str0nach

I’m a bloody genius! When I planned the route I deliberately put in a short day leading to my arrival in Aberdeen, which is where I’m from and where my parents still live. My Dad, also a biker, was meeting me and we were going to ride down into Aberdeen together. I woke up at 4.30am in John O’ Groats. Broad daylight streamed in though the thin curtains and I was cold. Really cold. I couldn’t get back to sleep but was knackered: what an irritating combination! I think the relentlessness of this trip was starting to take its toll. For the first time I just wanted to rest and not ride the bike! Thank God it’s just a short one today then- 285 miles. I managed to summon up the willpower to get going on schedule though and- unsurprisingly- sat down to breakfast alone and set off without a sign of anyone else having stirred, not even the owners.

Heading South down the A9 and the weather matched my mood: pathetic fallacy I believe that’s called. It was pretty cold and bleak- not raining but kind of drizzly and grim. I was tired, not very focussed and the miles seem to be clicking off very slowly. What a contrast to yesterday’s ultimate day of biking! I guess all that concentration had had an impact as I was feeling fried. I made it to Fochabers on time though and my Dad was there waiting- just as planned. We Stronachs know how to stick to a schedule! It was great to see him and riding a stretch with my own Dad was one of the high points of the trip. Not something I ever thought I’d do!


Before hitting the road coffee was required though! And I mean required!


The run down was trouble free but as you’ll have gathered from the above I was riding to the destination rather than for the ride at this point. We did manage a stop off at Fraserburgh for a photo at the lighthouse:


And another on Aberdeen beach where a passer by was pestered into taking a picture of the two of us:


But the best bit was getting to my parents’ house for a much needed sit down and some good old fashioned spoilage!


The bike was actually looking OK considering the mileage it was seeing, with no maintenance other than a daily chain lube and fluid level checks. It was certainly claiming the lives of a fair few insects along the way though. Hopefully a lot of wasps. I really hate wasps!


My brother and his kids popped out for a visit which was nice and later we nipped down to the local pub where my best mate and best man came out for a couple of jars. Early night though!!