Day 16: Muir of Ord to Helmsdale via Invergordon Hospital (Don't go breaking my bike)

Matt - It's been a funny day. All was going well. Excellent breakfast at last nights B&B (Porridge) whcich I had just about worked into my system after a slow start. We were just passing Morrisons in Alness when a kind gentlemen pulled out in front of us. I was in front of Alan and could not stop. So I hit the car at about 12 mph. I was helped up by a very kind lady called Dawn who worked at the local hospital and made sure that I had no broken bones, sat me in her car and tended to my wounds.

An ambulance was called and the Police also arrived. Everyone was very kind and helpful and I am very grateful to them especially Dawn.

The ambulance arrived and took me to Invergordan Hospital (Rather than Inverness). Got checked out and as supected just cuts and bruises. I have managed to bruise my shoulder and both sides of my right thigh but am basically OK and feeling very lucky.

Incidentally, I broke the guy's wing mirror and left him with a dented door and wing. My bike however is mangled. the front wheel is broken the forks cracked and the headset damaged (see picture). As JT said the bike is more a piece of abstract art now rather than a bike.

Alan and Elayne have been brilliant and very kind. Alan is continuing with the ride and was late in tonight partly due to the hospital delay but also due to a whisky stop (see Al's blog).

Alan - Met a tiger, drank whisky, cycled into head wind, got wet, eat homemade cake, met lots of nice people and one idiot, watched a crash in slow motion, visited a distillery, went to hospital and saw the place where the last wolf probably wasn't killed. Just a standard day on the LeJog.

What can I say. Overall it was a sad day. about 80 miles from the end Matt's trip finished because an idiot in a car, pulled up to a junction, looked (but I'm not really sure what at) and then pulled out right in front of Matt. It was horrible to watch and no doubt worse to be involved in. Not done the waiting in hospital for someone else before. Not keen really. In my opinion, Matt has completed the LeJog. All the tough bits are behind us. He's shown the mental toughness to get through all of the troubles along the way, inclusing exhaustion, losing the use of a few fingers and knee injuries. With all of these type of endurance events, it's not really a physical challenge, it's a mental one and one that Matt passed with flying colours.

Once Matt decided to crash test his bike we then agreed that I would go on. It was raining from the start of the day up until about 5pm. There was also the promised head wind to contend with and crossing the bridges was an interesting experience, being exposed to the full force of the wind and traffic. After Matt left I continued onto Brora where I decided I would visit Sandy and Lily (see photo). I didn't have any directions (they were in Matt's pannier), just what I had remembered and after a couple of turns a car rolled up and I was asked if I was "Alan", Sandy had found me. He'd also found Elayne about 20 minutes earlier in a similar way. Elayne and I were then fed with great homemade cakes and Sandy opened a new bottle of Clyneleish, most excellent. With another 12 miles to go I stopped at one and I set off for the final miles of the day. This is Scottish hospitality at its best. We may have to return with Matt on the way south.

Tomorrow, 55 miles with all the climbs in the morning. On my own though which just won't be the same :-)

Elayne: Full details of B&B and, of course, the hospital, tomorrow. Just wanted to say that Mrs Polson at Torbuie B&B was just what the doctor ordered. Enormously warm welcome and she sorted Matt out while I retraced my steps to meet up with Alan in Brora. Delighted to have found her, as she has now taken herself off the tourist information website, as she's 72 (Alan - You wouldn't guess it) and wanting to do a bit less!