Almost there

As I type the thick grey clouds that have rained on us so copiously are making their way south towards you lot, slithers of blue sky are now visible, perhaps we will arrive in the sunshine. The temperatures are about 20 degrees lower than they were 2 days ago and we have a 10-15mph northerly wind to contend with, but as veterans of over 1000 miles of cycling we scoff at such conditions. We are now in Wick, it is 11:30, and a mere 17 miles from our goal.
To take up the sory from when I left off. We stayed in a hostal (more like a family home) a few miles from Invergordon the day before last. A lovely big house, we had a huge ground floor room overlooking the Firth of Cromarty. As we set off yesterday morning it looked like it might rain, but in the event it didn't . Avoided the A9 and cut the corner at Kildary across to Tain. A delightful little town, bought a practice chanter here at a shop run by a Canadian women, a graduate of the university of Guelph, no less. Crossed the Dornoch firth and headed into Dornoch where we lunched. Another very picturesque town with a cathedral which we cycled past. I discovered later that apparently in this very cathedral a well known American singer and English film producer were recently married. Back on the A9 at the head of Loch Fleet through Golspie, Brora and into Helmsdale. The landlady wasn't in at our accommodation in Helmsdale so we retired to the La Mirage restaurant for a brew. La Mirage has to be seen to be believed. Lots of pink everywhere and huge photos on the walls of the owner (I presume), who models herself on Barbara Cartland, with various celebrities. Actually I expect a lot of businesses here on the north east coast do quite well out of the end to end business. Any celebrity doing their bit for charidy are likely to pass though Helmsdale and you can reat assusred the La Cartland lookalike will be there with refreshments and photographer. During our drink we decided to push on from Helmsdale to Dunbeath as the forcast for tomorrow is bad and the road beyond Helmsdale is more like north cornwall than then norm around here. So on we went up a 700 feet climb then down then up 500 feet etc etc. This time the legs pumped away as if made of iron - no problems. It's funny seeing end to enders coming the other way i.e. they have only just started off. Their bikes, bags and them are all pristine. We however are the veterans of the UK, with our tanned skin impregnated with the grime and road dust of 1000 miles.
Anyway my tea is getting cold in the Cafe Net internet cafe, Wick. The road is calling - must push on..............................................