We awoke early and crept from the hostel dorms trying not to wake the young family who had taken shelter from what must have been a very wet camping trip up until now. Desperately trying to dry our clothes during breakfast we lay everything out over the radiators, but had to settle with wearing wet but slightly warm gear. Needless to say we stank!
Out from Drumnadrochit we head for the nearest hill. It's a 15%er and we laugh at its face. We've done harder than that, we're well versed in hills! Today we had a mixture of bursts of high adrenaline met with inane ramblings (and dare I say singing... from both of us!) and moments of reflective dawdling. With great roads we made very good time and felt stronger than ever before, but there was something about today that was unexpected. We've been through so much by now. We've had moments that tested us in a way we hadn't been tested before. At one point it looked like we were going to be pushing our bikes across the finish line, fighting tooth and nail until the end. Instead, we are knocking off 80 odd miles comfortably whilst musing over the finer points of life.
I AM looking forward to a world without a saddle, but also very sad. It's on these expeditions that you learn so much about yourself and have a chance to put it into perspective. We both feel we've learnt something about life, but unsure how to process it. This mood is fueled by the endless nothingness that the far northern highlands provide. There's no sheer mountains or Munro's here, but it's epic in its own way. You can stare for miles over the hills and get drawn in like you do looking over the sea. Through a tiny single track that winds through this landscape we have a chance to share our experience....
"I learnt that bearded people are wise"
"I learnt to always ring ahead to your check your next host hasn't changed his number and bailed on you"
"I learnt that the west highlands is probably beautiful and that Oban is very popular... and wet"
We both agreed on one thing. That humour surpasses all difficulties. It has got us through every situation thick and thin. Without it, we would have been lost. Tomorrow is our last day! Can't believe it. I must also say a heart felt Thank you to Alistair for putting us up in a gorgeous tavern on the Isle of Arran. I hadn't a chance to say before but it was exactly what we needed and their hospitality was incredible.