North Uist and Harris

The day started really well. The weather was perfect! We went to the beach in the morning to take some photos, then went off... The beaches of North Uist are really beautiful - white sand and turquoise sea.
We arrived at the ferry port in Berneray in good time and the crossing to Harris was pretty smooth - I managed to sleep most of the way - waking to the uncompromising hills of Harris. Once in Harris, we decided to go and visit the 16th century church of St Clement’s, it was a bit of a detour but well worth it. Built by the Macleods as their burial place, it is a lovely plain stone building (extra). It only had a couple of tombs with their effigies, one of which decorated with interesting carving. It currently hosts an installation by two artists Erlend Brown and Dave Jackson - 7 great canvas banners in the shape of 7 waves as a visual response to George Mackay Brown’s poetic cycle Tryst on Egilsay. I was pleased to have seen it.
Then back in Leverburgh and I started to find it hard going, then realised that my front tyre was flat- puncture! I started taking the wheel off and prising the tyre off but I am not strong enough, so started hitching back to the ferry port to see if the mechanic next to it would help me. The guy who picked me up just did it there and then (mind you he struggled to get the tyre off too, so I didn’t feel so bad), and we were off again. Another few miles up the road, just above Scarasta beach (stunning!) and my tyre was flat again! This time there was nobody to help, I thought there might be something strange going on and, more to the point, it was getting rather late, so we decided to cut our losses and get a taxi (with bike carrier) to Tarbet. There we got help.., I was rather annoyed to have missed cycling through some of the most amazing countryside - I kept going ”I wow, this is so beautiful!” to the taxi driver who kept reminding me of the winter months, as if he was worried that I might move in - and specially on such a beautiful day.