LEJOG3 - Day 1: Inverness to Alness - The Big First Ride.

Cycled from Inverness to the Highland town of Alness by mid-afternoon. So far, so good. Tomorrow, it's on to Lairgs. The Brompton folding bike is so easy at B&Bs (unlike a standard bike, which often throws the landlord/landlady, even if I've notified them in advance). When folded up, it's just like a piece of luggage.

The weather is beautiful just now. I hope it lasts.

Some amazing views from the enormous Inverness bridge and later, the Moray Firth and Cromarty Firth coastlines.

I had a good stay in Inverness yesterday after the long train ride up from Cambridge. All the connections went well and there was no disruption.

Inverness is a nice city, and I had a good look round. Lots of international tourists about.

I was staying in a cheap B&B in the unfashionable part of town. Actually, it was quite good. Quiet and pleasant, the host was friendly and good a breakfast this morning. I was on the road for 9am.

The route was a mix of very beautiful and easy cycling and some more challenging stuff. Quiet a few tough hills. I had to get off and push up a few. Also, there was about 5 miles of cycling on a roaring dual-carriageway, as there was no alternative route. At least there was a cyclepath. Safe, but very noisy and unpleasant. But not as bad as a brief experience of this sort in America. That was overwhelming.

Staying in Aultnagar Lodge near Lairg tomorrow. The name sounds very Indian. The middle of nowhere, it can feel - being this far North. Let's see how tomorrow goes.

Wheeling my bike towards the hotel this afternoon, I got chatting to two men, who turned out to be reporters for a local newspaper, the Alness Times. They asked me about my trip and I told them my story. They took my photo with the bike, saying that a piece on me will appear in the next issue! They were nice guys who also donated £15 to my charity. They were very impressed that a 65-year old like me would do a LEJOG - especially solo with no back-up. To their further amazement, I told them the age record had recently been broken. In 2023 a man aged 90 years and 33 days cycled from Lands End to John O'Groats. The record for a woman is close at 82 years and 38 days, completed in 2022. They did both have good back-up. It must help a lot when someone is carrying your gear in a car and is there to encourage you and provide whatever. Even so, these are amazing achievements.