Wet Wet Wet - Day 3 of the NC500 Challenge

More from your Yorkshire correspondent....

We woke to the expected rain, which looked heavy and persistent. We dressed accordingly, waited for the teams who’d stopped sooner yesterday to come along, and off we set. It was immediately apparent that it was very cold, probably 8 degrees without the wind chill.

We pressed along for about 12 miles to Altbea where we called an emergency break to call for more clothes. The support van appeared before the tea and we all dived for extra layers. We later found out that others had sent out for new waterproofs and the gallant support crew had gone on a successful hunt provide them.

Fortified by tea and cakes we pressed on. There is little to say about the rain, wind and cold, other than that it was relentless. Finally, Dundonnel arrived. We should have had fantastic views of An Teallach, but no such luck. The minimal staff did great service with plastic bags to sit on (to save the chairs), reasonable radiators, great soup and chips.  The other groups slowly drifted in, all equally bedraggled and it was time to free up our seats by the radiators and move on. A relatively sheltered climb, which meant some warmth followed and then a plateau and frozen descent as we slowly approached Ullapool.

The SHA said shut until 4:30, but the drying room was open, so we moved in. Clothes hung up, bikes packed and luggage retrieved, we made our way to the Village Hall for the evening outreach talk. A great selection of talks from academic, clinical and local healthcare staff as well as cancer survivors was presented to an enthusiastic group of locals, before fish chips and mushy peas by the harbour. Here, the last of the group rolled in late after a huge day out in the terrible weather. Critically the rain stopped, the wind fell and a hint of blue sky appeared, so hope for tomorrow.