Castle Arms Hotel Thurso

... and I can't see what's wrong with it.

For some reason, I come over all emotional after Lybster, it must have been the sugar! Pulling myself together, I try to make it to Dunbeath but by a tiny place called Latheronwheel the siren's call of a B&B sign is too much and I stagger to their door.

Sandy and Betty are lovely and help me hang the tent up in their garage to fully dry out, then force feed ...

... the rabbits playing in the fading light. An early one for me as it's a long day tomorrow.

Things that made me smile today:

The sun coming out
Seeing a red deer as I leave the offroad section at Skirza
The ease of setting up the tent and using the JetBoil stove. Thanks Robin - they're brilliant!
A late night text from a friend checking I'm ok and cheering me on

... a friendly B&B. I think I'm going to need this as some days I won't be smiling much!

It's early evening by the time I arrive in J O'G and there is a beautiful pink sunset. Camera in hand, I get a couple of shots of the harbour, the Last House and the view over to Stroma and the Orkneys. Having exhausted the delights of J O'G in about five minutes, I turn in for an early night as my departure looms...

... double ensuite , which means a single queen-size (almost) bed with bed side tables, a chair by the window, a decent closet and a small and very comfortable private bath room. The nightly tariff includes a perfect breakfast. Please try the homemade and local cheese and the splendid homemade jams & marmalades. Eat the porridge, it is oatmeal in excelcis. Our hostesses pride themselves on using as many local products as possible. They have wi-fi and it works a treat. I am ...

Signs with this phrase are up all around our B&B (love the no smoking!). Today we headed off to the Oarkney Islands which are home to many Puffins; however we sadly saw none. We did manage to see some seals though and many old monuments. The Oarkneys are home to many quaint villages as only 18 of the islands (there are about 70) are inhabited with just 19 000 people.

Today started with breakfast overlooking the sea from our ...

... which was probably the most amazing scenery all day. The area around Loch Ness (no sign of Nessie, though we had a good look from the ruined but still pretty Urquhart Castle on the banks of the Loch) is also very pretty, though with less rugged mountain peaks. Loch Ness is one of the larger lakes and you can sail through it now, though you'll have to navigate the Locks, but luckily all the bridges over the waters swing now (interesting to watch ...

... as well. In all we had about 20 people aboard for the party.

One of the guests was a friend of mine from High School. She came with her childhood friend from Germany, whom I had never met before. After the cocktail party we invited anyone else to go clubbing with us in the wild town of Kirkwall. It ended being me and four women who went. It turned into a very fun evening. Several of the crew also showed up at the club after they had completed their duties.

YACHT ...

The English east coast is lined with magical spots where the deep north sea meets the slab reef and churns out some glorious waves. On a rare occasion: when the east coast swell hits, the winds blow gently offshore, the car starts, planets align etc. - some of the breaks can be world class and almost devoid of crowds. Surfing in the era of ever improving neoprene has brought surfing into a new ice age, the never-ending endless summer style search for the perfect wave has expanded ...

... are armed police following everyone they don't recognize as Phil and Carl found out when the went for a walk and a pint. Angie (my sis) and Iain (her fiancé) made us feel extremely welcome with a massive carbonara with lashings of Rioja. Carl and Phil especially needed the carbohydrate since they had cycled 0.3 miles this far. We all slept well and were up early as a result of the sun streaming through the ...

... was lovely. We stopped for lunch at Bonar Bridge. At Wyck, we bought fruit juice, and sweets, then headed for o'Groats. Our B&B was two miles out of "town". All the civic centre really is: three or four souvenir shops and the ferry ticket office. Not an extraordinary lot. After we checked in, we drove to the tip of Britain. Pas, Ann, and I took a footpath along the shore-cliffs. Mum still ...