Day One dawned with a fine drizzle obscuring the view of The Broom Wagon which was in turn obscuring the sea view of the Sea View Hotel. Breakfast, pack bags and unpack bikes and off to the Departure Point for the obligatory photo at the sign post. It was closed. We improvised by the harbour wall and we were off, west to Thurso. Regrouping in Thurso we realised thatwe were missing the Broom Wagon, where could he be? Perhaps returning to the Sea View for the cases that he'd forgotten? (See Golden Gonads post). Our first crisis occurred in Thurso as our Route Master, Howie, led usn out of town only to be called to a halt by Tim's GPS and, after much debate, we retraced our steps and set off in the opposite direction. On west to Melvick before finally turning south and heading through some delightful scenery and lunch in Forsinard (aka "Force It In Hard"), accompanied only by a large herd of the fearsome Scottish Biting Midgie - atimorous Beastie it is too! On then to Helmsdale and the Belgrave Arms Hotel and its clientele of Jocks who appeared to have been drinking all day. After joining in the Great Helmsdale Bathroom Rush, there weren't enough to go round, we enjoyed a dinner and kitty died. Mr Scabster, the Head, ordered all the boys to their dorms at 6.30pm but again it nis rumoured that some boys stayed very, very late indeed; let's hope that they don't get caught!