Look out for the Monster...............

07/10/11 - Day 22 (20 riding) - 06:30 peep out from under the covers to find some cloud but, wait for it, some clear bits as well! No rain! Lets go before it changes it's mind. We set off for Neptune's Staircase which was just around the corner, the start of the Caledonian Canal and our ride along it and the Great Glen. On the way we saw local people standing in the street with their children looking up and pointing at this phenomenon - blue sky & the sun! From Neptune's Staircase (why is that for a nation of bungalow dwellers they call everything going up or down outside a staircase) and after some easy cycling along the canal we were on to the Great Glen Way, Loch Lochy then on to Loch Ness when we had a chance meeting with Marion and Jane at Invermorriston, these were not the monsters we were expecting to see. John changed his brake pads, Jane and Marion took photos of heeland coos then hoping for more of the same good weather and easy riding we set off for Drumnadrochit. The rain started first then the hills started, first a mammoth climb then another and eventually after another 20 miles of what seemed an afternoon of cycling uphill and tough tracks we enjoyed a downhill ride into Drumnadrochit. Once there we decided to have a night in a hotel with sky tv to watch the England Euro Championship qualifier then up in the morning to watch our brave lads face Le Frogs in the 1/4 final of the Rugby World Cup. Got a hotel but no sky so had to go to a bar for that. What a mistake not only were our overpaid pampered heroes up to their usual standard of mediocrity but the bar was something from the outback with v loud music and a couple of screaming locals. We left at 1/2 time. Went for a meal at the only place open for food, well it was 9pm! 54.69 miles (1015 red letter day really over 1000 miles off road most of which had been done in pouring rain) 08/10/11 - Day 23 ( 21 riding) - 8am no alarm, a lay in. Woke up to the news that England's medallion man, had been sent off for petulance in the second half, no change there then even with hair! And of course we let the game go but we have qualified, oh that makes it alright then. Had a quick breakfast then settled down to watch the rugby. Come on England. Mistake we should have stayed in bed like most of our team! Shame as all it did was really serve to delay us getting away until 11.30 and now the rain had started yet again. We left Drum (that's what we locals call it) and started to climb again, this was a v long, hard, steep slog in the rain but no wind, oh no that waited until we reached the summit and rode across a valley and down to Beauly, now quite cold. When in Muir of Ord we stopped for a sandwich in the rain and then went on via the forest trail to Garve. We met the girls who informed us there was no campsite, no B&B, no hotel the only thing there was was rain. Nothing for it we loaded the bikes on board and drove to the middle of nowhere and a hotel with vacancies. The hotel was a sleeping giant but was warm and friendly, with it's very own Manuel the waiter, entertainment and radiators to dry our wet cycle clothes. 34.81 miles ( 1035)