Day 12 - A Russell Short Cut

Beauly - Helmsdale

Rain was falling as we left the B&B however this did little to damp our spirits and by the time we were crossing the Black Isle this had cleared. As our route for the day was going to take us up the A9 for most of the day we decided to avoid this road for as long as possible and the route over the Black Isle to the Cormarty ferry provided almost traffic free roads before taking the little ferry over to Nigg - this is not cheating and actually added some miles to the days total.
Lunch was at a pub in Tain where we met two lads heavily laden with front and rear panniers and a tent heading south. They had decided to do the trip less than a month ago, bought their bikes last week and for training they had managed to get a free DVD on cycle training. They were going to watch it on their return.
Our friends in the RAF were again out playing at scaring cyclists senseless by popping out from valleys and skimming over our heads.
Emma met us on her way up from home at Dunrobin Castle and we took advantage of the car to ditch the panniers. Freed from their burden, our light weight bikes we looking for a good work out and this was just what they got when the two lads we had met a few times before joined us. They we staying in the same place that night and a chain gang was soon formed with the pace up at over 22 miles an hour. On reaching Helmsdale we took advantage of having car support and continued on for another ten miles to reduce the last days distance and also get a couple of big hills out of the way. The first of these hills, just out side Helmsdale was climbed with ease allowing for the fact that we already had 75 miles in the bag for the day. This just left a very steep descent down in to Berriedale past several escape lanes notching up a max speed of over 43 mph. I was thinking of having another descent to try and top 50 now knowing the hill however the accent of the other side was calling. Emma passed us as we were half way up this hill and collected us at the summit to return to the hostel.
As this was the last night on the road, a couple of pubs and a fish restaurant claiming to be in Clarissa Dickinson Wright's (of Two Fat Ladies fame ) top five fish places in the country. Orkney beers added the liquid part of the meal.
Stats for the day
Miles 87
Average Speed 13 - again!
Max Speed 43
Pubs visited 3 + one restaurant