Disastrous start!

I'd like to have started with the journey up, sunshine, small plane etc. Unfortunately arriving and unpacking Colin's bike has been devastating! The box was damaged and his rear gear hanger all bent up (no changing gears) and the front fork crushed in on one side! I don't really know what to say to him, he is gutted and we're mortified. Using some tools from the Hotel I've been able to reshape the gear hanger enough that it works on most of the gears (we will have to order another online and get it posted to meet us somewhere) However the forks are a different story. I have strengthened it with some duck tape, not as daft as it sounds, as the damage is to the flat side of the fork and the fork appears to still have a fair bit of strength pushing straight down. Colin has tentatively ridden it but clearly a pot hole could easily, finish the folk off and put Colin on the floor! Not something either of us want to imagine. The plan will be to call Thurso bike shop in the morning (if open as it's a bank holiday) to see if they have replacement folks, I'm sure a gear hanger would need to be ordered. We have a contact at work, Alex, who's from Thurso, so Colin is going to call him to see if he can help. That's all for now.