The longest day

Oh please... 27 miles? Oh god...

Day 3: Inverness to Pitlochry.
But first a few words about Colin. He's my long suffering Father in law and cycling companion, 73 years old and always ready to go out on his bike. He organised our 1998 Lands End to John O'Groats trip, is always going to the Alps, you get the picture.

It stayed dry today. Our first climb of the day was on National Cycle Route 7 and was hard going. I'm thinking 'this is unnecessarily hard' or words to that effect anyway. The grind eventually popped us out on the A9, a road I was anxious to keep away from although we were following that route all day.

A brief screaming descent led us to the B road to Carrbridge. But first another hard climb, this time to Slochd Summit 400 metres above sea level and the highest point of the Highland Main Line. At least that's what the sign said.

Finally Carrbridge at 12:30 and we have made 25 miles, sadly there are still 65 to go. We treat ourselves to breakfast at The Old Bakery and marvel at the Carrbridge Tapestry, created by 6 local ladies and depicting scenes of everyday life in Carrbridge. Which, did you know, is the home of the World Porridgemaking Championship Competition.

But we had to get on. First Aviemore and then Kingussie, help we are not even half-way. At Newtonmore we re-joined the A9 thinking to cover the ground a bit mbut got caught out by the contraflow system at Crubenmore. I was soon fed up playing with the traffic anyway, you never know what you might be breathing. So I was happy when we spotted a large sign saying 'Pitlochry Cyclepath Pitlochry 27 miles'. Unfortunately this was surfaced with loose gravel and made slow going. However, the views were spectacular and to cap it all a Typhoon came winging overhead at low level.

Rose (my wife) called to ask what we wanted for dinner and would we be there for 7 pm er... Not likely.

We grind on over what must be the remains of the old main road. I pushed on then Colin called to say he'd punctured and I should go on. I do reluctantly, well that is the spirit is willing but the legs ain't working. I neck another gel mmm Strawberry Yogurt flavour, and some energy comes back. 30'mins later, Blair Atholl, but why aren't there any signs for Pitlochry? A long term feud over tourism perhaps, or an oversight by the signs man whose parents run a Blair Atholl tea room?

The remaining 5 miles pass slowly and painfully.

Today's ride 90 miles.