Stinging Rain

Posted bynickletjogPosted inPreparation

Ride & Stride – Day 6: Monday 12 September – POLLA to MELVICH (plus an excursion to JOHN O’GROATS) (51 miles)

Oats and barley at 8 Doors Distillery

Until last evening I had not realised the link between our overnight stop of Durness and the Beatles, or perhaps more specifically the relationship that John Lennon had with the village. Lennon visited Durness as a youngster on family holidays, staying with his aunt and cousins who lived locally. His connection with the place is thought to have influenced the lyrics of ‘In My Life’ (a Lennon composition credited to Lennon and McCartney) from the band’s 1965 Rubber Soul album. There is a (truth-be-told, rather modest) memorial garden to Lennon a mile or so east of where we stayed last night in the centre of Durness.

There are places I remember . . .

Meanwhile, and back to our Ride & Stride challenge, I guess it had to happen: the day when the wind and rain finally arrived to thwart our plans. Just four miles into this morning’s cycling sector, around the southern end of Loch Eriboll, the cyclists were forced to abandon hope of riding over the tops to Tounge. The wind was the real culprit, buffeting the cycles and driving horizontal rain at the drenched threesome. Here our Risk Assessment dictated their transfer to the van, as far as Melvich, our original destination of for the day. Between blasts of rain I managed to get just a few shots:

Alpacas at Polla
The Class of ‘72 – who would have thought that Cox 1X, Salter 1Y, and Heath N 1Y would be reunited in northern Scotland half a century later?
Somewhere over Loch Eriboll

An hour or two later, as the three soaked cyclists dried and thawed over a recuperative coffee and snack lunch in Melvich, the storm abated. Underway again at last, the trio set off for John O’Groats, 38 miles away over flatter terrain. Meanwhile, the runners, transported in Nessie and several hours ahead of us, covered their 11 miles as planned, albeit with a good soaking, arriving for the team rendezvous in John O’Groats.

As for me, my support driving skills prevailed today, with nearly five hours at the wheel before a two-mile amble around Duncansby Head. Reunited at John O’Groats, exertions completed, the team enjoyed a dram or two, and a quick tour, at the newly-opened 8 Doors Distillery: good luck indeed to Gregor and the team ahead of their official opening next weekend!

The sea stacks south of Duncansby Head . . .
. . . and another lighthouse – this time on mainland Britain’s north-east extremity
Looking back westwards, along the north coast of Scotland
There’s whisky in the jar!
Us three again!
The Riders & Striders together at John O’Groats

We re-traced our steps in Nessie and Daisy back to the Melvich Hotel, our resting-place for the night, enjoying a pizza supper with two thirds of our NC500 challenge now completed.

The view from my room at the Melvich Hotel – many thanks Jeff (who made ALL of our accommodation bookings) – very much appreciated!
And here he is tonight, replacing those vital lost calories, our tour guide – Jeffrey ‘3 Scoops’ Salter

Today’s chosen song title seems an appropriate Blog heading after this morning’s dramatic weather. Stinging Rain is by Scottish folk act Capercaillie, off their 1993 album, Secret People. The group are known for their contemporary takes on traditional Gaelic folk songs using modern production techniques and instrumentation, and their 1992 single ‘Coisich A Ruin’ was the first Scottish gaelic-language number to chart in the UK Top 40.

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