LEJOG Day 13 Invergordon to Bettyhill

78 miles, 3064' ascent, 5 1/2 hours ride, cum 955 miles

I've reached the north coast of Scotland, at Bettyhill. What a great sense of achievement at having got to this coast line, but there's still 50 miles east to JOG!

It was a terrific days cycling and after the slight blues of yesterday, I went really well and my star Sirrus bike again behaved perfectly

The weather too played it's part. Yes, there was the usual westerly cross wind, strong at times, but rarely did it hit us in the face, and the final 30m downhill from the Crask Inn were positively wind assisted

The morning saw us gradually ascend the first hill, then descend to Bonner Bridge. There was then a long gradual ascent to the remote Crask Inn for lunch. By now the landscape was vast, open and moorland bleak, and I did spot a couple of deer in the distance

Crask Inn is pub, shop and church, with soup and sandwiches for the hungry cyclists. I couldn't resist trying out the harmonium with a rendition of "The Wheels of the Bike go round and round"

Then the 30 mile descent - exhilarating!  -  to the coast and the Bettyhill Hotel where a celebratory scone, cream and jam seemed to have been earned

So we've 50 miles to go, easy I'm told, and hopefully another trouble free ride!  Whether we cycle in together remains to be seen, but the adventure overall has been brilliant and I'll be really chuffed to get there safely and in top shape. Fingers and toes crossed!