clairedavieswriter

It had to be done.

No, not for breakfast – I’m not a monster. This was last night’s supper at the neat and homely Glenan Lodge – luckily veggie haggis was available. Though to be honest, having endured the Slochd Pass squall I’d have settled for hot food of any kind, and I was mighty relieved that Kay offered meals, as there was nowhere in Tomatin at all.

Incredibly, after that rib-sticking plateful, washed down with rhubarb crumble and custard, I still woke with appetite for breakfast: fruit with yogurt, porridge, egg, tomato, mushrooms, toast. I’ve always thought cycling was a good justification for eating cake. It turns out I wasn’t even trying.

I’d gone to sleep with the storm still buffeting the windows and blasting leaves from the birch tree outside. Fortunately, by this morning, calm and blue skies were restored for my short ride to Inverness.

My route passed the Bronze Age Clava Cairns and the site of the Battle of Culloden but l was more excited by the first sight of the Moray Firth, and the high ground beyond – my challenge for next week.

Thurso will be my last overnight stop, on Wednesday.

But for now, I’m looking forward to taking the rest of the weekend off. My thanks to Sarah and Alan for putting me up.

Good luck to everyone running the London marathon tomorrow, and especially Webbo (aka Helen Mitchell), my host in Truro 3 weeks ago, who is raising money for Cure CJD, in memory of our Bath hockey friend J Blundell. Go Webbo!