On the Bus Henley !

Our friendly B&B hosts had provided H a lifeline overnight by suggesting that he could access a bus to halve today's expected 100 plus km distance. Kev has been suffering cumulative tour fatigue as well as I suspect some side effects from an Aussie bug that has made the tour with him!

With a big day ahead and a Co-op shop breakfast of Sausage Rolls and bananas, we launched straight into a canal induced headwind. This was tough going as we headed to Gairlochy before we venturing  off road on a very rough forest trail that followed the huge connected Lochs.

After H had swallowed his optimal share of midges while taking an early morning break, we continued on to Fort Augustus separately with Kev aiming fair and square for the Inverness bus.

At Fort Augustus Kev placed plastic bags around his wheels and chain and adopted pleading puppy dog style eyes to be finally allowed by the F1 style coach driver to board the bus to Inverness.

I kept the ride going taking the high road (literally) on a huge climb out of Fort Augustus sweating gallons in the afternoon sun.

Hill climbed it was a long but magical cycle on a quiet B road that ran right alongside the Oily Black coloured Loch Ness - talk about a dramatic and beautiful setting.

Late afternoon and after a number of circuits of Inverness Kev and selfs paths finally converged at the luxury 4 star B&B of Redspokes Cycle company owner Dermott and partner Lynette.

 Being a frequent Redspokes cycle customer Dermott had kindly invited Kev and I to stay in the "honeymoon suite" of this incredible establishment.

After 120 kms and a huge amount of climbing there were no arguments offered and definitely no matrimonial thoughts on my mind