rider who had developed a bloodclot in their leg while attempting a ‘ saddle-sore 1000 ’ ride .
After a moments ’ deliberation , I decided to fish out my flight socks from my panniers , which had sat there as part of my ‘ touring kit ’ un-used over the past 15 years of big trips . As soon as I pulled them on the relief in my legs was instant . Being sat on a bike for the best part of 6 hours , not really moving on a hot day , was clearly causing my legs some issues .
I got myself set , swung my leg back over the bike and headed West out of Peterhead towards Inverness . This next section of the ride over the plains of Banffshire and Moray had nice twisty roads but I struggled to enjoy them . The glare from the setting sun in the clear skies to the West was piercing and off-putting . Even with integrated sunglasses in my helmet , it was hugely frustrating riding directly into the sun for almost 3.5 hours . By the time I arrived in Inverness , the gateway to the highlands , I had a splitting headache from the sun . I ’ d now ridden 709 kilometres and by the time I ’ d filled up the bike , and bought extra water to help my head , the petrol station had closed as the clock ticked past 2200 hours ... it was getting seriously late .
While most of the country was getting ready to settle down for the night , my next leg was at least another 3 hours and 193 kilometres of riding to do across the Scottish Highlands , and what was more the sun had almost set . I rode out of Inverness across the eloquently lit Kessock bridge and headed up the A9 towards Dunnet Head . My head was glad of the relief from the sun , but the risk factor of the ride had just gone up a notch , especially knowing the level of wildlife in and around the roads of the highlands .
I was surprisingly awake for this time in the evening . I ’ d had as good
TRAVERSE 26