Day 13 – The unplanned longest leg (18/08/23)

 

Today’s leg of this epic ride was tough to say the least.

 

Storm Betty really had it in for us.

Our Day 13 leg should have been 77 miles from Invergordon to Betty Hill, followed by a planned 50 mile final leg on Day 14 to finish at John O Groats.

With wind forecast to be gusting at 50 mph+ and rain all day for Day 14, the decision was taken to extend Day 13 by 30 miles taking us beyond Betty Hill and on to Thurso.
This would then reduce our final day down to just 20 miles and minimise the potential delaying impact of the weather.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon leaving Invergordon the weather was quite fair, almost warm.

It now almost goes without saying that the views were stunning; but it is a natural beauty that you never tire of.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the day progressed things began to cool and by the time I (Helen) had my second puncture, my humour was beginning to wain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Betty Hill was reached in good time for what would have been our earliest finish..… had we been stopping and sticking to the original plan…….but after a quick drink stop we set off for the final, additional 30 miles.

 

We had already climbed 3000 ft in 77 miles and we’re now adding a further 30 miles and 2,800 ft of climbing.
The weather picked up…and not in a good way……..with winds of 25mph+ and severe gusts.
Sanity was being severely questioned more than once!

 

 

 

We made it into the freshly booked hotel at approximately 7pm, shattered but dry!

 

A tough tough day with a 100+ mile leg……..but it will certainly make tomorrow’s final leg that much easier.

 

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