Not long now..............we hope!

09/10/11 - Day 24  (22 riding) - 07:30 another lie in , I could get used to this, with thanks to Bernie Ecklestone and the F1 circus arriving in Japan we stayed to watch the race and with brekkie at 08:00 it was nearly a real Sunday morning. After the lazy start we made for our start point and set off for Black Bridge from where we turned up over Inchbae Forest along Glen Mor, remote or what. Preoccupied with the weather today started off cold and wet as usual but as we cycled off the "Weather God" smiled on us and it cleared up by 11ish to mid grey and although the wind was still very strong and gusting in the main was a help not a hindrance. As a result, with a drying trail we made good time across this beautiful wilderness. We even out ran the rain at one point making it to a bier at Desnich Lodge (appeared to be a refuge come search & rescue station) and had a sarnie while watching the rain fly by on the other side of the Glen. We had a great ride with the wind at our backs down a narrow valley to NCR1 with side winds to Lairg, via Shin Falls, then a shower early beer and grub. Good day. 39.06 miles (1089) 10/10/11 - Day 25 (23 Riding) - 06:30 yawn - what's that noise oh yes I remember rain on the roof of the motor home now that's unusual. Pull the duvet over my head. Two minutes later I need a wee. John and Marion still in bed, go to the bathroom and return. John still in bed and ends up with breakfast in bed as well! Then we're off to find the track at Crask. Unload the bikes in the wind but the rain is now stopping. While looking over the trail and wondering if the cows milling around the gate are coos or bulls the farmer wondered up with his 4 collies and informed us that it was impassable for 4 miles then we could ride a bit! He was nearly right it was more like 5+ miles of hiking, dragging our bikes through sodden moorland during which time we encountered two lots of very imposing heeland coos blocking our path. Were we worried? Oh yes but we passed without incident. Then having hauled our bikes up and out of the Glen "wow" what view, no rain, sun shining between clouds, rainbow and 2 lochs, one called Loch Choire. John sung it a song then we descended a really technical downhill run to the loch followed by a ride in wet peat along the loch side to Loch Choire House. the scenery was still spectacular as we took a track for the 10 miles to Kinbrace. This was the most remote we had been and as we tried to out run the wind and rain which we could see behind us up the valley I lost my back pack rain cover to the wind. I'm not sure if I felt like Mary Poppins or Pooh on a blustery day, but I dismounted and gave chase arresting it in the Heather having hurdled a stream. Feeling good about myself I replaced the cover and made off once more. I caught up with John and recounted the episode and he asked if I'd put it back on as it wasn't there now! I went back but couldn't find it so set of at pace trying to keep ahead of the rain. Now not feeling so good about myself. At 15:30 we met up with the girls at Kinbrace dumped the back pack then rode the 7 miles to Forsinard where we finished for the day. We loaded the bikes and set off to Melvich and the campsite in the pub car park, the Hallendale Arms. Ian the landlord from Essex made us welcome served a great pint and then we went off for a pasta party before bed. Just one more day to go - we hope. 21:30 it's still raining. 44.5 miles (1134)