Ascent: 3,602 feet
Average speed: 13.74 mph
Pain ratings-
Adam: 7 (Legs like jelly to the finish)
Alan: 7 (Very ready for dram of the day)
Neil: 5 (Toughest day so far)
Soundtrack of the day-
Adam: Can't help falling in love, Elvis Presley
Alan: The broad majestic Shannon, The Pogues
Neil: Watercolour, Pendulum
After an excellent breakfast cooked by the Discover Adventure support crew at the hostel we made an early start up the Great Glen towards Loch Ness. Apart from an early soaking the weather was kind - which was a good thing as today was generally agreed to be the toughest so far.
Loch Ness proved almost as elusive as its most famous resident - hidden for long stretches behind a thick lining of trees as we cycled along a roller-coaster road up and down its Western shore. Our average altitude was 35 ft above sea level - how could a road which goes along the side of a loch be so hilly ?
More challenging terrain still was to come - commencing with a thigh-burning pull up from Drumnadrochit (billed as a "rude" climb by the crew - that's one notch up from "cheeky", the worst experienced so far). Now we headed into wild countryside with glorious views of heather-covered mountains and, later, the Cromarty and Dornoch Firths. The roads were quiet, the spaces vast, the hills relentless, and a lorry made a good effort to return Adam to the clay from which he came.
By the time we arrived at Bonar Bridge for our dram of the day we were pretty exhausted. The whisky would have been a great idea if we had an easy run to our hotel....but the reality was rather different - more hills and one of those special Scottish A road surfaces which closely resemble a cobbled street and, for the first time in a few days, a properly warm sun (with us wearing foul weather gear) all made our overnight accommodation a very welcome sight.
And what a place - we imagine it was originally designed for sporting weekends but it now has a slightly faded, raffish charm and a view to die for. Sleep will not be difficult tonight.
Tomorrow sees us head to the north coast and Thurso - torrential rain is forecast.
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