A run on the wee ZSB 125 to Knockfarrel (44 miles).
It is November and we are almost into winter. Getting out on the motorbike now is just a blessing. It actually always is a blessing. It was to reach 13°C today. I did a morning of raking and disposing of leaf litter at the new Christian School down in Alness.
After lunch I left home at around 2.00 and using the Old Evanton Road came to Dingwall and went to Tesco Fuels for petrol. I then headed towards Maryburgh but before it at the roundabout headed up the Brahan Road. After a short distance I turned onto the single track road to Knockfarrel. This is Loch Ussie with fog forming over it at the far end.
I came round to the end of the road.
You can see the fog forming here.
What a lovely cottage out here.
I came back down the road and then took the turn up to the Knockfarrel car park. This is the wee ZSB with Ben Wyvis behind it.
Looking to the top of Knockfarrel.
It is a half mile’s walk from the car park to the top and back again. I went to the top where I had my mid-afternoon snack. My old thermos flask came in useful yet again. The views on an autumn day like today are wonderful. Looking down to Dingwall and the Cromarty Firth.
Looking out to the Heights of Achterneed, Fodderty, Braes and Docharty. The patchwork field pattern of the old crofts is beautiful.
Ben Wyvis.
Looking north west.
Looking west with the low sun starting to cause haze and glare.
Loch Ussie.
The geese are fantastic to watch at this time of the year. A flock went overhead.
I had to take this picture of the fishermen on Loch Ussie.
Zooming in on that image. There is real atmosphere.
I headed back down to the Brahan road and out towards Contin. Before Contin, at Kinnahaird, I cut up to the Contin-Strathpeffer road. Beyond Strathpeffer I turned up to the Heights of Achterneed and drove on to the Neil Gunn Memorial (yet again!).
Near the Heights of Docharty, again looking to Ben Wyvis.
It was then a case of going back to Dingwall and going round the back to get onto the Old Evanton Road. I arrived home at about 4.15. It was just a delightful wee run. Will I be able to get back out this year or have I to wait till spring?