D+8 Sat 09 Jul 2011 Glen Coe to Inverness

Another eventful night with broken sleep.  Accommodated at the Adventure Training hut at Kinlochleven, the fire alarm went off three times, at 0120hrs, 0210hrs, and at 0530hrs.  First to be blamed the first time it happened were the three smokers in the team. Which one of them has used that fire door we were specifically told not to use for a quick smoke? Not guilty was the cry.  On questioning Spike, the resident RM the following morning, it was a malfunction with the system, the first time it has ever happened! Thanks for your help again Spike.

Out of Kinlochleven for 0715hrs, and back to the final position for yesterday in the van, Glen Coe. Bikes on the road for 0745hrs and on our way to Fort William on the A82. Another beautiful morning with stunning views as we crossed the bridge at Ballachulish. Ironically we could find no Fort in Fort William, but a lot of dodgy geezers. On arrival at our first stop in Morrisons car park, The Major was given a thorough debriefing by a local lady with dental hygiene problems on the fact that “ In Scotland slower transport normally  gives way to faster traffic”. “Thank you my dear, I’ll bear it in mind”. Two transit vans pulled up next to ours, and out climbed five men. With Dad and Christove visiting the toilets, and The Major looking at Harry Potters train, it only left three at the van. One of the men started talking to the lads, whilst the other four drifted to the other side of the van. Only quick thinking by Tonto in moving around to the other side of the vehicle averted the theft of all the attractive cameras, GPS and IT equipment. Blxxdy Pikies. Tonto saves the day! Three young University  students rather proudly announced they were to climb Ben Nevis. However they looked quickly deflated by The Major who announced five years ago that he took his 69 year old Mother-in- Law up there, and that they would see families taking their kids up there in shorts and flip-flops, it’s a footpath.  Despite all this the general public were like all Scots, generous in their donations to the charities. Thank you.

Continuing along the A82, we hit the steep hill and then the Commando Monument at Spean Bridge.  Another photo opportunity and a chance to meet some lovely people who donated heavily. Special mention must be made of the coach load of Senior Ladies and Gentlemen from Yorkshire. Ladies, the lads will be available for modelling opportunities on appointment. Donations to the two charities please.  Moving further along the A82, the scene then resembled a scene from the film ‘Wild Hogs’. Four middle aged men all caught short at the side of the road. The road then follows the coast of Loch Lochy (not a very original name Scotland). A lovely road, recommended for cycling. Stopping at at a Service Station in Invergarry for lunch we were joined by about 20 German Motor Bikers.  What is the fascination that the German bikers have with Scotland? They are everywhere. Do they know something about Scotland that the English don’t?  Should we let them have independence? Then on to the locks at Fort Augustus. Thanks to the lady who allowed us to park the van right outside her shop and restaurant next to the lock. A prime spot. Then it started to rain, and rain, and rain. Infact it rained for the entire length of our cycle up the side of Loch Ness. To make matters worse Dad and Kneel rubbed wheels at Invermoriston, and Kneel fell, breaking his pedal. With Tonto having spare pedals, Kneel and The Major sped forward to the next stopping point at Urquhart Castle, to meet with the van so as to not hold up the team any more than we had to. Tonto saves the day, again! Pedals changed, the team drove on through the rain, that became worse and worse, so much so the Scottish Open Golf competition was cancelled. Dad made the decision that instead of climbing over the Cat 3 hill on the A833, we should stay on the A82 and head for Inverness. Unfortunately nobody told the support crew, and with The Major shouting at the Gods ‘Is that the best you can do’ the weather got even worse with thunder and lighting.  We were so wet it didn’t seem to matter that Tonto relieved himself in his shorts to keep warm, twice.  Eventually we had to stop and try and contact the support crew. Ironically, having had no telephone signal since arriving at Kinlochleven last night, the only phone with a signal was The Major’s Pikey Pay as you Go Phone!  At this point Kneel produced his bright yellow waterproof cycling helmet cover. Resembling a fried egg, he looked every inch the double for ‘Super Mario’. His name for tomorrow – Mario for short.  Arranging to rendezvous in Inverness the team pressed onward in to the rain, and then crossed the A9 bridge at Inverness heading for Wick. At this point the van caught up with team. We are now sat on a very busy dual carriageway and it is still raining heavily. With tiredness and the cold starting to take effect, the decision was made to cut short the journey for today and telephone the 3 Scots, The Black Watch at Fort George.  GPS position set for tomorrows start, we set off for Fort George in the van.  As we drove past the Scottish Open Golf car park, cars were being rescued from the bog by tractors. A huge thank you to the QM, Maj Gary Tait and the boys in the Guardroom for accommodating us at such short notice. A warning to Cam Hastie back at Middle Wallop. Gary told me about your exploits in NI in 1987! A good shower, compo meal, and a bed in the guardroom easily beats a night camping in this weather.

So 85 miles, and the most testing, but oddly one of the more enjoyable days.  Southern Ponces meet and stand up to Northern weather. We have left ourselves with 115 miles to do on the last day; not as planned, but adrenalin will take us to the end. Up at 5 tomorrow.

FOOTNOTE

We may have our very own Fred West follower. Every so often today we have come across a man on his own in a remote parking spot, parked in his camper, wearing dark glasses, no matter what the weather. Does he have a fetish for men wearing Lycra?