27th March 2019 - LHT to Dingwall on Train. Jenny Graham Talk + riding with Brian

I needed to use up a couple of days holiday before the end of the month and with Brian and I having tickets for Jenny Grahams talk at Dingwall Academy about her round the world ride for Wednesday evening, it seemed like the perfect time to use them. This sounds last minute but it wasn't as we had planned it a while back, though the spanner in the works is that we were down to a 1 car house the last few weeks so a new plan was hatched to get the train down on the weds and attend the talk, Thursday have a ride  before getting the train back up home. Train times etc weren't wanting to play ball with the early train from Thurso not being available, it was either cancelled or fully booked, though I am pretty sure it was cancelled due to a signal failure south of Inverness. Anyway I packed my Carradice with a change of clothes and boots, and after battling a 35 mph headwind for the full 22klm ride into Thurso, I got the next train at 1 pm but unfortunately that didn't get me in to Dingwall until just after 4pm so after meeting Brian at the station we grabbed a coffee and the rode back to Brians for bike talk and dinner with the family.
Jennys talk was fully booked out and for good reason, a great talk, such an inspiration really, this word is often overused, but in this case it’s beyond justified. She laughs and jokes and thinks she is just one of us but she is really pretty unique. If you ever get the chance to attend one of her talks then definitely go, you won't regret it. She was averaging something like 160 to 180 miles a day for 120 odd days with no days off, fully solo and on her own with no support or back up. A pretty special lady.
Had a lovely stay with Brian and Sheena, thanks again, before getting up and out early for a ride this morning with Brian along the shore and then inland and upwards to a café we know but unfortunately we were too early! You don't hear that too often :)  While the rain stayed off despite the very dark clouds, the winds was just as strong as at home and it was very cold as well. You could see it whipping up what was left of the snow on top of the hills so no wonder it had a bite to it. So it was back towards Dingwall then back around the shore to a tea room next to the station where we filled on coffee and cake before getting the train back north at 11. Once off the train the short 20klm or so ride and I was home. Great midweek break.
I must also say I enjoyed the train journey. I don't get the train very often if ever, I think the last time was when I went down to Brians to start the Audax ride back up home. The price with our local highland rail card is pretty reasonable, cheaper than what it costs in petrol, at this time of year and being midday then there was next to nobody on the train, though you have to book a seat to be able to book the bike, though it doesn't cost anything. There is space for two bikes in each carriage but there are only two carriages so once the season kicks off it is hard to book. The train was comfortable with free wifi and usb plugs for each seat and while it is a three hour trip it is through some pretty quiet and remote parts of the highlands and scenery is pretty special from start to finish. So a thumbs up for Scotrail.
Back to work tomorrow, but hey, it's nearly the weekend! 
Jamie