Hi,

Sorry to disappoint you, but today was a little anti-climactic. I'm sure you can guess why, but we'll get onto that later. Today was more or less dominated by Lochs - cycling along Loch Eil from Glencoe to Fort William, Loch Lochy between Forts William and Augustus and of course, Loch Ness between Fort Augustus and Inverness. Our SYHA was along a shaded path, so we started with some extra layers on. Let's just say that didn't last long... The weather was as glorious as the last two days, and we soon stopped to strip down to base layer. That first stop was also the first of many for photos - the water of Loch Eil was so still, there was a crystal clear reflection of the mountains above. We then cycled to Fort William and on, Ben Nevis looming above us - another few stops for photos! We then got off the A82, and continued for 10 miles or so on nice, peaceful and scenic country roads before stopping on a small bridge for our first Chocolate break. Then came the painful bit.

We turned right onto a wide bike path, quoted in the book as having a good surface, perfect for touring bikes. No. Just no. The surface was so horrendously bad, a simple dirt track littered with small rocks and big potholes, I'm very surprised we didn't get a buckled wheel, let alone a puncture. I remember this being such a pathetic excuse for a cycle path that it was this, not the numerous idiots on the A82, that angered me the most today. It gradually got even more unpleasant: Firstly, the surface itself tended to get worse on the gradients, meaning I had to get off my bike numerous times because I was fishtailing so badly; Second, it went on for 7.5 miles. This doesn't sound like long, but it slowed us down to such an extent that it took us an hour! Then the most beautiful sight of the day came into view: Tarmac. We re-entered the A82 just in time for Grandad and Otti to overtake us - we stopped for a nice lunch at a picnic bench overlooking a petrol station - the view wasn't nice, but the company was lovely!

Now, the anti-climax: we didn't do the climb. There was an alternative route on the flatter, but less spectacular A82, running along the other side of Loch Ness. The many reasons for this include: Dad's climbing legs weren't 'on'; It was very very hot; Dad wasn't up to it; The views over Loch Ness from the A82 were closer and still great; Dad's a wimp. I'm going to now say (so Dad doesn't delete this) that I would have really struggled as well and that he's not a wimp at all (Ed: close but I will let it go this time!)

I would have really struggled and Dad is definitely not a wimp.

Obviously the climb would have offered better views over the Loch, but the scenery today wasn't exactly Avonmouth. I think the most extraordinary view today was the aforementioned reflectiony scene over Loch Eil - the panoramic view not only took in the Loch and the mountains immediately above, but also caught Glencoe village and Ben Nevis in its far corners. Our first stretch off the A82 also offered some lovely quaint Britishness we hadn't seen since Somerset, mixed with the spectacular views over the most Lochy Loch of all the Lochs we've seen so far - Loch Lochy. Finally, the scenes over Loch Ness were the grandest of the day, if not so far (although I think the Loch Tulla viewpoint may just pip it!).

Our speed. Let's just say it was fast. Very fast. Because the whole day was flat, we managed a whopping average speed of 15.05 mph. Now, I say flat, but all the little rolling hills we went over today added up to a total ascent of over 1200m and we spent an hour going at 7mph and it was our longest day of all (joint with the last) at 83 miles - three factors which make this all the more ridiculous: before this fortnight we'd go on sprint training runs of < 30 miles at less than that speed!

Tomorrow is our penultimate day - I can't believe it!

I'm not going to say much about it, other than it's a bit shorter (66 miles) and I'm absolutely ecstatic - both at getting so far and being so close! The other thing is that we've now reached our �1600 target - thanks so so much to everyone who's donated over the months. We're keeping the fund open - there's some essential equipment I will need for my expedition it can go towards!

Yay!!

Until tomorrow, bye!

Alex