Today was always going to be a functional day as it was a run down the A9 coast road to get us back towards Inverness. Problem we had was a persistent 10-15mph headwind making progress slow, also because the A9 is fasty (fast & nasty) there was also little opportunity to stop for photos.
We left Wick in moderate rain and uphill for the first 7 miles after which the rain eased but that problem wind remained. We usually do 10 mile stints in front before switching but today we alternated every 5 miles so hard was the wind.
After 18 miles we reached Latheron were we picked up the A9 and the traffic was noticeably busier with us constantly having to pull in to let traffic past. Then at Berridale we hit the Braes of Berridale which were awful - a series of very steep climbs at 15% for long stretches - after which we had a really easy fast descent into Helmsdale were we had lunch in a cafe after 38 hard miles.
Back on the coast we soon reached Brora and next the fabulous looking Dunrobin Castle just north of Golspie, but I didn't get any photos because of how fasty the A9 was.
After a coffee stop at Golspie were we were both suffering from the exertion of the headwind and the physical wear on the body due to the roughness of the roads, we actually then had a very easy last 15 miles to Tain.
We had one last 300ft climb after which a descent to the Firth of Dornoch and past the Glenmorangie Distillery into Tain for the night.
Tomorrow we have 40 miles to do and there is no way we are cycling on the A9 at any stage !