Blogs from Inverness-shire, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe - page 7

So you are probably thinking, why oh why have they renamed the trip. Well if you read day 1 of the blog you will understand and if you haven't you need to. To be honest it was Gill’s idea and it really was apt, so the road trip is now Adventure before Dementia. Remember day 2 started in Brian & Gill’s hotel car park. You can just imagine the hotel residents waking up to see 3 bleeding great big motor homes outside their windows. They were probably thinking the gipsy’s have arrived! in Grasmere! So in true camping style Gill arranges the kitchen of the hotel to make us bacon butties - nothing like slumming it on our road trip. The man from the garage comes to fix Chris and Katie’s motor home so now the ... read more

Route 500. Wow! Five hundred miles of magnificent scener. But probably 400 miles of single lane roads! That's not a grumble but it does mean numerous pulling overs and a few reverses in order to traverse the distance safely. We drove the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland a couple of years back and this route is as good if not better. The scenery is spectacular and it is everywhere. Along the way our BnB places have been great and we have enjoyed the food and beers as much as we have anywhere. We drove to John O'Groats today, much to Lee's disappointment! I'm not sure what she expected but more than a signpost and a couple of icecream stores I'd reckon. Well 10 minutes later were off and heading south. We stopped at Dunrobin Castle which ... read more

After two days of camping in Inverness, I packed my slightly damp tent and the bike panniers, wished Heading North Nigel well on his similar, but reverse trip, and got on the road. But not before stopping at McD's for my breakfast meal deal and coffee. The sky was promising some moisture, so I put on my pannier covers and front bag shower cap (I forgot the cover at home, and a 3 pack of shower caps from the £ Shop fit the bill just right, and with two spares.) I started with an immediate climb out of Inverness (I should know by now, most towns are by rivers, and most towns will require climbing out of). After about two hours, as it had started to rain, and as the wind was wearing on me, I ... read more

As I decided not to overdo the daily riding, I took my interim rest stop and tacky tourist tour day today. There's plenty of riding to come, and I'm also hoping to avoid saddle sores. My lack of belief in such things, during my last excursion, proved false, embarassing, and somewhat painful. Campground showers come in all forms and qualities, and this campground proved no less so. The showers are best described as early period prison block. Long and narrow, elbows and back touched walls and curtains on every movement. The shower itself, and a little beyond, was painted dark, dark depressing blue, with little illumination from lighting. No such concept as scald control on vintage showers either. Possibly all attempt to discourage excess water use. In an attempt to control spending and limit the tradional ... read more

Woke relatively early, packed up the tent, and headed off to find breakfast, ...or a convienience store (proved to be a challenge on a prior trip, in some towns/villages). I tried the hotel I had eaten at yesterday, and while they served anyone supper, they only provide breakfast for guests (??). I was directed down the street and had a quick bite at a cafe that had just opened. Next, ...visit the Co-op for on route supplies, as the opportunities on route may prove limited. All in all, a good day of cycling along the coast and then inland for a while before popping back to the inlet at Inverness. I followed the A9 for about half the route (quite busy, and somewhat worrisome where the highway splits at Tain). After which, it was (thankfully) local ... read more