Day 65 Inverness to Alness

Got a rude awakening this morning when one of the others in the dorm crashed onto the floor in the early morning - I think she had forgotten she was on the top bunk!

Followed the national cycle route number 1 back to the river (I would actually end up following it all day) and round an incredibly dusty, dirty and smelly industrial estate before climbing the steps onto Kessock Bridge. This was a huge suspension bridge over the Moray Firth and it was a tad on the windy side running over - thank goodness they had a guard rail between me and the traffic. Unfortunately non of the dolphins made an appearance although there were plenty of white horses leaping in the water. The route then followed the shoreline through North Kessock against the wind to then cross under and run initially parallel to the A9 before taking quieter lanes alongside woods.

I'm already missing the peace and quiet of the forest tracks and footpaths as I now have the drone of traffic in my left ear. I think my whole body is going into protest as I am so tired and it's a real struggle to keep putting my left foot then right foot forward and plod along. After arriving in the village of Tore I then changed direction and took the cycle path up the side of the A835. Now not only did I have the traffic noise (although I did get a couple of horn toots acknowledging my efforts being promoted by my shirt hanging off my backpack) but an uphill directly into a headwind. Then just to add to my increasing torture, the sun totally disappeared behind a huge blanket of dark grey cloud! But, once I reached the top and instead had a sidewind I bravely picked up the pace, albeit it feet still thumping the pavement and headed downhill into Conon Bridge.

There were a couple of really cute Shetland pony foals in one of the fields. All I need now was a tea shop for a sugar intake and hey presto found one...albeit it strangely located in the middle of a tropical fish shop! Sill beggars cant be choosers so tucked into soup, roll and a pot of tea for which there would be no charge. Duly refreshed I headed further downhill where into Dingwall where I saw a sign for "The North" - I'm sure they normally only say North so I'm assuming it's because I can't actually go any further!! It was then a long drag up above Cromarty Firth and I could easily see notorious mud and sand flats as the tide was out . I was back in farming country and there were huge fields of barley and oats ; the wind made them move like huge swathes of running animals. I could see the A9 crossing the Firth via a huge bridge below me and I was very glad I'd not taken the option to go that route although it would have been shorter. I was offered water by a passing motorist in a minibus which, although I declined, was a nice gesture. The lane undulated all the way to Evanton where I sheltered from a brief rain shower before running along a sandy track alongside the B817 into Alness.

I am sure I saw a huge bird of prey but my description back to John didn't reveal what it was and I've either discovered a brand new species of found a hybrid! After passing an estate or drab grey pebble dash houses arrived early at my B&B and as I was completely exhausted (can't understand why!) I crashed out on the bed in front of the TV for a few hours before venturing out for something to eat. I'd had a recommendation for Teaninich Castle which I had assumed was a pub but when I walked down the gravel path to the front door I certainly hadn't been expecting an actual castle. I'm now feeling much better after a fabulous three course roast beef and apple crumble dinner!

Remeber the cyclists I just met yeasterday? Well true to their word I'm now on their blog site and I've even made it as their "Inspiration of the Day".....

Inspiration of the day: meeting Carol, who was running from Land's End to John O'Groats. She set off on 26 April, has so far run over 1000 miles and will get to John O'Groats in 10 days time - a really amazing person.


Mileage 26.47 Time 5.09

Total mileage 1095.39