2016 Dover to Cape Wrath

Day 12 Squirrels and Sea Food

Kinlochewe to Ullapool 65 miles

Blue skies but the lines holding up the hotel sign suggest windy weather may not be that uncommon in these parts.

The deep water sheltered bays of this part of Scotland were used by the convoys to Russia during WWII. The unlucky sailors who were recovered from the sea are buried in grave yards that look out across the bays.

The wonderful scenery kept on coming albeit at the slow rate me and My Little Rhino can manage. The great thing about touring on the bike, and there are some, is that you can stop anywhere and take in the view which is more difficult if travelling by trains planes and automobiles.

After 54 years on this planet I finally fit in!

Fewer people, fewer houses, fewer churches. The UK is supposed to be densely populated but things really empty out in this part of our crowded island.

Seems like the red squirrel territory can be measured down to the quarter of a mile.

Moorings at Ullapool

The Peak Tours team that have made it possible for me and My Little Rhino and the whole group to get this far.

The most wonderfully fresh seafood that evening and this just the starter!

Must come sailing in this part of the world.

And that was the day that was on the Peak Tours Front Line.

Day 11 Lochs Locks and Ducks

Day 11 Mallaig to Kinlochewe: 86 miles

Up early today to catch the ferry over to Skye. I include the picture below not just to demonstrate my washing prowess in the face of adversity but as a tribute to my trusty sucker hangers which I left on these very windows despite having just taking a picture of the sucker scene! A great blow to me and my morale was only lifted by the realisation that with the end of the trip in sight my washing duties were coming to an end.

Onto the early morning ferry from Mallaig to Skye

A ten mile cycle into the wind to be rewarded by a view of the bridge.

A view down onto the lighthouse from the bridge.

It would appear that the isolation of this love lock suggests not a lot of loving is going on on Skye or they are too mean to get a love lock to symbolise the true nature of marriage. Read what you want in to that last sentence!

I thought this scene would set off the elegant lines of My Little Rhino.

Who decides what sign should go where. Is there a massive government department thinking these things up so the bleeding stupid can be made aware of the bleeding obvious. Sorry about that outburst but WTF is going on.

A house for sale, property very cheap in this area but then the commute time to Waterloo is 17 hours.

I think the sheep shot of the day in my books.

Starting to feel extremely north when you are cycling into areas that sound like they come out of the shipping forecast.

How the mighty fall. Fred the shred was driving this as part of his penance. If only that were true!

Thank heaven for the European Community. Without them the countryside would be even more devoid of signs. Where do they get their money from to keep on investing? Hmm need to think more about that.

And again

At the end of a long day John already in the hotel on his birthday in his birthday suit. Not sure a greeting that the owners of the hotel wish to afford their guests. I did make a formal complaint.

Startled dear looking at a bald man in bright yellow taking a picture of them.

The final wash sans sucker hangers. Surely Peak Tours will want this as promo picture.

Birthday boy with a stuffed duck on his lap. Possibly the most surreal picture of the trip. At the end of an 86 mile day with a lot of climbing we chose to buy two rounds at once rather than make the long slog from table to bar and back again.

And that was the day that was from the Peak Tours Front Line.

Day 10 Sean Connery Eat Your Heart Out

Craigmure on Mull to Mallaig: 75 Miles

A picture from the Hotel showing how I was feeling that day with the prospect of lots of hills ahead of me. I think it sums me up, appropriately dressed with an air of quiet confidence.

And I think this picture also from the hotel sums up how My Little Rhino probably viewed the day ahead with a lump like me to haul up and down dale.

A few miles down the road to the Ferry at Lochaline across the Sound of Mull

My Little Rhino does look a bit different to the other bikes. Yet 700 miles on it has no problems on roads that at best can be described as poor for much of the way and at times more suitable for a tracked vehicles.

Less of my waffle and more pictures today. Having already experienced wonderful scenery it was hard to think how things could get even more beautiful and spectacular but the weather and the West of Scotland were in a showing off spirit this day. I have been to as beautiful places in my travels but I cannot say I have been to a more beautiful place. What on earth is Sean Connery doing in Spain when he could have been keeping that perma tan well and truly topped up in the West of Scotland!