Coastguards get on their bikes in north-coast relay
COASTGUARDS from across north Sutherland and Caithness converged in Thurso by push-bike from Bettyhill and Wick on Saturday in a fundraising relay.
Poor weather conditions were encountered from each direction with rain plaguing those approaching from the east while their colleagues from the west faced a strong headwind.
Despite this disadvantage, both teams arrived at the rendezvous point, the Park Hotel, within two minutes of each other, registering a total time of under five hours for the 60-mile cycle.
Teams from the Melness and Reay units, supported by Durness, made the approach from the west from a starting point overlooking Torrisdale Bay while the eastern contingent, representing Wick, Duncansby and Scrabster, made its way from Wick sector office via John O’Groats. The event has so far raised £650 – with money still coming in – for the North branch of the Coastguard Association.
In addition to contributing towards the association’s overall aim of helping coastguards who have suffered hardship as a result of injury, the North branch makes contributions towards local charities and the purchase of equipment to facilitate its search-and-rescue activities.