer is working some more), but cobwebs in the bedroom, a shady sausage at breakfast and a ghastly old bat proprietor are included in this harrowing tale. Suffice it to say that he was on the first tee at Golspie sharp at 0830 for another round in grand weather. It was as near perfection as one can get.

Unfortunately there was more work to do in the afternoon, perhaps the most serious work of the LEJOG (Melanie, did you ever ride this part?). Everything went swimmingly to Helmsdale, but then the scene changed. A two mile, and at times brutal, hill out of Helmsdale culminated a few miles later in the Berridale Braes. We had been warned, but Martin was dismissive, remembering of course that Braes were “bonny”. Well not these two vertiginous slopes down and then up. We made it on foot……

Leaving Helmsdale, Stewart’s gear simply sheared, and his bike died. Luckily a convenient garage in Dunbeath where we put up for the night had a mountain bike to lend, and Stewart went back to the “crunch” point to tackle the remainder of the Helmsdale Hill and the Braes, finally arriving at Dunbeath at 2030, in time to be whisked to the Portland Arms for a “last supper”.

The haar was closing in as we left the pub……..