The Bridge of Death !

After yesterday's rain "shellacking" we both nervously woke in our pungent smelling room (wet socks and jocks over a heater will do that for you) to survey the outside weather.

"Not bad" said I, as it didn't appear to be raining yet. "Not good" said H, "there's a seagull out there who just looks like he hit a brick wall after reversing direction" suggesting the wind outside was just under Hurricane strength.

We dressed appropriately and left our b&b with the kids pool still up on the front lawn indicating  that warm days weren't that long ago. We dressed like we were about to spend time on an Artic fishing trawler which we thought kind of matched the prevailing weather! While we attracted some weird looks at Tesco stocking up on food it was nothing like the looks we gave a Scottish cyclist who'd just got off the ferry from the Outer Hebrides wearing only shorts and a T/Shirt ! "Bloody hell aren't you cold" we both said to which he replied " I come from these parts so the weather to me is quite warm" ! It wasn't until an 80 years old dear stopped to talk to us to say the same thing that we realised that an 11c day (that feels like 7c) with a strong gusting wind is quite normal for the middle of summer !

Making our way out of Ullapool I promised H some flat road but after 5 consecutive hills and a series of dangerous crosswind descents I begun to think I'd imagined the so called flat section from 2 previous trips through here on my bike.

My memory though didn't fail me and a 100 metres of flat road finally appeared just as we got hit by freezing rain. This was not good timing with H trying to eat his waterlogged sandwich !

At the Ironic Summer Isles turn off sign we journied on to a single track road that wound itself around a series of stunning Lochs with wild brooding Mtns hidden alternatively by mist, cloud and rain.

Now pushing into a headwind we cycled slowly on to Archiniver which gave the impression we were cycling off the edge of the earth.

At the towns Hotel (the only hotel) we stopped for Soup and a few gallons of afternoon tea before cycling off to find our supposed unique Hostel accommodation.

On the edge of town we finally found the Hostel sign and the Hostels wheelbarrow - apparently to assist you in wheeling your luggage 300 metres down a rocky path to the hostel.

We did similar with our bikes where hazards included jamming your panniers against rocks and falling off the narrow bridge and getting swept out to sea (a small issue no doubt)

Greeted by a friendly NZ hostel volunteer we were shown to our unique pod style accommodation which had enough room for 1 single and 1 double bed and not much else.

All that remains is for us to repeat our heroic trek back to make our pub appointment for this evenings meal !


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