Best bits: catching up a few miles, adrenaline rush on the zip wire
Worst bits: being behind schedule
Distance: 11.6 miles
It’s been an absolute pain feeling ill and not being able to walk. I’ve had to watch the scenery go by while driving or being driven from place to place. I’m behind schedule for the first time and it’s impossible to make up the mileage I have missed, not just the distance but the actual locations on the north coast are so remote to get back to. I’ve had to move location to keep with my schedule so that I could meet Aly in Durness and ensure she is in Ullapool on time to get her transportation back home.
As I was feeling a bit better today I decided that we should drive back to Tongue and I should try to walk to Hope bridge which was a few days behind schedule.
The drive back over to Tongue was fantastic in the sunlight with the mountains reflecting in the water and it was very dramatic. I left Aly at the café back at the Tonge hostel and campsite and I started my walk across the bridge at Kyle of Tongue. Ben Hope was dominant on the landscape.
The scenery didn’t disappoint and that’s why I was keen to go back and do this section.
The sky was very atmospheric today and changed over time.
After 8 miles with a stop for a cuppa and a rest I arrived in Hope. I jumped in Priscilla where Aly was entertained by the sat nav.
We drove back to the Golden Eagle Zip line which goes from cliff to cliff high up over Ceannabeinne beach. This morning I had suggested to Aly that we should do this today. She didn’t say no! So that’s what we did.
I went first and did my usual shout of ‘Yee haa’ as I shot between the cliff tops.
Aly was quieter but I could see the anxiety in her face and her white knuckles as she gripped onto the safety rope. She gave a great big smile of relief as she landed at the other end. Well done Aly you ‘felt the fear and did it anyway’. I’m proud of you.
Once back in Priscilla I left Aly recovering and relaxing for a while and I decided to walk back to Durness.
By the end of the day I had made some more progress on the north coast. I was happy with my waking distance of just over 11 miles done in 3 stages today with no untoward effects. I’ve got exactly 50 miles missing on the North Coast and I will just have to accept that. However, tomorrow I start heading south towards Glasgow and home, 62 days to go.
Last week before I was ill I had booked a spot at Scourie campsite and that’s where we headed. The journey was an opportunity to view tomorrow’s route and check for stopping places for Aly and Priscilla for me to check in and rest and refuel.
When we arrived we had been given a fabulous pitch with a sea view. Actually we were literally right on the edge of the campsite with a steep drop and the sea was only a couple of metres away. Aly made me put the chocks under the wheels as she was fearful that we would roll off the edge of the campsite and fall into the sea!
As the evening progressed the rain came down and the wind picked up. Aly experienced the power of the elements with strong gusts over 30 mph and Priscilla was rocking. The poor people in the pitch next to us had a bit of a nightmare as their awning couldn’t survive the weather.
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