The ETD is always calculated back from the need to be at the ferry for 6 (or shortly thereafter); the need to feed and the uncertainty of whether the Wick chippy would be open, a Tesco stop for bread and milk for Monday's breakfast, factoring in the possibility of a combine harvester on the A9 at Latheronwheel etc.

In the end we left pretty much on schedule from Hers at 1000. The A9 will be lovely when its finished but the bit just north of Perth is painful at the moment.

Lunch around Slochd whilst admiring the random echinops planted by the side of the road. No parrots in camper vans this time....

But the real excitement of the trip was the Cigs discovery at Helmsdale. That very nearly upset the travel plans....!

But Occumster / Thrumster / Lybster / Campster were all duly passed and we managed a manager's special in the Alexander Bain - £3.99 for hand battered haddock and chips. We paid homage to Martha Terrace (see extra ) and trundled on north to join the not insubstantial queue for the ferry. 

A flat calm hour (bar a couple of bumps at the top end of Stroma) and we were in. Beds were made and fresh air breathed in. 

But Cigs - really?