Day 13 - Drumnadrochit to Brora - projected distance 70 miles.

Different roads today, and a very tough start. Coming out of the hotel, I turned left on to the A833 to Beauly. I had read about this road, and the fact that it had a bit of a climb at the start. It certainly did. This hill was as steep as anything I have come across on this ride - a very quick way of warming up. The road was lovely at the top though. Very quiet, with good views and excellent smooth tarmac - cyclists' heaven. The really good news was that the road fell even further, providing a tremendous fast descent on which I clocked over 40mph for the first time in a few days.

As you can see from the photos, it was sunny again today, enabling me to work on my ridiculous cyclist suntan, which stops and starts in very defined places. Over the day though, the wind strengthened, which became problematic in places.

I passed throught the attractive little town of Beauly, on to the Royal Burgh of Dingwall, and then it was on towards my first glimpses of eastern waters on this trip. Cycling along Cromarty Firth, on the A9, I saw the long bridge to Inverness and enjoyed the change of geography as the landscape opened up. At this point the wind started to whip inland from the sea. I was riding directly into a north-easterly headwind, which was very hard going. At least though I saw my first sign with 'John o'Groats' on it - only 104 miles to go.

Shortly afterwards I saw a couple on a heavily-laden tandem stopped by the other side of the road. I pulled over to see if they were alright. They had a puncture, but said they needed no help. They were just starting a JOGLE - John o'Groats to Land's End, and seemed a little daunted by the enormity of the trip and by the hills so far. "We're not cyclists", the man said. I refrained from telling him that he was on the wrong holiday, and wished him the best of luck instead. His wife seemed very plucky, and I imagine she might need to dig into her reserves of pluck on their journey.

After stopping for a quick picnic lunch in Tain with my support crew, I cycled over the bridge across Dornoch Firth, again in driving wind. At one point the draft from an overtaking double-decker bus blasted me sideways, so I concentrated on keeping my bike in a straight line and on the road. For the last 20 miles or so I was cycling into the headwind again, which was heavy, slow going. I just had to keep my legs grinding around, and fortunately it was fairly flat.

Four miles from Brora, I stopped briefly to marvel at Dunrobin Castle, which is a fairytale castle by the sea. Very splendid. Then it was on to the hotel, where I found a message of support from my brother and family, and a bottle of champagne as well from my generous friend Andrew Watkins. Sarah offered to help me drink it, which is obviously a great relief.

Brora boasts a lovely beach, and being on the North Sea, very few bathers. We went for a stroll along the beach before dinner. Tomorrow's diary will mark my last day on the challenge, and (I hope) my arrival at John o'Groats. As we are driving straight home, I will compile it in the car and upload it when I can, mobile signal willing.