Loch Ness to Glencoe

Monday 10 Sep 07 – Day three and guess what? All is well, in fact getting better certainly from the weather (Scorchio, honestly) and the collection point of view. But to the team: they set of in fine weather from the lower end of Loch Ness (no monsters that we can discuss on the blog encountered) with another ‘gently undulating’ road and high spirits. First point of call, Fort Augustus the pushing down towards the Great Glen with planned stops at Spean Bridge and Fort William en-route to the next stop in Glencoe. There’s a sort of Big Brother theme emerging…..day 3 on the Big Brother Bike Ride…and we have a new inmate. Tim has picked up a fellow end-to-ender Kyle, whom we had met briefly at J-o-G, and who now has joined the ‘team’ at least for a few legs.

Bag to our story. High and fast on the road the team were intercepted by what they thought was a Japanese sniper. He turned out to be a Japanese filmmaker who was over filming the Fort William World Mountain biking championship and realising the star potential of the boys recruited them to add spice to a documentary he is making for a Japanese TV network. As a result he chased all round the 2nd leg of the day and then interviewed members of the team at the pit stop!

Whilst travelling through the highlands the team had decided to take time to visit the Commando Memorial just north of Spean Bridge. This was a very thought provoking period for us all with plaques from the loved ones of our brave comrades who have died; as recently as in the Afghan and Iraq conflicts this year. Our respects go out to our fellow service personnel and the people they knew and loved.

Whilst at the memorial several people generously contributed to our adopted charity we thank them all. Worthy of note was, by a stroke of fate, Pedro and his psychedelic cycle care truck (CND emblem) he donated to the fund and provided some maintenance items free of charge – good hit Pedro, may thanks all you people out there look out for Pedro and be sure to use his excellent service.

Lead on MacRichardson, and Ade’s next call for us was Fort William. The lads enjoyed a relatively pleasant 11 mile run down into the town. A big plus for us in Fort William was the generosity of the locals. In 20 minutes outside Morrisons and a gentle stroll up the High Street we raised over £300 pounds. A really big heart felt thank you to the highland folk who lived up to their well renowned generosity.

The end of the leg in sight, a mere 19 highland miles, it was back on the treddlies. To be fair a great ride down into the evocative, history steeped Glencoe. The breath taking scenery requires a wordsmith greater than me, here a photo.

Glencoe Youth Hostel welcomed the team who arrived relieved at the respite from Delia’s cooking and the prospect of a good pub meal at the Clachaig. Black Pudding followed by haggis, neeps and tatties for most of us, smoked salmon for those who thought some of our choices offal.

Here endeth another enjoyable, tiring and fulfilling day. Loch Lomond, Loch Long and a warm bath at HMNB Clyde awaits tomorrow. Good night and we look forward to tomorrows update.