Injuries: 1
Punctures: 2
We woke in Braemar somewhat apprehensive that we were now facing the most challenging day of the trip - Braemar to Lairg.
The weather forecast was also not great, so it was with some apprehension that we tucked in to our breakfast. As usual Garrie and Hannah managed to get out and on to the road and the others spent many minutes faffing for Britain and we managed to eventually get on our way at about 8.25am.
We were immediately in to a couple of quite challenging climbs and the rain also paid us a quick visit. And so the apprehension grew. We then moved in to the most challenging climb of the trip so far - the climb up to the ski resort of Lecht - about the same altitude as Glenshee - 2000 ft but even steeper climbs of 20 percent and in to a howling wind.
The rest of the country no doubt basking in sunshine as we moved to low single digit temperatures - snow remained on some of the higher peaks! Somehow we managed to get to the top. However, Marcel injured his achilles on the most strenuous part of the climb and that was the end of the trip on the bike for him, sadly. He did manage to keep a brave face and helped John T fantastically for the rest of the trip on the support van.
At the top we had the usual stripping of excess clothing to cool down followed by putting the gear back on again for the chilly descent. As we worked our way down the heavens opened and at the coffee stop at Timintoul we had the first delay of the day waiting for some sort of break in the weather.
Eventually it came and we were on our way again, however, progress was slow for the next couple of hours due to the number of times we had to stop under the trees during the worst of the rain. We then hit the A9 - probably the most dangerous road in the UK for cyclists (and drivers). The further north we go the faster they seem to drive! We agreed that the best course of action was to take detours on to the side roads, some of which were long and hilly and we did not reach Inverness till after 5. Crawford then had 2 punctures in succession and our ETA for Lairg was now looking to be well in to the evening. We were approaching seven hours in the saddle with about 50 miles to go. The good news was that the rain had stopped and the roads to Lairg were quiet and beautiful.
After a quick bite with the van in a pub car park - it was heads down all the way to Lairg - Garrie and Hannah were already there and we headed off fortunate that it stays light till way past 10 in the north at this time of year. We arrived in the center of Lairg at 10 past 10 to discover to our dismay that the hotel was 7 miles south of the town center - only one thing for it - a pint at The Nip Inn while John could drive to meet us there with the van!
The 3 locals in the bar were somewhat bemused by the sight of 3 weary cyclists rolling in at 10.15 for a beer after nearly 14 hours on the bike and 127 miles covered. We enjoyed relating our tales of woe about the day and John T joined us for another and then got us back to the hotel for a quick snack and wearily off to bed.
Tomorrow: the final day of the epic - Lairg to John O'Groats! 115 miles.
Punctures: 2
We woke in Braemar somewhat apprehensive that we were now facing the most challenging day of the trip - Braemar to Lairg.The weather forecast was also not great, so it was with some apprehension that we tucked in to our breakfast. As usual Garrie and Hannah managed to get out and on to the road and the others spent many minutes faffing for Britain and we managed to eventually get on our way at about 8.25am.
We were immediately in to a couple of quite challenging climbs and the rain also paid us a quick visit. And so the apprehension grew. We then moved in to the most challenging climb of the trip so far - the climb up to the ski resort of Lecht - about the same altitude as Glenshee - 2000 ft but even steeper climbs of 20 percent and in to a howling wind.
The rest of the country no doubt basking in sunshine as we moved to low single digit temperatures - snow remained on some of the higher peaks! Somehow we managed to get to the top. However, Marcel injured his achilles on the most strenuous part of the climb and that was the end of the trip on the bike for him, sadly. He did manage to keep a brave face and helped John T fantastically for the rest of the trip on the support van.
At the top we had the usual stripping of excess clothing to cool down followed by putting the gear back on again for the chilly descent. As we worked our way down the heavens opened and at the coffee stop at Timintoul we had the first delay of the day waiting for some sort of break in the weather.
Eventually it came and we were on our way again, however, progress was slow for the next couple of hours due to the number of times we had to stop under the trees during the worst of the rain. We then hit the A9 - probably the most dangerous road in the UK for cyclists (and drivers). The further north we go the faster they seem to drive! We agreed that the best course of action was to take detours on to the side roads, some of which were long and hilly and we did not reach Inverness till after 5. Crawford then had 2 punctures in succession and our ETA for Lairg was now looking to be well in to the evening. We were approaching seven hours in the saddle with about 50 miles to go. The good news was that the rain had stopped and the roads to Lairg were quiet and beautiful.
After a quick bite with the van in a pub car park - it was heads down all the way to Lairg - Garrie and Hannah were already there and we headed off fortunate that it stays light till way past 10 in the north at this time of year. We arrived in the center of Lairg at 10 past 10 to discover to our dismay that the hotel was 7 miles south of the town center - only one thing for it - a pint at The Nip Inn while John could drive to meet us there with the van!
The 3 locals in the bar were somewhat bemused by the sight of 3 weary cyclists rolling in at 10.15 for a beer after nearly 14 hours on the bike and 127 miles covered. We enjoyed relating our tales of woe about the day and John T joined us for another and then got us back to the hotel for a quick snack and wearily off to bed.
Tomorrow: the final day of the epic - Lairg to John O'Groats! 115 miles.
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