My story. Pics later.
It was truly a great day out. I started at 3pm Thursday and blitzed 300 miles in pi$$ing rain to the Tipsy Laird hostel in Kingussie (recommended - esp the food). Then 150 miles to Durness to meet SteveT and his son Neil at the beach at Balnakiel next to Durness.
The high tide meant there was no firm sand to ride across the beach and a pre walk of the soft stuff all chewed up by F-off big army trucks confirmed that a 2.5m walk in biking kit and warm sun was needed. Luckily a kind hearted aide to the Sarg in charge picked us up about half way.
We then got briefed on where to stand so we were out the way but could see proceedings. Two RAF typhoons soon made their presence felt with swooping runs at the target island but no action as a Danish frigate was lining up for some ship to shore gunnery. Loud booms indicated the shots were underway but you had to watch carefully. A puff of smoke from the ships guns indicated a shell was on its way then it was a case of getting the binoculars on the targets (ISO containers on land) to watch for the explosions.
. A couple of seconds later it was Boom from the firing then boom from the explosion. Single shots soon turned into double, then treble and finally quadrupole salvos. Great stuff.
As soon as the frigate turned off target the background drone of the Typhoons changed tone and we could see them on a bombing run from far out at sea. Steve and I both had the binoculars on them as the lead plane dropped a 2000lb laser guided paveway bomb. We watched it all the way down jinking and swerving as it followed the laser down to a bullseye on the "nose" of the island. Absolutely awesome to watch even from about 5km.
The typhoons bugged out to be replaced by a Tornado GR4 and we were warned that it was on a "show of force run" from the north. The tornado passed overhead about 100' at super speed. I have a video I will post later but couldn't keep up as it passed literally above me. The ground shook.
There was more ship to shore gunnery in the afternoon.
Finally we got warned to squat down as a Lynx helicopter from the frigate was about to land on the helipad about 50' from us. Brill.
A long walk back to the bikes and SteveT and son went back to Elgin while I tried find somewhere for the night in Durness.
My target accommodation - The Lazy Crofter bunkhouse - was full of American military so I ended up in the last room in the Wild Orchid B&b. very nice it is too, and for sale if anyone is looking for a lifestyle change. Saturday and I had a late start, on account of having the full guided tour of the B&B and a bit of a hard sell from the current owner. Then a run down past Altnarrah to Inverness and the very helpful Mitchell's motorcycles who replaced a broken pinlock rivet in my visor for free and gave me a pack of spares and a key ring. Then on down through Moray, Speyside, the Lecht, Braemar, Glenshee to Pitlochry backpackers hostel - a proper old fashioned hostel but I think I doubled the average ago when I registered. 250 miles Home tomorrow.
It's been a fab trip and I have now had my dose of Scottish biking for 2014.
Sent from my iPhone with a smile
But what a day out!
