D+7 Fri 08 Jul 2011 Prestwick to Glencoe

Thanks again to HMS Gannet for their outstanding hospitality. The best nights sleep for all of us yet. Each with our own room, someone had even folded back the corner of the quilt.  All it needed was a chocolate on the pillow before bed time and we could have been in a posh hotel. Perhaps the support crew will take inspiration from it! Being Army, we are also used to a sink in each room, to be used in the middle of the night as only Squaddies know. Without one, we had to use the 'Heads' down the corridor.
Up at 0600hrs to yet another beautiful morning. Unlike England, Scotland spent most of the day bathed in sunshine.  After a muesli and boiled egg breakfast from the back of the van we left HMS Gannet at 0715hrs and proceeded to our finish point yesterday, the A77/A71 junction at Kilmarnock. By 0745hrs all four bikers are on the road, heading north on the A77 towards Glasgow. This stretch of the A77 before it turns in to the M77 is the worse we have experienced. The weather had changed direction overnight, and for the first time its coming from the North, straight at us. The drivers also had no consideration for cyclists, and all in a hurry to get to work. Just leave a few minutes earlier! Luckily we were only on this for 20 minutes before it turned into two separate roads, the M77, and the much quieter A77. At this point the A77 has a separate cycle lane, which lasted for 18 miles and took us all the way to Glasgow. Undulating, and  even against the wind, with the sun shining it was still a great ride, and recommended. Making good time at speed, we arrived at our first stop at a row of shops at 0915hrs. 10 shops - 3 hairdressers, 3 estate agents, and 4 restaurants. How do they make any money against all the competition.
Once in South Glasgow we picked up the A726 which kept us out of the city centre, and took us towards the airport and Erskine Bridge. Point to note. Glaswegians don't greet you with 'Good Morning', but 'Arite'. They are also the most generous yet, digging deep to support both charities. Many thanks. Thanks also to Pat Collins, who lives in Suffolk but originates from Edinburgh, and having one a golf competition with friends, contributed his winnings, £20 to each charity.
Once around the airport, we met Richard, a fellow biker who cycled with us for some miles. Thanks for showing us the short cut over the bridge, and good luck with your own charity, BraveheartFund, which encourages children in Scotland into cycling. Once across the bridge we picked up the A82 which was to take us all the way to Glencoe.  Stopping for a quick food stop at the edge of Lock Lomond, it proved to be a great photo opportunity, with the sun glistening on the water. Moving on, The Major suffered his second puncture, but slick pit lane skills by Dad, meant a tyre change in two minutes and back on the road.
The A82 has its own foot/cycle path that runs between the road and the Lock.  However the road is so good that we recommend you remain on the road. The cycle path also diverts in many places.
Stopping for lunch at Tarbet the rain finally caught up with us.  Thanks to the children and teachers from Lymington, Hampshire returning from a week in Mull for their support and encouragement as we left.
Having relied on Kneel and his GPS for 7 days to get us successfully on the right road, he had a blond moment (despite having no hair) and set off on the wrong road. Quickly corrected we continued North on the A82.  Despite having much resurfacing work completed, the road North of Tarbet follows the Lock, twisting and turning with the shore line, is very narrow, and the road surface poor in many places. Sharing the road with trucks and coaches, much care was required.
Once the road leaves Lock Lomond there is a long winding climb. Raining, and with the wind in our faces, conditions became testing, and the support crew were a welcome site at Crainlarich. With a lull in the weather we moved on to the Bridge of Orchy, and then on to Rannoch Moor. Again a testing ride, torrential rain against the wind, with a testing hill mid way through. Stopping at the Kings House Hotel we were approached by semi-tame deer, who fed from the hand. Another photo opportunity, then the most dramatic views yet down Glen Coe, with mountain ranges either side of the road, finally finishing today at Glen Coe village after 110 miles.  Setting the GPS point for our start position tomorrow, we loaded the bikes on to the van and proceeded to the Royal Marines Adventure Training Hut at Kinlochleven. Many thanks to Sgt Spike Woods RM for accepting us at short notice. A hot shower, and fish and chips later we are off to bed.
A long day tomorrow, 120 miles.