Day 13

The day started slowly wandering around Thurso.

It was good to smell the sea and watch some surfers with Orkney in the background.

I turned a corner and came upon old St Peter's church.

I went in to the North Coast museum and saw some Pictish stones and had lunch.

I then called in at the Thurso Samaritans branch and met some of their small group of volunteers over tea.

It was then time to get on the bike and head to Dunnet head.

Passing Brough on the way I heard the most northern cuckoo. Part of the mounting for my GoPro camera snapped, I hadn't realised how much it had relied on resting on the sleeping bag in my handlebar bag which I had taken off for today. The camera appears to have survived its tumble.

I finally reached Dunnet head, the most northerly point on mainland Scotland, a few miles north of John O'Groats and much more scenic.

One of the Aberystwyth Samaritans volunteers, who just happened to be on holiday in Dunnet with her husband, was there to greet me and I joined them for a meal afterwards, many thanks.

On the way back to Thurso I took the scenic route to avoid cycling into the sun on the main road. There was à stone fence by the field.

Tomorrow I get the ferry to Stromness on Orkney with a few days to meander to Kirkwall at a leisurely pace before starting the journey home. So far I have done about 460 miles, just another 40 to reach 500!