We were on a mission today to get to Ullapool preferably before our Other Hebrides ferry left at 5.30p.m. With our War room briefing conducted we both set off at 9.00a.m.albeit initially in opposite directions with Monika determined not to miss the ferry and myself wanting to spend 20 minutes having a quick look around Lochinver before leaving.
On the road we headed back the same last 20 kms we'd traveled yesterday although this time with a welcome tail wind behind us ! I started to get worried when after 25 km's i still hadn't caught site of Monika. Worried obviously about Monika's welfare but also about the fact that i had no idea where she hid the life insurance papers at home in the event that i needed to cash in ...
As it turned out I need not have worried as I finally caught up with her. She'd either greatly improved her cycling ability or greatly improved her lieing as she said she'd been sheltering from the rain for 20 + minutes the whole amount of the head start that I'd given her !
Yes it was showery and gloomy all over again although this time adding some drama to the landscape with clouds covering the mountain peaks and the gloom giving a sense of occasion to the wildly situated 16th C castle of Ardvreck on Loch Assynt - oh for central heating back in those days !
We stopped just after the half mark at Elphin for tea and cake at the foot of a seriously steep climb. It helped in recharging our batteries as well as adding another few cms to our collective girths which was not helpful when our next turn took us back into the fierce embrace of a northerly headwind !
We battled our way at a slow enough pace to easily introduce ourselves to every passing sheep. Finally though after a couple of steep climbs we took a beautiful descent into Ullapool arriving despite Monika's panic, some 3 hours prior to our ferrys departure.
There was time to play the tourist role grabbing some award winning Ullapool fish and chips while sitting on a sea side bench in the sun trying to ignore the sub zero wind chill conditions and those crazy enough to be eating ice cream in it !
Nevertheless Ullapool did have a nice feel to it and provided great theatre as our superbly equipped Cal Mac ferry equipped with restaurants, TVs, and observation lounges exited the harbour and surrounding islands.
Arrival Stornaway was uncomplicated aside from Monika's knee problems, restless leg syndrome, hot flushes and sea caused nausea !
Tomorrow to Monika's joy we crack the ton for the first time on tour as we move our way southwards through the beautiful outer Hebrides.
No comments:
Post a Comment