Day 9 The Midges Return

We were a bit worried that today would be an anticlimax after the excitement of reaching John O’Groats.

Nothing could have been further from the truth as the battle with the midges commenced. After a grey and misty start the wind subsided and the midges emerged from where they had been hiding and every time we stopped they attacked in their favoured kamikaze formation. No amount of “skin so soft” could keep them all at bay.

This is the remotest part of the trip in that their are fewest shops and cafes, but it’s been a lovely ride down one of the glens that leads south from Thurso. Oddly the train line from Thurso also runs down the valley so little clusters of crofts miles from anywhere have a little station!!

We got a bit wet at times today but the dark skies seem to go with the hills - and there have been sunny spells too.

It’s days like today when we laugh at ourselves - it’s both splendid to be out here in so much beauty by ourselves but it is mad to be battling the midges and tics . We can see through the tent that it’s a beautiful sunny evening and it’s raining too so it’s probably a wonderful vista framed by a rainbow - but no way are we qbraving the midges to see it!!

Thanks again for your support.

Stephen and Susan