LEJOG day 15 - Inverness to Lairg

128 km  Elev gain: 1191 m  (80 miles / 3907 ft)
-1 °C (real feel -5 °C)

My wife has a minor obsession with the Shipping Forecast so I'd decided to indulge her passion by taking the alternate NCR 1  leg to Cromarty before crossing Cromarty Firth via the small car ferry.

Beauly Firth and Inverness

Leaving Inverness, I cross the Kessock Bridge over the Beauly Firth, and ride the 20 miles to Cromarty along the Black Isle peninsula. It's a beautiful morning and the westerly wind assists me along the gentle gradient. My cycling friends are complaining on the group chat about their cold and wet London commutes this morning, so I send them a photo to rub it in.

Munlochy

All white on the Black Isle

Arriving at the pier in Cromarty, I come crashing back down to earth. I'm not just late for the ferry - I'm six months late!  My meticulous route planning wasn't quite so meticulous after all. 

A lesson in the 5 Ps.
Perfect Planning Prevents Poor Performance

Cromarty Lighthouse

The town is quiet and closed, and there's no sign of anyone with a small boat to barter with for a private crossing. Good job it's only a mere 15 miles back to the Cromarty Bridge. With headwind.

I take a picture of the lighthouse for proof that I was here, and grind out the miles for the next 80 minutes back along the peninsula to the A9 bridge. After my 30 mile detour I finally cross the firth.

I modify my planned route, cutting across on the Struie Road to reconnect with NCR 1 at Easter Fern, and I'm not disappointed. The road is beautiful and quiet, culminating with a view over Domoch Firth.

Struie Road B9176

I carry my bike up and down the stairs on the Shin Railway Viaduct, crossing the Kyle of Sutherland to Invershin and complete the final 10 miles to my destination in Lairg. It's still daylight, but I can feel the temperature really dropping, in contrast to the warm and friendly welcome at the Lairg Highland Hotel.

Running total: 1772 km  Elev gain: 17,391 m  (1101 miles / 57,057 ft).  92 hrs 10 mins