Low 60’s but sunny as we sailed down from our perch on the hill.  The next twenty miles was a flat, gorgeous ride along the Dornoch Firth.  Who said you cannot enjoy the beauty of the hills without climbing them?  Even the building clouds offered stunning contrast and beautiful reflections on the water.  A bike over the Bonar Bridge and we started climbing.Thankfully, for the first ten miles was a climb, then flat, climb, flat, so we were able to recover each time;the scenery remained spectacular.Other that beautiful countryside, we passed very few homes, though this one on the hill was impressive, yet this has it’s appeal, too.Stopped for a picture of of the Falls of  Shin.We assume it is the River (or creek) that flows down from the Loch Shin, that we first saw on our approach to Lairg.The town’s only cafe was closed on Monday’s, so we stocked up at the grocery store and enjoyed  a picnic by the waterAs we pedaled away from the loch, the climbing really began, but there was no break on this stretch.  It was the type of road that looked relatively flat, but never gave the legs a break from pushing.  The mountains in the distance, with the clouds hanging on the top was brilliant.However, the size of the mountains seemed to further insult,as the eyes were telling the legs this terrain was flat.The high valley we biked through had been stripped of trees; there were no homes, livestock or wildlife, not even birds.  But there were small horseflies, that had nothing better to do (and no other meat to chew on) then fly around our heads as we slowly climbed.  As the clouds began their assault on the sun, it became very gray, almost surreal…..were we still in Scotland?Is there any civilization around here?

At 2:00 a strong north wind hit us in the face and the temperature dropped ten degrees, it was starting to hurt.  Twenty minutes later, we came to our first downhill in 17 miles.  Damp from our climbing the cold air chilled us, but we were happy for the break.  Our little downhill also brought green back to the landscape, though the clouds still hung heavy on the mountain top.Loch Naver in the distance was a great sign, it was our stop for the night.  We were tired after our 51 miles, but the scenery today was one of the best.  You Must Love the cold to live here; Altnaharra holds the record for the coldest place in the United Kingdom, -27° C (minus 80°F).

Our dinner, prepared by our hostess, Mandy, was even better than today’s scenery.Prawn cocktail, Divine Venison Stew finished by apple crumble and ice cream.  After dinner, we enjoyed delightful conversation with guest’s, Bryce and Lena from Edinburg, well into the evening.  With the sun setting so late, it’s hard to judge the time, but it was a wonderful evening.