Day 12

It had been very wet in the night but the early morning views were great.

As I packed up the tent, the zipper came off in my hand! That would be interesting when I next set up camp. Or maybe I could get to the hostel in Thurso, but that was 55 miles away with some of them very rough. I set off by the beautiful Berriedale water.

Before long I came to the promised wet and boggy section of a few miles.

At some point the front brake started making a noise. One of the bottle cages had slipped down close enough for mud to get stuck between it and the brake disc. Adjusting that on a wet and boggy path was fun, much easier to do at home. 

It was also time to get the toilet trowel out, I'm getting more efficient with it! And a bit further on, time to filter some water as I would need some more before 55 miles were up. All the while, I was still treated to gorgeous views.

Before joining a farm track, I had to cross a narrow wobbly bridge. To do that, I had to unload the panniers to be able to lift it up the steps. Then back across for the panniers. Then again because my bike with the video camera filming me had blown over. And again to film it with my mobile phone! Eventually time to stop playing and get cycling! 😁

For several miles I had views of this mountain. After passing some workmen replacing a cattle grid, I sheltered from the strong wind to make tea and lunchtime noodles.

Progress was still slow as there was a strong headwind on the gravel track through the blanket bog. Now my target was Altnabreac station, some 35 miles short of reaching Thurso. I was just about to reach the top of the last of 40 significant climbs on the route (as classified by my Garmin GPS) when my back tyre went pop. A sharp stone had slit the tyre and inner tube. I repaired it as best I could with a couple of tyre boots (credit card pieces of plastic) and a new inner tube. Three American cyclists stopped to help.

I still had 12 miles to the station where I could get a train to Thurso for a new tyre. I thought the repair might not last as it was a long slit close to the rim. It lasted 7 miles before another pop. So I set off walking with 5 miles to go. 

After a mile or so, the keeper from one of the big houses came by and offered me a lift into Thurso in his pickup. Another one of my host of guardian angels! He dropped me at the bike shop. It was still open half an hour after closing time and the owner fitted a new tyre and even tweaked the gears!

I then cycled the short distance to the hostel. Fortunately there was a curry house two doors away to continue my Jalfrezi survey!

I failed to take any pictures of the blanket bog with the other distractions but you can read about it here. 

https://theflowcountry.org.uk/

Thanks again to all those who helped today and for all those who've supported from afar with kind messages.