Lots of debate about the route this morning, Google seems to be saying that the selected route is 154 miles, so lots of toys out of prams as we debate how to reduce this. We ended up with the marker pen tracing a route along the A9 for a while - so we set off thinking we would forego the scenic-countyside for the joys of A-road riding…so how did we get on?

Today’s Top Ten:

1 - Rude & indifferent hotel-staff: its such a shame when a nice hotel is ruined by staff who find their guests an inconvenience. The first conversation about the van’s registration number on the booking-in form set the tone:

“why do you need the registration number?”…

“in case you’re blocking anyone in”…

“we’re not we’re parked by the wall”…

“oh well in case the alarm goes off”…

“but it doesn’t have an alarm”…

“In case it gets broken into”…

“How many cars have you had broken into in the last year?”

“None…but I still need the number”…

“oh for goodness sake…”

Every request after this was met with a sigh and a look of disdain and we were resigned to our fate as we overheard other guests also getting the same treatment so it wasn’t just the mohawk and unshaven appearance.

As compensation for no hot water they offered us a free drink each the next time we returned, a drink that I fear will be sitting on the bar for many years to come because we won’t be returning to the Killin Hotel in Killin any time soon and I’d hope you won’t go there either…

2 - Loch Tay: the day started with a stunning ride along the banks of Loch Tay, which would have been twinkling gently in the morning sunlight if the cloud-cover had allowed. A great 15 mile start to the day.

3 - Road-closures: A big short-cut was cut short by a sign announcing a road-closure ahead. “Oh we’ll be fine” was the general conversation as we weaved around the sign and continued up the hill think that a charity-bike ride will be able to get through anything…we were wrong…

4 - The Caledonian Etape: Ah…if you’ve ever wondered what 5,000 cyclists on a road-race looks like - I can tell you it’s quick, multi-coloured and immovable. We did point out that the Ickle Pickles LEJOG challenge was a major event and discussed them stopping the race for us to pass but for some reason they said no. So we were faced with turning back & finding a new, longer route or something else…something a little bit naughty…somethign the organisers wouldn’t approve of…So we joined the Race.

Suddenly Biagio found his race-legs, Fizzy & Gossy became serious cyclists as we raced along roads and paths, accepting the applause of spectators, gifts of sweets and oranges, being inspired by the pipers and chatting amaiably with other riders (who had already ridden 60 miles) before blasting off to the next group.

Great fun for the 20 miles to Pitlochry where we were funnelled through the cheering crowds, official photographers, TV crews and congratulatory banners to the holding area where medals and water were being handed out. We all eased up a little as we considered our lack of race numbers, time-chips or proof of race-entry of any kind.

Hesitation & doubt set in until the mob-mentality set in and we surged forward to try our luck fo a medal…

5 - I got a medal

6 - Fizzy got a medal

7 - Biagio got a medal

8 - Paul didn’t get a medal - but currently occupies the lonely moral high-ground and revels in the thought of the cycling inspector knocking on his door investigating the mysterious case of the missing 3 medals…

9 - The A9. 87 miles to Inverness on the A9 is a long way in a car let alone on a bike. Haulage and Logging lorries thundered past and horns blared as speeding drivers swerved to avoid us, the rain poured, hail fell and we dried off as the sun shone. Today was all about the mileage and Aviemore and Newtonmore passed as the knees and ankles starting to make their objections known…

10 - Karaoke bars in Inverness on a Sunday night: They should be closed forthwith. Scotland’s answer to the Cantina bar in Star Wars - Super-Tennants on tap, Vodka & irn-Bru chasers and pub-grub of salt & vinegar crisps and pork scracthings - made for interesting viewing!

Quote of the day “I can understand it from those two, but I’m disappointed in you Fizzy” Gossy on learning that we’d all got medals for completing the last 20 miles of the 81 miles Caledonian Etape.

Mileage: 125 miles: 871 miles in total

Saddleometer: The Gel seat cover went on today, meaning we have 3 pairs of shorts, a gel seat and a gel-seat cover protecting sore bits. Elsewhere reports of bone-deep aches, numbness and bruising rapidly putting fledgling career as saddle correspondent to the sword.

Tired tired tired…longest mileage today and the conversation at dinner was a little flat…