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Part 3 - I'm Walking on Sunshine...ooooh!Sunday 8th July 2018 – cycle to Durness47.65km
510m ascent
2 hours 5 minutes
It rained (yes, actual rain
) all morning and was looking to be claggy all afternoon so I thought it was a nice opportunity for a trip to Cocoa Mountain. Me being me, decided I would cycle there.
I drove part of the way up to Rhicconich which left me a nice ride there and back for a guilt-free hot chocolate
It brightened up on the way back which gave me an idea….
Sandwood Bay13.49km
239m ascent
2 hours 45 minutes
A few miles down the road took me to Blairmore and a quick shuffle of my stuff saw me walking into Sandwood Bay. It was an easy walk a bit over an hour later I saw a familiar sight come into view…
I got the tent pitched and brewed up some dinner before going for a wander down to the beach for sunset
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With the sun gone I headed back to the tent to drink hot chocolate and chill out
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As far as places to wake up on your birthday go, Sandwood Bay has to rank pretty highly
It certainly beat last year (the back seat of my car) although that day did improve significantly on the Inn Pinn
I had breakfast in bed, but I did have to make it myself
Then a wee wander along the beach seemed in order
It was a wee bit overcast but still absolutely stunning
Eventually I got my stuff together and walked back to the car – it was sad to see how much rubbish had been left behind and although I picked up some of it, I was barely scratching the surface
Back at the car it was an easy drive down the road, stopping for a few photos of Quinag…
…and the Kylesku bridge
Arriving back in Lochinver there was something that needed to happen…
Happy Birthday to me
Monday 9th July 2018 – Stac Pollaidh
5.49km
604m ascent
2 hours 25 mins
I drove just down the road as I had a hot date with an old friend
It was late on in the day and most folk were coming down as I grabbed my camera and ran off up the path.
The weather was starting to come in so I didn’t really know how far up I was going to get….
But it was still absolutely stunning
Ridge ahoy! Well, I might as well go and have a look
Woooo
I made it across the ridge to the final scramble….with my short person problems I went around the squeezey way; undignified but not difficult
And soon I was on the top
Finally it was time to head home. I found my gully and started down it before my phone rang – of all the places to get signal
Back on the path I realised that if the petrol station in Ullapool wasn’t open when I got there I was stranded there for the night….
Setting off at a run I made it down to the car and back to Ullapool in time for fuel, phew
And a long drive home. But what a day to end a wonderful week away. And this summer is just getting started