Roadholder 370 - October 2018

30 LE - jog - day by day (Pt.2) Ian Loram Day 5 At the end of part one (last month's Roadholder), Ian had arrived in Scotland, carrying the Eric Cox memorial book ... . Wet overnight, however the roads soon dried up with just occasional showers as the old bike carried me up the A9, eating up the mileage but creating fatigue. I followed the support vehicle, which was today set at 47mph. Eventually the sign I had longed to see: 'Applecross 21 miles'. In no time at all, Keith pulled the van into the lay-by at the foot of this very challenging old cattle pass. Part way up at a viewpoint a couple of chaps had paused and were taking photos so I felt sure they would take one of me, which they did. Summit made, I gave a sigh of relief as the hairpin bends had been negotiated impeccably, even if I say so myself. Very soon I had descended and booked into the B&B and waited for Paul Pattinson to arrive as he was joining me for the 500 route. Day 6 Day 7 Paul and myself outside the Applecross Inn on Saturday morning ready to complete the 500 route which takes in John O'Groats which meant I would have competed the End to End run on the 90 year old Norton. We headed off the coastal road (sounds simple) so an hour and a half later we had very large smiles as well as a great sense of satisfaction. It does not get any better than the day's ride to Poolewe; we could not stop talking I certainly am taking the Eric Cox memorial book a long way, pity it was not on Eric’s bike, as it would have made it closer to the half a million mile target. Total mileage for the day was 240 miles.