Day  14 /16           Monday. Sept 4.

Tore to Crask Inn

Distance:        95 (Km) 

Time:     5:35

Average Speed:          17.0.  (Km/ hr) 

Ascent:               847 (m). 

Heart Rate:          106. (beats / min). 

Cumulative Distance:           1422. (km) 

Cumulative Ascent :           12,772 (m) 

Punctures so far : 0

A lovely days cycling in sunshine and favourable wind.

Cold this morning when I got up before sunrise but a nice 10C shortly after I set out.

Retraced my steps to that busy A9 but a cycle track appeared after a short while as I was heading west for a period and into a breeze.

Dingwall on the Cromarty Firth arrived after 13km and Tesco was open but I needed no shopping today.

Just 5km on the mile-long Cromarty Bridge, opened in 1979 appeared on my right along this busy stretch of road. However my route took me off to the left on a quieter road where I could stop and admire my surroundings in the morning sunshine.

Evanton (Baile Eoghain) was beginning to move about as I passed through. Apparently this town was founded by an Alexander Fraser and named after his son, Evan. Out of Evanton I was on a woodland cycle track for a period.

Back at the planning stage I had intended to follow anti-clockwise around the coast through Tain to Bonnar Bridge. But on reflection and advice from a comradai scoile I took the high road involving an extra 200m of ascent. As it turned out it was the much better option. Go raibh maith agat/ Tapa leat, Paddy.

The early part of this road (B9176) was very agricultural especially with grain but no harvesting quite yet. 

The road then entered into trees always rising gradually and snaking around hills ahead. I was now into an area of much heather on both sides.

With 40km done I was at the highest point of this road and had a noble view down to the Dornach Firth Bridge opened in 1991 and saving a 40km road trip by land. Also a lovely view up the length of Dornach Firth.

Down from here I was back on the A836 and into Ardgay (Ard Gaoithe) and also I had left Ross and Cromarty and entered into  Sutherland.

Bonnar Bridge (Droichead Bhanna) came soon after with its own new bridge at the inner part of Dornach Firth and the local anglers hoping for luck in its waters.

Followed the main road out of Bonnar Bridge but shortly I turned off left to view the Falls of Shin (on the river Shin). The main one (Salmon Leap) was impressive but but all along its course the water tumbled. 

With 75 km done I came into Lairg (Luirg……=shin as in shinbone) possibly from the shape of Loch Shin. As I entered , below the generating station, one man was Chieftan of his own isle. Loch Shin is a long narrow lake 27km long.

I followed the A836 as it gently rose and soon it became just a single track road with frequent Passing Points. No signs of habitation along here, just wide open country with trees, heather and water.

Temperatures were well into the 20’s by now and then around one gentle bend the Crask Inn appeared. Glad to be here and in at 2pm.

A grand days cycling, not as tasking as I had anticipated and lovely scenery.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.