I crossed the border in Scotland went over the Forth Road Bridge and made my way up the M9 towards the A9 which would take me to John O Groats. No major events on the way up but I did have a rye smile on my face when I looked to my right as I was passing through Aviemore and seen snow on the hills mmmmmmmm wonder what it’s going to be like when I hit the real highlands?
A quick stop for a drink and refuel and I was on my way again, again no major events as I travelled north apart from feeling it get colder the further north I was going. Next stop a service station just north of Inverness where once again I fuelled up as well as the bike. I got talking to a guy who was in the service station with his postman’s uniform on expecting to hear a gruff Scottish voice I found out the guy was from East London and had moved up there, and was a postman up there. I explained what I was doing and they wished me well and gave me grave warnings of the roads around Loch Ness and Glen Coe. With that ringing in my ears I set off for the next stop John o Groats. However, literally 50 miles away from John o Groats I decided to take a detour and went around the top of the Scottish coast and rode through Thurso, past Dunnet bay and off to John O Groats.
When I got there I was shivering, it was freezing, I found the photographer to get the customary picture next to the post and registered my intentions to go to lands end. I then made my way to the bed and breakfast in Wick and low and behold they had the central heating on so I could thaw out. A tea of fish and chips washed down with a couple of pints and I was ready for bed I had arrived at Wick at 6.30 pm nearly 12 hours on the Bike and 475 miles!
Wick to Penrith via Fort William
Woke up looked out the window and a big smile was on my face it was glorious sunshine yesssssssssssss. Normal routine shower, shave and a nice breakfast to set me up and off I go Wick to Inverness was the 1st 100 miles. The roads were clear the sky was blue, mountains to my right and ahead of me the glistening North Sea to my left this was bliss.
Mmmmmm one thing you have to do on a bike is stayed focused. Who put that corner there with that cliff? Cruising down the A9 taking in the sights and watching the road means I can multi task, however, if you loose an inch of concentration your off the bike. Fortunately I kept my wits about me and the close shave that I had was literally an umphhh in the stomach and a word with myself. Following the A9 down you literally skirt the coastline and the roads have numerous bends which I was well aware of, as I came to one corner I noticed a warning sign telling me the road could be slippery so as I looked at the warning sign someone had took road away and put it to my right thus leaving me to brake rather quickly and take the corner at a queer angle as I did I had the opportunity to look to my left to see what was there and ………… Yes you guessed it no road; no field just a cliff dropping into the North Sea Phewww!
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