Sunday 12th May - Long Haul Trucker - Black Isle

Back out again today, this time to the south to visit and ride with good friend Brian.
An early start that didn't quite go to plan as I overtook a car near Brora and heard a 'ping' then slowly lost all boost power as I had blown a hose clip off the intercooler. Limped to Brians and lost a bit of time while I fitted a new clamp.
We were soon underway into the glorious sunshine with the temps being up near a balmy 12 degree when we left  :shock:
It was a modified route that we were taking due to the slightly later start and the fact it was just the two of us.
After the usual singletrack along the shoreline we climbed up the long drag to get to the days start to the off road sections. The first part was nicely surfaced trails but after a few detours that gradually got narrower and more overgrown we start down a path that looked a bit wider but still overgrown. This was the same as the others at the start in that there was a bit of water lying in the low parts but gradually got worse with longer and deeper sections of water. Nothing we couldn't handle but I did wonder at one point what would come next, thankfully we emerged onto a hillside with a great view of Ben Wyvis straight down the tarmac farm road now in front of us.
from here we dropped back down to the shore and crossed Cromarty bridge on the A9 and a short stretch of this busy road to our turn off to head back up the hill to join the road from Evanton to Dingwall. We went past the turn and crossed the road to have a spot of lunch at the Store House at Foulis which was only about 50 metres further on. We dined like kings as I had a Ham, Orkney cheese and guacamole sandwich and coffee before the steep climb up the hill. We stopped several times as their was a weird noise coming from the back of Brians bike, we couldn't find it but I was sure it was from the hub area. After riding along the top road back towards Dingwall for a while we came across the Highland café and thought this may be a good place to investigate this hub. After sitting in the sun for a while eating a giant cookie and drinking another coffee we thought we better make a move as time was marching on, so we headed back to Brians to finish off another great day out with a very enjoyable ride.
I have been very lucky this weekend with being able to get away both days and also with the weather, good days indeed.
Hopefully anyone reading this has had a good weekend as well, wherever you may be and whatever you have been doing.
Jamie