Day 101 - Badbae to Lybster - 10.7 miles

Today was always going to involve some clever logistics. Hans at the Bridge Hotel had kindly offered me a lift to Badbae to restart my walk northwards and then I was hoping to arrive in Dunbeath in time for the X99 afternoon bus to Lybster.

By 10:00 Hans had dropped me off and I was back on the coastal path.

Up ahead I saw a large bird and managed to get a photograph before it took off with what seemed like very large wings.

A local I met later,  suggested that it might have been a Sea Eagle which have only recently been reintroduced in the area.

At Berriedale there was a steep descent to a bridge crossing

where I stopped for a coffee at The Bothy before continuing down river to rejoin the coast path

over a very wobbly suspension bridge to some fisherman's cottages

before rising steeply once more to the clifftop path.

It was a lovely afternoon for walking but with the sound of rolling thunder closing in, a downpour was becoming inevitable at some point.

I walked past 

AnDun 

and 

The Clett and from there it was a straightforward walk to Dunbeath where I'd hoped to visit the exhibition devoted to local author Neil Gunn at the Heritage Centre. Unfortunately they'd closed early so as a distracting alternative I went to the Post Office for a resuscitating Irn Bru.

Anne who manages the Post Office used to be Dep Head of a local school and used to be responsible for the pastoral care of the children.
The first can of Irn Bru went down far too quickly so I bought another and convinced by its recuperative qualities, I discussed with Anne the likelihood of it being made available on the NHS!

The X99 turned up on time and I travelled up the road to Lybster where I was staying for the next two nights.

Lybster a long strung-out village

so I decided to explore the long road down to the harbour on the way passing

Northlands Creative - a glass design studio. I got talking to Laura, a textile designer who also manages the studio.

She explained that it was initially established with the enthusiastic support of Lord Robert Maclennan. The continuing funding is carefully and innovatively pursued by Laura from a number of sources including the offshore windfarm industry.
Glass designers come from across the globe for residencies here to enjoy the special qualities of Caithness light and for the cross pollination of ideas that occurs in these special places. Laura works with local schools and colleges to enhance their knowledge of working creatively with glass

and the building provides a showcase for the works of all the artists that have been there.

By the time I left the building, a cooler breeze had picked up

so I walked briskly down to the harbour

before turning on my heel to get back to the hotel just before the rain came pelting down. 

Total distance walked so far = 1239.1 miles

Total ascent so far = 139 168 feet

If you'd like to leave a comment, correct me on any detail or just nudge, it'd be great to hear from you. If initially it comes up as Anonymous, please just add your name at the bottom so I can see who it's from.

email: david.LL.thomas@gmail.com

mob: 07850109100

If you'd like to contribute to any or all of the three great charities I'm supporting, here are the relevant links.

- Parkinsons UK   - My dad had Parkinsons in his latter years and the research work this charity funds and the support it provides to patients and their families is invaluable. - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-thomas215

- Just Wheels UK  - this is a small charity set up to provide wheelchairs in a rural community in Tanzania. It does this through funding training, education and the local fabrication and servicing of bespoke wheelchairs. My nephew uses a wheelchair and as he grows I can see the life changing freedoms that proper wheelchairs can bring to both users and their families.- 

 https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/campaign/a056900002H35TDAAZ

- RNLI   - these are the brave guys who selflessly head out to sea to help others. I volunteer at Littlehampton RNLI shop and often meet families of those who’ve had first hand experience of their loved ones being saved from the sea. Having sailed for years I can say thankfully we’ve never had to call on the RNLI's services but it’s amazing what it does to know they are there 

https://www.justgiving.com/